1. Forestry and Woodland Ecosystems Species of Trees

2. Cypress (Taxodium distichum) Deciduous Found in East and Central Texas Grow on riverbanks, bottomlands, and in swamps Commonly used as a landscape tree

3. Cypress A large tree that can grow over 100 feet tall Straight trunk that can grow up to 8 feet in diameter Numerous ascending branches Young trees are narrow with a tapering outline Old trees are swollen with a broad, open, flat top

4. Cypress Leaf: slender, light green, flat, less than 1 inch long, very narrow, arranged in a feather-like fashion Bark: Silver to cinnamon red, papery scales on branches Wood: light, soft, easily worked, light colored sapwood, dark colored heartwood

5. Boxelder (Maple) (Acer negundo) Deciduous Found in the Eastern half of Texas Grows on the banks of streams, in river flat forests, and the borders of swamps Sometimes used for low grade furniture

6. Boxelder (Maple) The only maple with compound leaves Grows anywhere from 50 to 75 feet tall Trunk can grow to 2 to 3 feet in diameter but is usually smaller Generally a short-lived tree Brittle branches that break easily

7. Boxelder (Maple) Leaf: 6 to 12 inches long, compound, oppositely attached to twig, usually 5 leaflets Bark: Twigs are green, gray, or brown, trunk is gray to tan with ridges Wood: light, soft, creamy- white, and weak

8. Dogwood (Cornus florida) Deciduous Found in East Texas forests and woodlands Usually grows in well drained soil under larger trees Commonly used as a landscape tree

9. Dogwood Small to medium size tree that grows up to 35 feet tall Often crooked trunk that can grow up to 12 inches in diameter Has a horizontal branching habit that forms a flat, spread out crown

10. Dogwood Leaf: simple, opposite, 3 to 5 inches long, 1 to 3 inches wide, oval/round shape with a long, pointed leaf edge, prominent veins Bark: gray to black, smooth at first but breaks into small, square blocks Wood: heavy, hard, and strong, close-grained, brown to red in color

11. Persimmon (Diospyros texana) Semi-evergreen Found in Central and South Texas Grows in rocky, dry sites Requires well drained soils Gained popularity as a landscape tree from Austin to Houston

12. Persimmon Small tree that only grows up to 40 feet tall Often low-forking or multi-trunked Has an open, oval crown Often used for making salt shakers because it absorbs moisture so well

13. Persimmon Leaf: simple, alternate, almost no petiole, 1 to 2 inches long, thick and leathery, sometimes rolls under during drought Bark: smooth, gray, and tight, olive or light brown that peel away and show lighter bark underneath Wood: heavy and very dark, pale sapwood

14. Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) Deciduous Native to China and Korea but can be found all over Texas Grows in almost any conditions including drought or alkaline soils Commonly used as a landscape tree

15. Crapemyrtle Most common small landscape tree that can grow to 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide Usually multi-trunked with smooth, muscular limbs Mature trunks can be anywhere from 4 to 12 inches in diameter

16. Crapemyrtle Leaf: simple, alternate, 1 to 3 inches long, oval to oblong shaped, thin, blunt- tipped, some turn red or orange in the fall Bark: smooth, muscular, irregular patches ranging from tan to chocolate colored, peel into long strips during the growing season and reveal new bark Wood: hard, dense, light- colored

17. Elm (Ulmus americana) Deciduous Found across Eastern and Central Texas Grow naturally in well- drained soils along streams and rivers Commonly planted as shade trees

18. Elm Large tree that grows up to 90 feet tall Trunk grows up to a diameter of 3 feet Reinforced base and upright branches that form a spreading, vase-shaped crown

19. Elm Leaf: simple, alternate, 4 to 6 inches long, 2 to 3 inches wide, oval in shape, tip comes to a point Bark: dark gray, divided into irregular flat-topped, thick ridges Wood: heavy, hard, strong, tough, difficult to split, often used for saddle trees and furniture parts

20. Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) Deciduous Found in East Texas Grow in rich river bottom soils, swamps subject to frequent flooding, and dry uplands Used for flooring, railroad ties, and veneers for baskets

21. Sweetgum Large forest tree that grows taller than 100 feet Straight trunk that is 3 or more feet in diameter Young Sweetgums are narrow Older Sweetgums are upright and have a broad crown

