The key is composed of paired statements, one true and one false for any
given specimen. The guide numbers at the end of statements are used to
locate the next pair. Follow the true statements until you come to a
common name. If you have made no mistake in interpreting the paired
statements, you should arrive at the correct identity of the specimen.
Then check the text and illustration.
1. Leaves compound, with blades divided into leaflets 2
1. Leaves simple, blades not divided into leaflets 7
2. Leaves with opposite arrangement on twigs 3
2. Leaves with alternate arrangement on twigs 4
3. Leaflets with rounded bases, conspicuously whitish below when
fresh; seed end of samara thickened, wing terminal only White Ash
3. Leaflets with wedge-shaped bases, green below; wing terminal and
extending about half the length of the seed Green Ash
4. Buds valvate; buds, fruits, and lower surface of leaflets covered
with yellow glandular scales; fruit winged on upper half of husk
suture, husk thin, shell thin, meat bitter Bitternut Hickory
4. Buds imbricate, composed of overlapping scales 5
5. Leaflets typically 5, glabrous except for a few hairs on rachis and
midribs; bark shaggy Shagbark Hickory
5. Leaflets 7 6
6. Leaflets densely tomentose; bark tight, in diamond-shaped
pattern; husk very thick, shell thick, meat sweet
Mockernut Hickory
6. Leaflets usually glabrous; bark tight, in diamond-shaped pattern;
husk moderately thick, shell thick, meat sweet, husk tardily
dehiscent Pignut Hickory
7. Leaves essentially evergreen, large percentage staying on trees
until bud expansion, dark green above, silky white pubescent
below; flowers white, about 5 to 8 cm in diameter Sweetbay
7. Leaves typically deciduous, or trees retaining some dead leaves to
bud expansion 8
8. Leaf margins entire 9
8. Leaf margins lobed or toothed 12
9. Leaves with rusty pubescence below, broadly obovate, leathery bases
tapering to cordate or cuneate Blackjack Oak
9. Leaves essentially glabrous or with a few hairs in vein axils 10
10. Leaves shiny below, elliptic or rhombic to spatulate Laurel Oak
10. Leaves dull green below 11
11. Leaves elliptic to obovate, strongly veined with purple spots and
discoloration in summer; fruit a drupe Black Tupelo
11. Leaves abruptly obovate, bases wedge-shaped, few lateral veins;
fruit an acorn Water Oak
12. Leaf margins toothed 13
12. Leaf margins lobed 16
13. Margins indistinctly toothed, blades narrowly to broadly ovate,
base unequal, apex long acuminate Sugarberry
13. Margins distinctly toothed 14
14. Teeth obtuse or rounded, leaf base wedge-shaped, stellate
pubescent below Chestnut Oak
14. Teeth sharp 15
15. Leaves normally elliptic, veins prominent below, bases rounded;
corky outgrowths on older branches, often lacking on large trees
Winged Elm
15. Leaves broadly oval, pinnate veins distinct, margins doubly
toothed, bases oblique, unequally rounded American Elm
16. Leaves palmately lobed 17
16. Leaves pinnately or apically lobed 18
17. Leaves opposite, more or less glaucous and pubescent below; fruit
a double samara Red Maple
17. Leaves alternate, glabrous below; fruit spherical, woody with
spine-like projections; corky outgrowths on branches frequent
Sweetgum
18. Blades truncate to notched at apex, 4-lobed; fruit an aggregate
of samaras; flower conspicuous, greenish-yellow with red
markings Yellow-poplar
18. Blades with acute to obtuse apices 19
