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Tree Identification 101

Pete SmithTexas Big Tree Registry CoordinatorTexas Forest ServiceCollege Station, [email protected]‐458‐6650

Benny Simpson (1988): “having a single trunk or multiple trunks, growing to 12 feet or more in height, and being definitely woody.”

Merriam‐Webster Online: “a woody perennial plant having a single usually elongate main stem generally with few or no branches on its lower part.”

Tree Identification 101What is a tree?

Elbert Little, Jr. (1979): “a woody plant having one erect perennial stem or trunk at least three inches in diameter at breast height, a more or less definitely formed crown of foliage, and a height of at least 13 feet.”

Impressive size:

• Tallest living thing (379 feet) is a coast redwood

• ‘General Sherman’ giant sequoia has trunk volume of over 52,000 ft.3

Useful:

• Fuel, shelter, agriculture,…, art, culture

Tree Identification 101Why are trees important to us?

Long‐lived:

• African baobab may reach 6,000 years

• Bristlecone pine rings show 4,844 years

United States:

• 826 species recognized by American Forests’National Register of Big Trees (2008)

• USDA’s Checklist of U.S. Trees (1979) includes 679 native and 69 naturalized species (748)

Texas: 319 species recognized in Texas Big Tree Registry

Tree Identification 101How many are there?

Worldwide: as many as 100,000, which may represent up to 25% of all plants

Geography: the natural range of a species

Genetics: new information on ‘relatedness’ of organisms

Tree Identification 101How do we tell them apart?

Morphology: the form, structure and configuration of an organism

Plant Taxonomy: a branch of science that describes, classifies, and names plants.

Plant Classification

KingdomPhylum (or Division)

ClassOrder

FamilyGenus

species

Mnemonic device: King Phillip came over from greater Spain


Binomial System of Nomenclature

“live oak”

=

Quercus virginiana

or

Quercus virginiana

• Gymnosperms – conifers

• Angiosperms – flowering plants– Monocots – grassy plants

– Dicots – broadleaf plants



Kingdom – Plantae (“plants”)

Phylum (or Division) – Magnoliophyta (“flowering plants”)

Class – Magnoliopsida (“dicots”)

Order – Fagales

Family – Fagaceae

Genus – Quercus (“oaks”)

species – virginiana (“live oak”)

Example: “live oak”

Principles of Identification

• Differences based on:– reproductive structures (cones, flowers or fruit)

– habitat/range

– tree form

– twigs, buds– bark, wood

– leaves

Leaves that are verylarge, and fan‐shaped

Leaf Key for Texas TreesMy tree has…

Leaves that areneedle‐like

Leaves that arefeather‐like

Leaves that arescale‐like or awl‐like

Leaves that arecompound, alternate

Leaves that aresimple, opposite

Leaves that aresimple, alternate

Leaves that arecompound, opposite

Leaves that areevergreen; male flowerclusters are 6‐12” long


Leaves that aredeciduous; male flowerclusters are <6” long

1) Leaves that are feather‐like, AND…

baldcypressTaxodium distichum

Secondary Name(s): bald cypress

Leaf type: deciduous

Texas Native: yes

Leaves Trunk Cones


Foliage bluish‐gray;fruit is a woody cone

1) Leaves that are scale‐like or awl‐like, AND…

Foliage green; fruit isa berry‐like cone


is found inEast Texas

1) Leaves that are scale‐like or awl‐like, AND…2) Foliage green; fruit is a berry‐like cone, AND…

is found inWest Texas

is found in Central Texas& Edwards Plateau

Ashe juniperJuniperus ashei

Secondary Name(s): mountain cedar

Leaf type: evergreen

Texas Native: yes

Leaves and conesTrunk and bark


Leaflets arrangedpalmately

1) Leaves that are compound, oppositely attached to twig, AND…

Leaflets arrangedpinnately

Leaf Key for Texas TreesMy tree has…1) Leaves that are compound, oppositely attached to twig, AND…

2) Leaflets that are arranged pinnately, AND…

Leaflets 7‐9Leaflets 5(sometimes 7)

