Dendrology Exam #3

Rosaceae Family (Species We Have to Know)

Cataegus spp (Hawthorns)

Prunus serotina (Black cherry)

Prunus americana (Wild plum)

ID Tips for Crataegus spp.

Extremely variable leaf, but is strongly serrated to doubly serrated

Can also appear to be lobed

Thorny

White to pinkish flowers

Fruit is red and cherry-sized

Economic Importance of Crataegus spp.

Fruit is edible and can be made into jams and jellies, made into candied in Japan

Has been used to create hedgerows

Ecological important of Crataegus spp.

Food and cover for many wildlife

ID Tips for Prunus serotina

Small glands on leaf petiole

Bark on young tree and branches is relatively smooth with many lenticels

Prolifically flowers when mature, typically in early springs

Produces "Cherries"

Economic Importance of Prunus serotina

Used to make jams and jellies by pioneers

Bark can be used to make cough medicine

Ecological importance of Prunus serotina

Cherries consumed by many wildlife, leaves contain cyanide and have poisoned cattle

Lumber value of Prunus serotina

Very valuable, can rival black walnut in price

Importance of Prunus Americana

excellent planting for wildlife deer browse leaves and many wildlife enjoy the fruit

Makes good cover

Important Families in Order Fagales

Betulaceae, Fagaceae, and Juglandaceae

Important genus in the Betulaceae family

Alnus spp (Alders), Carpinus spp (Hornbeams), Ostrya spp (Hophornbeams) , and Betula spp (Birches)

Where is Alnus Spp. usually found?

Prefers wet soils along streams and lakes

Alnus spp. lumber value

None

Alnus spp ecological value

Valuable cover and food for wildlife, male catkins are edible although very bitter, though not a legume they are nitrogen fixers

Carpinus caroliniana ID Tips

Smooth, sinewy bark

Male catkins are fairly persistant

Produced a closer of nutlets

Carpinus caroliniana lumber value

Extremely dense, tough wood

but rarely grows large enough for lumber (although has been used for tool handles)

Ecological importance of Carpinus caroliniana

Commonly found in bottomland, wet soils

Important food of squirrels in bottomland hardwood forests

Browsed by deer

Ostrya virginiana ID Tips

Similar to Carpinus caroliniana but has shreds bark

Male catkins are commonly present

Fruit is supposed to resemble hops (used for making beer)

Ostrya virginiana lumber value

Dense, tough wood but rarely grows large enough for lumber but has been used to make tool handles

Ostrya virginiana ecological importance

Commonly found in bottomland, wet soils, in north. very important food for ruffed grouse

Betula nigra ID Tips

Strongly doubly serrate with triangular leaf base

Smooth bark, but very shreddy, papery

Only birch found in Southeast

Betula nigra ecological importance

Bottomlands species, seeds consumed by wildlife but not extensively

Betula alleghaniensis ID Tips

Smooth bark that is very shreddy

Although alternate, pairs of leaves at each node

Scraping the stem will result in a strong wintergreen smell

Betula lenta ID Tips

Cracks in bark, but is not shreddy

Dull, never shiny bark

Older bark will be normal

Lumber value of Betula alleghaniensis

Excellent lumber, used for furniture and flooring

Economic value of Betula alleghaniensis

Tapped for syrup which is used to make birch beer

Ecological value of Betula alleghaniensis

Seeds are consumed but not a major mast, several lepidopterans use the tree

Most famous member of the chinkapin group?

American Chestnut (Castanea dentata)

History/importance/lumber of Castanea dentata

Used to be most extensive and largest tree in Appalachia

Many structures from it survive today (reclaiming chestnut)

Almost completely exterminated by fungal blight accidentally introduced in Chinese chestnut trees

Young trees can still grow but will not get larger than 20ft

Valuable lumber

Castanea dentata ID Tips

"Teeth" look like fish hooks

Will not grow into full trees unless a hybrid

Fagus grandifolia ID Tips

Bark is smooth, leaf distinctly parallel veined

Buds distinctly pointed

Produces a distinct fruit "beech nut"

