Tree Identification

American elm Ulmaceae Ulmus americana Leaf: Alternate, 3 to 6 inches long, 1 to 3 inches wide; margin coarsely and sharply doubly serrate, base of leaf conspicuously inequilateral; upper surface glabrous or slightly scabrous, paler and downy beneath. Flower: Appears March to May before leaf buds open, in fascicles of 3 to 5. Fruit: Rounded samaras, 3/8 to 1/2 inch across, deeply notched at apex, hairless except for margin; appears April to May. Twig: Slender, glabrous, slightly zigzag, reddish-brown; buds over 1/4 inch long, reddish-brown with darker edged scales, often placed a little to one side of the twig. Bark: Dark, ashy-gray, flat-topped ridges separated by diamond-shaped fissures; outer bark when sectioned shows distinct, alternating, buff colored and reddish-brown patches. When young it is often quite spongy. Form: In the open, the trunk is usually divided into several large, ascending and arching limbs, ending in a maze of graceful drooping branchlets.

American elm Ulmaceae Ulmus americana

Baldcypress Taxodiaceae Taxodium distichum Leaf: Linear and small, 1/4 to 3/4 inch long, green to yellow-green, generally appearing two-ranked. When growing on deciduous branchlets the leaf-deciduous branchlet structure resembles a feathery pinnately (or bi-pinnately) compound leaf. Flower: Males in drooping long panicles. Females are subglobose, peltate scales, and tend to occur near the end of branches. Fruit: Cones are composed of peltate scales forming a woody, brown sphere with rough surfaces, 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter. Cones disintegrate into irregular-shaped seeds. Twig: May be deciduous or not. Non-deciduous twigs are slender, alternate, brown, rough, with round buds near the end of the twig. Deciduous twigs are two-ranked, resembling pinnately compound leaves. Bark: Fibrous, red-brown but may be gray where exposed to the weather. Old, thick bark may appear somewhat scaly. Form: A large tree with a pyramid-shaped crown, cylindrical bole, fluted or buttressed base and often with knees.

Baldcypress Taxodiaceae Taxodium distichum

American basswood Tiliaceae Tilia americana Leaf: Alternate, simple, pinnately veined, ovate to cordate, 5 to 6 inches long, with serrate margins. The base is unequally cordate. Flower: Pale yellow, borne on pendulous cymes, with a narrow leaf-like bract. Maturing June to July. Fruit: A round, unribbed nutlet that is covered with gray-brown hair. The bract is persistent, 4 inches long when mature. Ripening September to October. Twig: Moderately stout, zigzag, red or green in color. The terminal bud is false. Buds are edible and very mucilaginous. Bark: Gray or brown, ridged with long shallow furrows. The bark appears very fibrous. Young stems are smooth and gray-green. Form: A medium-sized tree. Older trees very often sprout from the base when cut. Stumps sprout prolifically, often resulting in clumps of several trees.

American basswood Tiliaceae Tilia americana

American beech Fagaceae Fagus grandifolia Leaf: Alternate, simple, elliptical to oblong-ovate, 2 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches long, pinnately-veined, with each vein ending in a tooth. Leaves feel dry and papery. Flower: Male flowers borne on globose heads, female flowers borne on spikes. Flowers appear just after leaves in the spring. Fruit: Nuts are irregularly triangular, shiny brown and edible, found in pairs within a woody husk covered with spines, 1/2 to 3/4 inch long. Maturing September to November. Twig: Very slender, zigzag, light brown in color. Buds are long (3/4 inch), light brown, and slender, covered with overlapping scales; best described as "cigar-shaped". Bark: The bark is smooth, thin, and gray in color, sometimes mottled. Often carved with initials. Form: A medium to large tree with a rounded crown. Often found in thickets produced by root suckering. Old trees may be surrounded by a ring of young beech.

American beech Fagaceae Fagus grandifolia

Black cherry Rosaceae Prunus serotina Leaf: Alternate, 2 to 5 inches long, oval to oblong, lance-shaped. Margins are finely serrated, dark green and lustrous above, paler below; usually with a dense yellowish-brown, sometimes white pubescence along mid-rib. Flower: White racemes appear when leaves are half to newly formed. Flowers May to July. Fruit: Flesh is dark purple, almost black when ripe, with a bitter-sweet taste. Matures June to October. Twig: Slender, reddish-brown, sometimes covered in gray epidermis, pronounced bitter almond odor and taste. Buds are about 1/5 inch long covered in several, glossy, reddish-brown to greenish scales. Leaf scars are small and semicircular with 3 bundle scars. Bark: Smooth with narrow, horizontal lenticels when young. It becomes very dark (nearly black) breaking up into small, rough, irregular, upturned plates (burnt corn flakes), when older. Form: Medium-sized tree which on good sites develops a long, straight, clear bole.