Leaflets 3 (sometimes 5), with coarse teeth

boxelderAcer negundo

Secondary Name(s): ash‐leaf maple


Texas Native: yes

TwigFruit

Leaf Key for Texas TreesMy tree has…1) Leaves that are compound, alternately attached to twig, AND…

Leaves are double‐compound (4 or more pinnae)

Leaves arebi‐pinnate (just 2 sets of pinnae)

Leaves areonce‐compound


2) Leaves that are once‐compound, AND…

Leaves with 3 leaflets only

(DON’T TOUCH)

Leaves with aneven numberof leaflets

Leaves with5‐9 leaflets

Leaves with 11or more leaflets

Leaflets alternatealong the rachis

western soapberrySapindus saponaria var. drummondii

Secondary Name(s): wild china, jaboncillo


Texas Native: yes

Fruit Bark


2) Leaves that are once‐compound, AND…

Leaves with 3 leaflets only

(DON’T TOUCH)

Leaves with aneven numberof leaflets

Leaves with5‐9 leaflets

Leaflets alternatealong the rachis

Leaves with 11or more leaflets

1) Leaves that are compound, alternately attached to twig, AND…2) Leaves that are once‐compound, AND…


Twigs have a pairof short spines at leaf base

Branches and twigswith long thorns

3) Leaves with 11 or more leaflets, AND…

Branches, twigs, and leaves w/o prickles or thorns



Leaflet marginsbluntly‐toothed(crenate‐serrate)

Leaflet marginswithout teeth

3) Leaves with 11 or more leaflets, AND…4) Branches, twigs, and leaves w/o prickles or thorns, AND…

Leaflets finely‐toothed; largest ones in middle

Leaflets finely‐toothed; largest ones at leaf end



Leaflets 7‐13, less than 1” wide; nut flattened; wet areas in East Texas

3) Leaves with 11 or more leaflets, AND…4) Branches, twigs, and leaves w/o prickles or thorns, AND…

5) Leaflets finely‐toothed; largest ones at leaf end:

Leaflets 9‐17, 1‐2” wide;found statewide

pecanCarya illinoinensis

Secondary Name(s):


Texas Native: yes

Leaves Twig Flower Fruit


Leaves are double‐compound (4 or more pinnae)

Leaves areonce‐compound

Leaves arebi‐pinnate (just 2 sets of pinnae)


2) Leaves that are bi‐pinnate (just two sets of pinnae), AND…

Leaflets oval,fruit is a coiled

pod

Leaves long, narrow,with many tiny

leaflets

Leaflets 10‐20,linear ,up to 2”long by ¼” wide

honey mesquite

Secondary Name(s): mesquite


Texas Native: yes

Bipinnate leaf Fruit & Flowers

Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa

Leaf Key for Texas TreesMy tree has…1) Leaves that are simple, oppositely attached to twig, AND…

Leaves are oval, round, or elliptical

Leaves areheart‐shaped

Leaves are lobed


2) Leaves that are lobed, AND…

Leaf edge smooth Leaf edge withteeth


2) Leaves that are lobed, AND…

Sinuses between the3‐5 lobes are shallow,

angular

3) Leaf edge with fine teeth, AND…

Sinuses between the5‐7 lobes are deep,

acute

Sinuses between the3‐5 lobes are deep,

rounded

silver mapleAcer saccharinum

Secondary Name(s):


Texas Native: no

Leaves Twig Fruit

Leaf Key for Texas TreesMy tree has…1) Leaves that are simple, alternately attached to twig, AND…


Leaves arefan‐shaped

Leaves are star‐shaped

Leaves are heart‐shaped (cordate)

Leaves arepalmately lobed

Leaves arepinnately lobed

Leaves are ovate (wider at bottom than top)

Leaves are obovate(wider at top than bottom)

Leaves arelinear or lanceolate

Leaves aretriangular (deltoid)


1) Leaves that are simple, alternately attached to twig, AND…2) Leaves that are triangular (deltoid), AND…

Leaf edge smooth;leaf base wedge‐shaped

Leaf edge coarsely‐toothed (dentate)

eastern cottonwoodPopulus deltoides ssp. deltoides

Secondary Name(s):


