Many other hawthorns occur in Illinois. Several of them have been found
only a very few times. Most of them are difficult to distinguish unless
leaves, flowers, and fruits are available. A few of the hawthorns which
are likely to be encountered are described on this and the following
page.
Scarlet Hawthorn (_Crataegus coccinioides_ Ashe). This hawthorn grows to
a height of 15 feet and has very scaly brown bark. The slender gray
twigs have many stout, sharp spines up to 2 inches long. The ovate
leaves are coarsely toothed and usually shallowly lobed. There are some
hairs on both surfaces of the leaves. The spherical fruits, when mature,
are deep red speckled with several pale dots. There are usually 5
nutlets inside each fruit. The Scarlet Hawthorn is found primarily on
rocky hills.
Urn-shaped Hawthorn (_Crataegus calpodendron_ (Ehrh.) Medic.) The
Urn-shaped Hawthorn is named for the shape of its fruit, which is
usually about ½ inch long, red, with sweet flesh and 2-3 nutlets inside.
This small tree only grows to a height of about 15 feet. The leaves are
usually ovate and are coarsely toothed and often shallowly lobed. They
have a greenish-yellow color and are hairy, at least on the underneath
surface. This hawthorn frequently grows along rocky streams.
[Illustration: Urn-Shaped Hawthorn]
Green Haw (_Crataegus viridis_ L.). The Green Haw is primarily a tree of
low, wet woods, where it grows to a height of nearly 30 feet and has a
gray, scaly bark. The rather variable leaves range from elliptic to
elliptic-ovate and toothed to occasionally shallowly lobed. The leaves
are thin and smooth on both surfaces, except for some tufts of hair
along the axils of the veins on the lower surface. The orange-red fruits
are spherical and about ⅓ inch in diameter. There are 5 nutlets embedded
in the rather sweet flesh.
Dotted Haw (_Crataegus punctata_ Jacq.). This hawthorn grows to a height
of about 20 feet and has many stout thorns on its twigs. The leaves
generally are broadest above the middle and are obovate. The edges of
the leaves are usually toothed from the middle to the tip. Sometimes
lobes are formed. The leaves have a relatively thick texture and are
hairy on the veins of the under surface of the leaves. The usually
spherical fruit is about ¾ inch in diameter and contains 3 or 5 nutlets.
The Dotted Thorn often forms thickets along the edges of woods or in
rocky fields.
[Illustration: Green Hawthorn
Dotted Hawthorn]
PERSIMMON
_Diospyros virginiana_ L.
Growth Form: Medium tree up to 50 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 1
foot; crown broad and rounded or flattened. (At one time in the
Wabash Valley, Persimmon trees nearly 3 feet in diameter were
known.)
Bark: Dark gray to black, broken at maturity into squarish blocks.
Twigs: Slender, brown, smooth or hairy, usually with lenticels; leaf
scars alternate, half-elliptic, with 1 bundle trace.
Buds: More or less rounded, smooth, dark reddish-brown, up to ⅛ inch
long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades elliptic to oval, pointed at the tip,
tapering or rounded at the base, up to 5 inches long and about
half as broad, smooth along the edges, dark green, smooth, and
shiny on the upper surface, paler and smooth on the lower surface;
leafstalks stout, up to 1 inch long, smooth or sparsely hairy.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate usually borne on separate trees,
appearing after the leaves are half grown, the staminate in
clusters of 2-3, tubular, up to ½ inch long, the pistillate
solitary, ½ to ¾ inch long. Sometimes flowers with both stamens
and pistils can be found.
Fruit: Fleshy, spherical, but with the greenish calyx persistent at one
end, yellow-orange to orange (rarely blue), up to 2 inches in
diameter, sweet when ripe, few-seeded.
Wood: Heavy, hard, the heartwood nearly black.
Uses: Golf club heads, billiard cues.
Habitat: Dry woods, rich bottomland woods, edge of fields, fence rows.
Range: Connecticut across to southern Iowa and eastern Kansas, south to
eastern Texas, east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The leaves of the Persimmon are most often
confused with those of the Sour Gum, but usually the tip is not as
abruptly pointed in the Persimmon. The pith of the Persimmon also
lacks the distinct partitions found in the Sour Gum.
[Illustration: PERSIMMON]
BEECH
_Fagus grandifolia_ Ehrh.
Growth Form: Large tree to nearly 100 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 4
feet; crown widely spreading, usually rounded.
Bark: Smooth, gray, thin, often marred by human carving.
Twigs: Gray or yellowish, slender, smooth, more or less zigzag; leaf
scars alternate, half-round, with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Slender, narrow, long-pointed, smooth, reddish-brown, up to ¾ inch
long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades up to 4 inches long and 2½ inches
broad, oblong, pointed at the tip, rounded or tapering to the
somewhat asymmetrical base, coarsely toothed along the edges,
blue-green to yellow-green, smooth and shiny on the upper surface,
smooth or finely hairy on the lower surface; leaf stalk very
short, sometimes hairy.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately on the same tree,
appearing after the leaves have unfolded, the staminate numerous
in small spherical heads, the pistillate in groups of 2.
Fruit: Spiny burs up to ¾ inch long, prickly, reddish-brown, containing
1-3 triangular nuts.
Wood: Hard, strong, close-grained, deep reddish-brown.
Uses: Fuel, chairs, tool handles.
Habitat: Rich woods.
Range: Nova Scotia across to Ontario, south to eastern Texas, east to
northern Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The stately Beech is recognized by its smooth
gray bark and its long, pointed winter buds.
[Illustration: BEECH]
SWAMP PRIVET
_Forestiera acuminata_ (Michx.) Poir.
Growth Form: Small tree to 30 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 5 inches;
crown spreading, irregular.
Bark: Brown, shallowly furrowed or nearly smooth.
Twigs: Slender, brown, warty or smooth; leaf scars opposite,
shield-shaped, with 1 bundle trace.
Buds: Spherical, up to ⅛ inch in diameter, smooth.
Leaves: Opposite, simple; blades elliptic, pointed at the tip, tapering
to the base, up to 4 inches long, up to 1½ inches broad, finely
toothed along part of the edges, yellow-green and nearly smooth on
the upper surface, paler and smooth on the lower surface;
leafstalks slender, usually smooth, up to ½ inch long.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately on different trees,
appearing before the leaves begin to unfold; staminate many in
rounded clusters, yellow, without petals; pistillate several in
branched clusters, yellowish, without petals.
