RNR 2001 - plant

Classic riverfront pioneer tree, but that is also somewhat TSE; leaves 

alternate simple, blades large and shallowly palmately lobed; bark brown 

and flaky at tree base, giving way to a smooth cream-colored mottled 

bark visible at a far distance; fruit an achene with hairs for wind dispersal, 

fruits born in dense spherical heads. 

Platanus occidentalis

Medium-sized short-lived wetland tree with alternate simple leaves; 

blades long and narrow with finely serrate margins; fruit a capsule with 

tiny seeds possessing a fluffy process for wind dispersal; make a tea from 

the bark if you have a headache.

Salix nigra

A weedy colony-forming deciduous small tree of ruderal forests and urban waste areas; all three leaf arrangements may be present on a single plant; blades are large and highly variable; historically used to make textiles and as fodder for silk worms.36 Large evergreen tree of mesic loamy uplands; leaves alternate simple, elliptic, and up to ca. 8” long; fruit an aggregate of follicles, seeds red. 

Broussonetia papyrifera

An oak of wet flatwoods, bark light gray and fairly loose and flaky to 

ridged and furrowed; blades sparingly lobed, lobes blunt and lacking 

bristle tips. 

Quercus michauxii (?)

Somewhat similar to Quercus nigra, but seedlings lack the crazy variation, and 

crown leaves are consistently narrowly oblong; also, this species is wetter- 

sited than Quercus nigra. 

Quercus phellos

Seedling and saplings of this weedy mesophytic oak are well-known to 

have wide variation in shape; crown leaves of a mature tree are fairly 

consistently spatulate. 

Quercus nigra

One of two native palms of Louisiana.

Sabal minor

Leaves of this native evergreen shrub can be used to brew a caffeinated 

tea. 

Ilex vomitora

Large and long-lived deciduous conifer; needles short and distichous, born 

on determinate short-shoots (aka branchlets); seed cones roundish and 

about 1” broad; pollen cones numerous in pendant masses (“catkins”). 

Taxodium distichum

Large tree typical of uplands (but extending into poorly drained 

flatwoods); leaves opposite, pinnately compound; bark with corky 

interlaced ridges forming a diamond pattern; leaf scars reportedly 

horseshoe-shaped or at least with a notch where the axillary bud is 

located. 

Fraxinus americana

A mesophytic pine naturally relegated to mixed pine-hardwood forests of 

stream corridors and valleys; invades systems dependent upon frequent 

fire when fire is inadequate there; often called “old field pine” because of 

its ruderal tendency. 

Ardisia crenata

A mesophytic pine naturally relegated to mixed pine-hardwood forests of 

stream corridors and valleys; invades systems dependent upon frequent 

fire when fire is inadequate there; often called “old field pine” because of 

its ruderal tendency. 

Pinus taeda

This fire-sensitive hydrophytic pine is naturally relegated to wetter sites 

with less frequent fire, such as bayheads; native east of Hammond, LA. 

Pinus elliottii

High-climbing woody vine with aerial roots emerging from all over the 

stem; leaves alternate, trifoliate-compound.

Toxicodendron radicans

Our most shade-tolerant pine.

Pinus glabra

Small riparian tree with opposite compound leaves (trifoliate or up to 7 

leaflets in our region); young twigs smooth and green, with opposing V- 

shaped leaf scars.

Acer negundo

Fern twining by the leaf rachis, thus leaves of high-climbing plants are 

very long.

Lygodium japonicum

Large tree with alternate simple leaves; leaf margins doubly serrate, base 

asymmetrical, apex acuminate; bark flaky, grayish-brown. 

Ulmus americana

Large multi-trunked shrub, bark smooth and light gray; leaves deciduous, 

alternate simple, oblanceolate; fruit a red/orange multi-pitted drupe; 

FACW in bottomland hardwoods, extending into mesic loamy uplands.

Ilex decidua

Medium-sized tree with blackish, blocky, alligator-hide bark; leaves 

deciduous, alternate simple, with leaf size gradually decreasing from 

shoot tips to bases; fruit a delicious orange berry ca. 1.5” broad. 

Diospyros virginiana

Medium tree of small stream forests; bark orange and papery-exfoliating; 

leaves deltoid, margins doubly serrate. 

Betula nigra

Our most flood-tolerant oak.

Quercus nigra

Twining woody wine with opposite simple leaves; stems and leaves soft- 

hairy; fruit a shiny black berry; exotic, but deer “ice cream”.

