Introduction to Winter Tree Identification
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Transcript of Introduction to Winter Tree Identification
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…