Black cherry Rosaceae Prunus serotina

Black locust Fabaceae Robinia pseudoacacia Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound with 7 to 19 leaflets. Leaves are 8 to 14 inches long. Leaflets are oval, one inch long, with entire margins. Leaves resemble sprigs of grapes. Flower: Showy and aromatic, white, 5 lobed, borne in racemes, 5 inches long. Present May through June. Fruit: Brown, flattened, shaped like pea pods, 2 to 4 inches long; containing 4 to 8 kidney-shaped, smooth, red-brown seeds. Maturing September to October. Twig: Zigzag, somewhat stout and angular, red-brown in color. Spines are paired, 2 at each leaf. Buds are submerged beneath the leaf scar. Bark: Gray or dark brown, ridged and furrowed-- resembles a woven rope. Form: May develop a straight stem with a very small crown. Often forms thickets by root suckering.

Black locust Fabaceae Robinia pseudoacacia

Black walnut Juglandaceae Juglans nigra Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound with 10 to 24 leaflets, 12 to 24 inches long. Leaflets are ovate-lanceolate, finely serrate, and are 3 to 3 1/2 inches long. The rachis is stout and somewhat pubescent. Poorly formed or missing terminal leaflet. Flower: Male flowers are single-stemmed catkins, 2 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches long. Female flowers on short spikes near twig end, yellow-green in color. Present April to June. Fruit: Round with a thick, green indehiscent husk. The husk contains an irregularly furrowed nut that contains sweet, oily meat (edible). Maturing September to October. Twig: Stout, light brown, with a buff-colored chambered pith. Buds are short, blunt with a few pubescent scales. Leaf scars are 3-lobed, resembling a "monkey face". Bark: Light brown on surface, dark brown when cut, ridged and furrowed with a rough diamond pattern. Form: A medium-sized tree that developes a straight, clear bole with a narrow crown under competition. Twigs and branches quite stout.

Black walnut Juglandaceae Juglans nigra

Blackgum Nyssaceae Nyssa sylvatica Leaf: Alternate, simple, pinnately veined, obovate in shape with an entire margin, 3 to 5 inches long. Rarely toothed. Flower: Not showy, green-white in color, appearing with the leaves, hanging in clusters. Fruit: A dark, purplish-blue drupe, 1/2 inch long, with a fleshy coating surrounding a ribbed pit. Twig: Slender, red-brown to gray in color, with a diaphragmed pith. One to 2 inch curved spur shoots are often present. Buds are multicolored, including purple and green. Bark: Gray, quite often blocky--resembling alligator hide on very old stems. Otherwise scaly or ridged and ashy-gray (nearly nondescript). Form: A medium-sized tree, with slightly curled spur shoots. Branches stand at right angles to the trunk.

Blackgum Nyssaceae Nyssa sylvatica

Boxelder Aceraceae Acer negundo Leaf: Opposite, pinnately compound, 3 to 5 leaflets (sometimes 7), 2 to 4 inches long, margin coarsely serrate or somewhat lobed, shape variable, green above and paler below. Flower: Dioecious; yellow-green, in drooping racemes; appearing in April and May. Fruit: Paired V-shaped samara, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, appear September to October in drooping clusters, persist throughout winter. Twig: Green to purplish green, moderately stout, leaf scars narrow, meeting in raised points, often covered with a glaucous bloom, buds white and hairy, lateral buds appressed. Bark: Thin, gray to light brown, with shallow interlacing ridges. Young bark is generally warty. Form: Medium-sized tree, usually has poor form, multiple trunks, sprouts often occur on bole.

Boxelder Aceraceae Acer negundo

Butternut Juglandaceae Juglans cinerea Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound with 11 to 17 leaflets, 15 to 25 inches long. The leaflets are oblong-lanceolate in shape with serrate margins. The rachis is stout and pubescent with a well developed terminal leaflet. Flower: Male flowers are single-stemmed catkins, 2 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches long. Female flowers are on a spike near the end of the twig, green-yellow in color. Present April to June. Fruit: Oblong, with a yellow-green sticky indehiscent husk. The husk contains an irregularly-ribbed nut containing sweet, oily meat. Maturing September to October. Twig: Stout, may be somewhat pubescent, red-brown to gray, with a chambered pith that is very dark brown in color. Buds are large and covered with a few light colored pubescent scales. Leaf scars are 3-lobed, resembling a "monkey face". A tuft of pubescence is present above the leaf scar resembling an "eyebrow". Bark: Light, ashy gray, with flattened ridges, developing diamond shaped patterns. Form: A small to medium-sized tree with a forked or crooked trunk and wide-spreading branches.

Butternut Juglandaceae Juglans cinerea

Cottonwood Salicaceae Populus deltoides Leaf: Alternate, simple, pinnately veined, 3 to 6 inches long, triangular (deltoid) in shape with a crenate/serrate margin. The petiole is flattened and glands are present at the top of the petiole. Flower: Dioecious, male and female as pendulous catkins, appearing before the leaves. Fruit: Cottony seeds, 1/4 inch long borne in a dehiscent capsule. Maturing over summer. Twig: Stout, somewhat angled and yellowish. Buds are 3/4 inch long, covered with several brown, resinous scales. Has a bitter aspirin taste. Bark: Smooth, gray to yellow-green when young. Later turning gray with thick ridges and deep furrows. Form: A large tree with a clear bole and an open spreading crown resulting in a somewhat vase-shaped form.

