About Trees Created by: Emanuel County Institute

Conifers

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) Two twisted needles per sheath,1 1/2 - 3 inch long needles. Cones are 1/ /2 inches long. Umbo armed with needle-like prickle. Bark is orange to brown on young stems Old stems are reddish-brown Cinnamon colored patches on upper parts of trunk

Spruce Pine (Pinus glabra) 1 1/2 to 4 inch needles. 1 to 2 inch cone. Bark starts out grayish-brown and becomes reddish-brown and scaly. This tree is used for pulp, lumber, and Christmas trees. Bark resembles hardwood.

Hardwoods

Black Birch (Betula lenta) Alternate, simple leaf. 2 to 4 inches long. Cone-like fruit, 1 1/2 inches long. Hairless scales containing 2-winged nutlets. Bark is reddish-brown to black on young trees, nearly black on older trees. Leaves are used as a reliable solvent for kidney stones.

Green Ash (Fraxinus grandiflora) Compound Leaf with opposite arrangement, 6-9 inches long Fruit is a one- winged, flattened samara. Bark is ash- gray to brown Uses are street or shade trees.

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) Alternate, simple leaf, 2 1/ /2 inches long. Fruit are nuts found in pairs and are 1/2 to 3/4 long. The bark is smooth, thin, and gray in color. Used for chairs, flooring, tool handles, and furniture.

Mulberry (Morus rubra) Alternate, simple leaf, 3-5 inches long. Fruit resembles blackberries, 1 1/4 inches long. Bark is reddish brown, young trees are orange colored. The wood is used for caskets and furniture. The fruit is eaten by animals.

Bluejack Oak (Quercus incana) Alternate, simple leaf, 2 to 4 inches long. Fruit is an acorn about 1/2 inch in diameter. Bark is nearly black, blocky, and becomes rough early. Located from Texas to Virginia.

Sawtooth Oak (Quercus acutissima) Simple, alternate leaf, 3 to 7 inches long. The fruit is an acorn encased in a spiny cup. Bark is ridged and furrowed when young. Later deeply ridged and furrowed and corky. Buds are gray- brown, and somewhat pyramidal.

Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) Alternate, simple leaf, 2 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches long. Fruit is a plum-like berry. Bark is very dark broken into squares. An excellent tree for wildlife food.

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) Alternate, simple leaf, 3 to 6 inches long Fruit is dark blue fleshy drupes seated in a red cup on a red stalk. Bark is with cinnamon-brown inner bark. Some uses are fence posts and boats.

Black Walnut (Junglans nigra) Alternate, compound leaves with leaflets, inches long. Terminal leaflet is missing. Fruit is round with thick green husk. Bark is light brown, and dark brown when cut. Some uses are airplane propellers and furniture.

Sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) Alternate, simple star-shaped leaf. Fruit has a round prickly head. Bark is reddish- brown and close- grained. Sometimes limbs will have cork. Some uses are pianos and crates.