Lonicera japonica

An exotic multi-trunked evergreen shrub with opposite simple leaves; 

most abundant in forests with close urban interface.

Ligustrum lucidum

Large tree with most leaves bipinnately compound; plants usually well 

armed with large branched thorns; fruit a legume to ca. 1’ long.

Gleditsia triacanthos

Typically in isolated ponds and bayhead swamps; leaves alternate simple, 

“generic looking”, to ca. 3” long; smaller proximal branches diverging at 

right angles; fruit a dark blue drupe maturing in fall (that is unpleasantly 

sour tasting).

Nyssa biflora

Large deciduous tree; twigs with circular stipule scars; fruit an aggregate 

of samaras; leaf shape very unique; typically found in rich loamy uplands.

Fraxinus americana

A largely coastal tree with an open rounded crown; bark dark gray and 

heavily ridged and furrowed; leaves smallish, thick, persisting through the 

winter; fruit an acorn with a deep turbinate cupule.

Quercus virginiana

Our most fire-tolerant pine; among other adaptations, this species has a 

unique “grass stage” during which terminal buds are kept low to the 

ground while starch is being stored in a large taproot to fuel rapid height 

growth later.

Pinus palustris

Small prolific tree with rhombic-deltoid leaves and milky latex; nice red 

fall color, but our worst terrestrial invasive exotic.

Triadica sebifera

Large shrub, leaves alternate simple, oblanceolate, margins often toothed 

near apex; weedy species with root nodules harboring a N-fixing 

bacterium; aromatic, fruits used in candle-making.

Morella cerifera

Lonicera japonica

This shrub is a high-climbing, invasive exotic, often edge species. It is preferred deer browse, sometimes called “Deer Ice Cream” Opposite simple

Quercus nigra

Typical leaves of this large weedy oak are spatulate; however, leaves of seedlings and saplings vary wildly in shape

Ulmus americana

Large tree, bark light grayish brown and flaky, twigs slender, leaves alternate simple, leaf margins doubly serrate, leaf bases asymmetrical

Rubus trivilais

Shrub with trailing stems, the stems and leaves armed with prickles; leaves alternate and compound with 3 or 5 leaflets; delicious compound fruit in May and June; preferred deer browse

Populus deltoides

Bark of this classic riverfront pioneer species is brownish, ridged and furrowed with thick corky ridges; twigs are stout; fruits are capsules, seeds are tiny with a tuft of hairs for wind dispersal

Acer negundo

Axillary buds of this small riparian/floodplain tree are hidden beneath dilated petiole bases; leaves are compound; fruit is a samaroid schizocarp maturing in late fall

Ilex vomitoria

This species is used to make a caffeinated tea

Ardisia crenata

Exotic evergreen shrub with leaf nodules harboring a symbiotic bacterium

Prunus caroliniana

Tissues of this evergreen shrub to small tree, with the exception of fleshy parts of fruits, are cyanide-toxic; leaves alternate simple; mesophyte that is often common on steep ravine slopes

Acer rubrum var. drummondii

Fruit is a samaroid schizocarp maturing in late winter/early spring (quite noticeable around Mardi Gras time)

Acer rubrum var. drummondii (Red Maple)

The samaroid schizocarps of this medium-sized tree are very conspicuous this time of year. This taxon occupies wetter sites in bottomland hardwoods and is also an associate of cypress-tupelo swamps.

Populus deltoides

This classic riverfront pioneer species has stout twigs and triangular simple leaves with coarsely-toothed margins; it also is fast-growing, and can attain great height and diameter (as you have seen during lab); fruit is a capsule, seeds are equipped with a tuft of hairs for wind dispersal.

Liquidambar styraciflua

A large tree with alternate leaves, stout twigs, and numerous spur branches; leaves are palmately-lobed and veined; mesophyte, growing to huge sizes on fertile loamy soil.

Ulmus americana

A large tree with alternate simple leaves; bark is flaky and grayish brown; twigs are slender; this tree has been flowering over the past few weeks and is now starting to produce fruit.

Acer negundo

Small riparian tree with opposite compound leaves; twigs have connecting v-shaped leaf scars.

Ardisia crenata

Low-growing evergreen shrub capable of reproducing in deep shade; leaves alternate simple; invasive exotic.

Lonicera japonica

An invasive exotic shrub that is pervasive in our region; leaves tardily deciduous, opposite simple, blades oval shaped, margins entire (often crisped); fruit a dull black drupe maturing in late fall; affects forests and grasslands (can take full sun).