Cottonwood Salicaceae Populus deltoides

Eastern redcedar Cupressaceae Juniperus virginiana Leaf: Evergreen, with two types of leaves, often on the same tree. Scale leaves 1/16 inch long, dark green, with 4 sides. Awl leaves are more common on young trees, 1/8 to 3/8 inch long, dark blue-green and sharp-pointed. Flower: Dioecious, but occasionally monoecious; males are yellow-brown, occurring in large groups; females are light blue-green. Fruit: Berry-like cones, light green in spring, turning dark blue and glaucous at maturity, about 1/4 inch in diameter. Appearing March to May. Maturing September to November. Twig: Green for several years, covered in scales, later turning brown. Bark: Red-brown in color, exfoliating in long, fibrous strips, often ashy gray where exposed. Form: A small tree with a dense pyramidal or columnar crown.

Eastern redcedar Cupressaceae Juniperus virginiana

Flowering dogwood Cornaceae Cornus florida Leaf: Opposite, simple, arcuately veined, 3 to 6 inches long, oval in shape with an entire margin. Flower: Very small, but surrounded by 4 large white (occasionally pink) bracts, 2 inches in diameter. Appearing March to April in the south, June in the north. Fruit: A shiny, oval red drupe, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, in clusters of 3 to 4. Maturing in September to October. Twig: Slender, green or purple, later turning gray, often with a glaucous bloom. The terminal flower buds are clove-shaped, vegetative buds resemble a cat claw. Bark: Gray when young, turning very scaly to blocky. Form: A small tree with a short trunk that branches low, producing a flat-topped crown. Branches are opposite, and assume a "candelabra" appearance.

Flowering dogwood Cornaceae Cornus florida

Green ash Oleaceae Fraxinus pennsylvanica Leaf: Opposite, pinnately compound with 7 to 9 serrate leaflets that are lanceolate to elliptical in shape. The leaf is 6 to 9 inches long and is glabrous to silky-pubescent below. Flower: Dioecious, both sexes lacking petals, occuring as panicles. Flowers appear after the leaves unfold. Fruit: A one-winged, dry, flattened samara with a slender, thin, seed cavity, maturing September to October and dispersing over winter. Twig: Stout to medium texture, gray to green-brown and either glabrous or pubescent, depending on variety. Leaf scars are semicircular, lacking the notched top. Bark: Ashy gray to brown in color, with interlacing corky ridges forming obvious diamonds. Older trees may be somewhat scaly. Form: A medium-sized tree with a poorly formed bole and an irregular crown.

Green ash Oleaceae Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Hackberry Ulmaceae Celtis occidentalis Leaf: Alternate, simple, pinnately veined, 2 to 5 inches long. Leaves are ovate, with acuminate tips and a cordate, inequilateral base, three distinct veins meet at base. Leaf margins are serrate and may be somewhat pubescent below. Flower: Very small (1/8 inch) and green, produced on stalks near the twig. Each flower with a 4 or 5 lobed calyx. Apparent in April to May. Fruit: Fleshy, globose drupe, 1/4 to 3/8 inch in diameter, turning orange-red to dark purple when ripe. The flesh is thin and quite dry but edible and sweet, enclosing a large pit. Maturing in September and October. Twig: Slender zigzag, light red-brown in color. The terminal bud is lacking, but a pseudoterminal bud is present. Lateral buds are small, tapering, and appressed, pith chambered at the nodes. Bark: Gray or light brown in color, smooth with corky "warts" or ridges. Much later becoming scaly. Form: A small to medium-sized tree.

Hackberry Ulmaceae Celtis occidentalis

Live oak Fagaceae Quercus virginiana Leaf: Alternate, simple, evergreen, leathery, 2 to 5 inches long, oblong or elliptical in shape with an entire or spiny and revolute margin. The upper surface is lustrous, the lower is pale and pubescent. Generally, not bristle-tipped. Flower: Staminate flowers borne on catkins. Pistillate flowers borne on spikes. Appearing March through May. Fruit: Acorns are in clusters of 3 to 5, maturing in one season. The nut is dark in color, 3/4 inch long and covered 1/3 by the cap. The cap is bowl-shaped and warty, termed "turbinate" by Harlow et al. Maturing in September of the first year. Twig: Slender, gray and pubescent, with small, blunt, multiple terminal buds. Bark: Rapidly developing red-brown furrows with small surface scales. Later, becoming black and very blocky. Form: A medium-sized tree that can grow to massive proportions. Open-grown trees develop a huge rounded crown. The largest crowns may be 150 feet across.