Fruit: Slender, oblong, slightly curved, dark purple, about 1 inch long,
up to ¼ inch wide, fleshy but dry, containing 1 seed.
Use: Occasionally planted as an ornamental.
Habitat: Swamps, along rivers.
Range: South Carolina across to Kansas, south to Texas, east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: Swamp Privet is distinguished by its opposite,
pointed leaves which are finely toothed along the edges.
[Illustration: SWAMP PRIVET]
WHITE ASH
_Fraxinus americana_ L.
Growth Form: Large tree up to 100 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 4
feet; crown pyramidal or ovoid, with slender branches; trunk
straight, columnar.
Bark: Light or dark gray, with diamond-shaped furrows between
flat-topped, sometimes scaly, ridges.
Twigs: Slender, gray or brown, sometimes with a few hairs; leaf scars
opposite, horseshoe-shaped, with several bundle traces forming a
half-moon.
Buds: Rounded, dark brown, finely hairy, up to ½ inch long.
Leaves: Opposite, pinnately compound, with 5-9 leaflets; leaflets
lance-shaped to lance-ovate, often curved, pointed at the tip,
rounded or tapering to the base, up to 5 inches long and about
half as broad, shallowly toothed along the edges, green and smooth
on the upper surface, paler and smooth or hairy on the lower
surface.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne on separate trees before the
leaves begin to expand, minute, without petals, purplish, in
crowded clusters, soon becoming elongated and less crowded.
Fruit: Paddle-shaped, winged, up to 2½ inches long and ¼ inch wide,
several in a cluster, 1-seeded at the base.
Wood: Heavy, strong, hard, coarse-grained, brown.
Uses: Furniture, baseball bats, tool handles, interior finishing.
Habitat: Bottomlands and wooded slopes.
Range: Nova Scotia across to Minnesota, south to Texas and Florida.
Distinguishing Features: White Ash differs from Green Ash in having
distinctly paler lower leaf surfaces. Plants with hairy leaves
resemble Red Ash, but the fruits do not have the wing extending
down beyond the seed in the White Ash.
[Illustration: WHITE ASH]
BLACK ASH
_Fraxinus nigra_ Marsh.
Growth Form: Medium tree up to 70 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2
feet; crown broadly rounded, with many stout, straight branches.
Bark: Light gray, scaly, without diamond-shaped furrows.
Twigs: Stout, gray or brown, smooth; leaf scars elliptic or oval, with
several bundle traces arranged in a half moon.
Buds: Conical, blue-black, finely hairy, about one-fourth inch long.
Leaves: Opposite, pinnately compound, with 7-11 leaflets; leaflets
without stalks, lance-shaped, long-pointed at the tip, tapering or
rounded at the sometimes asymmetrical base, up to 6 inches long,
less than one-half as wide, toothed along the edges, dark green
and smooth on the upper surface, paler and with rusty hairs along
the veins on the lower surface. The leaflets turn reddish-brown in
the autumn.
Flowers: Small, in elongated clusters, appearing before the leaves begin
to unfold, purplish, without any petals, some with both stamens
and pistils, others only with stamens, others only with pistils.
Fruit: Oblong, winged fruits, barely notched at the tip, up to 1½ inches
long, up to one-half inch broad, with a single seed at the base.
Wood: Soft, heavy, dark brown.
Uses: Cabinets, baskets, fence posts.
Habitat: Swampy woods.
Range: Newfoundland across to Manitoba, south to Iowa, central Illinois,
West Virginia, and Delaware.
Distinguishing Features: This is the only ash in Illinois where none of
the leaflets has stalks.
[Illustration: BLACK ASH]
RED ASH
_Fraxinus pennsylvanica_ Marsh.
Growth Form: Medium tree up to 60 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2
feet; crown usually pyramidal; trunk straight, rather stout,
sometimes slightly buttressed at base.
Bark: Light or dark gray, with diamond-shaped furrows between
flat-topped, sometimes scaly ridges.
Twigs: Slender to rather stout, gray or brown, covered by velvety hairs,
leaf scars opposite, half-round and straight across the top, with
several bundle traces forming a half-moon.
Buds: Rounded, dark brown, finely hairy, about ¼ inch long.
Leaves: Opposite, pinnately compound, with 7-9 leaflets; leaflets
elliptic to elliptic-ovate, pointed at the tip, tapering to the
base, up to 6 inches long, about ⅓ as wide, sparsely toothed along
the edges, hairy on both surfaces.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate on separate trees, appearing after the
leaves have begun to open, minute, crowded in purplish or greenish
dense clusters.
Fruit: A cluster of paddle-shaped fruits, each fruit up to 2½ inches
long and less than ½ inch broad, with a single seed at one end.
Wood: Hard, strong, heavy, coarse-grained, pale brown.
Uses: Tool handles, interior finishing, furniture.
Habitat: Bottomland forests.
Range: Nova Scotia across to North Dakota, south to Kansas, east to
Louisiana and northern Florida.
Distinguishing Features: Red Ash is characterized by its hairy leaf
stalks and its narrow wings along the stalks between the leaflets.
[Illustration: RED ASH]
GREEN ASH
_Fraxinus pennsylvanica_ Marsh var. _subintegerrima_ (Vahl) Fern.
Growth Form: Medium tree up to 60 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2½
feet; crown broadly rounded, with slender, spreading branches.
Bark: Light or dark gray, with diamond-shaped furrows between
flat-topped, sometimes scaly, ridges.
Twigs: Slender to rather stout, gray or brown, smooth; leaf scars
half-round and straight across the top, with several bundle traces
forming a half-moon.
Buds: Rounded, dark brown, finely hairy, up to one-fourth inch long.
Leaves: Opposite, pinnately compound, with 7-9 leaflets; leaflets
lance-shaped to elliptic, long-pointed at the tip, tapering to the
base, up to 6 inches long and one-and-one-half inches wide,
toothed along the edges, green and smooth on both surfaces. The
leaflets turn reddish-brown or yellowish in the autumn.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate flowers borne on separate trees, in
branched clusters, appearing as the leaves begin to unfold, small,
purplish, without petals.
Fruit: Lance-shaped or reversely lance-shaped, winged fruits, usually
rounded at the tip, up to 2½ inches long and less than one-third
inch broad, with a single seed at the base.
Wood: Hard, heavy, strong, light brown.
Uses: Interior finishing, tool handles, baseball bats; sometimes grown
as an ornamental.
Habitat: Bottomland forests.
Range: Maine across to Saskatchewan and Minnesota, south to Texas, east
to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The Green Ash has leaflets which are green on
both surfaces.