19. Blades apically 3-lobed 20
19. Blades pinnately lobed 21
20. Blades broadly obovate, base rounded, rusty pubescent below
Blackjack Oak
20. Blades narrowly obovate, base wedge-shaped, mostly glabrous
Water Oak
21. Leaves with rounded lobes 22
21. Leaves with bristle tips to lobes and lateral teeth 23
22. Leaves with 7 to 9 lobes, divided nearly to the midrib, whitish
below White Oak
22. Leaves with 5 unequal lobes, upper lateral pair larger,
squarish, at right angles to midrib, crosslike in appearance,
pubescent below Post Oak
23. Leaves pubescent below, whitish to tawny 24
23. Leaves glabrous below or with a few hairs on midrib and in vein
axils 26
24. Leaves with 7 to 9 lobes, terminal lobes long, strap-shaped,
slightly curved, bases bell-shaped Southern Red Oak
24. Leaves with 7 to 11 lobes 25
25. Leaves oblong, 7 to 11 lobes, base broadly wedge-shaped to
truncate, secondary lobes rare; inner bark reddish Cherrybark Oak
25. Leaves broadly oval, 7 to 9 lobes, each lobe with secondary
bristle-tipped teeth; inner bark yellow-orange Black Oak
26. Upper leaf surface glossy green 27
26. Upper leaf surface dull green, 7 to 9 lobes, 8 to 22 cm long,
round sinuses extending less than half way to midrib
Northern Red Oak
27. Leaves with 7 to 9 narrow lobes, sinuses extending more than
halfway to midrib Scarlet Oak
27. Leaves with 5 to 7 narrow lobes, rounded sinuses, extending about
three-fourths of way to midrib Shumard Oak
_Species Described and Illustrated_
Mockernut Hickory
_Carya tomentosa_ Nutt.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark grayish, tight, marked with distinct diamond-shaped ridges and
furrows. Branches stout, drooping to spreading and ascending. Twigs 10
to 12 mm in diameter, conspicuous leaf scars. Buds (terminal) 10 to 15
mm long, 5 to 8 mm in diameter, scales imbricate. Leaves alternate,
deciduous, odd-pinnately compound, 20 to 40 cm long with 5 to 7 drooping
leaflets; yellow hairs and glandular hairs on lower leaflet surface,
apex acuminate, margin finely serrate, base obtuse, on very short
petiolules. Flowers unisexual, appearing in spring with developing
leaves, staminate in 3-parted drooping catkins, pistillate terminal on
new growth. Fruit subglobose to obovate, 3 to 5 cm in diameter, husk 1
cm thick, slow to open, shell of nut thick and hard, meat sweet.
[Illustration: Mockernut Hickory/_Carya tomentosa_]
Pignut Hickory
_Carya glabra_ (Mill.) Sweet
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark light to dark gray, often blackish, rough and deeply furrowed.
Branches stout, drooping to spreading. Twigs 3 to 5 mm in diameter,
reddish brown, smooth. Buds ovoid, acute, glabrous, 8 to 12 mm long,
scales imbricate. Leaves alternate, deciduous, odd-pinnately compound,
20 to 40 cm long, usually with 7 leaflets; upper pair and terminal
largest, 10 to 15 cm long by 4 to 6 cm wide, broadly oval to slightly
obovate. Flowers unisexual, staminate in 3-branched catkins appearing
about the time of leaf maturity; pistillate terminal on new growth.
Fruit oblong to obovoid to obpyriform, 30 mm in diameter by 35 mm long,
husk about 3 mm thick, tardily dehiscent, shell of nut thick, meat
sweet.
[Illustration: Pignut Hickory/_Carya glabra_]
Shagbark Hickory
_Carya ovata_ (Mill.) K. Koch
Bark smooth at first, then breaking into long, flat, irregular gray
strips, to 5 mm thick, usually attached at the apex, free at the base.
