tree species lecture notes

like P. tremula, European aspen, from Latin: “trembling”

Populus tremuloides

most widely distributed tree in North America; occurs from sea level to 11,500’ (Colorado Rockies); Important in Northeast and Great Lakes Forests as well

Populus tremuloides

short-lived (i.e., individuals aboveground), 60 to 150 years (root systems are often much longer lived),

fast growing, shade intolerant pioneer species on well-drained mineral soils following heavy logging,

fire, farming; replaced by white spruce and balsam fir in Boreal Forest and other “climax” species

(sugar maple, American beech, red spruce) in Northeast

Populus tremuloides

seeds mature in late spring, are short-lived (2 to 4 weeks), very light (~3 million/lb) and require moist,

bare mineral substrate to germinate and become established

Populus tremuloides

sprouts extensively from root system following cutting and other large disturbances, forming dense

thickets that can cover huge areas

Populus tremuloides

wood used for paneling and plywood, many other uses; decades ago considered “weed” tree but now a

major pulpwood species for various types of paper

Populus tremuloides

numerous insect and disease problems; very important wildlife species, especially for beaver, moose,

deer, elk, grouse, and rabbits

Populus tremuloides

“balsam-bearing”, referring to the buds

Populus balsamifera

tallest hardwood in boreal forest and northernmost occurring hardwood in North America; especially

important economically in northwestern portion of its range

Populus balsamifera

short-lived (to 200 years), fast growing, shade intolerant pioneer on moist alluvial (e.g., bottomlands,

floodplains, streambanks); requires higher levels of soil moisture than P. tremuloides

Populus balsamifera

seed ecology similar to P. tremuloides but seeds germinate best on wetter soils

Populus balsamifera

sprouts extensively from root system following cutting and other large disturbances

Populus balsamifera

regenerates along alluvial habitats from broken plant parts

Populus balsamifera

wood similar to P. tremuloides, important for plywood and many other uses

Populus balsamifera

both P. tremuloides and P. balsamifera are hybridized, often with eastern cottonwood (P. deltoides) for

biomass production in plantations on abandoned agricultural land in upper U.S. and Canada; 8”

diameter stems (at breast height) in 7 years

Populus balsamifera

insect and disease issues and wildlife importance similar to P. tremuloides

Populus balsamifera

“paper-bearing”, referring to the bark

Betula papyrifera

most widely distributed birch geographically in North America, which includes six regional varieties (two

in NYS are Betula papyrifera var. papyrifera (the typical paper birch) and B. p. var. cordifolia

(mountain paper birch, also known as B. cordifolia) which is restricted in NYS to the High Peaks

region.

Betula papyrifera

shade intolerant, fast growing, short lived (75 to 125 years) pioneer often in extensive, pure stands

following heaving logging or severe fire

Betula papyrifera

seeds germinate best on bare, moist mineral soil in full sun; huge quantities of seed produced (1 million

seeds/acre common, up to 35 million seeds per acre); seeds germinate in early spring after natural

cold stratification on soil surface

Betula papyrifera

extremely cold hardy species that occurs above the 2500’ elevation in Northeast mountains

Betula papyrifera

most useful hardwood throughout Boreal Forest, used for: fuel, mine props, lumber, paneling, furniture

and cabinets, pulp and paper, plywood, turned articles, toothpicks, golf tees

Betula papyrifera

northern native Americans used for snowshoe frames and canoe paddles; bark used for wigwam cover,

canoes, utensils

Betula papyrifera

young stands provide excellent browse and cover for moose and deer

Betula papyrifera

bronze birch borer (Agrilus anxius), a wood boring insect, greatly limits use of this and European white

birch (B. pendula) for landscape purposes, especially in warmer climates

Betula papyrifera

named after Joseph Banks (1743 – 1820), Director of Kew Gardens

Pinus banksiana

primarily a Canadian species although native to northeastern most NYS and often common in northern