Leaves are often persistent through winter

Lumber value of Fagus grandifolia

Important, used for furniture and flooring

Best lumbers to use for bentwood furtinute

Ecological value of Fagus grandifolia

Beech nuts are an important mast for wildlife

Two Oak Groups

Red and White

Red Oaks of TN

Q. rubra (N Red)

Q. falcata (S Red)

Q. coccinea (Scarlett)

Q. palustris (Pin)

Q. imbricaria (Shingle)

Q. phellos (Willow)

Q. nigra (water)

Q. marilandica (Blackjack)

Q. velutina (Black)

Q. shumardii (Shumards)

Q. pagoda (Cherrybark)

Q. texana (Nuttall's)

White Oaks of TN

Q. alba (White)

Q. bicolor (Swamp White)

Q. lyrata (Overcup)

Q. montana (Chesnut)

Q. michauxii (Swamp chestnut)

Q. muehlenbergii (Chinkapin)

Q. stellata (Post)

Q. prinoides (Dwarf chinkapin)

Q. margaretta (Sand post)

Q. macrocarpa (Bur)

Quercus phellos ID Tips

No lobes, normal leaf, very narrow (much longer than wide)

Quercus imbricaria ID Tips

No lobes, normal leaf, more oval (slightly longer than wide)

Quercus nigra ID Tips

No lobes, wider at apex than base, spatula-shaped, leaf smaller than hand

Quercus marilandica ID Tips

No lobes, wider at apex than base, broad sometimes wavy apex leaf larger than hand

Quercus bicolor ID Tips

Lobed, wavy shallow lobes, 6-8 lobes on each side

Quercus muehlenbergii ID Tips

Lobed, wavy shallow lobes, greater than 8 lobes, incurved lobes more teeth like

Quercus micahuxii ID TIps

Lobed, wavy shallow lobes, greater than 8 lobes, more rounded lobes not incurved, bottomland, flaky bark

Quercus montana ID Tips

Lobes, wavy shallow lobes, greater than 8 lobes, more rounded lobes not incurved, upland, deeply furrowed bark

Quercus stellata ID TIps

Lobed, lobes at leas 1/4 leaf deep, lobes form a Russian orthodox crucifix

Quercus alba ID TIps

Lobed, lobes at least 1/4 leaf deep, rounded lobes typically deep into the leaf

Quercus flacata ID Tips

Lobes, lobes at least 1/4 leaf deep, jagged lobes, leaf base is rounded often 3-lobes or longer than wide, drooping

Quercus coccinea ID Tips

Lobes, lobes at least 1/4 leaf deep, jagged lobes, leaf base acute or truncate, lobe sinuses very deep, close to midrib, sinuses towards leaf base curved, shaped like a C

Quercus palustris ID TIps

Lobed, lobes at least 1/4 leaf deep, jagged lobes, leaf base acute or truncate, lobe sinuses very deep, close to mid rib, sinuses towards leaf base straight, tree can be very branchy

Quercus rubra ID Tips

Lobed, lobes at least 1/4 leaf deep, jagged lobes, leaf base acute or truncate, lobe sinuses typically not more than 1/2 to midrib, Lobes are usually less than 1/4 way to midrib, shallow, trunk overall dark but with white stripes patches

Quercus lyrata ID Tips

Lobed, lobes at least 1/4 leaf deep, jagged lobes, leaf base acute or truncate, lobe sinuses typically not more than 1/2 to midrib, Lobesgreater than 8 on each size, leaf base very narrow triangle leaf much longer than wide, lobes generally more rounded, acorn has extensive cap

Quercus velutina ID TIps

Lobed, lobes at least 1/4 leaf deep, jagged lobes, leaf base acute or truncate, lobe sinuses typically not more than 1/2 to midrib, Lobes greater than 8 on each side, Leaf base more straight, normal acorn, very glossy, leathery leaf sinuses can be shallow pubescent vein junctions underneath, buds often pubescent

Quercus pagoda ID TIps

Lobed, lobes at least 1/4 leaf deep, jagged lobes, leaf base acute or truncate, lobe sinuses typically not more than 1/2 to midrib, Lobes greater than 8 on each size, Leaf base more straight normal acorn, Not glossy, not dark green, most sinuses 1/2 to midrib, portion of leaf forms a distinct triangular structure, similar to a Japanese pagoda

Quercus shumardii

Lobed, lobes at least 1/4 leaf deep, jagged lobes, leaf base acute or truncate, lobe sinuses typically not more than 1/2 to midrib, Lobes greater than 8 on each size, Leaf base more straight normal acorn, Not glossy, not dark green, most sinuses 1/2 to midrib, Upper 3 lobes of leaf can resemble maple leaf

Ulmaceae in TN

Ulmus alata, Ulmus americana, Ulmus rubra

Ulmus alata ID Tips

Corky wings on branches

Leaves asymmetrical but not as strongly as other elms

Lumber value of Ulmus alata

Rarely achieves marketable size

Ecological value of Ulmus alata

Produces wind-blown samaras not a major food source but are consumed

Considered a weed

Ulmus americana ID Tips

Leaf VERY asymmetrical

If it is rough, only on one side

Lighter colored buds

Widest point on leaf is below halfway

Ulmus rubra ID TIps

Leaf is very asymmetrical

Rough on both sides

Widest point on leaf is above halfway

Lumber value for Ulmus americana and Ulmus rubra

Very hard, used to make hockey sticks

Hamamelidaceae in TN

Hamamelis virginiana

Hamamelis virginiana ID Tips

Asymmetrical leaf

Undulated or wavy margin

Naked terminal bud, yellow scraggly looking flower

Flowers in fall rather than spring

Hamamelis virginiana is famous for/uses....