Branches stout, smooth, spreading to ascending. Twigs stout,
orange-brown, leaf scars large. Buds (terminal), 10 to 20 mm long, 6 to
8 mm in diameter, scales imbricate. Leaves alternate, deciduous,
odd-pinnately compound with 5 to 7 leaflets, usually 5 to 18 cm wide and
20 to 35 cm long; lateral leaflets ovate to ovate-lanceolate, terminal
leaflet usually obovate, apices acute to acuminate, margins finely
serrate, bases wedge-shaped, more or less yellow, pubescent below,
gradually becoming glabrous with age. Flowers unisexual, appearing in
spring with the developing leaves, staminate in 3-lobed catkins,
pistillate on new growth. Fruits subglobose, 2.5 to 6 cm in diameter,
husk 3 to 5 mm thick, shell of nut hard and moderately thin, meat sweet.
[Illustration: Shagbark Hickory/_Carya ovata_]
Bitternut Hickory
_Carya cordiformis_ (Wangenh.) K. Koch
Bark brown to slate gray, smooth to lightly furrowed or with strongly
interlaced ridges. Branches stiff, ascending, spreading. Twigs slender,
glossy, often with yellow glands early in the season. Buds compressed,
ovoid, 6 to 10 mm long, covered with yellow, valvate glandular scales.
Leaves alternate, deciduous, odd-pinnately compound, 15 to 25 cm long
with 7 to 9 leaflets, 7 to 15 cm long and 3 to 6 cm wide; lateral
leaflets narrowly to broadly elliptic, terminal leaflet largest and
usually obovate, apex acuminate, margin finely serrate, base
wedge-shaped, with yellow glands on undersurfaces and on rachis. Flowers
unisexual, staminate in 3-branched catkins appearing after leaves;
pistillate terminal on new growth. Fruit ovate to subglobose, 2 to 3 cm
in diameter, often slightly compressed, 4-winged on sutures from apex to
middle of husk, husk thin, covered with yellow glandular scales, shell
of nut thin, meat very bitter.
[Illustration: Bitternut Hickory/_Carya cordiformis_]
Southern Red Oak
_Quercus falcata_ Michx.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark dark brown to grayish black, divided by shallow, irregular fissures
into broad ridges. Branches stout, spreading to ascending. Twigs 2 to 5
mm in diameter, dull reddish brown. Buds ovoid, angulate 8 to 13 mm
long, apex acute. Leaves alternate, deciduous, simple, many remaining as
dead foliage until spring, ovate to obovate with bell-shaped base, 10 to
28 cm long, 7 to 30 cm wide; with 3 to 9 lobes and margins with deep
rounded sinuses; when 3-lobed, central lobe strap-shaped and toothed
near the apex and side lobes acute to acuminate, somewhat falcate;
permanently pubescent below, white at first, turning rust. Flowers
unisexual, staminate in tomentose catkins as leaves unfold; pistillate
in leaf axils on twigs. Fruit an acorn, small, spherical to
hemispherical; cup 12 to 15 mm wide, shallow saucer-shaped, enclosing
about one-fourth to one-half of the nut; nut 8 to 12 mm long.
[Illustration: Southern Red Oak/_Quercus falcata_]
Cherrybark Oak
_Quercus falcata_ var. _pagodaefolia_ Ell.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark dark gray to gray-black consisting of appressed scales in narrow
flat ridges with shallow furrows. Branches stout, spreading to
ascending. Twigs 2 to 4 mm in diameter, reddish, lightly fluted. Buds
ovoid, 10 to 15 mm long, angled, scales pubescent with dark margins.
Leaves alternate, tardily deciduous, persisting into December, simple,
oval to oblong, 12 to 20 cm long, 7 to 8 cm wide; with 5 to 11 lobes,
major lobes opposite each other, large rounded sinuses extending nearly
to the midrib, margin entire with occasional bristle-tipped teeth near
the apex of the lobes, dark green above, permanently pubescent below,
sometimes thinly so, varying from white to rust color, especially on
drying. Flowers as in _Q. falcata_. Fruit an acorn broader than tall;
cups 12 to 15 mm wide; nut about 8 to 10 mm long, subglobose, flattened
at base, rounded at apex.
