Falcon Pocket Guide: Trees

107 Pages·2013·157.074 MB·English

by  Todd Telander

Trees
Todd Telander
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To my wife, Kirsten, my children, Miles and Oliver, and my parents,
all of whom have supported and encouraged me through the years.
Versa insert
FALCONGGUUIIDDEESS®
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Copyright © 2013 Morris Book Publishing, LLC
Illustrations copyright © 2013 Todd Telander
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or trans-
mitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval
system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the pub-
lisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Globe Pequot
Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, PO Box 480, Guilford CT
06437.
FalconGuides is an imprint of Globe Pequot Press.
Falcon, FalconGuides, and Outfit Your Mind are registered trademarks of
Morris Book Publishing, LLC.
Illustrations by Todd Telander
Text design: Sheryl P. Kober
Project editor: Lauren Brancato
Layout: Joanna Beyer
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is available on file.
ISBN 978-0-7627-7958-1
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Contents
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Notes about the Entries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Plant Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .viii
Cypress family (Cupressaceae): Cypress, Cedar, Juniper,
Redwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Pine family (Pinaceae): Pine, Fir, Spruce, Larch, Hemlock . . . 6
Yew family (Taxaceae): Yew. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Cactus family (Cactaceae): Saguaro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Palm family (Arecaceae): Cabbage Palmetto. . . . . . . . . . 29
Agave family (Agavaceae): Joshua Tree . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Maple family (Aceraceae): Maple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Holly family (Aquifoliaceae): American Holly. . . . . . . . . . 36
Birch family (Betulaceae): Birch, Alder, Hazelnut . . . . . . . 37
Dogwood family (Cornaceae): Dogwood, Tupelo. . . . . . . 41
Ebony family (Ebenaceae): Persimmon . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Oleaster family (Elaeagnaceae): Russian-olive. . . . . . . . . 45
Heath family (Ericaceae): Sourwood, Madrone . . . . . . . . 46
Legume/Pea family (Fabaceae): Locust, Redbud, Acacia . . 48
Beech family (Fagaceae): Oak, Beech, Chestnut,
Chinquapin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Horse-chestnut family (Hippocastanaceae): Buckeye . . . . 60
Walnut family (Juglandaceae): Walnut, Butternut, Pecan,
Hickory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Cashew family (Anacardiaceae): Sumac. . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Laural family (Lauraceae): Bay, Sassafras . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Magnolia family (Magnoliaceae): Magnolia, Tuliptree . . . . 68
Mulberry family (Moraceae): Mulberry, Osage-Orange . . . 70
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Myrtle family (Myrtaceae): Eucalyptus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Olive family (Oleaceae): Ash, Olive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Sycamore family (Plantanaceae): Sycamore . . . . . . . . . . 76
Buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae): Buckthorn. . . . . . . . . . 77
Red Mangrove family (Rhizophoraceae): Red Mangrove . . 78
Rose family (Rosaceae): Plum, Serviceberry,
Chokecherry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Willow family (Salicaceae): Aspen, Cottonwood,
Willow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Linden family (Tiliaceae): Basswood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Elm family (Ulmaceae): Elm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Trumpet-creeper family (Bigoniaceae): Catalpa. . . . . . . . 89
Sweetgum family (Altingiaceae): Sweetgum. . . . . . . . . . 90
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
About the Author/Illustrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
iv
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Introduction
The study of trees is a fascinating undertaking that can provide
a lifetime of discovery. In addition to their attractiveness as indi-
viduals or entire forests, trees provide an essential role in the eco-
system by providing habitat and food for wildlife, stabilizing and
enriching soils, and maintaining a stable atmosphere through
photosynthesis. A tree is usually defined as a plant that produces
woody growth, normally has a single trunk, and attains a height
of at least 20 feet. Within this description fits an incredible array of
forms, from the towering Redwood to the majestic, spreading Live
Oak to the stunted and gnarled 4,000-year-old Bristlecone Pine.
Although there are nearly 1,000 species of trees in North America,