[Illustration: GREEN ASH]
BLUE ASH
_Fraxinus quadrangulata_ Michx.
Other Name: Square-stemmed Ash.
Growth Form: Moderate tree to seventy feet tall; trunk diameter up to 3
feet; crown irregular, with many short, sturdy branches.
Bark: Gray, scaly, without diamond-shaped furrows.
Twigs: Stout, square, gray or brown, smooth; leaf scars half-round and
concave across the top, with several bundle traces forming a
half-moon.
Buds: Rounded, gray, finely hairy, up to one-half inch long.
Leaves: Opposite, pinnately compound, with 5-11 leaflets; leaflets
lance-shaped, long-pointed at the tip tapering to the sometimes
asymmetrical base, up to 6 inches long, less than half as wide,
coarsely toothed along the edges, yellowish-green and smooth on
the upper surface, paler and usually with tufts of hairs along the
veins on the lower surface. The leaflets turn yellow in the
autumn.
Flowers: Small, in branched clusters, appearing as the leaves begin to
unfold, purplish, without any petals.
Fruit: Oblong, winged fruits, notched at the tip, up to 2 inches long
and one-half inch broad, with a single seed near the bottom.
Wood: Hard, heavy, yellow-brown.
Uses: Flooring; the inner bark produces a blue dye when placed in water.
Habitat: Wooded slopes, limestone cliffs.
Range: Western Pennsylvania across Wisconsin to Iowa, south to Oklahoma,
Arkansas, and Alabama; southern Ontario.
Distinguishing Features: The square stems immediately distinguish this
tree from any other ash in Illinois.
[Illustration: BLUE ASH]
PUMPKIN ASH
_Fraxinus tomentosa_ Michx. f.
Growth Form: Large tree sometimes nearly 100 feet tall; trunk diameter
up to 3 feet; crown broadly rounded, with stout spreading
branches.
Bark: Gray, becoming scaly.
Twigs: Stout, gray or brown, usually velvety; leaf scars opposite,
horseshoe-shaped, with several bundle traces arranged in a
half-moon.
Buds: More or less conical, brown, hairy, about one-fourth inch long.
Leaves: Opposite, compound, with 7-9 leaflets; leaflets lance-shaped to
elliptic, pointed at the tip, rounded or tapering at the slightly
asymmetrical base, up to 10 inches long and about half as wide,
smooth or finely toothed along the edges, yellow-green and smooth
on the upper surface, paler and velvety-hairy on the lower
surface. The leaves turn yellow in the autumn.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate flowers borne on separate trees, in
elongated clusters, appearing before the leaves, small,
greenish-purple, without any petals.
Fruit: Oblong, winged fruits, usually rounded at the tip, up to 3 inches
long and one-half inch broad, with a single seed near the bottom.
Wood: Heavy, strong, hard, close-grained, brown.
Uses: Boxes, paper pulp, fuel.
Habitat: Floodplains, swamps.
Range: New York across Ohio to southern Illinois and southern Missouri,
south to Louisiana, east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The Pumpkin Ash is the only ash in Illinois
with velvety-hairy twigs and usually toothless leaves.
[Illustration: PUMPKIN ASH]
WATER LOCUST
_Gleditsia aquatica_ Marsh.
Growth Form: Small to medium tree to 60 feet tall; trunk diameter up to
2 feet; crown widely but irregularly spreading; trunk short and
stout.
Bark: Dark gray or dark brown, shallowly furrowed.
Twigs: Slender, gray or brown, smooth, usually with unbranched thorns;
leaf scars alternate, more or less 3-lobed, with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Rounded, nearly hidden beneath the leaf scars, dark brown, smooth,
up to ⅛ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, both singly and doubly pinnately compound on the same
tree, with many leaflets; leaflets oblong to oblong-ovate, rounded
or slightly pointed at the tip, rounded at the slightly
asymmetrical base, toothless or minutely toothed along the edges,
smooth except for some hairs along the veins, up to 1 inch long,
about half as wide.
Flowers: Some flowers with both stamens and pistils, others with only
one or the other, in elongated clusters up to 4 inches long,
greenish, small, appearing in May and June.
Fruit: Short, pointed legumes up to 2 inches long and 1 inch broad,
borne several in a drooping cluster, chestnut-brown, smooth, with
1 or 2 seeds and no pulp.
Wood: Hard, heavy, coarse-grained, reddish-brown.
Uses: Fence posts, coarse construction.
Habitat: Swampy woods.
Range: North Carolina across to southern Missouri, south to Texas, east
to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The short, 1- or 2-seeded legume without pulp
differentiates this locust from the Honey Locust.
[Illustration: WATER LOCUST]
HONEY LOCUST
_Gleditsia triacanthos_ L.
Growth Form: Medium tree to 70 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 3 feet;
crown broadly rounded, often with dropping outer branches; trunk
straight, rather stout, usually with large, purple-brown, 3-parted
thorns.
Bark: Dark brown, deeply furrowed and scaly at maturity.
Twigs: Slender, angular, reddish-brown, smooth, zigzag, with 3-parted or
unbranched thorns; leaf scars alternate, more or less 3-lobed,
with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Rounded, nearly hidden beneath the leaf scars, dark brown, smooth,
up to ⅛ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, often doubly pinnately compound, with many leaflets;
leaflets oblong to oblong-lanceolate, rounded or slightly pointed
at the tip, rounded at the slightly asymmetrical base, minutely
toothed along the edges, smooth except for some hairs along the
veins, up to 1½ inches long, less than half as wide.
Flowers: Some flowers with both stamens and pistils, others with only
one or the other, in elongated clusters up to 3 inches long,
yellowish, small, appearing in May and June.
Fruit: Elongated legumes up to 1½ feet long and up to 2 inches wide,
flat, often twisted or curved, purple-brown, containing several
seeds embedded in a thick pulp.
Wood: Hard, strong, coarse-grained, reddish-brown.
Uses: Fence posts, coarse construction; a spineless form sometimes
cultivated.
Habitat: Moist, wooded ravines, thickets, along roads.
Range: New York across to South Dakota, south to Texas, east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: Honey Locust has more leaflets than any other
kind of tree in Illinois. The large 3-parted spines and the long
fruits are also distinctive.
[Illustration: HONEY LOCUST]
KENTUCKY COFFEE TREE
_Gymnocladus dioicus_ (L.) K. Koch
Growth Form: Medium to large tree to 85 feet tall; trunk diameter up to
2½ feet; crown with a narrow, rounded top; trunk stout, usually
branching a few feet above the ground.
