Dendrology

so many trees

sweetbay magnolia, Magnolia virginiana (Magnoliaceae)

glaucus green twig, ringed twig, white flower, thick waxy leaves

crossvine, Bignonia capreolata (Bignoniaceae)

opposite compound leaves, tendrils, no hair

musclewood, Carpinus caroliniana (Betulaceae)

smooth rippling bark, musclelike, thin twigs, alternate Buds: large in comparison to twigs, many scales, hairs

common buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis (Rubiaceae)

opposite, round seeds, shrub, many stems, red twigs, lenticels

boxelder, Acer negundo (Aceraceae)

green sprouts, leaf scar wraps twig, opposite Buds: short, glaucus, no scales

deciduous holly, Ilex decidua (Aquifoliaceae)

spur branches, braille like bark, alternate, deciduous

Buds: very small, brownish red

poison-ivy, Toxicodendron radicans (Anacardiaceae)

hairy vine, aerial roots, three leaf

strawberry bush, Euonymus americanus (Celastraceae)

green stocks, boxy angular twigs, opposite

flowering dogwood, Cornus florida (Cornaceae)

small blocky bark, flattened branches twigs point up, opposite Buds: reddish, fuzzy, long thin

rough-leaf dogwood, Cornus drummondii (Cornaceae)

small rectangular bark, red and green twigs, opposite

water oak, Quercus nigra (Fagaceae)

spatulate leaves, some red in fissures

post oak, Quercus stellata (Fagaceae)

large lobed thick leaves, straight furrows, some thin patches

white oak, Quercus alba (Fagaceae)

side peeling bark, round lobed no bristle tips, long acorn with point on end

northern red oak, Quercus rubra (Fagaceae)

ski trail bark, shiny, flat top ridges

eastern redcedar, Juniperus virginiana (Cupressaceae)

scaley needles, reddish cat-scratched bark

Osage orange, Maclura pomifera (Moraceae)

orange under bark, gnarly branches arching down, spiny twigs

southern shagbark hickory, Carya ovata var. australis (Juglandaceae)

top/bottom peeling bark, rose like bud, alternate

loblolly pine, Pinus taeda (Pinaceae)

thick giraffe patterned bark, three needles per bundle sheath, long big cone

red buckeye, Aesculus pavia (Hippocastanaceae)

braille-like bark, no spur branches, reddish buds w/ multiple scales, palmately compound, opposite

white ash, Fraxinus americana (Oleaceae)

diamond bark, thick twigs, buds sit in leaf scar, opposite, rounded small buds

rusty blackhaw, Viburnum rufidulum (Caprifoliaceae)

opposite, strong pinnate veination, rough cubed bark, small rough brown bud

sugarberry, Celtis laevigata (Ulmaceae)

smooth bark with warts, sharp close branching, slender twigs, pinnately veined three prominent veins, hollows easily

bitternut hickory, Carya cordiformis (Juglandaceae)

alternate, long fuzzy sulfur yellow buds, thin shiny silver bark, diamond, no peeling

trifoliate orange, Poncirus trifoliata (Rutaceae)

shrub, large thorns dark green, grays with age, yellow fruit

slippery elm, Ulmus rubra (Ulmaceae)

tapers quickly thin twigs, diamond patterned flat ridges, rough scratchy leaves and twigs, slimy sap, winged samara, vase shape

American elm, Ulmus americana (Ulmaceae)

alternate, thin bark, layered black and white, wide base, thin crown, layered long scaled bark, vase shape

Shumard oak, Quercus shumardii (Fagaceae)

thin heavy ridges, diamond, ski tracks, wide base, big acorns, deep sinuses

cherrybark oak, Quercus pagoda (Fagaceae)

pagoda shaped leaves, rough dark gray scaley cornflakes bark, fingernail sized acorn

pawpaw, Asimina triloba (Annonaceae)

long thin soft rusty red terminal bud, alternate, upright stem thin bark, large leaves

black walnut, Juglans nigra (Juglandaceae)

black dark bark, flat topped ridges, alternate, light fuzzy short buds, alien face leaf scar, pinnately compound leaves, reddish brown twigs, lenticels

switchcane, Arundinaria gigantea (Poaceae)

grass, parrallel veination, grows by water, looks like bamboo

nandina, Nandina domestica (Berberidaceae)

exotic shrub, tri pinnately compound leaves, clustered on top, evergreen purplish leaves, red berries

chinkapin oak, Quercus muehlenbergii (Fagaceae)

loose bark ashy gray, squared top/down peeling, no bristle tip on leaves, dark brown low tanin acorns, toothed simple leaves, lenticels Buds: many overlapping scales, like a little pinecone pointy egg shape