Great Lakes states

Pinus banksiana

shade intolerant, fast growing, short-lived (to about 150 years) pioneer, usually on infertile, acidic,

excessively drained (coarse, sandy) soils on uplands; often in pure, even-aged stands following severe

fire; also common in savanna-like (widely space trees) stands

Pinus banksiana

cones always persistent (remaining on tree for decades), usually serotinous (remaining closed unless

subject to temp of at least 140 oF), making this species a “fire climax”

Pinus banksiana

primary economical importance is for pulpwood (newsprint, kraft paper, shipping containers, boxes)

Pinus banksiana

important wildlife species for food and shelter; especially significant in providing critical nesting habitat

for the federally-listed (endangered) Kirtland warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii) which breeds in young

jack pine stands in north-central Michigan and winters in the Bahamas. Prescribed burning an

essential management tool to maintain stands of appropriate characteristics for this bird.

Pinus banksiana

a deciduous, transcontinental conifer that reaches the northern limit of where trees can grow in North

America

Larix laricina

needles turn yellow to gold in late fall, before dropping

Larix laricina

shade intolerant, fast-growing species generally found on cold, wet sites of either organic (i.e., peat of

acidic bogs) or mineral (sandy flats) soils.

Larix laricina

Picea mariana, black spruce, almost a constant associate in bogs

Larix laricina

in NYS near its southern range limit often found in calcareous peatlands (“fens”) with Thuja occcidentalis

(northern white-cedar), Abies balsamea (balsam fir), Picea mariana and other species

Larix laricina

wood durable and hard but its spiral grain makes it undesirable for some lumber uses; used for pulpwood,

floor planking, mine timbers, fence posts, farm construction, dog sled runners, boat ribs, fish traps

Larix laricina

Native Americans used slender roots to sew paper birch bark together for canoes

Larix laricina

larch sawfly (Pristiphora erichsonii) can cause extensive defoliation of tree, leading to serious damage

and extensive mortality

Larix laricina

porcupines eat inner bark, snowshoe hares browse seedlings, red squirrels eat seeds

Larix laricina

most larch planted in the Northeast is the European larch (L. decidua), Japanese larch (L. kaempferi), or

hybrids of these two upland species. Needle characteristics are similar to L. laricina but they have

larger cones

Larix laricina

transcontinental conifer that reaches the northern limit of where trees can grow in North America

Picea mariana

moderately shade tolerant pioneer of bogs (acidic, infertile, peat soils) and saturated mineral soils;

abundant with L. laricina in extensive forested peatlands (“muskegs”) of upper Great Lakes region

and Canada; an “edaphic climax”, typically with numerous Sphagnum moss species

Picea mariana

occurs as low shrub on alpine summits of the Northeast

Picea mariana

very slow growing in bogs (slowest growing tree in North America?) where a 100 year old tree might be

only 1” in diameter (at breast height) and grow only 3” height/year

Picea mariana

commonly reproduces by stem layering wherever its lowest branches rest in saturated Sphagnum

Picea mariana

wood consists of long, white fibers; very valuable for pulpwood used for newsprint and high grade paper;

wood also used for poles, furniture, interior trim, paddles and oars, musical instruments (for sounding

boards), ladder rails. Wood of most spruces species has a high strength to weight ratio

Picea mariana

trees cut for Christmas trees (although needle retention not good after cutting); young shoots used to make

beer; cut bark exudes “gum”

Picea mariana

spruce grouse (listed as endangered in NYS, but more common northward) depends on black spruce for

food and cover

Picea mariana

dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium pusillum, a vascular plant in the Santalaceae or Sandalwood Family) is a

serious pest, causing witches’ brooms and mortality – this is not the leafy mistletoe (Phoradendron

leucarpum) made famous by Christmas customs; beaver have killed extensive areas of black spruce

and tamarack by flooding lowlands

Picea mariana

“glauca” refers to the white waxy coating of needles

Picea glauca

largest of the three transcontinental conifers and tallest evergreen in the Borest Forest region. Found in a

few locations in NYS, including the alvar pavement barrens northwest of Watertown and northeastern