Texas Native: yes

Leaf Twig & Buds Flowers


1) Leaves that are simple, alternately attached to twig, AND…2) Leaves that are palmately lobed, AND…

Leaves with justone or two lobes (mitten‐shaped)

Leaves large; leafedge with several

large teeth

American sycamorePlatanus occidentalis

Secondary Name(s): American planetree, buttonwood


Texas Native: yes

LeafBark Fruit


1) Leaves that are simple, alternately attached to twig, AND…2) Leaves that are pinnately lobed, AND…

Lobes bristle‐tipped

Lobes shallow,indistinct, or irregular

Lobes withoutbristle tips



Leaves less than6” long

3) Lobes without bristle‐tips, AND…

Leaves 6” longor more



Leaves with regularlobes, sinuses often

deep

3) Lobes without bristle‐tips, AND…4) Leaves 6” long or more, AND…

Top third of leafroughly‐toothed;

acorn large

bur oakQuercus macrocarpa

Secondary Name(s): mossycup oak


Texas Native: yes

Leaf FlowersFruit


1) Leaves that are simple, alternately attached to twig, AND…2) Leaves that are linear or lanceolate, AND…

Leaves arebristle‐tipped

Leaves are <0.5” wide,leaf edge smooth

Leaf edge isfinely‐toothed

black willowSalix nigra

Secondary Name(s):


Texas Native: yes

Leaves FruitBark


1) Leaves that are simple, alternately attached to twig, AND…2) Leaves that are oval, round, or elliptical, AND…

Leaf edge iscoarsely‐toothed

Leaf edge is bluntly‐or remotely‐toothed

Leaf edgeis spiny


(serrate)

Leaf edge isdouble‐toothed

Leaf edge iswithout teeth

(entire)



3) Leaf edge is double‐toothed, AND…

Leaf base isstrongly lopsided

Leaf base is roundedor wedge‐shaped

American elmUlmus americana

Secondary Name(s): white elm


Texas Native: yes

TwigLeaf Bark





Leaf edgeis spiny



(serrate)


(entire)



3) Leaf edge is finely‐toothed, AND…

Leaf upper surfaceis smooth, glossy

Leaf upper surfaceis smooth, dull

Leaf upper surface istextured; prominent

veins below

Leaf upper surface isrough, like sandpaper

cedar elmUlmus crassifolia

Secondary Name(s): Texas elm


Texas Native: yes

Leaves FruitTwig





Leaf edgeis spiny



(serrate)


(entire)



3) Leaf edge is without teeth (entire), AND…

Leaves that are 6‐8”long,evergreen, leathery

Leaves thatare<6” long



3) Leaf edge is without teeth (entire), AND…4) Leaves that are <6” long, AND…

Leaves that aresemi‐evergreen; topsurface is very rough

Leaves that aredeciduous, thin

Leaves that areevergreen, leathery



Leaves give offfragrant odorwhen crushed


5) Leaves that are evergreen, leathery:

Large, spreading tree;fruit is an acorn

Dark red bark peels awayto reveal smooth, cream‐colored bark beneath

live oakQuercus virginiana

Secondary Name(s): coast live oak

Leaf type: evergreen

Texas Native: yes

Leaves FruitForm



Leaves that areevergreen, leathery


Leaves that aresemi‐evergreen; topsurface is very rough

Leaves that aredeciduous, thin



Small tree or shrub;veins parallel


5) Leaves that are deciduous and thin:

Branching is oftenstrongly horizontal;

bark is blocky

Ornamental tree or shrubwith gray, peeling bark;often multi‐trunked

crapemyrtleLagerstroemia indicans

Secondary Name(s): crepemyrtle, crape myrtle


Texas Native: no

FlowersLeaf Multi‐trunk Form

Other Resources

• Websites:http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/natives/http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/idit.htmhttp://www.oplin.org/tree/

• Books:Forest Trees of Texas: how to know them, Texas Forest Service

A Field Guide to Texas Trees, Benny Simpson

Texas Trees: a friendly guide, Paul Cox & Patty Leslie

Trees, Shrubs, & Woody Vines of the Southwest, Robert Vines

Trees & Shrubs of the Trans‐Pecos, Michael Powell

Questions?

http://texastreeid.tamu.edu

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