Introduction to Tree Identification

NeighborWoods 2014

Jean Akers, RLA, AICP

Conservation Technix

Senior Associate

Tree Classification: What’s in a Name?

Plant Kingdom

Other 9

divisions for

algae, moss,

ferns, etc.

Ginkgo Conifers

“Naked seeds”

Flowering

plants

“covered

seeds”

Division

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

Latin is the

“universal”

language in

taxonomy

The Big Picture…

• Identify trees by more than one characteristic – do not rely only on leaves!

• Practice terminology

• Use a field guide and dichotomous key, when feasible

• Find the “key characteristics”

Key Characteristics:

Growth Form (Habit)

Bark

Leaves

Buds

Twigs

Flowers

Fruits or Cone

Also: touch, taste, smell, sound.

Growth Form

Quercus garryana, Oregon white oak

Quercus palustris,

Pin oak

Growth Form Ulmus americana,

American elm

Liquidambar styraciflua,

Sweetgum

Growth Form

Bark

Betula papyrifera, Paperbark birch

Bark

Platanus occidentalis,

Sycamore

Bark

Thuja plicata,

Western red cedar

Bark

Pinus sylvestris,

Scotch pine

Leaves Broadleaf

Scale-like

Needle-like

Acer circinatum,

Vine maple

Quercus rubra,

Red oak Tilia americana, Linden

Simple Leaves

Compound Leaves

Pinnately compound:

Fraxinus pennsylvatica,

Green ash

Palmately compound:

Aesculus hippocastanum,

Horsechestnut

Alternate

Opposite

Leaf Arrangement

Leaf Shape

Linear

Deltoid

Elliptical

Orbicular

Leaf Margin

Entire

Serrate

Lobed

Pines - in fascicles

Fir

Spruce

Needle-like Leaves

Buds and twigs

Oaks – clustered end buds

Alnus rubra, Red alder

Buds Aesculus glabra,

Ohio buckeye

Rhamnus purshiana,

Cascara

scaly naked

Bud scars

White ash v. Green ash – note leaf scar shape

Flowers

Acer saccharinum,

Silver maple

Fraxinus latifolia,

Oregon ash

Flowers

Magnolia x soulangia, Saucer magnolia

Cornus nuttalli, Pacific dogwood

Albizia julibrissin,

Silk tree

Fruit - Nuts Quercus macrocarpa, Bur oak

Aesculus hippocastanum,

Horsechestnut

Castanea dentata,

American chestnut

Fruit – Winged Seeds

Acer rubrum, Red maple

Ulmus americana, American elm

Fraxinus ornus,

Flowering ash

Cones Psuedotsuga menziesii,

Douglas-fir

Abies concolor, White fir

Picea pungens,

Colorado blue spruce Pinus aristata,

Bristlecone pine

Remember the Big Picture…

• Identify trees by more than one characteristic – do not rely only on leaves!

• Practice terminology

• Use a field guide and dichotomous key, when feasible

• Find the “key characteristics”

The whole picture…

Draw and sketch to train your power of observation…

- in the field

- with real samples

Remember to have fun!

NeighborWoods 2014