Michigan Trees By: Andrea Berry Michigan Water Stewardship Program

Kinds of Trees Gymnosperms –Conifers –10 native to Michigan –Leaves remain for several years Exception: tamarack (e. larch) –Evolved during Mesozoic times mya Triassic 245mya Jurassic 208mya Cretaceous 145mya Angiosperms –Flowering plants –Deciduous (North Temperate Zone) “Hardwoods” –Evergreen (Tropical) None native to MI –First appeared during Cretaceous –Became widely abundant during Tertiary 65mya –Today far outnumber conifers in # & diversity of species

Parts of a Tree Stem –Bark Dead material Protects –Cambium Living material Produces bark –Phloem Moves nutrients “down” stem from leaves to roots –Xylem Moves water “up” stem from roots

Parts of a Tree cont’ Leaves –Chloroplasts Photosynthesis –Stomata Control water pressure –Simple Not divided into distinct parts, may be lobed –Compound Divided into leaflets –Arrangement Alternate, opposite, whorled –Venation Netted=reticulate, eucicots (aka dicots) Parallel=striate, monocots

Monocots vs. Eudicots Monocotyledons –Monocots –1 seed leaf –65,000 species –Grasses, lilies, irises, orchids, cattails, palms – *Conifers* –Parallel veination Eudicotyledons –Eudicots –2 seed leaves –Trees, shrubs, herbs (nonwoody plants) – Not conifers! –Netted veination

Ash Trees Opposite, pinnately compound leaves Black, white, mountain ash

Ashes Black Ash 9 leaflets Wet, low swampy areas White Ash 7-9 leaflets Upland drier sites American Mountain-Ash 9-17 leaflets N. acidic bogs, ornamental

Aspens Boreal, northern species Dry or moist soils Reproduce by cloning Adapted to fire 2 species –Large-toothed –Trembling (quaking)

Aspens Big-toothed aspen Trembling aspen

Birches Yellow birch Gray birch Paper birch

Cedars Eastern Red cedar Northern White cedar

American Elm

Balsam Fir Needles 2-ranked Needles spirally arranged Multiple white “lines” on underside of needles Distinct balsam smell Seed cone smooth & upward

Eastern Hemlock Needles 2- ranked & spirally arranged Needles flat Seed cone round and droops

Sycamore

Black Willow Willow – water-loving species associated with riparian areas

Maples 7 species native to Michigan (5 trees) *All leaves are arranged opposite* *All leaves are simple* –Except Boxelder, compound Winged-fruit – samara Cool, moist habitats Sensitive to fire b/c bark is thin Shade-tolerant (except Boxelder) Black, Norway, Red, Silver, Striped, Sugar, Boxelder

Maples

Black Maple

Maples

Dogwood

Oaks 400 species, 12 native to Michigan Massive trunks, thick, fire-resistant bark, large, deep roots Broad wide spreading crown Fruit – acorn Monoecious – male & female flower on different part of the same tree Young oaks retain leaves in winter Very long-lived Black, Bur, N. Red, Pin, Swamp White, White

White Oak

Northern Red Oak

Bur Oak

Oaks Black Oak Swamp White Oak

Oaks Pin Oak

Pines 36 species in US, 3 native to MI Extensively logged, some with poor management, ex. White pine All pines survive well in dry coarse soils – very deep root system Many require fire to regenerate Cones require 2 years to mature Leaves persist for several years Distinguishing feature: needle clusters from 2-5 –Soft Pines – 5 leaves in a cluster –Hard Pines – 2-3 needles in a cluster

Soft Pines – 5 Needles

Hard Pines – 2 Needles 2-ranked long needles; plantation tree

Hard Pines – 2 Needles Scotch pine – “twisted” needles Jack Pine – straight needles

Jack Pines Before Burning After Burning

Jack Pines Require fire (natural or prescribed) to regenerate Thrive on very sandy dry soils Kirtland’s Warbler nesting habitat

Tamarack Looses needles in winter Nodules on branches

Spruces 7 species in US, 2 native to MI “Triangle” shaped Tolerate acidic, undrained soils –Shallow roots –Low nutrient requirement Needles are 4-sided & persist 5-10 years White, Black, Norway Spruces

Spruces Whitish glow, upward branches Upland sites Green-yellow glow, droopy branches Introduced ornamental

Black Spruce Wetland species

Thank You! Questions?