Live oak Fagaceae Quercus virginiana

Loblolly pine Pinaceae Pinus taeda Leaf: Evergreen, 6 to 9 inches long, with (usually) three yellow-green needles per fascicle. Flower: Monoecious; males long cylindrical, red to yellow, in clusters at branch tips; females yellow to purple. Fruit: Cones are ovoid to cylindrical and red-brown in color. The umbo is armed with a short spine. Cones are roughly the size of a potato (3 to 6 inches). Maturing September to October. Twig: Orange-brown in color, fine to moderately stout. Buds are light reddish-brown. Bark: Quite variable. When young, appears brown and scaly. Older trees are ridged and furrowed, with somewhat apparent blocks. Very old trees have red-brown scaly plates. Form: A medium to large tree that self-prunes well and develops a straight trunk and an oval, somewhat dense crown.

Loblolly pine Pinaceae Pinus taeda

Longleaf pine Pinaceae Pinus palustris Leaf: Evergreen, very long and feathery (8 to 18 inches long), with three dark green needles per fascicle. Flower: Monoecious; males yellow-red, long, in clusters; females oval, purple. Fruit: Very large (largest cone in the Eastern U. S. --6 to 10 inches long), ovoid to conical in shape, sessile. Scales are red-brown in color. The umbo is armed with a curved prickle. Maturing September to October. Twig: Very stout, brown, with large obvious, asbestos-white buds. Bark: Quite scaly, orange-brown to gray, will eventually develop plates. Form: A medium-sized tree with a straight trunk, coarse branches and tufted needles at ends of branches.

Longleaf pine Pinaceae Pinus palustris

Mockernut hickory Juglandaceae Carya tomentosa Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound, with 7 to 9 serrate, lanceolate to obovate-lanceolate leaflets. The terminal leaflet is larger than the laterals. The leaf is 9 to 14 inches long, but may be longer in the understory. The rachis is stout and very pubescent. Flower: Male flowers are drooping catkins, with 3 hanging from one stalk, 3 to 4 inches long. Female flowers in clusters of 2 to 5 near the tip of the twig. Appearing in April to May. Fruit: Obovoid to ellipsoidal in shape, 1 1/2 to 2 inches long. The husk is thick (although less thick than C. ovata) and dehiscent; 4-ribbed nut, sweet and edible. The fruit matures from September to October. Twig: Stout and pubescent, the 3-lobed leaf scars are best described as a "monkey face". The terminal bud is very large, and the scales are deciduous, revealing a silky white bud. Bark: Gray-brown close, with interlaced round-topped ridges and shallow furrows, not shaggy or exfoliating. Form: A medium-sized tree with a straight stem and a rounded crown.

Mockernut hickory Juglandaceae Carya tomentosa

Red mulberry Moraceae Morus rubra Leaf: Alternate, simple, roughly orbicular in shape, 3 to 5 inches long with a serrate margin. Leaves may be 0 to 3-lobed, (sometimes more). Leaves are papery, with white fibers apparent when torn. Flower: Normally dioecious, small, green, male flowers are hanging catkins, 1 to 2 inches long. Female flowers, also catkins, are 1 inch long. Fruit: Resembling blackberries, cylindrical, 1 to 1 1/4 inches long, fleshy multiples of drupes, each containing a small seed. Maturing June to August. Twig: Slender, zigzag, green changing to red-brown. Twigs are often pubescent. Buds are covered with brown-margined overlapping scales. Silvery-white filaments when broken. Bark: Reddish-brown and quite irregular with long ridges. Younger trees are often orangish, especially when wet. Form: A small tree, with a short trunk that branches low.

Red mulberry Moraceae Morus rubra

Pecan Juglandaceae Carya illinoensis Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound with 9 to 15 finely serrate and often curved leaflets, 12 to 18 inches long. Flower: Male flowers in hanging, yellow-green catkins, often in pairs of three (4 to 5 inches long). Females are small and yellowish green, 4-angled. Fruit: Large, oblong, brown, splotched with black, thin shelled nuts, 1 ½ to 2 inches long, husks are thin, usually occur in clusters on trees. Mature in September and October. Twig: Moderately stout, light brown, fuzzy particularly, when young; leaf scars large and three lobed; buds are yellowish brown to brown, hairy, terminal buds ¼ to ½ inch long. Bark: Smooth when young, becoming narrowly fissured into thin broken strips, often scaly. Form: A large tree (can reach heights well over 100 feet) with spreading crown when in the open.

Pecan Juglandaceae Carya illinoensis

Common persimmon Ebenaceae Diospyros virginiana Leaf: Alternate, simple, pinnately-veined, 2 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches long. Oblong to oval, lustrous dark green above, entire margin. Flower: Usually dioecious, white to greenish-white, male flowers in 3's. Female flowers solitary, both about 1/2 inch long. Present March to mid-June. Fruit: A plum-like berry that is green before ripening, turning orange to black when ripe, 3/4 to 2 inches in diameter when ripe. The fruit is astringent when green, sweet and edible when ripe. Matures September to November with frost. Twig: Slender, light brown to gray, maybe scabrous or pubescent. Buds are dark red to black with 2 bud scales, triangular in shape. Leaf scar has one vascular bundle trace. Bark: Very dark, broken up into square scaly thick plates; reminiscent of charcoal briquettes. Form: A small to medium-sized tree with a round-topped crown. In forest stands the stem may be straight, tall, and slender.