Bark: Dark gray, deeply furrowed and scaly at maturity.
Twigs: Stout, dark brown with orange lenticels, slightly hairy; leaf
scars alternate, heart-shaped, with 3 or 5 bundle traces; pith
chocolate-colored.
Buds: Tiny, sunken in hairy cavities immediately above each leaf scar.
Leaves: Alternate, doubly pinnately compound, with many leaflets;
leaflets ovate, pointed at the tip, rounded at the base, up to 2
inches long and about half as broad, without teeth along the edge,
dark green and smooth on the upper surface, yellow-green and
smooth or hairy on the veins on the lower surface.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately on separate trees, in
more or less elongated, greenish clusters, appearing after the
leaves have unfolded, each flower with 5 oblong, hairy petals.
Fruit: Short, thick legumes up to 10 inches long and up to 2 inches
wide, dark brown, leathery, smooth, containing several large seeds
embedded in a thick, sweet pulp.
Wood: Heavy, strong, durable, coarse-grained, reddish-brown.
Uses: Fence posts, fuel, rough construction. The seeds can be used as a
substitute for coffee.
Habitat: Rich, often bottomland, woods.
Range: New York across to South Dakota, south to Oklahoma, east to
Tennessee.
Distinguishing Features: The doubly compound leaves with large leaflets,
the short, thick legumes, and the thick twigs with sunken buds
readily distinguish this tree. It is one of the last trees to put
forth its leaves in the spring.
[Illustration: KENTUCKY COFFEE TREE]
SILVER BELL
_Halesia carolina_ L.
Growth Form: Small tree to 30 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 8 inches;
crown widely spreading.
Bark: Reddish-brown, with whitish stripes, somewhat scaly.
Twigs: Slender, reddish-brown, usually smooth; leaf scars alternate,
half-round, with a cluster of bundle scars.
Buds: Ovoid, pointed, reddish-brown, somewhat hairy, up to ⅛ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades oval to elliptic, pointed at the tip,
tapering to rounded at the base, up to 6 inches long, about half
as broad, finely toothed along the edges, dark green and usually
smooth on the upper surface, paler and smooth or slightly hairy on
the lower surface; leafstalks slender, smooth or finely hairy, up
to ½ inch long.
Flowers: Few in hanging clusters, showy, white, each bell-shaped and up
to one inch long, appearing in April.
Fruit: 4-winged, dry, brown, up to 2 inches long, containing 1 seed.
Wood: Light in weight, soft, close-grained, brown.
Use: Occasionally grown as an ornamental.
Habitat: Rich woods.
Range: Virginia across southern Illinois to Oklahoma, south to Texas,
east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The bell-shaped white flowers and the 4-winged
fruits readily distinguish this handsome tree.
[Illustration: SILVER BELL]
WITCH HAZEL
_Hamamelis virginiana_ L.
Growth Form: Small tree to 25 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 10 inches;
crown broadly rounded.
Bark: Light brown, eventually broken into small scales.
Twigs: Slender, flexible, brown, hairy at first but becoming smooth;
leaf scars alternate, half-round, with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Narrow, pointed, finely hairy, orange-brown, up to ½ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades obovate, rounded or short-pointed at
the tip, rounded or sometimes tapering to the base, up to 6 inches
long, sometimes nearly half as broad, usually with several low,
rounded teeth, dark green and usually somewhat hairy on the upper
surface, paler and hairy on the lower surface; leafstalks up to ¾
inch long, slightly hairy.
Flowers: Blooming from September to November, several in a cluster, each
with 4 bright yellow, strap-shaped petals up to ⅔ inch long.
Fruit: Capsules up to ½ long, brown, hairy, splitting open during the
following autumn to liberate several small, shiny seeds.
Wood: Hard, heavy, close-grained, light brown.
Uses: Planted as an ornamental. The astringent witch hazel is derived
from this plant.
Habitat: Woodlands.
Range: Southern Quebec across to Minnesota, south to Missouri,
Tennessee, and Georgia.
Distinguishing Features: The late-flowering period and the obovate
leaves with shallow, rounded teeth characterize the Witch Hazel.
[Illustration: WITCH HAZEL]
SWAMP HOLLY
_Ilex decidua_ Walt.
Other Name: Possum Haw; Deciduous Holly.
Growth Form: Small tree up to 20 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 3
inches; crown spreading.
Bark: Light brown, more or less warty.
Twigs: Slender, gray, smooth or slightly hairy, often with short spurs;
leaf scars alternate, crescent-shaped, slightly elevated, with 1
bundle trace.
Buds: Rounded, gray, up to ⅛ inch in diameter.
Leaves: Alternate, simple, sometimes clustered at the tips of the short
spur-like twigs; blades narrowly oblong to elliptic, short-pointed
or rounded at the tip, tapering to the base, up to 3 inches long,
less than ½ as broad, sparsely and finely toothed along the edges,
green and smooth on the upper surface, paler and slightly hairy on
the lower surface; leafstalks slender, hairy, up to ¼ inch long.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately on different trees,
appearing in April and May; both types of flowers in few-flowered
clusters, greenish or whitish, with usually 4 small petals.
Fruit: Red or rarely orange berries, spherical, up to ¼ inch in
diameter, remaining on the tree during the winter.
Wood: Hard, heavy, close-grained, whitish.
Use: The handsome berries make this species an attractive ornamental.
Habitat: Bottomland woods.
Range: Maryland across to eastern Kansas, south to Texas, east to
Florida.
Distinguishing Features: Swamp Holly is distinguished by its alternate,
remotely toothed leaves clustered at the ends of spur-like shoots,
and by its red berries.
[Illustration: SWAMP HOLLY]
BUTTERNUT
_Juglans cinerea_ L.
Other Name: White Walnut.
Growth Form: Medium tree up to 90 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 3
feet; crown flat to broadly rounded; trunk straight, columnar, not
buttressed.
Bark: Light gray, divided by deep furrows into broad scaly ridges.
Twigs: Stout, greenish or orange-brown to gray, smooth or hairy, usually
shiny, with white lenticels; pith chocolate-colored, divided by
partitions; leaf scars alternate, shield-shaped, elevated, with 3
bundle traces.
Buds: Blunt at the tip, whitish, hairy, soft, up to ½ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound, with up to 17 leaflets; leaflets
up to 3 inches long and 2 inches wide, broadly lance-shaped,
pointed at the tip, rounded at the asymmetrical base, finely
toothed along the edges, yellow-green on the upper surface, paler
on the lower surface, softly hairy and sometimes sticky.