Celtis laevigata

Medium tree with distinctive pale grey bark with a varying amount of corky wart-like projections; leaves alternate simple; fruit an edible orange/red drupe maturing in fall and drying and persisting on trees thru winter; FACW but extending into mesic habitats.

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Medium to large tree of bottomland hardwoods and wetter hardwood flatwoods; leaves opposite, once-pinnately compound; bark with distinctive corky ridges interlacing to form a diamond pattern.

Gleditsia triacanthos

This anachronistic tree is usually well-armed (Bring it on mastodons!), and has sugary indehiscent pods.

Liquidambar styraciflua

Fast Growing, Large-massive tree, Alternate, Star-shaped, Palmately-Serrated leaves, TSE, Prickly globose fruit, Storax (resin) when wounded

Ligustrum lucidum

Exotic-Invasive Large multi-trunk shrub, Evergreen, Opposite, Simple-elliptic, Glossy-leathery leaves, Shiny Dark blueish-black drupes

Fagus grandifolia

Deciduous, Alternate, Serrated-elliptic, Often crisped (waved), thin-papery pinnate leaves. Pseudo terminal buds, easy to carve smooth-bark, Cigar shape buds, Triangle seeds

Quercus alba

Large tree, Leaves vary in shape, Loose flaky bark, Alternate, Deeply-lobed, rounded leaves, clustered axillary buds, Short- light brown Acorns

Quercus texana

Alternate, Acute lobes, bristle tips, Smooth undersides with tufts of hair at vein connections, Scaly projection (nipple-like) acorns with vertically striped cupules, cupules are deep and bowl shaped

Tillandsia usneoides

Evergreen Epiphytic plant, Alternate simple. Elongated scale-like leaves, grayish-green, slightly fuzzy/hair texture, Hangs off live oak branches, hair-like appearance

Quercus michauxii

Greyish-brown, rough and deeply furrowed bark, Largest acorns, Low or wet soils, Alluvial floodplains and wetlands, Simple alternate, toothed-lobes, obovate, smooth-dark green

Quercus pagoda

Dark reddish-brown bark, alternate simple lobed with bristle tips, Fuzzy all underneath leaf, Ovoid shape acorns, Bottomland Hardwood

Ligustrum sinense

Exotic species with slender bark and multi-trunked. It has small opposite arrangement leaves and black drupes.

Taxodium distichum

Deciduous conifer, longest lived tree in southeast flora. Has knees for gas exchange. Has catkins.

Carya cordiformis

Often has woodpecker holes and diamond patterns on bark. Has an accessory structure with a nut with a husk. Yellow trichomes on husk. Monoecious with catkins.

Magnolia virginiana

An ornamental plant. Is a shrubby, small tree. Slow-growing when stressed. Has lichens on bark. Faint, ring-like scars on nodes.

Smilax smallii

Evergreen, alternate shrubby vine. Has tendrils and prickles randomly distributed and prickly at base. Preferred deer browse.

Baccharis halimfolia

Pappus flowers. Found in old fields and woodlands. Looks green, gray at a distance. Shrub, usually about 12’ tall.

Carya glabra

Odd, pinnately compound tree. Moderately stout twigs. Has catkins and small nut enclosed in a husk-fruit. Wood is dense and hard, used for fuel wood.

Magnolia grandifolia

Large, white fragrant flowers. Found all over Louisiana - state flower. Young twigs are covered with brown, felt-like hairs.

Phoradendron leucarpum

Grows in other trees, and prefers a temperate biome. A hemiparasitic epiphyte.

Quercus phellos

Tree with dark gray, ridged bark. Tends to live in wet climates and has the smallest acorn in our flora.

Rubus argutus

Shrub with many prickles. Tends to be found around woodland borders and in meadows. Fruits in June-july

Ilex decidua

A large multi-trunked shrub with numerous spur branches. Has a multipitted drupe that is preferred deer browse and fruits late fall.

Sabal minor

Evergreen shrub with a wide reach throughout the south. It’s costa is weakly palmate, and the abaxial surface faces outward.

Carya aquatica

Tree with flakey pale gray bark and sickle-shaped leaflets that falcate. Tend to live in big river bottom hardwoods or small stream forests.

Packera glabella

Yellow flower with a hollow stem and purple stripes. Likes sunny areas and is typically preferred crawfish food.