Common persimmon Ebenaceae Diospyros virginiana

Pignut hickory Juglandaceae Carya glabra Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound, with 5 (sometimes 7) leaflets. Leaflets are lanceolate and serrate. The rachis is slender and glabrous. Flower: Male flowers are drooping catkins, with three hanging from one stalk, 2 to 3 inches long. Female flowers are short and found in clusters at the end of the branches. Present April to May. Fruit: Obovoid to pear-shaped, 1 to 2 inches long, with a thin husk that only partially dehisces upon maturation. The nut is not ribbed and the seed is usually bitter. Ripening in September to October. Twig: Moderately stout to slender (when compared to the other hickories) and glabrous. Leaf scars are 3-lobed to cordate--best described as a "monkey face". The terminal bud is small and light brown in color. Bark: The bark on young trees is smooth, soon becoming finely shaggy. The bark on older trees has obvious close interlacing ridges. Form: A medium-sized tree with a rounded crown and a straight trunk.

Pignut hickory Juglandaceae Carya glabra

Post oak Fagaceae Quercus stellata Leaf: Alternate, simple, 6 to 10 inches long, oblong in shape, with 5 lobes, thickened texture. The two middle lobes are square, resulting in an overall cruciform appearance. The upper surface has scattered stellate pubescence. The lower surface is pubescent. Flower: Male flowers are green, borne in naked catkins, 2 to 4 inches long. Female flowers are reddish and appear as single spikes. Appearing with the leaves. Fruit: Acorns are 1/2 to 2/3 inches long and ovoid. The cap is bowl-shaped and warty, covering 1/3 to 1/2 of the nut. Individual scales are more apparent than white oak. Maturing in one year, ripening September to November. Twig: Gray or tawny-tomentose and dotted with numerous lenticels. The multiple terminal buds are short, blunt, chestnut-brown in color, and pubescent, short, threadlike stipules may be present. Bark: Very similar to white oak or bur oak, but more reddish-brown in color. Form: A small to medium-sized tree with a crown that has snarled and twisted branches.

Post oak Fagaceae Quercus stellata

Red maple Aceraceae Acer rubrum Leaf: Opposite, 3 to 5 palmate lobes with serrate margins, sinuses relatively shallow (but variable), 2 to 4 inches long; light green above, whitened and sometimes glaucous or hairy beneath. Flower: Appear March to May, usually before leaves; usually bright red but occasionally yellow. Fruit: Clusters of 1/2 to 3/4 inch long fruit with slighly divergent wings, appear May to June, on long slender stems. Light brown and often reddish. Twig: Reddish and lustrous with small lenticels, buds usually blunt, green or reddish (fall and winter) with several scales usually present, leaf scars V-shaped, 3 bundle scars, lateral buds slightly stalked, may be collateral buds present. Bark: On young trees, smooth and light gray, with age becomes darker and breaks up into long scaly plates. Form: Medium-sized tree. In forest, trunk usually clear for some distance, in the open the trunk is shorter and the crown rounded.

Red maple Aceraceae Acer rubrum

Redbud Caesalpiniaceae Cercis canadensis Leaf: Alternate, simple, cordate in shape with an entire margin, 3 to 5 inches long and wide. The leaves are thin and papery, and may be slightly hairy below. Flower: Very showy, light to dark pink in color, 1/2 inch long, appearing in clusters in March to May, before the leaves. Fruit: Fruits are flattened, dry, brown, pea-like pods, 2 to 4 inches long that contain flat, elliptical, brown seeds 1/4 inch long. Maturing in July to August. Twig: Slender and zigzag, nearly black in color, spotted with lighter lenticels. Winter buds are tiny, rounded and dark red to chestnut in color. Bark: Smooth, later scaly with ridges somewhat apparent. Dark in color. May have some maroon patches evident. Form: A large shrub or small tree with a short, often twisted trunk and spreading branches.

Redbud Caesalpiniaceae Cercis canadensis

River birch Betulaceae Betula nigra Leaf: Alternate, simple, pinnately-veined, rhombic to ovate, 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, obviously doubly serrate, with a wedge-shaped base; green above, paler and fuzzy below. Flower: Preformed aments, male near the end of the twig, 2 to 3 inches long. Female catkins upright, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. Flowering in early spring. Fruit: Cone like, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, with many hairy scales, containing tiny, 3-winged seeds. Twig: Slender, orangish-brown in color, smooth or slightly pubescent, with the terminal bud absent. Lateral buds may be slightly pubescent. No wintergreen odor when cut. Bark: Smooth on young trees, salmon to rust colored. On older trees, developing papery scales, exfoliating horizontally with several colors (creamy to orangish-brown) visible. Later developing coarse scales. Form: River birch is a medium-size tree with poor form. The trunk generally divides low into several arching branches.