Flowers: Borne separately but on the same tree, appearing when the
leaves are partly grown, the staminate several in thick,
yellow-green catkins, the pistillate much fewer in spikes, neither
of them with petals.
Fruit: In groups of 2-5, ovoid-oblong, up to 2½ inches long,
sticky-hairy, the husk thick, the nut pointed at one end and with
well-developed wings, pale brown, the seed sweet.
Wood: Soft, light in weight, coarse-grained, pale brown.
Uses: Furniture, interior finishing; the nut is sought after as a
delicacy.
Habitat: Bottomland woods.
Range: New Brunswick across to Minnesota, south to Arkansas, east to
Georgia.
Distinguishing Features: The Butternut is distinguished by its bark
pattern, its chocolate-colored, partitioned pith, and its
distinctive fruits.
[Illustration: BUTTERNUT]
BLACK WALNUT
_Juglans nigra_ L.
Growth Form: Large tree up to 150 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 5
feet; crown broadly rounded; trunk straight, columnar, not
buttressed at the base.
Bark: Black, thick, deeply furrowed.
Twigs: Stout, greenish or orange-brown, hairy, smooth and gray; pith
brown, divided by partitions; leaf scars alternate, shield-shaped,
elevated, with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: More or less rounded at the tip, pale brown, soft, hairy, up to ½
inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound, with 15-23 leaflets; leaflets up
to 3½ inches long and 1½ inches wide, broadly lance-shaped,
pointed at the tip, rounded at the asymmetrical base, toothed
along the edges, yellow-green and smooth on the upper surface,
paler and hairy on the lower surface, turning yellow in the
autumn.
Flowers: Borne separately but on the same tree, appearing when the
leaves are partly grown, the staminate several in thick,
yellow-green, hairy catkins, the pistillate much fewer in small
spikes, neither of them with petals.
Fruit: In groups of 1 or 2, spherical, up to 2 inches in diameter, green
or yellow-green, slightly roughened, the husk thick, the nut very
hard, oval, dark brown, deeply ridged, the seed sweet.
Wood: Hard, heavy, coarse-grained, dark brown.
Uses: The wood is used for furniture, interior finishing, cabinets; the
nuts are edible.
Habitat: Rich woodlands.
Range: Massachusetts across to Minnesota, south to Texas, east to
Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The Black Walnut is recognized by its
characteristic buds, its chambered pith, and its fruits.
[Illustration: BLACK WALNUT]
RED CEDAR
_Juniperus virginiana_ L.
Other Names: Juniper; Eastern Red Cedar.
Growth Form: Medium tree to 90 feet tall, usually much smaller; trunk
diameter up to 3 feet; crown narrowly pyramidal or broad and
rounded.
Bark: Reddish-brown, splitting into long shreds.
Twigs: Slender, brown.
Leaves: Of 2 types, either flat, triangular, opposite, and up to ¹/₁₆
inch long, or short and needle-like, up to ¾ inch long, blue-green
to green to yellow-green.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate on different trees, the staminate in
small, narrow yellowish spikes, the pistillate in small, ovoid,
purplish clusters.
Fruit: Berry-like, spherical, up to ¼ inch in diameter, dark blue with a
whitish covering, with sweet flesh and 1-2 seeds.
Wood: Durable, light in weight, close-grained, red, fragrant.
Uses: Clothing chests, pencils, fence posts.
Habitat: Fields, dry woods, cliffs.
Range: New Brunswick across to North Dakota, south to Texas, east to
Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The 2 kinds of leaves readily distinguish this
species.
[Illustration: RED CEDAR]
EUROPEAN LARCH
_Larix decidua_ Mill.
Growth Form: Medium tree to 50 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 15
inches; crown straight and more or less columnar.
Bark: Light brown, scaly.
Twigs: Moderately stout, yellowish, with numerous conspicuous leaf scars
or, when older, with short lateral spurs.
Leaves: Needles borne many in clusters from short spurs, or borne singly
on new branchlets, soft, yellow-green, up to about one inch long,
somewhat triangular, falling from the tree in the autumn.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing as the new leaves begin to appear, the staminate
in nearly round, yellow heads, the pistillate in oblong, bright
red “cones.”
Fruit: Cones oblong, upright, up to 1¼ inches long, containing numerous
small, winged seeds.
Wood: Hard, heavy, strong, orange-brown.
Use: This tree is sometimes planted as an ornamental.
Habitat: Around homes where it has persisted from cultivation.
Range: Native of Europe; infrequently escaped from cultivation in
northeastern North America.
Distinguishing Features: The European Larch differs from the American
Larch by its slightly longer cones, its yellow-green needles, and
its yellower twigs.
[Illustration: EUROPEAN LARCH]
AMERICAN LARCH
_Larix laricina_ (DuRoi) Koch
Other Name: Tamarack.
Growth Form: Medium to large tree to 100 feet tall; trunk diameter up to
1½ feet; crown narrowly pyramidal.
Bark: Reddish-brown, broken into scales.
Twigs: Slender, light brown or orange, smooth; leaf scars alternate,
elevated, borne on spurs, with 1 bundle trace.
Buds: Spherical, reddish-brown, up to ⅛ inch in diameter.
Leaves: Needles numerous in clusters, soft, up to about 1 inch long,
light green, falling away during the autumn.
Flowers: Staminate spherical, yellow, usually not subtended by leaves;
pistillate oblong, rose-colored, usually subtended by leaves.
Fruit: Cones oblong, up to ½ inch long, chestnut-brown.
Wood: Heavy, hard, durable, close-grained, orange-brown.
Uses: Fence posts, railroad ties, interior finishing; sometimes grown as
an ornamental.
Habitat: Bogs and swamps.
Range: Labrador to Alaska, south to Minnesota, northern Illinois, and
West Virginia.
Distinguishing Features: American Larch is distinguished by its short,
pale green needles borne many in a cluster or singly on long
shoots.
[Illustration: AMERICAN LARCH]
SWEET GUM
_Liquidambar styraciflua_ L.
Other Name: Red Gum.
Growth Form: Up to 100 feet tall; trunk diameter sometimes more than 3
feet; crown usually pyramidal.
Bark: Usually dark gray and broken into scaly ridges.