NYS

Picea glauca

hybridizes with Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) in Canadian Rockies

Picea glauca

shade tolerant, fast growing, relatively long-lived (to 600 years) climax species on upland, mesic site in

the Boreal Forest region

Picea glauca

most important commercial tree in Canada and often grown in plantations; fibers shorter than black

spruce but still used for pulpwood; lumber for framing, boxes, crates, ladder rails, sounding boards

for pianos and string instruments

Picea glauca

Native Americans used slender roots to sew paper birch bark together for canoes

Picea glauca

widely planted as ornamental although becomes less attractive the further south of its natural geographical

range in which it is planted

Picea glauca

Black Hills spruce (or P. g. ‘Densata’) is a commercially available, natural

variety of white spruce that has a denser crown and is a little smaller in stature. It is native to the

region around the Black Hills of South Dakota. Picea glauca ‘Conica’, dwarf Alberta spruce, is a

commonly available, very compact and much smaller variety that is popular for landscaping

Picea glauca

spruce budworm (Coristoneura fumiferana) a major pest; can defoliate and can kill vast acreages of white

spruce and balsam fir (Abies balsamea)

Picea glauca

shade tolerant, slow to fast growing, short lived (to about 100 years), subclimax species

Abies balsamea

prolific producer of seeds, regenerates quickly and densely on moist mineral or organic soils, especially in

openings following windthrow or logging

Abies balsamea

wood similar to spruces but less resilient and not as strong; valuable pulpwood species; wood used for

boxes, crates, sashes, general construction, interior “knotty pine” paneling

Abies balsamea

dark green foliage, tight spire-like form, exceptional need fragrance and long needle retention make this

an exceptional Christmas tree (second after Scotch pine, Pinus sylvestris, nationally) and excellent for

wreaths

Abies balsamea

similar in appearance and ecology to southern Appalachian endemic, Fraser fir (Abies fraseri); Canaan fir

(generally considered an ecotype of Abies balsamea var. phanerolepis), also called West Virginia

balsam fir because that’s where this tree is naturally found, is a popular Christmas tree, and has

characteristics intermediate between these two species of eastern firs

Abies balsamea

resin from bark blisters once used for mounting microscopic slides

Abies balsamea

deer and mice browse foliage in winter; deer use for winter cover and shelter

Abies balsamea

many fungus (especially rot types) and insect (spruce budworm, balsam woolly adelgid) issues

Abies balsamea

highly susceptible to fire (thin bark)

Abies balsamea

wave-like, crescent-shaped bands of mortality in mature stands at high elevations in Northeast mountains

– “fir waves“

Abies balsamea

can be low shrub in alpine of Northeast

Abies balsamea

most cold hardy evergreen in mountains of the Northeast; geographical range limited to eastern half of the

Boreal Forest region, replaced by subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) in western portion

Abies balsamea

occurs up to 3200’ elevation in mountains of the Northeast, and higher elevations further south in

Appalachians

Betula alleghaniensis

moderately shade tolerant, fast growing, relatively long lived, shallow-rooted species that develops best

on cool, moist organic or mineral upland soils beneath a large gap in the forest canopy, i.e., it is a

“gap” species

Betula alleghaniensis

often regenerates on decomposing stumps or moss-covered boulders, resulting in “stilt” roots

Betula alleghaniensis

a “subclimax” species that co-occurs with the more shade tolerant American beech (Fagus grandifolia)

and sugar maple (Acer saccharum) in the maple-beech-birch forest type, known widely as the

“northern hardwood” forest

Betula alleghaniensis

one of the largest hardwood (i.e., broad leaved, deciduous angiosperm) tree species in the Northeast; once

the most abundant hardwood in presettlement forest

Betula alleghaniensis

most economically of all birch species in the U.S. for forest products; valuable for furniture, flooring,

veneer, plywood, cabinet wood, wooden ware, firewood, charcoal, wood alcohol

Betula alleghaniensis

although bark is quite attractive in younger and medium sized trees, rarely used in landscaping