[Illustration: Cherrybark Oak/_Quercus falcata_ var. _pagodaefolia_]
Black Oak
_Quercus velutina_ Lam.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark brownish-black on older trees, with thick, broad scaly ridges and
deep furrows; inner bark yellow-orange—the only American oak with this
feature. Branches stout, spreading to ascending. Twigs about 5 mm in
diameter, reddish brown to dark brown, lightly fluted. Buds ovoid, 10 to
15 mm long, lateral buds sharply angled, scales ciliate, margin dark.
Leaves alternate, deciduous, simple; membranous in seedlings and
saplings to somewhat leathery in the middle to upper crown; lower leaves
broadly elliptic to obovate, 15 to 30 cm long, 10 to 15 cm wide, entire
to faintly lobed; middle-crown leaves 10 to 20 cm long, 10 to 15 cm
wide, distinctly 5 to 9 lobed with broad rounded sinuses with apical
bristles on each lobe; upper-crown leaves oblong to obovate, 8 to 20 cm
long, 8 to 15 cm wide; dark shiny green above, yellow scurfy pubescence
on young leaves of middle and upper crown, petioles 4 to 6 cm long,
yellow to reddish. Flowers unisexual; staminate catkins 7 to 15 cm long;
pistillate on short tomentose peduncles. Fruit an oval to obovoid acorn
10 to 25 mm long; cup cup-shaped to conical enclosing about one-half of
the nut.
[Illustration: Black Oak/_Quercus velutina_]
Scarlet Oak
_Quercus coccinea_ Muenchh.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark dark grayish-black, divided into irregular fissures and scaly
ridges. Branches stout, spreading to ascending. Twigs 3 to 4 mm in
diameter, reddish, turning a dull red. Buds ovoid, acute, 5 to 7 mm
long, covered with rounded, lightly pubescent scales. Leaves alternate,
deciduous, simple; glabrous, except in axils of main veins on underside,
oval to slightly obovate, 8 to 17 cm long, 5 to 13 cm wide, with 5 to 9
deep lobes often terminated by secondary lobes with bristle tips,
sinuses usually deep, round, and wider than lobes; both surfaces pale
green, upper surface shiny, bright scarlet in autumn, petioles about 4
cm long. Flowers unisexual; staminate in catkins with developing leaves;
pistillate on pubescent peduncles. Fruit an acorn; cup 15 to 30 mm wide,
covered with brown scales enclosing about one-third to one-half of the
nut; nut ovoid, 10 to 20 mm long, occasionally with ring grooves near
apical point at maturity.
[Illustration: Scarlet Oak/_Quercus coccinea_]
Northern Red Oak
_Quercus rubra_ L.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark dark brown, thick, divided by shallow furrows into long,
flat-topped scaly ridges. Branches stout, spreading and ascending to
form a round-topped crown. Twigs slender, reddish-brown to dark red.
Buds ovate, acute, light brown, 8 to 10 mm long. Leaves alternate,
deciduous, simple, oblong to oval to obovate, 12 to 22 cm long, 10 to 15
cm wide; 7 to 11 short lobes, lobes 3-toothed, bristle-tipped; upper
surface dull green. Flowers unisexual; staminate in slender catkins
appearing with the developing leaves, pistillate inconspicuous on last
year’s wood. Fruit an acorn, 15 to 30 mm long; cup saucer-shaped,
enclosing about one-fourth of the nut.
[Illustration: Northern Red Oak/_Quercus rubra_]
Shumard Oak
_Quercus shumardii_ Buckl.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark dark gray to blackish, relatively smooth at first, then breaking
into scaly ridges. Branches spreading to ascending. Twigs about 5 mm in
diameter, olive green then turning dark reddish. Buds clustered at apex
5 to 7 mm long, sharp pointed, strongly angled. Leaves alternate,
deciduous, simple; oval to slightly obovate, 10 to 20 cm long, 6 to 15
cm wide; with 7 to 10 bristle-tipped lobes, lobes on upper crown leaves
narrower to slightly wider than sinuses, lobes on lower crown leaves
wider than sinuses; dark green above, paler below, glabrous except for
vein axils on lower surface; petiole about 5 cm long. Flowers unisexual;
staminate in yellow catkins appearing with the unfolding leaves;
pistillate on pubescent peduncles. Fruit an acorn; cup 20 to 31 mm
across, enclosing about one-fourth of the nut; nut about 25 mm long, 15
mm in diameter.
