Dendrology: Tree Identification

POINT > Define forest, silviculture and dendrology POINT > Describe characteristics of conifers POINT > Describe characteristics of deciduous trees POINT > Identify leaf characteristics POINT > Use key to identify Minnesota trees

POINT > Define forest, silviculture and dendrology To be classified as forested, an area must be at least one acre and contain at least 10% tree cover.

Minnesota Biomes

Check: What are 3 biomes in Minnesota? What is defined as “forested” land?

POINT > Define forest, silviculture and dendrology Dendrology is the study of trees. This includes taxonomy, identification, silvical characteristics, ranges, morphology, and ecology

POINT > Define forest, silviculture and dendrology Taxonomy is the study of the classification of living things Morphology is the study of the shape, general appearance, or form of an organism Silviculture is the care and cultivation of forest trees

What makes a tree a tree? Height at least 4.5 meters (about 15 feet) full grown Single dominant woody stem (trunk) Capable of diameter growth Perennial (present at all seasons of the year)

What makes a shrub a shrub? Height under 4.5 meters (less than 15 feet) Multi-stemmed Capable of diameter growth Perennial plant

WB CHECK: Your neighbor has a plant in her backyard, and she’s not sure if it’s a tree or a shrub. How can you determine which it is? What is the study and care of forest trees called? What is the study of tree shape called?

Conifers vs. Deciduous Trees In the simplest sense there are two kinds of trees in the world.

POINT > Describe characteristics of conifers Needle-shaped leaves Seeds that develop inside cones Evergreen – stay green all year, including winter Examples: pine, spruce, hemlock, fir

POINT > Describe characteristics of conifers Scale-like leaves Needle-like leaves

POINT > Describe characteristics of conifers Leaves in clusters Single leaves

WB CHECK: What are two characteristics of conifer trees?

POINT > Describe characteristics of conifers Balsam fir Red pine Douglas fir White pine Fraser fir Scotch pine

POINT > Describe characteristics of deciduous trees Broad, flat leaves Lose all leaves each year in the fall Examples: oak, maple, beech, aspen, ash

Deciduous examples Red oak Elm Honey locust Red maple White birch Beech Crimson king Black locust

WB CHECK: What are two characteristics of deciduous trees?

POINT > Identify leaf characteristics The petiole: connects the leaf to the woody stem

POINT > Identify leaf characteristics Leaf arrangement: whorl, alternate, opposite Leaf type: simple or compound Leaf edge: smooth, lobed, toothed (serrated) Leaf texture: hairy, waxy, rough, smooth, thick, thin, etc.

POINT > Identify leaf characteristics Leaf arrangement: whorled alternate opposite

POINT > Identify leaf characteristics Leaf type: Simple Compound Sweet gum and ash

Simple Compound POINT > Identify leaf characteristics Made up of several leaflets Leaflets are joined to a midrib (petiole) that is not woody Examples: ash, walnut, sumac Only one leaf blade Joined by its stalk (petiole) to the woody stem Examples: maple, oak, aspen, beech

WB CHECK: What is the leaf arrangement? What is the leaf type?

POINT > Identify leaf characteristics Leaf edge: Lobed Smooth Toothed

POINT > Identify leaf characteristics Leaf texture: smooth, waxy, hairy, ribbed, etc

WB CHECK: What is the leaf arrangement? What is the leaf type? What type of leaf edge?

WB CHECK: What are two characteristics of leaves you could use for tree identification? What is a petiole?

Does it help to look through many leaves and find one that matches or is there a better way?

More characteristics to ID trees: Bark Twigs Flowers Fruits/Seeds Cones Overall shape

Team-based tree identification outside tomorrow, dress appropriately!