22. Sweetgum Leaf: simple, alternate, star-shaped, 4 to 7 inches long and wide, with 5 to 7 pointed lobes Bark: twigs are reddish- brown, bark is gray, rough with corky ridges Wood: Moderately hard, close-grained, not durable to exposure

23. Hickory (Carya texana) Deciduous Found in East Texas (Hill Country area) Grow in well-drained hillsides and sandy uplands

24. Hickory Medium to large size tree, usually between 60 to 75 feet tall Dark trunk usually 2 feet in diameter Short, twisted branches that give the tree a narrow, oval crown with dark green foliage

25. Hickory Leaf: once-compound, alternate, 8 to 12 inches long, usually 5 to 7 leaflets, leaflets are 3 to 5 inches long and 2 inches wide Bark: dark gray to black, tight, irregular, blocky ridges Wood: used mainly for fuel wood, great for cooking fires

26. Pecan (Carya illinoinesis) Deciduous Found in East and Central Texas Grows well in rich, fertile bottomlands Used mainly as a landscape tree and in orchards for nut production

27. Pecan Large tree that reaches heights over 120 feet Trunks grow as large as 4 feet in diameter Broad, spreading crown when grown in the open In wooded settings it grows tall and slender with a tight, flat-topped crown

28. Pecan Leaf: once-compound, alternate, 12 to 20 inches long, 11 to 17 leaflets, leaflets are 4 to 8 inches long and 2 inches wide Bark: gray-brown and smooth at first, later turning into thin scales that flake Wood: heavy, hard, brittle, not strong, used for flooring and cooking wood

29. Holly (Ilex opaca) Evergreen Found in East Texas Grows in rich, moist soils of bottomland forests Commonly used as Christmas decorations such as wreaths

30. Holly Small tree that only reaches about 50 feet tall Trunk is around 3 feet in diameter Numerous slender branches that form a dense pyramidal or oval crown of dark green color

31. Holly Leaf: simple, alternate, 2 to 4 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide, oval, with several spiny teeth, leaves are dark green and glossy on top Bark: light gray, tight, leathery Wood: light, tough, not strong, white when first cut but turns brown when exposed to air

32. Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) Evergreen Found in East Texas Grow in fertile, moist soils of bottomlands

33. Yaupon Small, multi-trunked tree that only grows to about 25 feet tall Trunks/stems are usually around 6 inches in diameter Dense, rounded crown of dark green foliage

34. Yaupon Leaf: simple, alternate, 1 to 2 inches long,.5 to 1 inch wide, oval, leathery, glossy, dark green colored Bark: light gray, smooth or leathery, sometimes with thin scales and blotches Wood: of little commercial value except for fuel and landscaping specimen

35. Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) Evergreen Found in Southeast Texas Grows in rich, moist, well- drained soils on steam banks or borders of river swamps Usually used as an ornamental tree

36. Magnolia Large forest/landscape tree that reaches heights over 90 feet tall Trunks grow as large as 4 feet in diameter Dense, oval crown, branches reach the ground in open settings

37. Magnolia Leaf: simple, alternate, 6 to 8 inches long, 2 to 3 inches wide, elliptical or oval in shape, thick, leathery, dark green and glossy Bark: gray-brown, smooth at first but develops scales on larger branches and trunk Wood: moderately heavy, hard, cream- colored

38. Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens) Deciduous Found in West Texas Grow in openings and river valleys, especially the bottomlands of the Rio Grande

39. Mesquite Small tree that only gets up to heights of 25 feet Twisting trunk usually around 12 inches in diameter Forms an open, irregular crown

40. Mesquite Leaf: bi-pinnately compound, alternate, two pinnae attached to a petiole, each pinna is about 2 inches long with 5 to 8 pairs of oblong leaflets Bark: twigs are armed with 1 to 2 sharp, white thorns, bark is gray to red-brown, turning darker and eventually peeling into strips Wood: used for fuel, tool handles, and posts

41. Blackjack Oak (Quercus marilandica) Deciduous Found in East and Central Texas Grows in dry or poorly drained clays or sandy upland soils Commonly used for firewood, posts, and is made into charcoal

42. Blackjack Oak Medium to large tree that reaches heights up to 60 feet Trunk is usually between 16 and 24 inches Stiff, drooping branches that form an irregular, dense crown

43. Blackjack Oak Leaf: simple, alternate, 4 to 10 inches long, 3 to 5 inches wide, dark green and glossy on top Bark: black or dark gray, very rough, thick, square- like blocks on older trunks Wood: heavy, hard, and strong

