Introduction to Winter Tree Identification

Coniferous Trees These are trees that hold on to their

leaves all year round.

Their leaves are needle or scale-like.

These forests are home to many fur-bearing animals.

Alternate names: Evergreens Softwoods

Coniferous Trees

Needle-like leaves Scale-like leaves

Deciduous Trees These are trees that lose their leaves in the

winter.

These trees are harder in density, and are used for furniture and flooring.

A hardwood log will burn longer and hotter than a softwood log.

Alternate names: Hardwood Broad leaved trees

How to identify a tree?

Learn the tree identification features Know your environment or habitat

Wetland, upland, soil type Use a tree identification key Determine whether coniferous or

deciduous. Check to see bud or leaf arrangement

Tree Identification Features

1. Leaf, needle, scale-like leaf2. Twig and bud3. Bark4. Size and form5. Shade tolerance6. Seed7. Wood8. Region and habitat

1. Identifying by the leaf

A: Leaf type B: Arrangement on twig C: Leaf shape D: Leaf margin

A: Leaf Types

Compound vs. Simple Scale-like Needles

In bunches of 5 In bunches of 2 Simply on twig

A: Leaf Type

Simple undivided

Compound Divided into leaflets

A: Leaf Type

Scale-like

Needles

In bundles

of 5

In bundles

of 2

Singly on twig

B: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate Leaves grow alternately

on twig Opposite

Leaves grow opposite of each other on twig

Whorled Leaves grow in a circular

fashion on the twig

C: Leaf Shape

oval

reversed oval

heart-shaped

linear

cordate cuneate

D: Leaf Margins Smooth

Toothed

Wavy or lobed

2. Twig and Buds

Twig with opposite bud arrangement Twig with alternate bud arrangement Conifer twig

3. Bark

Varies by age and growth rate Identifying features:

Colour Structure (flaky, smooth, rough) Pattern (fissured, furrowed, flat ridges)

4. Form or Shape

Form refers to the shape of the crown, the branches and the trunk.

Each species has a characteristic form when grown in the open

5. Shade Tolerance

All tree species have a tolerance level for shade. Intolerant

Species that cannot survive in shaded conditions. They need direct sunlight to grow.

Intermediate Species that can survive in partially shaded conditions.

Tolerant Species that can live in shaded conditions

Shade Tolerance Chart

Tolerant Intermediate IntolerantHemlock White pine Red pine

Balsam fir Yellow birch Walnut

Ironwood Oak Butternut

Beech Elm Hickory

Sugar maple Ash White birch

Spruce Black cherry

Cedar Tamarack

Red maple Jack pine

Silver maple Willow

Basswood Aspens

Poplars

Grey birch

6. Region & Habitat

Soil structure, water conditions and sunlight all have an impact on species of trees growing in a region

Examples: Bog – black spruce, larch Upland, rocky terrain – sugar maple,

hickory, beech, red oak, jack pine Clay loam field – ash, basswood, elm

Coniferous

AKA: Evergreens, softwoods, needle-bearing treesClass: MagnoliopsidaDivision: Pinophyta

Coniferous leaf

Needles Clusters of 2, 3 and

5 needles per bundle

Scales Usually flat Waxy

Short needles or scales

In opposite or whorls

Eastern White Cedar Thuja occidentalis

L. AKA: Northern

white cedar, eastern thuja, eastern arbovitae

Needles

Bundles of 2, 3 and 5

Eastern White Pine Pinus strobus L. AKA: northern

white pine, weymouth pine

The only 5 needle pine in Eastern Canada.

Red Pine

Pinus resinosa Ait. AKA: Norway pine The only native 2 needle pine in

eastern Canada with long needles

Tamarack

Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch AKA: Larch Has tufts of soft needles in summer,

leaves turn brilliant yellow in fall and trees become leafless in winter.

Single, flat or 4-sided

Balsam Fir

Abies balsamea L. AKA: Canada balsam

White Spruce

Picea glauca (Voss) AKA: Cat spruce, skunk spruce,

pasture spruce, Canadian spruce

Eastern Hemlock

Tsuga canadensis Carriere

Deciduous

AKA: broadleaf, hardwoods, flowering trees

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Opposite pairs

Two leaves or buds are positioned on opposite sides of the stem

Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum Marsh. AKA: Hard maple, rock maple

Silver Maple

Acer saccharinum L. AKA: Soft maple

Red Maple

Acer rubrum L. AKA: Swamp maple, soft maple

White Ash

Fraxinus americana L. Compound leaf

Leaves alternate & compound

Butternut

Juglans cinerea L. AKA: White walnut

Leaves alternate and simple

Edges lobed

Bur Oak

Quercus macrocarpa Michx. AKA: Blue oak, mossycup oak

Leaves alternate and simple

Edges toothed

Basswood

Tilia americana L. AKA: American linden

White Birch

Betula papyrifera Marsh. AKA: Paper birch, canoe birch

Leaves alternate, simple, edges smooth

Bud arrangement

Winter Tree ID Key

Take a few minutes to go over your handout.

Highlight the important aspects, in order to help you differentiate types of trees.

Feel free to add notes. Sometimes coding helps the memory.

Activity – Name that tree

As a group, your objective will be to use your handout in order to name the type of tree displayed on each slide.

READY?

1) Name that tree…

2) Name that tree…

3) Name that tree…

4) Name That Tree…

5) Name That Tree…

6) Name That Tree…

7) Name That Tree…

8) Name That Tree…

9) Name that Tree

10) Name That Tree…

11)Name That Tree…

12) Name That Tree…

13) Name That Tree…

14) Name That Tree…

15) Name That Tree…

Final Score!!!

And the winner is…