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 leaf 2. Twig and bud 3. Bark 4. Size and form 5. Shade tolerance 6. Seed 7. Wood 8. 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 TolerantIntermediateIntolerant HemlockWhite pineRed pine Balsam firYellow birchWalnut IronwoodOakButternut BeechElmHickory Sugar mapleAshWhite birch SpruceBlack cherry CedarTamarack Red mapleJack pine Silver mapleWillow BasswoodAspens 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 trees Class: Magnoliopsida Division: 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…

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Final Score!!! And the winner is…