Field Bio Tree Practical Review

Norway Spruce

Common Name: Norway Spruce

Genus: Picea

Species: abies

Christmas tree-like in appearance, droopy branches

Blue Spruce

Common Name: Blue Spruce

Genus: Picea

Species: pungens

Eastern White Pine

Common Name: Eastern White Pine

Genus: Pinus

Species: strobus

bendy needles that are pulled off in clusters of 4 or 5, long cones

Red Pine

Common Name: Red Pine

Genus: Pinus

Species: resinosa

brittle needles that are pulled off in clusters of 2 and can make the tree appear “naked", cones are short and stubby

Scotch Pine

Common Name: Scotch Pine

Genus: Pinus

Species: sylvestris

Eastern Hemlock

Common Name: Eastern Hemlock

Genus: Tsuga

Species: canadensis

needles come out on 2 sides and form a plane

American Larch

Common Name: American Larch

Genus: Larix

Species: laricina

needles come out in a “whirl” pattern at bases, one of the only deciduous conifer

Eastern Red Cedar

Common Name: Eastern Red Cedar

Genus: Juniperus

Species: virginiana

Sugar Maple

Common Name: Sugar Maple

Genus: Acer

Species: saccharum

odd number of lobes (5 is most common), sharper than black maples at the bottom

Silver Maple

Common Name: Silver Maple

Genus: Acer

Species: saccharinum

deeper sinuses on leaf, and underside has a gray/green tint

Black Maple

Common Name: Black Maple

Genus: Acer

Species: nigrum

slightly darker gray bark and dark brown/black buds, 5 lobes

Red Maple

Common Name: Red Maple

Genus: Acer

Species: rubrum

red buds, leaf has three lobes with "u” shaped bulb, smoother bark, half the size of sugar and black maples

Norway Maple

Common Name: Norway Maple

Genus: Acer

Species: platanoides

darkest green leaves of any maple, 7 lobes, squeezing end of leaf stem releases milky residue

Flowering Dogwood

Common Name: Flowering Dogwood

Genus: Cornus

Species: florida

opposite branches, veins curve out from central stem and wrap around to curve upwards

Osage Orange

Common Name: Osage Orange

Genus: Maclura

Species: pomifera

fruit is ball-like in fall and poisonous, bark has twigs with gnarly spikes, wood has distinct orange color

Boxelder

Common Name: Boxelder

Genus: Acer

Species: negundo

leaves in clusters of 5 at terminal end of branch, green stems and branches

Ohio Buckeye

Common Name: Ohio Buckeye

Genus: Aesculus

Species: glabra

compound palmate leaf

Catalpa

Common Name: Catalpa

Genus: Catalpa

Species: speciosa

large triangular leaves, form seed pods in the fall that are very skinny

Pawpaw

Common Name: Pawpaw

Genus: Asimina

Species: triloba

15-20 ft, leaves can reach forearm length or 12 inches long and droop

Ironwood

Common Name: Ironwood

Genus: Carpinus

Species: caroliniana

trees contain leaves at different developmental stages, bark has a twisted muscle-looking pattern

Eastern Hophornbeam

Common Name: Eastern Hophornbeam

Genus: Ostrya

Species: virginiana

American Chestnut

Common Name: American Chestnut

Genus: Castanea

Species: dentata

Hackberry

Common Name: Hackberry

Genus: Celtis

Species: occidentalis

asymmetrical heart-shaped buds, cork/wart-like growths on bark

Eastern Redbud

Common Name: Eastern Redbud

Genus: Cercis

Species: canadensis

leaves eventually turn a red color, distinct red buds in spring

American Beech

Common Name: American Beech

Genus: Fagus

Species: grandifolia

leaves are thick, toothed, and have serrated toothed edges, bark is very smooth with no ridges or furrows

Sweetgum

Common Name: Sweetgum

Genus: Liquidamber

Species: styraciflua

distinct star-shaped leaf

Tulip Poplar

Common Name: Tulip Poplar

Genus: Liriodendron

Species: tulipifera

leaves have a yellow color in the fall

Eastern Sycamore

Common Name: Eastern Sycamore

Genus: Platanus

Species: occidentalis

top of tree is white with gray towards the bottom, GIANT leaves

Black Cherry

Common Name: Black Cherry

Genus: Prunus

Species: serotina

small leaves that decompose, darkest bark in the forest with scaly/plate-like “potato chip” look

Pin Oak

Common Name: Pin Oak

Genus: Quercus

Species: palustris

deep sinuses for whole tree, tufts of hair on underside of veins, small acorns, bark will have occasional lichen

Red Oak

Common Name: Red Oak

Genus: Quercus

Species: rubra

younger trees will have red furrows and ridges, bigger, broad leaf, big acorns

Black Oak

Common Name: Black Oak

Genus: Quercus

Species: velutina

leaves are darker green, acorn caps cover halfway down the nut, buds are dark brown/black

White Oak

Common Name: White Oak

Genus: Quercus

Species: alba

Black Willow

Common Name: Black Willow

Genus: Salix

Species: Nigra

multiple trunks form a single stump, thin finger-like leaves with stipules at base

Weeping Willow

Common Name: Weeping Willow

Genus: Salix

Species: babylonica

finger-like skinny delicate leaves

Sassafras

Common Name: Sassafras

Genus: Sassafras

Species: albidum

more gray than black cherry, a single tree can have three different kinds of leaves at once, have a root beer like smell when leaves are crushed

Basswood

Common Name: Basswood

Genus: Tilia

Species: americana

trees tend to clump right at base, big asymmetrical heart-shaped leaves that are serrated

American Elm

Common Name: American Elm

Genus: Ulmus

Species: americana

large leaf, bark peels off in a “grilled cheese” like pattern

Slipper Elm

Common Name: Slippery Elm

Genus: Ulmus

Species: rubra

Similar leaves to the American elm but the teeth have teeth

Shagbark Hickory

Common Name: Shagbark Hickory

Genus: Carya

Species: ovata

peeling shaggy bark that makes furrows, clusters of leaves have three at terminal end

Pignut Hickory

Common Name: Pignut Hickory

Genus: Carya

Species: glabra

bark is NOT shaggy, leaf is more uniform in size + smaller, fruit is more elongated

Honey Locust

Common Name: Honey Locust

Genus: Gleditsia

Species: triacanthos

compound leaves, tiny leaflets, giant seedpods that curl, only wild ones have thorns

Black Locust

Common Name: Black Locust

Genus: Robinia

Species: pseudoacacia

compound leaves, bark is deeply gnarled and furrowed

Black Walnut

Common Name: Black Walnut

Genus: Juglans

Species: nigra

compound big leaves with teardrop shape, walnuts = defining feature, when young bark is light and when trees are older the bark is darker

Tree of Heaven

Common Name: Tree of Heaven

Genus: Ailanthus

Species: altissima

really tall, leaves will point upwards instead of downwards

Witch-hazel

Common Name: Witch-hazel

Genus: Hamamelis

Species: virginiana

flowers in the fall, white-ish and delicate

Spicebush

Common Name: Spicebush

Genus: Lindera

Species: benzoin