American beech, Fagus grandifolia (Fagaceae)

marcescent, pinnately veined alternate simple, sharp long buds, elephant hide smooth bark, villous hairs on young leaves

greenbriar, Smilax spp. (Smilaceae)

vine, light and dark green leaves, thick green vine, thorny, simple alternate

parsley hawthorn, Crataegus marshallii (Rosaceae)

small tree, muscle bark w/ camouflage pattern, thin sharp thorns, spur branches, alternate parsley like leaves, clustered white five petal flowers, rose family, monecious

black gum, Nyssa sylvatica (Cornaceae)

flat ridged thick cornflake bark, alternate, 90 deg branching, drupe fruit, diecious Bud: big scaled, dark

eastern hop-hornbeam, Ostrya virginiana (Betulaceae)

marsescent, thin twigs, doubly serrate fuzzy leaves, flakey scratched bark, alternate Bud: green and red scaled, small pointed

short-leaf pine, Pinus echinata (Pinaceae)

short needles, flat thin bark plate tectonics, flakey, small cones, dryland upland well drained soil, fire adapted, curved/crooked seedling

wild azalea, Rhododendron canescens (Ericaceae)

small shrub, deciduous, acidic upland, sweet scented, firework branching, bloom before leaves, seed capsules, smooth reddish bark, simple fuzzy leaves Bud: cluster vegetative buds, red rosy heavily scaled flowering buds

American holly, Ilex opaca (Aquifoliaceae)

spiny leaves (christmas holly), looks like deciduous holly but is evergreen, red berries

sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua (Hamamelidaceae)

thick corky bark, palmate simple maple like leaves, alternate, can be winged, spiky gumball seed

Bud: sharp buds, scaled, shiny, reddish

blackjack oak, Quercus marilandica (Fagaceae)

dark blocky bark (like flowering dogwood), lots of branching, large leaves (similar to water oak but huge) furry leathery w/ bristle tips, dry acidic upland, small black acorn, has tiloses Bud: large for an oak

black cherry, Prunus serotina (Rosaceae)

dark gray cornflake bark, leaf out early, simple leaf two dark glands on petiole, smells like almonds, cherry drupe

sassafras, Sassafras albidum (Lauraceae)

polymorphic leaf shapes, understory open conditions, orange underbark, tight welded bark diamond, diecious, dirty green twig, fruit loops smell, alternate, branches curve up Bud: large buds

sparkleberry, Vaccinium arboreum (Ericaceae)

alternate, branches similar to osage orange, small understory, high dry, blueberry fruit, reddish bark flat flakey scratched, simple leaves thick leathery glossy green small

yellow poplar, Liriodendron tulipifera (Magnoliaceae)

alternate, straight stem no low branches, diamond pattern bark white in fissures, tulip like flowers, leaves look like cat faces pinnately veined bud: valvate, look like clam or duck bill

serviceberry, Amelanchier arborea (Rosaceae)

5 petal flower, subtle pink hue in fissures, smoothish bark, low branching

willow oak, Quercus phellos (Fagaceae)

long thin leaves, entire margin, not heavily ridged less red than water oak, thinish twigs, small acorn

red maple, Acer rubrum (Aceraceae)

red twigs buds and flowers, opposite palmate simple leaves, generalist

eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis (Caesalpiniaceae)

small tree, fuscha flowers budding right on twigs, alternate zig zag twigs, peapod like seeds, reddish brown bark, heart shaped leaves

sycamore, Plantanus occidentalis (Plantaceae)

tall, white bark towards top, large palmate leaves, ball shaped fruit

blackberry, Rubus spp. (Rosaceae)

thorny shrub, palmately compound leaves, berry fruit

eastern cottonwood, Populus deltoides (Salicaceae)

thick dry mud like bark, big triangle shaped leaves, thick twigs, alternate, shade intolerant

bald cypress, Taxodium distichum var. distichum (Cupressaceae)

deciduous conifer, crumbly cone, feather like needles, scratchy reddish bark

river birch, Betula nigra (Betulaceae)

papery salmon peeling bark, water loving, doubly serrate triangle leaves, alternate