[Illustration: Shumard Oak/_Quercus shumardii_]
Blackjack Oak
_Quercus marilandica_ Muenchh.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark black, very rough, consisting of thick blocky plates. Branches
stout, spreading to drooping. Twigs stout, about 5 mm in diameter. Buds
with rusty brown hairs, about 4 to 8 mm long. Leaves alternate, tardily
deciduous, simple, 7 to 25 cm long, broadly obovate at apex (bear-paw
shape) tapering to a narrow base, margin entire or with 3 bristle-tipped
apical lobes, upper surface dark green, rusty pubescent on
undersurfaces. Flowers unisexual; staminate in catkins, appearing with
the leaves; pistillate solitary or paired. Fruit an acorn, cup enclosing
one-half to two-thirds of the nut; nut nearly ovoid, 20 to 25 mm long by
15 to 20 mm in diameter.
[Illustration: Blackjack Oak/_Quercus marilandica_]
Laurel Oak
_Quercus laurifolia_ Michx.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark nearly black, divided into broad flat ridges by deep fissures.
Twigs 2 to 3 mm in diameter, usually reddish brown. Buds ovoid, reddish
brown, 2 to 4 mm long. Leaves alternate, semi-deciduous, simple, a few
shed in fall, a few persisting until spring; elliptic to spatulate, 7 to
15 cm long, 2 to 4 cm wide; apex acute or obtuse, margin entire, base
cuneate; shiny green above, paler below; petioles 3 to 5 mm long, midrib
conspicuous on underside. Flowers unisexual; staminate in catkins as
leaves unfold; pistillate on twigs at leaf scars. Fruit an acorn,
sessile to subsessile, cup 15 to 20 mm wide, enclosing about one-fourth
of nut; nut hemispheric, rounded at apex and flattened at bottom, 15 mm
long.
[Illustration: Laurel Oak/_Quercus laurifolia_]
Water Oak
_Quercus nigra_ L.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark smooth, grayish black, becoming scaly with age. Branches spreading
to ascending, forming a round-topped crown in the open. Twigs 3 to 5 mm
in diameter, gray. Buds ovoid, acute, reddish brown, 3 to 7 mm long.
Leaves alternate, deciduous, simple; variable in shape and size, obovate
to spatulate, 5 to 10 cm long, 2 to 5 cm wide; margin entire, wavy to
distinctly lobed in juvenile specimens; sessile or with petiole to 1 cm
long. Flowers unisexual; staminate catkins 5 to 8 cm long, pistillate
catkins short-peduncled. Fruit an acorn about 15 mm wide, 10 mm high;
cup thin, enclosing about one-fifth to one-third of the nut.
[Illustration: Water Oak/_Quercus nigra_]
White Oak
_Quercus alba_ L.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark light gray, separated by shallow furrows into flat ridges with
loose appressed scales. Branches stout, drooping, spreading to
ascending. Twigs 2 to 3 mm in diameter, reddish. Buds globose to ovoid,
angulate, apex acute to obtuse, 3 to 5 mm. Leaves alternate, deciduous,
simple, oblong to obovate, 7 to 20 cm long, 4 to 10 cm wide, with 7 to
11 uneven, rounded lobes and deep sinuses. Flowers unisexual, in
catkins, preceding leaf expansion. Fruit an acorn, 15 to 35 mm long, 20
to 25 mm in diameter, cup 1.5 to 3 cm wide, usually cup-shaped,
conspicuous with thickened scales, enclosing one-fourth to one-third of
the nut.