River birch Betulaceae Betula nigra

Sassafras Lauraceae Sassafras albidum Leaf: Alternate, simple, pinnately veined, ovate to elliptical, entire, 3 to 6 inches long with 1 to 3 lobes. The 2-lobed leaf resembles a mitten, the 3-lobed leaf resembles a trident. Flower: Dioecious, green-yellow in color, borne in 2 inch racimes. Present March to April. Fruit: Dark blue, ovoid, fleshy drupes that are borne on red stalks. Maturing August to September. Twig: Slender, green and sometimes pubescent, with a spicy-sweet aroma when broken. Buds are 1/4 inch long and green. Bark: Brown, with cinnamon-brown inner bark, becoming coarsely, ridged and furrowed. When cut the spicy aroma is obvious. Form: Small to medium-sized tree with an irregular, usually flat-topped crown. Root suckering may result in thickets.

Sassafras Lauraceae Sassafras albidum

Shagbark hickory Juglandaceae Carya ovata Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound with 5 (sometimes 7) leaflets 8 to 14 inches long. The lateral leaflets are obovate to lanceolate. The terminal leaflets are much larger than the laterals. Margins are serrate and ciliate. The rachis is stout and mostly glabrous. Flower: Male flowers are catkins, hanging in 3's, 2 to 3 inches long. Females are short, in clusters at the end of branches. Flowers appear April to June. Fruit: Nearly round, 1 1/2 inches, with a very thick husk. The nut is 4-ribbed, and the seed is sweet and delicious, maturing from September to October. Twig: Stout and usually glabrous, but may be somewhat pubescent. The leaf scars are raised, 3-lobed to semicircular--best described as a "monkey face". Lenticels are apparent. The terminal bud is large, brown, and pubescent, covered with 3 to 4 brown scales. Bark: First smooth and gray. Later broken into long plates attached at the middle, curving away from the trunk resulting in a coarsely shaggy appearance. Form: A medium to tall tree with a straight trunk and an open, round to oblong crown.

Shagbark hickory Juglandaceae Carya ovata

Shortleaf pine Pinaceae Pinus echinata Leaf: Evergreen, 3 to 5 inches long, two or three (on the same branch) slender and flexible needles per fascicle, dark yellow-green in color. The fascicle sheath is persistent. Flower: Monoecious; males cylindrical, red to yellow, in clumps at ends of twigs; females light green to red and armed. Fruit: Compact, 2 inches long, ovoid, somewhat persistent. Cones are red to brown in color. The umbo is armed with a small prickle. Maturing October to November. Twig: Green and purple when young, later turning red-brown. Bark: Scaly and dark on young trees, eventually developing plates with scaly surfaces. "Volcanoes" or small surface pockets of pitch may be apparent. Form: A medium to large tree with a small, open, pyramidal crown.

Shortleaf pine Pinaceae Pinus echinata

Slash pine Pinaceae Pinus elliottii Leaf: Evergreen, 7 to 10 inches long, flexible, with three (sometimes two) needles per fascicle, dark green in color. The fascicle sheath is quite long and persistent. Flower: Monoecious; males cylindrical, red to yellow, in clusters at ends of twigs; females red to green, stalked, oval. Fruit: Cones are 3 to 6 inches long, ovoid, borne on a stalk, caramel colored. The umbo is armed with a small, out-curved spine. Maturing October to November. Twig: Quite stout, orange-brown in color. Bark: Red-brown and furrowed when young, becoming very platy. The surfaces of the plates are covered with thin, loose scales that flake off, revealing a light brown to cinnamon color. Form: A medium-sized tree with a narrow-ovoid crown. Needles appear to be tufted at the ends of the branches.

Slash pine Pinaceae Pinus elliottii

Silver maple Aceraceae Acer saccharinum Leaf: Opposite, with 5 deeply palmate lobes, lobe margins serrate, 2 1/2 to 5 inches long; light green above, pale, silvery white below. Flower: Greenish or reddish flowers appear in clusters from February to May, long before leaves. Fruit: Appears April to June, largest of any native maple, divergent wings 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long, germinate as soon as released. Twig: Similar to red maple, often more chestnut-brown in color, unpleasant odor when crushed. Bark: Similar to red maple, light gray when young, when older breaks up into long thin strips, loose at ends. Form: Trunk usually short, dividing into several subtrunks. Long slender branches sweep downward and then curve gracefully upwards.

Silver maple Aceraceae Acer saccharinum

Southern magnolia Magnoliaceae Magnolia grandiflora Leaf: Alternate, simple, pinnately veined and evergreen, 5 to 8 inches long, oval in shape with an entire margin. Very waxy/shiny above, and reddish tomentose below. Flower: Very showy and fragrant, 6 to 8 inches wide with large white petals. Flowers are borne singly, from May to June. Fruit: An aggregate of follicles, green changing to red, cylindrical, 3 to 5 inches long with red seeds, 1/2 inch long. Maturing October to November. Twig: Stout, with white to rusty tomentum and a long (1 to 1 1/2 inches) silky white to rusty red terminal bud. Bark: Brown to gray, thin, smooth/lenticellate when young, later with close plates or scales. Form: A medium-sized tree with a pyramidal crown. When open grown, the crown is dense with low branches.