this guide is intended to serve as an introduction and overview of
ninety of the more common trees in the United States and Can-
ada. I have included representatives from most tree families, and
focused on trees that are native to North America (although some
introduced species are included if they have become naturalized).
v
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Notes about the Entries
Order
This guide begins with the conifers, usually evergreen trees bear-
ing needles and cones; moves to groups of trees such as the cac-
tus, yucca, and palms; and finishes with the largest group, the
broadleaf trees, normally deciduous, having hard wood and bear-
ing seeds in some kind of fruit.
Names
Both common names and scientific names are included for the
entries. Common names are better recognized, but they tend to
vary regionally, and there may be more than one common name
for each species. Less well known, the universally accepted sci-
entific name of genus and species (such as Populus deltoides for
Eastern Cottonwood) provides more reliable identification. Also,
one can often learn interesting facts about a plant from the Eng-
lish translation of its Latin name. For instance, the generic name,
Populus, is Latin for a kind of poplar tree, and deltoides means tri-
angular, describing the overall triangular shape of the leaves.
Families
Trees are grouped into families based on similar structures,
growth habits, and common ancestry. Once you are familiar with
some of the more common families and their shared characteris-
tics, you can often place an unfamiliar tree into a family, which will
reduce your search to a smaller group. For example, if you find a
broadleaf tree with palmately lobed leaves that grow opposite on
branches and produce paired, winged fruits, you might first look
in the family Aceraceae (which includes the maples) and narrow
your search from there. You may find a diagram for leaf shapes,
margins, and terms in the following chapter, Plant Terms.
Size
The size given for each tree is the maximum height and trunk
diameter you are likely to find when environmental conditions are
ideal and you are looking at a fully mature specimen. If conditions
are less favorable, or if you find a specimen early in its growth
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cycle, the tree may be much smaller. On the other hand, there are
many examples of “champion” trees that have grown to sizes far
larger than the norm.
Range/Habitat
The range of each species can be very wide, such as across the
entire United States, or limited to a certain region, such as the
Southwest or Northeast. Within a plant’s range, it is important to
note the specific habitat where it occurs, which can be an excel-
lent key to identification. Although some nonnative, invasive trees
grow almost anywhere, most have fairly specific environments
where they prosper. Factors such as soil conditions, tempera-
ture, water availability, elevation, and surrounding vegetation
all play an important role in a tree’s ability to survive. You won’t
find Baldcypress growing in the desert or Joshua Trees growing
in swamps. Plants used as ornamentals are an exception, often
being found far from their natural habitat.
Descriptions
The descriptions give the essential information needed for iden-
tification: the basic shape and character of the tree and charac-
teristics of leaves, branches, bark, flowers, and fruits. Other clues
may sometimes be included: hairiness (or lack of hairs), spines,
textures, and odors. The identity of unique plants may be obvi-
ous, whereas others are so similar that they may require the use
of additional references or a key to ensure proper identification.
Illustrations
The illustrations are designed to help in identification by show-
ing the most important structures. They may include a simple
profile of the mature tree, a representative leaf, the texture of the
bark, and a fruit or flower. Keep in mind that these parts can show
extreme variability; the illustrations represent averages and are
not intended to be used alone, but rather to supplement informa-
tion provided by the text.
vii
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Plant Terms
For the most part, I have chosen to use common terms to describe
the trees, although botanists have developed an elaborate lan-
guage of their own. A few of the scientific terms that I have
included in the text have to do with flower parts, leaf shape, leaf
margins, and leaf arrangement, and are illustrated here.
Flower Parts
Flower Parts
ray flowers
pistil
petal
stamen
disk flowers
base
sepal
peduncle/flower stalk
Simple Flower Composite Flower
viii
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Flower Parts
ray flowers
pistil
petal
stamen
disk flowers
base
sepal
peduncle/flower stalk
Parts of a Leaf
Parts of a Leaf
Simple Flower Composite Flower
tip/apex
veins margin
midrib
base
petiole/leafstalk
stem
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