FRST 303 - Tree ID

Western Redcedar

Thuja plicata

• evergreen conifer w/ flat sprays of scale-like foliage

• scales = green w/ white stomatal marks below

• indeterminate (doesn’t form bud at end of growing season)

• monoecious (indiv tree produces both pollen and seed cones)

• can produce via layering

Seed cones = small and have 8-12 overlapping scales

Whitebark pine

Yellow cedar

Xanthocyparis nootkatensis

Foliage: drooping sprays of scale-like leaves, pressed to stem; arranged in alternating pairs of 2; has unpleasant, rank odour when crushed

Reproduction: pollen cones form at end of shoots (2-5mm long); seed cones globular, green, and berry-like when young

• mature after 2 years and split open, each featuring a triangular protrusion

Western red cedar vs. this:

• first is more flat and symmetrical; and seed cones are ovoid when young, upright, and have woody scales

• latter lacks distinct white stomata on underside of foliage

Flowering cherry

Cerasus sp.

Foliage: oval, pointed leaves w/ serrated margins; glands present on the petiole @ base of leaf

Reproduction: flowers vary but wild ones have 5 petals

• fruit are drupes

Ancient lineages and giants

Western Redcedar (Thuja plicata)

Ginkgo / Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo biloba)

Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana)

American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)

Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum)

Red Alder (Alnus rubra)

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

Regional hardwoods and classic conifers

Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)

Vine Maple (Acer circinatum)

Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum)

Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla)

Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta)

Black Cottonwood (Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa)

Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)

Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides)

Urban, ornamental, and exotic species

Japanese Cedar / Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica)

Garry Oak (Quercus garryana)

Arbutus / Madrone (Arbutus menziesii)

Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)

Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii)

Grand Fir (Abies grandis)

Western Larch (Larix occidentalis)

Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)

English Oak (Quercus robur)

Ginkgo/Maidenhair tree

Ginkgo biloba

Foliage: fan shape w/ parallel veins splitting in 2 (dichotomous venation)

• leaves from spur or short-shoots

• tend to be covered in lichens / bryophytes

Deciduous

Reproduction: dioecious (pollen and seeds produced on separate plants)

• seed covered w/ fleshy coat that has acid in it (looks like cherries kinda but isn’t)

Monkey Puzzle Tree

Araucaria araucana

Foliage: leaves v sharp, rigid, triangular; base of leaves clasp stem and are visible lines of stomata beneath

Reproduction: can be monoecious or diecious

• seed cones are 10-18cm long and disintegrate at maturity and pollen cones are fairly large too (7-15cm)

Sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua

Leaves: deciduous w/ 5, palmate lobes, slightly serrated margins and paler undersides, bright red in fall

For reproduction they produce fruit called capsules that split open

Maple vs. sweetgum

• maples = leaves are opposite

• sweetgum = alternate arrangement

Coast Redwood

Sequoia sempervirens

Foliage: depends on shade or sun

• shade: flat leaves, 30mm long, visible lines of stomata underneath, found lower in the canopy

• sun leaves: more scale-like and appressed to the stem;

All leaves spiral around stem but shade leaves lie flat and horizontal to capture most sunlight

Reproduction: monoecious (pollen and seed cones growing on seed plant), seed cones small, reddish-brown, spirally arranged scales that look like wrinkled lips

60-100m in height, straight trunks w/ burls and slight buttressing @ base, bark is red-brown

Giant Sequoia

Sequoiadendron giganteum

Foliage: sharp, pointed, scale-like leaves pressed spirally around stem, grows in sprays

Reproduction: cones are 4-9 cm long w/ many spirally arranged scales that look like wrinkled lips

• can remain closed and green for many years (unique to this species)

• cones are much larger than coast redwood w/ more scales and more seeds

Can reach 90m in height and are biggest orgs on planet by volume

Bark is fibrous, red, and furrowed

Red Alder

Alnus rubra

• it’s an early-successional species; v shade intolerant

Leaves = oval-shaped, and have double serrated margins (larger toothed edge has smaller teeth on it

• revolute (roll over slightly on the underside)

• alternate arrangement

Flowers grow on catkins

Bark is green when young and turns white grey with age; if damaged turns rusty red colour

Douglas Fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii

Foliage: needles long, flat, encircling twig; 2 lines of stomata visible underneath

• needles pointed, not sharp

• yellow green when fresh, turning darker green

Buds: red and pointed

Reproduction: pollen cones start out pink and then turn yellow; seed cones start out upright and pinkish and then turn green before maturing

• length and shape of the bracts (3 pointed and extend beyond cone sales)

Ponderosa Pine

Pinus ponderosa

• mature trees have thick, plated reddish bark with black crevices

Foliage: needles comes in fascicle bundles; needles come in fascicles of 3

Reproduction: seed cones take 2 years to fully develop and each scale has sharp prickle

Vine Maple

Acer circinatum

Foliage: leaves = alternate, palmately lobed w/ overall circular shape

• leaves turn yellow or red

Reproduction: flowers small, with 5 red-purple sepals and 5 white-yellow petals, and long white stamens

Baobabs

Western hemlock

Tsuga heterophylla

Bristlecone pine

Pinus longaeva

• longest living, non-clonal organisms on the planet

• even after death, trees can persist for many thousands of years

Foliage: needles in 5s; needle persistence longest of any known species and cuticle is thick and waxy against desiccation

Reproduction: seeds cones are 6-9.5 cm long at maturity, starting a deep purple and turning brown; scales pricked

Black cottonwood

Populus trichocarpa

Foliage: leaves pointed w/ lightly serrated margins

• upper side of leaves = deeper green and underside pale

Reproduction: dioecious, w/ pollen and fruit being produced on separate trees; fruits = capsules and split at 3 seams, releasing many seeds attached to cotton

Tulip Tree

Liriodendron tulipifera

Foliage: leaves w/ 4 main lobes occasionally with 2 smaller lobes at base on mature trees

• tip of leaves may be notched or straight across

Reproduction: flowers look superficially like tulips; fruits are an aggregate of samaras which are winged dry fruits

Palms

Trembling aspen

Populus tremuloides

Japanese Cedar / Sugi

Cryptomeria japonica

Foliage: awl-shaped needles, spirally arranged, slightly curving towards stem

Reproduction: seed cones 1-2cm wide, flower bud shaped with frilly, toothed scales

Red oak

Quercus rubra

Foliage: leaves alternate with 7-9 lobes and 3 points at the end of each lobe; buds sharp and pointed

Reproduction: pollen (catkins) and fruit bearing flowers (leaf axils produce acorn fruits) on separate structures

• pollen produced on long, drooping catkins

Arbutus / Madrone

Arbutus menziesii

• peeling red-brown bark, shiny evergreen leaves, twisted trunk

• leaves are thick, leathery, oval-shaped, with pale underside

• hard, bright red-orange berries after white, urn-shaped flowers

Sitka spruce

Picea sitchensis

• heights between 40-230 ft

• open crown structure

• needles are stiff, sharp, and 4 sided; 1 inch in length with blue-green hue on upper side and bluish-white tint under

Dawn redwood

Western Larch

Larix occidentalis