Making divining forks to search for water

Extract derived from it which is an astringent used to reduce inflammation

Ecological value of Hamamelis virginiana

Cover for wildlife but not an important food (although caterpillar species feed on it)

Altingiaceae in TN

Liquidambar styraciflua

Liquidambar styraciflua ID Tips

Star-shaped leaf, gumboil fruit (technically a capsule, true seeds are small and winged)

Shiny buds

Lumber value of Liquidambar styraciflua

Very important lumber, commonly used for plywood

Ecological value of Liquidambar styraciflua

Minor wildlife important commonly form dense thickets after a clesaarcut, used by deer for cover

Platanaceae in TN

Platanus occidentalis

Platanus occidentalis ID Tips

Very blotchy bark with lots of white

Maple-liike leaf but alternate and much larger

Leaf underside pubescent

Fruiting structure can resemble L. styraciflua but doesn't have irregular surface

Leaf petiole completely encloses the bud

Lumber value of Platanus occidentals

Used in the past for butcher blocks

Ericaceae in TN

Oxydendrum arboreum, Rhododendron maximum, Rhododendron canescens, Rhododendron periclymenoides, and Vaccinium

Oxydendrum arboreum ID Tips

Leaf about twice as long as wide, looks entire but is finely serrated, leaves have a sour taste when chewed, very small puds, flowers persistent

Lumber value of Oxydendrum arboreum

Not valuable

Ecological.economic importance of Oxydendrum arboreum

Bee honey source

Salicaceae in TN

Populous deltoides and Salix nigra

Populous deltoides ID Tips

Triangular leaf with wavy/undulate margin

Produces copious amounts of seeds wind-dispersed in a very cotton -like medium

Bark on older trees light-colors, deeply furrowed

Ecological value/importance of Populous deltoides

Requires bare soil to germinate, common pioneer on freshly eroded river bank and newly created sandbars

Very fast growing making wood soft

Provides cover for wildlife but seed has almost no nutrient value

Lumber value of Populous deltoides

Rarely harvested due to poor wood quality

Salix nigra ID Tips

Very lanceolate leaves with tiny buds, finely serrated

Bark light-colored deeply furrowed

Salix nigra ecological value

Indicator of wet soils commonly found next to ponds and lakes

Lumber value of Salix nigra

Only Salix spp to reach harvestable size, in the past used to make artificial limbs

Today it is considered a trash tree, only cut for pulpwood

Economic importance of Salix nigra (past)

Salicin in its bark, used to make aspirin

Cannabaceae in TN

Celtis laevigata and Celtis occidentalis

ID Tips for Celtis spp.

Warty bark, leaves have 3 veins at base and produce a similar fruit

Difference between C laevigata and C. occidentalis

C. laevigata is not as strongly serrated and has a much smaller leaf

Lumber value of Celtis spp.

Used for furniture

Ecological value of Celtis spp.

Fruit is edible

Found in lowlands and along river/creek edges

Malvaceae in TN

Tilia americana

Tilia americana ID Tips

Large, somewhat cordite leaf; serrated

3 distinct veins at leaf base

Leaf base can be asymmetrical

If present, very distinct fruiting structure

Ecological value of Tilia americana

Seeds are considered fair for wildlife, eaten primarily by chipmunks, mice, and squirrels

Lumber value of Tilia americana

Wood is soft but still used for furniture and instruments

Moraceae in TN

Maclura pomifera, Morus rubra

Maclura pomifera information

Technically not native but naturalized

Maclura pomifera ID Tips

Fruit is large and fairly persistent

thorny

Bark has an orange hue

Lumber value of Maclura pomifera

No commercial value, used as fencing before barb wire, used as windbreak afterwards, rot resistant used as fence posts

Ecological value of Maclura pomifera

Not much wildlife value outside of cover, although squirrels tear apart the hedge apple for its seeds

Morus spp ID Tips

Several leaf morphs, 3 distinct veins at leaf base, fruit looks like a blackberry,

Lumber value of Morus spp.

Native Americans used its wood for smoking sweet taste