Twigs: Stout, often bordered by corky wings; leaf scars alternate,
half-elliptical, slightly elevated, with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Large, shiny, pointed, sometimes sticky to the touch.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades shaped like 5- to 7-pointed stars,
each point toothed along the edge, as much as six inches long and
nearly as broad. In the autumn, the leaves turn a variety of
colors, from red to yellow to purple.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate on same tree crowded together in
rounded clusters, opening at about the same time as the leaves
unfold.
Fruit: Dry “ball” about one inch in diameter, covered by numerous short,
often sharp projections, with many seeds, most of which are
incapable of germinating.
Wood: Hard, strong, durable.
Uses: Lumber, furniture, flooring. The attractive leaves make this tree
a handsome ornamental.
Habitat: Bottomland woods.
Range: Southwestern Connecticut across southern Illinois to eastern
Oklahoma and eastern Texas, east to central Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The star-shaped leaves readily distinguish this
tree.
[Illustration: SWEET GUM]
TULIP TREE
_Liriodendron tulipifera_ L.
Other Names: Yellow Poplar; Tulip Poplar.
Growth Form: Stately tree up to 100 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 4
feet; crown oblong or pyramidal from a long, columnar trunk.
Bark: Grayish, becoming deeply furrowed at maturity; furrows often
whitish within.
Twigs: Smooth, reddish-brown; leaf scars alternate, nearly spherical,
with several bundle traces, with stipule scars encircling the
twig.
Buds: Flattened, up to 1 inch long, resembling duckbills.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades divided into four broad lobes, the
upper two lobes usually with a conspicuous notch between them,
bright green, averaging 4 to 6 inches long and broad.
Flowers: About two inches long, cup-shaped, with six yellow-green petals
with an orange base surrounding a cone-shaped cluster of pistils;
opening in May.
Fruit: Dry “cones” about 2½ inches long, composed of several winged
seeds.
Wood: Soft, durable.
Uses: Lumber, veneer cores to which other wood can be glued, canoes,
frames.
Habitat: Rich soil.
Range: Connecticut and Vermont across to southern Michigan,
southwestward across Illinois to Louisiana, east to Central
Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The shape of the leaf is unlike that of any
other tree in Illinois.
[Illustration: TULIP TREE]
OSAGE ORANGE
_Maclura pomifera_ Schneid.
Other Names: Hedge Apple; Bow Wood.
Growth Form: Medium tree to 40 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 1 foot;
crown rounded or dome-shaped, with several rather stout, spreading
branches.
Bark: Light gray-brown tinged with orange, separating into shaggy
strips.
Twigs: Dull orange-brown, smooth, zigzag, with short, sharp, axillary
spines; leaf scars alternate, half-round, elevated, with usually 3
groups of bundle traces.
Buds: Round, reddish-brown, smooth, very tiny.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades ovate or ovate-lanceolate,
long-pointed at the tip, narrowed or a little bit heart-shaped at
the base, up to 5 inches long and 3½ inches broad, smooth along
the edges, green and smooth on both surfaces; leafstalks smooth,
up to 2 inches long.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne on separate trees, yellow-green,
very tiny, the staminate crowded in short clusters on stalks up to
4 inches long, the pistillate crowded into spherical heads on
short, stout stalks.
Fruit: Large, spherical, greenish-yellow compound fruit up to 6 inches
in diameter, containing many seeds, succulent flesh, and milky
sap.
Wood: Heavy, hard, flexible, durable, coarse-grained, orange when first
cut, becoming brown.
Uses: Bows, fence posts, railroad ties, tool handles; often planted as a
windbreak.
Habitat: Hedge-rows, woods.
Range: Native only in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas; commonly planted
elsewhere and often escaped from cultivation.
Distinguishing Features: The Osage Orange is distinguished by its spiny
branches, its long-pointed, toothless leaves, its milky sap, and
its large, spherical, yellow-green fruits.
[Illustration: OSAGE ORANGE]
CUCUMBER MAGNOLIA
_Magnolia acuminata_ L.
Other Name: Cucumber Tree.
Growth Form: Medium tree up to 75 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 3
feet; crown broadly rounded or pyramidal.
Bark: Gray or brown, with shallow furrows when older.
Twigs: Rather stout, reddish-brown, smooth; leaf scars alternate,
U-shaped, with several scattered bundle traces.
Buds: Silvery-white, hairy, up to nearly 1 inch long, with a single bud
scale.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades usually elliptic, short-pointed at the
apex, rounded or tapering to the base, up to 10 inches long and
more than half as broad, entire along the edges, yellow-green and
smooth on the upper surface, paler and sometimes hairy on the
lower surface.
Flowers: Greenish-yellow, up to 3 inches long, with usually 6 elongated,
pointed petals, appearing in April.
Fruit: Oblong fruits up to 3 inches long, deep red, with several seeds.
Young fruits look like small cucumbers, thus accounting for the
common name. The fruits ripen from late August to October.
Wood: Light weight, soft, pale brown.
Uses: Cabinets, flooring.
Habitat: Rich woodlands.
Range: New York to southern Illinois and Oklahoma, south to Louisiana
and Georgia, also southern Ontario.
Distinguishing Features: The large toothless leaves are distinctive from
leaves of all other Illinois trees except the Tupelo Gum, a tree
of swamps which usually had 1-3 coarse teeth along the edges of
each leaf. The silvery buds are also distinctive, as are the
flowers and fruits.
[Illustration: CUCUMBER MAGNOLIA]
NARROW-LEAVED CRAB APPLE
_Malus angustifolia_ (Ait.) Michx.
Growth Form: Small tree to 20 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 9 inches;
crown spreading.
Bark: Reddish-brown, deeply furrowed, scaly.
Twigs: Slender, reddish-brown or pale brown, smooth, sometimes
spur-like; leaf scars alternate, narrow, curved, with 3 bundle
traces.
Buds: Rounded, brown, up to ¹/₁₆ inch in diameter, finely hairy.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades elliptic to oblong, rounded or pointed
at the tip, narrowed to the base, to 2 inches long, less than half
as broad, toothed along the edges, seldom shallowly lobed, green
and smooth on the upper surface, a little paler and smooth or
sparsely hairy on the lower surface; leafstalks slender, up to 1
inch long, smooth or hairy.
Flowers: Showy, up to 1 inch across, on long stalks, usually 3 or more
in a cluster, with 5 narrow, rose petals, appearing during May and
June.
Fruit: Apples up to 1 inch across, yellow-green, edible.
Wood: Heavy, close-grained, brown.
Use: The fruit is used in making jelly.
Habitat: Rather moist woods.
Range: Maryland across to southern Missouri, south to Louisiana, east to
Florida.