[Illustration: White Oak/_Quercus alba_]
Post Oak
_Quercus stellata_ Wangenh.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark medium to dark gray, with deep furrows, scaly ridges. Branches
stout, irregular, drooping to horizontal and ascending. Twigs 3 to 5 mm
in diameter, gray to brownish. Buds broadly ovate, blunt to acute, 5 mm
long, clustered at apex of twig. Leaves alternate, deciduous, simple;
obovate, to 18 cm long, 5 to 10 cm wide; divided into 5 to 7 sinuate
rounded lobes, the two lower lobes smaller than the upper pair, upper
lobes and the terminal lobe resembling a cross, dark, shiny green above,
grayish to brownish below, leathery. Flowers unisexual; staminate in
catkins appearing with the unfolding leaves; pistillate on last year’s
wood. Fruit an acorn, 13 to 25 mm long, 6 to 20 mm in diameter; cup
hemispherical, enclosing about one-half of the nut, cup scales
rusty-pubescent; nut ovate to ovate-oblong, about 15 mm long.
[Illustration: Post Oak/_Quercus stellata_]
Chestnut Oak
_Quercus prinus_ L.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark dark reddish brown to nearly black, deeply furrowed with narrow
ridges. Branches stout, spreading to ascending. Twigs stout, angulate,
smooth, purplish-green when new, turning orange or reddish-brown. Buds
ovate-conical, somewhat angulate, 8 to 12 mm long, silky hairy. Leaves
alternate, deciduous, simple; elliptic to obovate, 10 to 30 cm long, 3
to 8 cm wide; somewhat leathery, margin crenate with a vein ending in
each rounded tooth, smooth green above, stellate-pubescent below.
Flowers unisexual; staminate in catkins 5 to 10 cm long; pistillate in
short spikes on stout peduncles. Fruit an acorn 25 to 35 mm long, 15 to
25 mm in diameter; cup vase-shaped, thin, rough with thickened scales,
covering one-third to one-half of the nut.
[Illustration: Chestnut Oak/_Quercus prinus_]
Winged Elm
_Ulmus alata_ Michx.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark dark, smooth at first becoming deeply furrowed on larger trees.
Branches slender, ascending to spreading, corky ridges or wings on
branches 3 years or older. Twigs about 2 mm in diameter, light green
tinged with red. Buds sharp-pointed, divergent from twig 3 to 4 mm long.
Leaves alternate, deciduous, simple; broadly ovate to elliptic, 4 to 8
cm long, 2 to 4 cm wide; apex acute to short-acuminate, margin doubly to
triply serrate, base rounded; dull green above, lighter green below with
prominent pinnate veins. Flowers perfect, abundant, tiny, opening just
before leaves unfold, several in a cluster at a leaf scar, blooming late
January into February. Fruit a samara, flat and elliptic, 6 to 8 mm
long, margin ciliate.
[Illustration: Winged Elm/_Ulmus alata_]
American Elm
_Ulmus americana_ L.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark gray to blackish, thick, divided into flat ridges by deep furrows.
Branches ascending, arching, and spreading; open-grown trees vase-shaped
in outline. Twigs 2 to 3 mm in diameter with 5 to 7 leaves which
increase in size from basal to apical leaf, red-brown. Buds (leaf)
brown, small, scaly, acute. Leaves alternate, deciduous, simple; broadly
ovate, 5 to 15 cm long, 4 to 6 cm wide; apex acuminate, margin usually
doubly serrate, base oblique on short petiole; upper surface smooth,
marked with sunken veins pinnately arranged; veins more prominent on
underside. Flowers perfect, buds greatly enlarge before opening; with
very small flowers abundant in clusters; opening before the leaves
expand, blooming from late December into February. Fruit a samara, oval
to circular with wing surrounding the seed, about 10 mm in diameter,
margin ciliate.
