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Lesson 7: Tree Identification

Outline:

Assignments

Read

“Tree Identification: Making a Study Collection.” Complete the activities 1, 2 (as detailed in the box below, make the plant press, collect and identify leaf/twig samples with the different characteristics, and identify examples of bark and silhouettes). Use What Tree Is That? A Guide to the More Common Trees Found in the Eastern and Central United States, undated and published by the National Arbor Society, Nebraska City, NE, as a reference. 

Fazio, James R. The Woodland Steward: A Practical Guide to the Management of Small Private Forests. Pages 13–19.

Tree Identification Assignment: Making a Study Collection

Collection: All parts of the tree are valuable as indicators for identification. However, it is not easy to collect some parts, such as bark; flowers and fruit are only available during certain times of the year and can prove difficult to preserve. Notes and photographs or sketches are acceptable as alternatives.

Twigs are available anytime. The best times for collecting them, however, are fall and winter, when they are dormant and all of their features are readily observable.

Leaves are extremely useful in tree identification because they are so varied and so easy to collect and preserve. To keep them from curling and drying out quickly, place them in a closed plastic bag with a damp paper towel, where they will stay fresh for several days. Later, place them in a plant press.

Be sure to label each sample with the leaf’s identity, if known, along with the date and tree location. Masking tape, wrapped around the stem, works well as a label.

Plant press: A plant press is easy to make with two pieces of plywood, about 12 inches x 18 inches; two pieces of cardboard of the same size; several yards of nylon webbing, rope, or leather straps; and some type of absorbent paper (blotter paper or newspaper).

To assemble, place one sheet of plywood on a flat surface. On top of this lay one piece of cardboard and a sheet or two of paper. Place the first plant sample on the paper along with your field observations. Arrange the leaves to be flat, then lay a second sheet of paper on top. Stack additional plant specimens on top, and place paper between each sheet of specimens. After arranging all plant materials, lay a final sheet or two of paper; place the second sheet of cardboard followed by the second piece of plywood on top. Finally, wrap the straps around the stack and tighten to apply pressure. To ensure that the leaves do not mold or turn yellow, replace the paper daily. Most leaves will dry in about a week.

Once the leaves have dried, glue them to paper. Label with the name of the plant, the date, and the location. If stored in a tight box with some mothballs, leaves will keep for many years.

Identification: The best and easiest place to identify trees is in the field where the entire plant can be observed in its natural environment. If positive identification in the field is a problem, collect as much information as possible about the site and the tree’s general growth characteristics. Include descriptions of the following: bark, including color and texture (or take a bark rubbing); leaves, flower, fruit, and twigs (or take samples).

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Following is a list of characteristics of twigs and leaves. Collect and identify 5 samples.

Twigs
1. Alternate branching pattern
2. Opposite branching pattern

Leaf Arrangement
1. Simple
2. Compound
3. Needle

Leaf Margin Characteristics
1. Smooth or entire
2. Dentate
3. Serrate
4. Lobed

Leaf Shape
1. Linear
2. Oval
3. Oblong
4. Ovate
5. Obovate
6. Elliptical
7. Lanceolate
8. Deltoid
9. Heart-shaped
10. Needlelike
11. Scalelike

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Identify 3 different examples of the following tree characteristics:

Bark

Make bark rubbings and describe texture, color, and thickness.

Silhouettes

Draw, describe, and name.

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