Distinguishing Features: This crab apple is distinguished by its narrow
leaves which are usually unlobed.
[Illustration: NARROW-LEAVED CRAB APPLE]
PRAIRIE CRAB APPLE
_Malus coronaria_ (L.) Mill.
Growth Form: Small tree to 25 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 1 foot;
crown widely spreading.
Bark: Gray-brown to red-brown, with rather deep furrows between the
scales.
Twigs: Moderately stout, reddish-brown, often spurlike, sometimes spiny,
usually smooth at maturity; leaf scars alternate, narrow, curved,
with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Rounded, reddish, about ¼ inch in diameter, smooth or nearly so.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades oval, rounded to short-pointed at the
tip, rounded or tapering to the base, up to 3 inches long, about
half as broad, toothed along the edges and sometimes slightly
lobed, yellow-green and smooth on the upper surface, paler on the
lower surface; leafstalks stout, up to 2 inches long, smooth or
hairy.
Flowers: Showy, up to 1½ inches across, on long stalks, usually 3 or
more in a cluster, with 5 rounded, white or pinkish petals,
appearing during May and June.
Fruit: Apples up to 1 inch across, yellow-green, edible.
Wood: Heavy, close-grained, reddish-brown.
Uses: Wood is used for tool handles; crab apples used in making jelly.
Habitat: Woods; edge of fields; edge of prairies.
Range: New York and southern Ontario across to Wisconsin, south to
Kansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
Distinguishing Features: The Prairie Crab Apple differs from the
Narrow-leaved Crab Apple by its broader leaves and from the Iowa
Crab Apple by its usually less-lobed leaves and smooth flowers.
[Illustration: PRAIRIE CRAB APPLE]
IOWA CRAB APPLE
_Malus ioensis_ (Wood) Britt.
Growth Form: Small tree to 25 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 1 foot;
crown spreading.
Bark: Reddish-brown, scaly.
Twigs: Moderately stout, reddish-brown, sometimes spiny, usually
somewhat hairy at maturity; leaf scars alternate, narrow, curved,
with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Rounded, reddish-brown, less than ⅛ inch in diameter, finely
hairy.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades elliptic to oval, rounded or pointed
at the tip, rounded or tapering to the base, up to 4½ inches long
and less than half as broad, toothed along the edges and often
shallowly lobed, dark green and smooth on the upper surface,
yellow-green and usually somewhat hairy on the lower surface;
leafstalks stout, up to 1 inch long, hairy.
Flowers: Showy, up to 2 inches across, on long stalks, usually 3 or more
in a cluster, with 5 rounded, white or rose petals, appearing
during May and June.
Fruit: Apples up to 1¾ inches across, yellow-green, edible.
Wood: Heavy, close-grained, brown.
Use: The fruit is used in making jelly.
Habitat: Edges of prairies and fields.
Range: Wisconsin and Minnesota, south to Nebraska, Texas, and Louisiana.
Distinguishing Features: The Iowa Crab Apple is distinguished from the
other crab apples in the state by the greater frequency of lobed
leaves and by its hairy flowers.
[Illustration: IOWA CRAB APPLE]
WHITE MULBERRY
_Morus alba_ L.
Growth Form: Medium tree up to 50 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2
feet; crown broadly rounded, with many short branchlets.
Bark: Light brown, sometimes tinted with orange, divided into long,
scaly plates.
Twigs: Slender, yellowish, smooth or sometimes hairy, more or less
zigzag; leaf scars alternate, half-round, elevated, with numerous
bundle traces.
Buds: Pointed, reddish-brown, smooth, about ⅙ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades ovate, short-pointed at the tip,
rounded or cut straight across at the base, up to 5 inches long
and nearly as broad, coarsely round-toothed, sometimes 2-lobed,
sometimes 3-lobed, sometimes deeply several-lobed, sometimes
unlobed, green and smooth to the touch on the upper surface, paler
and smooth on the lower surface, except for a few hairs sometimes
on the veins; leafstalks up to 2 inches long, smooth.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate flowers borne separately, either on
the same tree or on different trees, appearing as the leaves
unfold, the staminate crowded into narrow green clusters up to 2
inches long, the pistillate crowded into short, thick spikes up to
1 inch long.
Fruit: A cluster of tiny drupes up to 1¼ inches long, white or pinkish,
more rarely red or purple, sweet, juicy.
Wood: Light in weight, soft, coarse-grained, orange-brown.
Uses: Fence posts; the fruit is edible.
Habitat: Woods, along roads, in disturbed areas.
Range: Native of Asia; naturalized from Maine to Minnesota, south to
Texas, east to Georgia.
Distinguishing Features: The White Mulberry lacks hairs on the lower
surface of the leaves (except sometimes along the veins), thus
differing from the Red Mulberry.
[Illustration: WHITE MULBERRY]
RED MULBERRY
_Morus rubra_ L.
Growth Form: Medium tree up to 50 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2
feet; crown broadly rounded, with many short branchlets.
Bark: Dark brown, divided into long, scaly plates.
Twigs: Slender, smooth or sometimes hairy, reddish-brown to dark brown,
more or less zigzag; leaf scars alternate, half-round, elevated,
with numerous bundle traces.
Buds: Pointed, brown, smooth, up to ¼ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades mostly ovate, abruptly pointed at the
apex, more or less heart-shaped at the base, up to 6 inches long
and sometimes nearly as broad, coarsely toothed, sometimes
2-lobed, sometimes 3-lobed, often unlobed, green and usually rough
to the touch on the upper surface, paler and with short white
hairs on the lower surface; leafstalks up to 1½ inches long,
smooth at maturity. The leaves turn yellow in the autumn.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate flowers borne separately, either on
the same tree or on different trees, appearing as the leaves
unfold, the staminate crowded into narrow, green clusters up to 2
inches long, the pistillate crowded into short, thick spikes up to
1 inch long.
Fruit: A cluster of tiny drupes up to 1½ inches long, at first red,
becoming purple or nearly black, rarely remaining pale, sweet,
juicy.
Wood: Light in weight, soft, durable, coarse-grained, orange-brown.
Uses: Fence posts and barrels; the fruit is edible.
Habitat: Woods, particularly along streams.
Range: Vermont across to Minnesota and South Dakota, south to Texas,
east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: Red Mulberry differs from White Mulberry in the
presence of some hairs on the lower surface of the leaves.
[Illustration: RED MULBERRY]
TUPELO GUM
_Nyssa aquatica_ L.
Other Names: Swamp Tupelo; Water Tupelo; Cotton Gum.