[Illustration: American Elm/_Ulmus americana_]
Sugarberry; hackberry
_Celtis laevigata_ Willd.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark light gray to almost white, thin, smooth, usually more or less
studded with irregular corky outgrowths. Branches spreading, slender.
Twigs about 3 mm in diameter, reddish-brown. Buds about 3 mm long,
alternate. Leaves alternate, deciduous, simple; narrowly elliptic to
broadly ovate, 6 to 10 cm long, 2 to 4 cm wide; apex acute, margin
usually entire, base broadly rounded or oblique. Flowers unisexual or
perfect, tiny, inconspicuous, many staminate and few pistillate
appearing on the new growth as the leaves unfold. Fruit a drupe with a
bony reticulated nutlet, about 5 mm in diameter, orange-red on a pedicel
often shorter than the petiole of the subtending leaf.
[Illustration: Sugarberry; hackberry/_Celtis laevigata_]
Yellow-poplar
_Liriodendron tulipifera_ L.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark thin and dark green on young trees, becoming ash-gray and
conspicuously furrowed and ridged with age. Branches spreading to
ascending, often drooping on large open-grown trees. Twigs smooth, about
5 mm in diameter, encircled by stipule scars, red-brown. Buds (terminal)
grayish green, turning red in winter, flat about 10 to 16 mm long,
scales valvate. Leaves alternate, deciduous, simple; dark green above,
turning yellow in fall; 6 to 20 cm long and as wide as long; petioles 5
to 20 cm long, often longer than the blades on low branches. Flowers
perfect, tulip-shaped, about 4 to 6 cm long, greenish-yellow with orange
to reddish markings at base of petals, color intensifies with age. Fruit
an aggregate cone, 5 to 8 cm long, gradually shattering into one-seeded,
winged samaras.
[Illustration: Yellow-poplar/_Liriodendron tulipifera_]
Sweetbay
_Magnolia virginiana_ L.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark dark gray, usually smooth, thin, in shady areas often encrusted
with mosses, liverworts, and lichens. Branches stout, spreading to
ascending. Twigs about 5 to 7 mm in diameter, encircled by stipule
scars, green. Buds (terminal), silvery gray, pubescent, 15 mm long;
smaller lateral buds often subtended by persistent petiole base. Leaves
alternate, evergreen in South, deciduous in northern part of range,
simple; elliptic to oblong, 10 to 15 cm long, 4 to 6 cm wide; margin
entire, dark green above, silvery pubescent below. Flowers perfect,
white, sweet-scented, 5 to 8 cm in diameter, appearing May to September.
Fruit an aggregate of follicles which open and shed red seeds, irregular
in shape, ovoid to ellipsoid, smooth, about 5 cm long.
[Illustration: Sweetbay/_Magnolia virginiana_]
Sweetgum; redgum
_Liquidambar styraciflua_ L.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark dark gray, divided by deep furrows into narrow, rounded ridges.
Branches stout, often with corky wings or outgrowths. Twigs about 4 to 6
mm in diameter, gray-brown. Buds (terminal) broadly egg-shaped, about 10
to 15 mm long, scales overlapping, slightly sticky. Leaves alternate,
deciduous, simple; palmately 5- to 7-lobed; 8 to 20 cm wide, 6 to 15 cm
long, often longer than broad; margin finely serrate; petioles 4 to 13
cm long. Flowers unisexual (plants monoecious), appearing as the leaves
unfold; staminate clustered in terminal racemes; pistillate in small
drooping spherical heads. Fruit in stalked spherical heads covered with
small spine-like projections; seed cavity at base of each spine.
[Illustration: Sweetgum; redgum/_Liquidambar styraciflua_]
Red Maple
_Acer rubrum_ L.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark gray, divided into scaly ridges by narrow furrows. Branches
slender, spreading and ascending. Twigs about 3 mm in diameter, reddish.