Southern magnolia Magnoliaceae Magnolia grandiflora

Southern red oak Fagaceae Quercus falcata Leaf: Alternate, simple, 5 to 9 inches long and roughly obovate in outline. Two forms are common: 3 lobes with shallow sinuses or 5 to 7 lobes with deeper sinuses. Lobes are bristle-tipped. Tomentum is present below and on the petiole. Often resembles a turkey foot. Flower: Staminate flowers borne on catkins. Pistillate flowers borne on spikes. Appears with the leaves. Fruit: Acorns are 1/2 inch long, orange-brown and pubescent. The cap covers less than 1/3 of the nut and is quite thin and flattened. Cap scales are appressed and slightly pubescent. Matures after two years, ripens in September or October. Twig: Reddish-brown in color, may be gray-pubescent (particularly stump sprouts) or glabrous. Multiple terminal buds are dark red, pubescent, pointed and only 1/8 to 1/4 inch long. Laterals are similar, but shorter. Bark: Dark in color, thick, with broad, scaly ridges separated by deep, narrow furrows. Resembles Q. velutina, but the inner bark is only slightly yellow. Form: A medium-sized tree with a short trunk and large branches supporting a rounded crown.

Southern red oak Fagaceae Quercus falcata

Sugar maple Aceraceae Acer saccharum Leaf: Opposite, simple and palmately veined, 3 to 6 inches long, 5 lobed with entire margin; green above, paler below. Flower: Yellow to green, small, clustered, hanging from a long (1 to 3 inch) stem, appearing with the leaves. Fruit: Two-winged horseshoe-shaped samaras about 1 inch long, appearing in clusters, brown when mature in Autumn. Twig: Brown, slender and shiny with lighter lenticels, terminal buds brown and very sharp pointed. Bark: Variable, but generally grayish brown,on older trees may be furrowed, with long, thick irregular curling outward ridges. Form: Medium to tall tree (to 100 feet) with very dense elliptical crown.

Sugar maple Aceraceae Acer saccharum                                                                                                                                         

Sweetgum Hamamelidaceae Liquidambar styraciflua Leaf: Alternate, simple, palmately veined, orbicular, 4 to 6 inches across with 5 to 7 lobes, and a finely serrate margin. Pubescent in the axils of the veins below. Flower: Female borne on a slender stalk, capped with a globose head. Male flowers borne on an upright raceme. Both are small, green in color and not showy. Apparent March to May. Fruit: Easy to identify "gumballs", woody brown spheres, 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter with openings in the surface that release 2 seeds from each capsule. Maturing in September or November. Twig: Medium textured, shiny green to yellow-brown, usually with apparent corky outgrowths, particularly when fast growing. The terminal bud is large and is usually sticky, covered with orange-brown scales. Bark: Gray brown, irregular furrows and ridges. Form: A medium to large tree with a straight stem and a pyramidal crown, especially when young.

Sweetgum Hamamelidaceae Liquidambar styraciflua  

American sycamore Platanaceae Platanus occidentalis Leaf: Alternate, simple, palmately veined, 4 to 8 inches wide, ovate in shape, with three to five lobes. Margins are toothed. Veins may be pubescent below. Petiole bases encircle the buds. Flower: Not showy. Male and female appearing March to April in separate spherical heads. Fruit: A spherical multiple of achenes borne on a 3 to 6 inch stalk. Each seed is tiny, winged, and 1/2 inch long. Maturing in November, disseminating in late winter. Twig: Obviously zigzag, quite stout and orange-brown in color. The leaf scar surrounds the bud and the stipule scar surrounds the twig. The terminal bud is absent. Lateral buds are reddish, resinous, with a single scale. Bark: Thin, mottled brown, green and white. Often referred to as "camouflage" bark that readily exfoliates. Older stems are gray-brown and scaly. Form: A very massive tree with heavy, spreading branches with obviously zigzag twigs. In winter, the fruits resemble Christmas tree ornaments.

American sycamore Platanaceae Platanus occidentalis

Virginia pine Pinaceae Pinus virginiana Leaf: Evergreen, 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, with 2 yellow-green, twisted, somewhat divergent needles per fascicle. Flower: Monoecious; males cylindrical, yellow, near branch tip; females yellow to red, curved prickle present. Fruit: Cones are 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long, sessile and persistent, conical or ovoid in shape, with red-brown scales and an umbo armed with a needle-like prickle. Maturing September to November. Twig: Slender, green changing to purple-green with a glaucous bloom. Bark: Orange to brown on young stems, becoming scaly. Old stems are red-brown in color, with small, scale covered plates. Cinnamon colored patches often on upper parts of trunk. Form: A small to medium-sized tree, usually of somewhat poor form. Eventually develops a flat top. Dead branches self-prune poorly.

