1. Written by: Heather Dombroski July 2005
Tree Identification
Written by:
Heather Dombroski
July 2005

2. History Web reading assignment
Here I want you to go to History of Michigan Forestry
Read #1, Logging Era and #2, Conservation

3. Why is important to be able to distinguish between different types of trees?
1. So that people can have a common point of reference.
2. When working with trees, you may want to be able to do the appropriate work on the correct tree.
3. Trees are like people, similar in some characteristics but very different in others.

4. After your finished . . . Grab a clip board, paper, writing utensil
We will head outside to collect 5 leaves from DIFFERENT TYPES of trees
Describe one fern you spotted
DO NOT PICK THE FLOWERS!
Describe two wildflower you spotted

5. Ways to Identify Leaves Twigs Buds Bud scars Bark Flowers Fruits
Growing place
Branching pattern

6. Leaves Simple; one Compound; more than 1
Margins; smooth, serrated edges
Lobes; Spacing of leaves
Sinus; Indentation
Shapes; Oval Triangular Elliptical

7. Leaf branching
Opposite
Alternate
Whorled

8. Buds & Scars A bud is where the leaves will eventually grow
They can be pointy, blunt, shiny, dull, smooth, hairy, and come in many colors.
A bud scar is where last year’s leaf fell off.
Bud scars are unique for every species.

9. Fruit & Flowers (inflorescence)
Samara
Fruit is the matured ovary of a flowering plant – the seed bearing product of the plant. In conifers the fruit is called a cone.
Thin papery wing
Fleshy outside, hard inside
Drupe
Pome
Several seed chambers

10. Growing Environment Where are you?
Depending on your surroundings some trees are unable to grow there
Example – NO American Beech in the western U.P.
Example – Jackpine need extreme heat for cones to open

11. Native Gymnosperm Cedar (red/white) - Scaly and flat
Clustered needles
White Pine – 5 per bunch
Jack Pine – 2 per bunch
Red Pine – 2 per bunch
Scotch Pine – 2 per bunch/twisted
Austrian – 2, very similar to red pine
Tamarack – Many needles
Single needles
Spruce (white, black, blue)-square needles
Hemlock – flat w/ white strips
Firs (frasier, white, douglas, balsam) - flat
Yews - flat
Cedar (red/white) - Scaly and flat

12. Native Angiosperm Leaves lobed Horse Chestnut – fan shaped
Simple leaves
Leaves lobed
Rounded; White, Bur oak
Pointed, w/ teeth; Hawthorn, Red, Mountain & Striped Maple
Pointed w/o teeth; Silver, Norway & Sugar Maple, Red & Scrub Oak
Leaves unlobed
Oval; Apple, Buckthorn, Aspen, Cottonwood, Lilac
Elliptical (toothed); Elm, Hackberry, Tag alder, Hawthorne, Beech, Balsam Poplar, Ironwood, Musclewood, Birch, Cherries, Juneberry
Linear; Willows, Basswood, Witchhazel
Compound leaves
Horse Chestnut – fan shaped
> 5 leaflets (smooth)
Honey locust, Black locust
> 5 leaflets (teethed)
Staghorn sumac, Mountain ash, Butternut, Black walnut
< 4 leaflets (teethed)
Elderberry, Boxelder
< 4 leaflets (smooth)
Ash (green, white, black)
Bitternut

13. Identification Tool http://forestry.msu.edu/uptreeid/default.htm
Identify your 5 trees
Receive Tree ID Key Hand-out
Identify your 2 Wildflowers

14. Walk through the woods
You will need, covered toes, safety glasses and helmets, clipboards, pencil and paper
We will be practicing knowledge just covered
You will all need to correctly answer ten questions on what we just covered when we return

15. QUIZ #1, What's the difference between an Angiosperm and Gymnosperm?
#2, Name 3 ways to identify a tree.
#3, What is a sinus?
#4, What are our two main ferns?
#5, Name 2 trees we saw today in our woods
#6, What is the key called to categorize things?
#7, Name one type of fruit?
#8, I gave you an acronym to remember opposite leaved trees
#9, Tell me one thing you learned in the logging era section in your website reading and one thing from you learned about conservation. 2pts

16. Picture Citations Pictures in this document were taken from the:
Upper Peninsula Tree Identification Key from Michigan State University Extension
The site was created and is maintained by Bill Cook, MSU Extension Forester for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.