Buds spherical, reddish, clustered at apex of twig, scales with white
ciliate margins. Leaves opposite, deciduous, simple; ovate to almost
circular, 4 to 9 cm long, 2.5 to 7 cm wide, usually longer than broad;
3-lobed near the apex, margin finely serrate; dark green above, glaucous
and lightly pubescent below, pubescence usually shed. Flowers typically
polygamous, occasionally with perfect flowers, small, forming dense
clusters from separate buds before leaf expansion, conspicuous because
of the red to orange coloration. Fruit twin samaras 10 to 20 mm long.
Var. _drummondii_: Leaves larger than typical red maple, usually broader
than long; 3 to 5 lobes or occasionally scarcely lobed, margins coarsely
toothed, conspicuously glaucous below, usually permanently tomentose.
Fruit samaras 4 to 5 cm long.
[Illustration: Red Maple/_Acer rubrum_]
Black Tupelo; blackgum
_Nyssa sylvatica_ Marsh.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark black, marked with furrows and cross-cracks that divide the ridges
into squarish plates. Branches slender, spreading to horizontal, often
drooping in open-grown specimens. Twigs 2 to 3 mm in diameter, gray to
reddish. Buds obtuse, of overlapping yellow-brown scales, terminal buds
6 mm long. Leaves alternate, early deciduous, simple; marked with
irregular black spots and purple coloration from midsummer on; elliptic
to broadly oval to obovate, 5 to 15 cm long, 3 to 8 cm wide; apex acute
to broadly rounded, margin entire, base wedge-shaped. Flowers unisexual,
less than 4 mm in diameter, appearing in April before leaf expansion.
Fruit a black drupe 8 to 10 mm long, 1 to 3 on pedicels 3 to 5 cm long,
stone faintly ribbed.
[Illustration: Black Tupelo; blackgum/_Nyssa sylvatica_]
White Ash
_Fraxinus americana_ L.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark gray to brownish, divided into narrow, deep furrows and ridges of
equal width. Branches stout, wide-spreading. Twigs 3 to 6 mm in
diameter. Buds (terminal) broadly ovoid consisting of 4 appressed
scales, dark brown to black; lateral buds spherical, tightly appressed
to a crescent-shaped leaf scar. Leaves opposite, deciduous,
odd-pinnately compound; 20 to 30 cm long, white below when fresh;
leaflets 7 to 9, petiolulate, oval to ovate, 5 to 15 cm long, 3 to 5 cm
wide, apex acuminate, margin essentially entire, base broadly rounded,
pinnate veins conspicuous on underside. Flowers unisexual (plants
dioecious); pistillate inconspicuous about 1 mm in diameter, arranged in
dense paniculate clusters; staminate conspicuous in mass. Fruit a
samara, 25 to 60 mm long, wing terminal on the thickened seed.
[Illustration: White Ash/_Fraxinus americana_]
Green Ash
_Fraxinus pennsylvanica_ Marsh.
[Illustration: silhouette]
Bark brownish, smooth when young, then breaking into narrow ridges with
shallow narrow furrows. Branches drooping to spreading and ascending.
Twigs stout, 4 to 6 mm in diameter, olive green. Buds terminal black;
smaller lateral buds tightly appressed to the generally straight upper
edge of the leaf scar. Leaves opposite, deciduous, odd-pinnately
compound with 5 to 7, occasionally 9, leaflets; leaflets narrowly to
broadly elliptical, apex acuminate, margin entire to finely serrate,
base wedge-shaped, hairy below along the veins. Flowers unisexual
(plants dioecious); pistillate inconspicuous in open panicles; staminate
in compact conspicuous clusters. Fruit a samara 25 to 50 mm long, seed
end conspicuously slender and extending about half the length of the
samara, wing decurrent on seed end.
[Illustration: Green Ash/_Fraxinus pennsylvanica_]