Japonese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica (Caprifoliaceae)

fuzzy leaves and vine, no tendrils, hollow pith

bur oak, Quercus macrocarpa (Fagaceae)

thick corky bark, thick twigs (churros), big acorn heavy hairy cap, thick leathery leaves heavy lobes

bradford pear, Prunus calleryana (Rosaceae)

co-dominant stems often, gray blooming rose like buds, bad smell, white five petal flower

green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Oleaceae)

opposite, similar to white ash, diamond pattern bark, pinnately compound leaves, bud on top of leaf scar

spruce pine, Pinus glabra (Pinaceae)

short needles, small cone, spruce like bark

planertree, Planera aquatica (Ulmaceae)

shrub, lots of stems gnarly branching, wet loving in water, “raisin with fingers” fruit, simple alternate, round base serrated, smooth-ish bark

American snowbell, Styrax americanus (Styraceae)

small shrub, many stems, ashy gray thin zigzag twig, dihiss fruit, white bell shape flower, subtle reddish hue on new growth

Virginia willow, Itea virginica (Saxifragaceae)

shrub, green twigs, willow like flower, wet loving, red small buds, alternate simple serrate

common persimmon, Diospyros virginiana (Ebenaceae)

simple leaf, thick blocky dark dark

flatwoods plum, Prunus umbellata (Rosaceae)

small tree, spines on twigs, peeling bark, horizontal lenticils

elderberry, Sambucus canadensis (Caprifoliaceae)

shrub, opposite, pinnately compound, braille like lenticils, mesic to wet soils, lots of stems, spongey pith, white pannicle flower, black drupe fruit

Elliott’s huckleberry, Vaccinium elliottii (Ericaceae)

shrub, thin/small green twigs, pink flowers bell-ish shape, small alternate leaves, low ground

dwarf palmetto, Sabal minor (Arecaceae)

palm, basal stem underground, parrallel veined, low flatwoods

sweetleaf, Symplocos tinctoria (Symplocaceae)

almost evergreen (drops late), green apple taste to leaves (some), purple color in fall, simple alternate leaf entire slightly waxy, upward arching branching, long tube shaped fruit, tight ashy gray smooth bark

red mulberry, Morus rubra (Moraceae)

straight fissured flat bark (smooth when young), polmorphic leaves (mitten, tri-lobe, single), serrated leaves, longer raspberry like fruit, used for jams

devil’s walking-stick, Aralia spinosa (Araliaceae)

tree, thorns circle stem at nodes, not much branching, largest compound leaf in america, panicle flower and red fruit, sun and edge loving, bottomland mesic

muscadine grape, Vitis rotundifolia (Vitaceae)

vine, aerial roots, low wet area, shreddy flat patchy flakey bark, smaller rounder grape leaf, big grape fruit thicker hide big seed, single tendril unsplit

winged elm, Ulmus alata (Ulmaceae)

fine thin twigs, corky projections, serrated elm leaves, platey bark smooth when young, smaller than american elm

American beautyberry, Callicarpa americana (Verbenaceae)

shrub, opposite, purple round berries circle stem, dusty twigs, soft big rounded heard shaped leaves, pubescent buds small with no scales

bigleaf magnolia, Magnolia macrophylla (Magnoliaceae)

largest simple leaf in america, large naked pubescent buds, sparse thick twigs

oakleaf hydrangea, Hydrangea quercifolia (Saxifragaceae)

oak like leaves, sterile leaflets above flowers, peeling flakey orangey gold bark, braille bumps on bark

sugar maple, Acer barbatum (Aceraceae)

opposite, tan young bark, cracking black old bark, simple 5-lobed maple leaf, plump seeds on samaras, ornamental, timber, syrup production

yucca, Yucca filamentosa (Agavaceae)

grass/palm, long filaments, urn shaped white flowers

eastern baccharis, Baccharis hamifolia (Asteraceae)