Betula alleghaniensis

favorite browse of deer and moose

Betula alleghaniensis

populifolia”, refers to leaves that look like Populus deltoides (eastern cottonwood)

Betula populifolia

shade intolerant, fast growing, short-lived pioneer species on dry, barren (infertile) uplands, e.g.,

abandoned farms, burned over land, mine spoils, bare sands); often with pitch pine (Pinus rigida) and

scrub oak (Quercus ilicifolia); extensive areas in pine barrens of Albany, Long Island, high elevations

north and south of Scranton, PA

Betula populifolia

confined to low elevations in Northeast

Betula populifolia

typically too small and shrubby, with numerous stems from a single base, to manage for timber products,

therefore of low economic value; but used for firewood, turned articles, landscaping

Betula populifolia

significant ecological value as “nurse” tree on badly degraded sites, providing shading for seedlings of

longer-lived later successional species and adding organic matter to site

Betula populifolia

easily damaged by ice and snow; birch leaf miner (Fenusa pusilla) and iron chlorosis (on high pH soils)

can be problems

Betula populifolia

“grand” = large, “folia” = leaf (but leaf isn’t that large); “fagus” from Greek, to eat (nuts)

Fagus grandifolia

shade tolerant, slow growing, long lived (except for beech bark disease) climax species that co occurs

with yellow birch and sugar maple in the northern hardwood forest

Fagus grandifolia

grows well on soils of intermediate fertility and moisture, i.e., is less site demanding than sugar maple

Fagus grandifolia

favored by disturbances because it sprouts profusely from root system, forming dense thickets of root

sprouts

Fagus grandifolia

important mast (nut) producer in northern hardwood forest; beech nuts eaten by squirrels, raccoons,

turkey, mice, ruffed grouse, bears, other mammals, game birds

Fagus grandifolia

large trees often with heart rot and lumber difficult to season; good quality beech lumber used for flooring

and furniture; poor quality used for pulp, fuel wood, tool handles, woodenware

Fagus grandifolia

beech bark disease, caused by a scale insect (Cryptococcus fagisuga) and fungus (Neonectria faginata, N.

ditissima) has killed many to most mature trees throughout the Northeast and is spreading west and

south. Following damage or mortality to mature trees, dense thickets of root sprouts develop in

understory

Fagus grandifolia

beech leaf disease, caused by a nematode, now in 13 states including NYS and spreading, killing small to

large

Fagus grandifolia

most beech that are planted in the landscape are European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and its many cultivars

(weeping, purple leaf, cut leaf, tricolor) which generally is easier to transplant, faster growing, not

affected by beech bark disease, and doesn’t root sprout. Beech leaf disease appears to affect F.

sylvatica

Fagus grandifolia

“saccharum”, referring to sap

Acer saccharum

State tree of nys

Acer saccharum

shade tolerant, slow growing, long lived (to 400 years) climax species that occurs with yellow birch and

American beech in the northern hardwoods forest of the Northeast

Acer saccharum

grows best on deep, rich, moist (but well drained) soils; very common in NYS in mature stands and on

abandoned agricultural lands; about 20% of all standing timber in NYS

Acer saccharum

produces abundant seed crop every 2 to 3 years (up to 8 million seeds/acre); seeds have high viability (up

to 95% and germinate readily after cold stratification

Acer saccharum

very high economic value for forest products; wood used for flooring, furniture, cabinet work, musical

instruments, canoe paddles, boxes, crates, pulp, fuel wood; veneer (curly, birdseye, fiddleback) highly

prized; outstanding tree for the landscape if soils are not too dry, too clayey, too poorly drained – will

not tolerate salt runoff from roads so very poor choice along streets that are regularly salted in winter

Acer saccharum