Virginia pine Pinaceae Pinus virginiana

White ash Oleaceae Fraxinus americana Leaf: Opposite, pinnately compound with 7 serrate to entire leaflets that are ovate to somewhat lanceolate, 8 to 12 inches long and, essentially hairless. Flower: Dioecious, both sexes lacking petals, occuring as panicles. Flowers appear before or with the leaves. Fruit: A one-winged, dry, flattened samara with a full, rounded, seed cavity, maturing October to November and dispersing over winter. Twig: Stout, gray-olive-green in color, and hairless. Leaf scars round at the bottom, notched at the top, with lateral buds in the notch. Terminal bud is large, brown, and flanked by two lateral buds. Bark: Ashy gray to brown in color, with interlacing corky ridges forming obvious diamonds. Older trees may be scaly. Form: A large tree that may develop a straight, clear bole on good sites with a thin, usually narrow crown.

White ash Oleaceae Fraxinus americana                                                                                                                                              

White oak Fagaceae Quercus alba Leaf: Alternate, simple, oblong to ovate in shape, pinnately veined with an evenly lobed margin, 4 to 7 inches long. The apex is rounded and the base is wedge-shaped. Leaves are hairless, bright green above and whitish below. Flower: Male flowers are green, borne in naked catkins, 2 to 4 inches long. Female flowers are reddish and appear as single spikes. Appearing with the leaves. Fruit: Ovoid, but may be oblong, with a warty cap that covers 1/4 of the fruit. The cap always detaches at maturity. Matures in one year, ripens 120 days after pollination (July to September). Twig: Red-brown to somewhat gray, hairless, with red-brown multiple terminal buds that are small, rounded and hairless. Twigs are often shiny or somewhat glaucous. Bark: Whitish or ashy gray, varying from scaly to irregularly platy or blocky. On older trees smooth patches are not uncommon. Form: A large tree; when open grown, white oaks have rugged, irregular crowns that are wide spreading, with a stocky bole. In the forest crowns are upright and oval.

White oak Fagaceae Quercus alba

Water oak Fagaceae Quercus nigra Leaf: Alternate, simple 2 to 4 inches long and extremely variable in shape (from spatulate to lanceolate). May be 0 to 5 lobed. Margins may be entire or bristle-tipped. Both surfaces are glabrous, but axillary tufts may be present below. Flower: Staminate flowers borne on catkins. Pistillate flowers borne on spikes. Appearing with the leaves. Fruit: Acorns are 1/2 inch long, very dark in color, and 1/3 covered by a flattened cap with appressed scales. Maturing in September of the second year. Twig: Slender, red-brown in color, with short, sharp-pointed, angular, red-brown buds that are multiple at the tip. Bark: Dark and quite tight, smooth when young and later with irregular rough patches. Much later developing wide, scaly ridges. Form: A medium-sized tree with a slender bole and rounded crown with ascending branches.

Water oak Fagaceae Quercus nigra

Water tupelo Nyssaceae Nyssa aquatica Leaf: Alternate, simple, pinnately veined, 4 to 8 inches long, oblong to obovate, entire margin but may have a few large teeth. Flower: Small, greenish white, usually in hanging clusters, appearing with the leaves. Fruit: A reddish purple drupe, 1 inch long and tear shaped, flesh surrounds a deeply grooved pit. Twig: Stout, yellow brown to red brown, large heart shaped leaf scar, buds small, pith diaphragmed, spur shoots common. Bark: Brownish gray, scaly ridges or even blocky (somewhat variable). Form: Large tree to 100 feet, several feet in diameter, clear trunk which is typically swolen at base, roots often grow out of soil.

Water tupelo Nyssaceae Nyssa aquatica

Yellow-poplar Magnoliaceae Liriodendron tulipifera Leaf: Alternate, simple, palmately veined, orbicular, 4-lobed with an entire margin, 4 to 8 inches long. Somewhat shaped like a tulip. Flower: Showy, but high in the tree, 2 1/2 inches long, with yellow-green petals and an orange corolla. Present April to June. Fruit: An oblong aggregate of samaras, deciduous at maturity. Each samara is 1-winged, 1 1/2 inches long, and 4-angled. Maturing August to October. Twig: Red-brown in color, often with a shiny appearance or a waxy bloom. Stipules are large and encircle the twig. Buds are elongated and valvate, resembling a "duck bill". Twigs have a sweet, spicy odor when broken. Bark: Light gray-green in color, often with white in grooves or in patches. Smooth when young, developing flat-topped ridges and furrows in diamond shaped patterns. On older trees sapsucker holes are common. Form: In a stand, this tree is very straight with a limb-free bowl. Open-grown trees have a pyramidal crown when young, becoming oval in shape.

Yellow-poplar Magnoliaceae Liriodendron tulipifera