shrub, white poofy flowers, small polymorphic leaves, evergreen, tardily deciduous, flowers late fall, disturbed areas, little wildlife value, native invasive, coastal restoration

pond cypress, Taxodium distichum var. imbricarium (Taxodiaceae)

narrower crown, tall skinny tree, scratchy reddish bark, knees form ridges rather than cones, needles curve upward against stem

yaupon, Ilex vomitoria (Aquifoliaceae)

evergreen crenate small leaves, suckering shrub, diecious, red holly fruit, natural caffeine in leaves

sweetshrub, Calycanthus floridus (Calythcanthaceae)

opposite, suckering shrub, maroon twigs, swelled nodes, twigs and leaves smell sweet, flowers are maroon and smell like dead fish, produces bean pod, good for small mammals, ornamental

southern wax myrtle, Myrica cerifera (Myricaceae)

simple whorled leaves, bigger leaves at base of twig, evergreen, diecious, waxy berries on female trees, leaves smell like peach

American hazelnut, Corylus americana (Betulaceae)

alternate, catkin flowers, suckering shrub, pubescent big leaf doubly serrate, fruits hang in husks, reddish twigs

Carolina jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens (Loganiaceae)

twining vine, yellow trumpet flower, late winter bloom, opposite simple leathery evergreen smooth, no tendrils, ornamental

St. John’s wort, Hypericum spp. (Clusiaceae)

tardily deciduous, bright yellow flowers, silvery peely bark, thick leathery almost pine like leaves boat shaped

sawtooth oak, Quercus acutissima (Fagaceae)

short tree wide crown, irregular diamond-ish bark, orange in fissures, thick hairy acorn cap, acorn drop early but high tannin content, big white hairy buds

overcup oak, Quercus lyata (Fagaceae)

leaf similar to post but thinner and lacier, rough flakey bark, lots of twigs and branches, cap fully covers acorn, acorn floats in water and is water dispersed, common ornamental, grows in poor soil

swamp chestnut oak, Quercus michauxii (Fagaceae)

similar to chinkapin leaves, flat flakey irregular bark similar to white oak, good for mammals, big golfball sized acorns w/ thick cap, grow next to water edge, pointer buds than white oak

summer grape, Vitis aestivalis (Vitaceae)

vine, reddish brown thick corky diamond bark w/ no bare wood, split tendril, no aerial roots, big leaves small grape fruit, upland

Carolina laurelcherry, Prunus caroliniana (Rosaceae)

evergreen shiny serrated leaves, alternate, almond smell, horizontal lenticils, coastal species

black willow, Salix nigra (Salicaceae)

horizontal peeling dark bark, serrated willow leaves, diecious, catkins, bar colonizer, short lived intolerant, indeterminate growth rarely has a terminal bud

gingko, Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgoaceae)

alternate slightly zigzag, dichotomous vienation, imported ornamental, deciduous (often shed leaves in one day), spur branches, peach like fruit, gray tight bark, living fossil, good urban tree

winterberry, Ilex verticillata (Aquifoliaceae)

holly berries, deciduous, diecious, big deep veination, soft leaves, swamp wetland, no spur branches, common ornamental

Nuttall’s oak, Quercus taxana (Fagaceae)

offset pagoda like leaves, big acorn, thin tight ridged bark, downward branching, short stems along branches, timber, wildlife, bottomland restoration

Leyland cypress, Cupressocyparis X leylandii (Cupressaceae)

evergreen, often has dead branches, scaled like red cedar, rarely any seeds, overly planted conifer, christmas tree

slash pine, Pinus elliottii (Pinaceae)

smooth shiny plates, no blisters, long shiny plates, shiny needles, pineapple like shiny spikey brown, cone is often drops incomplete

black locust, Robinia psuedoaceae (Fabaceae)

alternate, pinnately compound rounded small leaves, white panicles, seed pods, stipule spines, thick rounded ridges (like rope), pollinator, mine restoration, pioneer species

Chinese privet, Ligustrum sinese (Oleaceae)

opposite, suckering shrub, shade tolerant, semi evergreen, entire margin simple rounded, white chain flowers, aggressive invasive exotic, purplish black berries