44. Emory Oak (Quercus emoryi) Evergreen Found in West Texas Grows in moist canyons and slopes Used usually for fuel wood and posts

45. Emory Oak Small to medium size tree that is usually less than 40 feet tall Trunk is dark and grows up to 20 inches in diameter Rounded crown with glossy foliage, its branches typically droop

46. Emory Oak Leaf: simple, alternate 1 to 4 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide, narrow, thick, and very glossy green Bark: very dark gray, smooth when young, becomes rough and black as it matures, older bark is thick and rough Wood: heavy, strong, somewhat brittle, close- grained, heartwood is dark brown and sapwood is light brown with red

47. Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) Evergreen Found in South Texas Grows in well-drained soils in the southern coastal plain Commonly used as a landscape tree

48. Live Oak Large tree that usually grows about 50 feet tall Short, stout trunk that is 4 feet or more in diameter Divides into several large twisting limbs that form a low, dense crown that can spread more than 100 feet, its limbs often touch the ground

49. Live Oak Leaf: simple, alternate, thick, and leathery, oval, oblong, or elliptical in shape, 2 to 4 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide, smooth, glossy, and dark green Bark: dark brown, rough, several thick, large branches Wood: very heavy, hard, strong, and tough, dark brown with thin white sapwood

50. Post Oak (Quercus stellata) Deciduous Found in both East and Central Texas, one of the most widely spread oaks in Texas Grows in upland soils, either deep sandy soils or gravelly clay with poor surface drainage

51. Post Oak Medium to large tree that grows up to 50 feet tall Trunk is short and compact usually about 2 feet in diameter, some grow considerably larger Commonly used for crossties, fence posts, and occasionally lumber

52. Post Oak Leaf: simple, alternate, usually 4 to 6 inches long and equally as wide, typically 5 lobed, thick, somewhat leathery, dark green and shiny Bark: thick, gray-brown, narrow, scaly ridges on older trunks Wood: heavy, hard, close-grained, light to dark brown, durable

53. Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) Evergreen Found in East Texas Grows in dry, sandy hills Used for flooring, fencing, bridges, ties, heavy construction timbers, fuel, and charcoals

54. Longleaf Pine Large tree that can grow up to 125 feet tall Trunk is usually about 4 feet in diameter It has thick, heavy branches and an open, rounded crown with glossy foliage

55. Longleaf Pine Leaf: long, glossy needles in bundles of 3, 10 to 18 inches long, dark green, bunched towards the ends of thick, scaly twigs Bark: large, red-brown plates on older trunks Wood: heartwood is yellow to orange with lighter sapwood, heavy, hard, strong, tough, durable

56. Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata) Evergreen Found in East, Northeastern Texas Grows in well-drained upland soils Used for basic construction, exterior and interior finishing, crates, low grade furniture, posts, poles

57. Shortleaf Pine Tall, slender tree that reaches a general height of 100 feet Trunk is usually 2 feet or more in diameter Has a rather short, oval crown

58. Shortleaf Pine Leaf: long, slender, flexible needles in bundles of 2 or 3, dark blue-green Bark: thick, brownish-red, broken into irregular, flattened plates Wood: heavy, hard, yellow-brown or orange, fine-grained

59. Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) Deciduous Found in East Texas Grows in dry, sandy uplands, often sprouting from the roots and growing thickets Used for fence posts and crossties

60. Sassafras Medium size tree that’s usually about 40 feet tall Trunk is generally around 16 inches in diameter, but occasionally larger Has a narrow crown with horizontal branches with upturned twigs

61. Sassafras Leaf: simple, alternate, 4 to 6 inches long, 2 to 4 inches wide, textured and glossy green, turns orange, red or salmon in the fall Bark: green at first, turns scaly and brown on the branches, older bark is red-brown with broad flat ridges Wood: light, soft, weak, brittle, but durable in contact with soil

62. References Species facts from Georgia Agricultural Education website found at http://aged.ces.uga.edu/Browseable_Folders/Po wer_Points/Forestry%20Natural%20Resources%20a nd%20Wildlife/ http://aged.ces.uga.edu/Browseable_Folders/Po wer_Points/Forestry%20Natural%20Resources%20a nd%20Wildlife/ More species facts from Texas Forest Service found at http://texastreeid.tamu.edu/content/listOfTrees/ http://texastreeid.tamu.edu/content/listOfTrees/ Species pictures from Google Images found at http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi