Nomenclature

All trees have one or more names by which they are commonly known. A name can be based on distinct features (shagbark hickory), locality (Virginia pine), use (sugar maple), habitat (swamp maple), a commemoration (Engelmann spruce); a name can also be an adaptation of a name from another language (sassafras). Common names can vary from place to place, resulting in some confusion. Therefore, it is helpful to know the scientific, or Latin, name as well.

The scientific name consists of two parts: a generic name (genus), referring to the group the tree belongs to, and a specific name, identifying the individual species. The scientific name is universally recognized and unique to a particular tree. (See Appendix 3 for common and scientific names.)

Identification

With practice you will learn to recognize most of the major forest trees. It is necessary to know taxonomic keys for identifying unfamiliar species. Before attempting to use a taxonomic key, first become familiar with distinguishing features of trees—leaves, fruit, bark, twigs, flowers, shape, and habitat.