Growth Form: Large tree up to 85 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 4 feet,
often swollen at the base; crown spreading, with numerous
branchlets.
Bark: Light gray to dark gray to brown, broken into thin scales.
Twigs: Stout, more or less angular, gray or brown, smooth; leaf scars
alternate, broadly U-shaped, with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Rounded, smooth, about ⅛ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades oblong to somewhat ovate, pointed at
the tip, tapering to rounded to even heart-shaped at the base, up
to 8 inches long and about half as broad, the edges smooth or with
a few coarse teeth, dark green, shiny, smooth or somewhat hairy on
the upper surface, paler and soft-hairy on the lower surface;
leafstalks stout, up to 3 inches long, hairy.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne on separate trees, appearing as
the leaves begin to unfold, greenish, small, the staminate several
in spherical clusters, the pistillate solitary on long stalks
arising from the leaf axils.
Fruit: Fleshy, oblong, dark purple with pale speckles, up to 1 inch
long, bitter, 1-seeded, ripening in September.
Wood: Light in weight, soft, close-grained, pale brown.
Uses: Paper pulp, broom handles, floors.
Habitat: Swamps and low woods.
Range: Virginia to southern Missouri, south to Texas, east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The Tupelo Gum is characterized by its large,
irregularly toothed leaves and its oblong, purple fruits.
[Illustration: TUPELO GUM]
SOUR GUM
_Nyssa sylvatica_ Marsh.
Other Name: Black Gum.
Growth Form: Medium to large tree to 75 feet tall; trunk diameter up to
3 feet; crown rounded, often with many small, drooping branchlets.
Bark: Brown to black, often broken up into squarish blocks.
Twigs: Rather stout, reddish-brown, smooth, sometimes zigzag; leaf scars
alternate, crescent-shaped, with 3 bundle traces. The pith is
continuous but marked with distinct partitions.
Buds: Short-pointed, yellowish or reddish, smooth, about ⅛ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades abruptly pointed at the tip, tapering
or rounded at the base, up to 6 inches long and usually about half
as wide, smooth or with a few coarse teeth along the edges, dark
green, shiny, and usually smooth on the upper surface, paler and
usually somewhat hairy on the lower surface; leafstalks up to 1½
inches long, smooth or sparsely hairy. The leaves turn scarlet in
the autumn.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne on separate trees, appearing
after the leaves begin to unfold, greenish, very small, the
staminate several in spherical clusters, the pistillate 2-several
on long stalks arising from the leaf axils.
Fruit: Fleshy, oval, dark blue, up to ⅔ inch long, bitter, 1-seeded,
ripening in October.
Wood: Heavy, strong, soft, not durable, pale yellow.
Uses: Pulpwood, gun-stocks, flooring; sometimes used as an ornamental.
Habitat: Dry wooded slopes, low woods.
Range: Maine across to Michigan and Wisconsin, south to Missouri and
Texas, east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: Sour Gum is easily confused with Persimmon, but
differs by its leaves which are abruptly short-pointed at the tip,
and by its twigs which have continuous pith marked by distinct
partitions.
[Illustration: SOUR GUM]
HOP HORNBEAM
_Ostrya virginiana_ (Mill.) K. Koch
Other Name: Ironwood.
Growth Form: Small tree up to 35 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 1 foot;
crown usually rounded.
Bark: Brown and scaly at maturity.
Twigs: Slender, reddish-brown, sometimes hairy, tough to break; leaf
scars alternate, crescent-shaped, slightly elevated, with 3 bundle
traces.
Buds: Small, pointed at the tip.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades elliptic to ovate, pointed at the tip,
rounded or tapering to the base, up to 5 inches long, finely
doubly toothed, green and usually smooth on the upper surface,
paler and usually slightly hairy on the lower surface; leafstalks
up to ¼ inch long, hairy.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately but on the same tree.
The staminate catkins are on the tree through the winter before
opening in late April or May.
Fruit: Nutlets enclosed by an inflated bladder, crowded together in a
cluster resembling hops.
Wood: Hard, strong, durable.
Use: Tool handles.
Habitat: Upland woods; rocky slopes; along streams.
Range: Nova Scotia across to Manitoba and northeastern Wyoming, south to
eastern Texas and northern Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The Blue Beech, with similar leaves, differs by
its scaly bark. Elms, which also have somewhat similar leaves,
usually have their leaves asymmetrical at the base.
[Illustration: HOP HORNBEAM]
PRINCESS TREE
_Paulownia tomentosa_ (Thunb.) Steud.
Other Name: Paulownia.
Growth Form: Small to medium tree to 45 feet tall; trunk diameter up to
1½ feet; crown rounded.
Bark: Gray, more or less smooth.
Twigs: Stout, grayish, finely hairy; leaf scars opposite, nearly
spherical but with a notch at the top, with many bundle traces in
a ring.
Buds: Half-round, minutely hairy.
Leaves: Opposite, simple; blades mostly heart-shaped, tapering to a
short point at the tip, up to about 10 inches long and nearly as
broad, smooth along the edges, minutely hairy on both surfaces.
Flowers: Large, showy, fragrant, several in a large cluster, appearing
in late April or early May, the clusters sometimes a foot long,
each flower up to 2 inches long, the petals violet with yellow
stripes.
Fruit: Ovoid capsules up to 1½ inches long, pointed at the tip, brown,
containing numerous winged seeds.
Use: Popular as an ornamental because of its handsome flowers.
Habitat: Along roads, around home sites.
Range: Native of Asia; occasionally escaped in the eastern United
States.
Distinguishing Features: The leaves of the Princess Tree resemble those
of the Catalpa, but they are always opposite and never in whorls.
The violet flowers and the short, ovid capsules further
distinguish the Princess Tree.
[Illustration: PRINCESS TREE]
JACK PINE
_Pinus banksiana_ Lamb.
Other Names: Gray Pine; Scrub Pine.
Growth Form: Medium tree to 75 feet tall in some parts of the United
States; trunk diameter up to 2½ feet; crown open but often
irregular.
Bark: Reddish-brown, rough and scaly.
Twigs: Slender, dark brown, becoming roughened.
Leaves: Needles in clusters of 2, stiff, curved, up to 1½ inches long,
dark green.
Flowers: Staminate crowded into several yellow spikes up to ½ inch long;
pistillate crowded into few to several purple clusters.
Fruit: Cones oblong, curved, upright, up to 2 inches long, each scale
comprising the cone bearing a small curved prickle; seeds
triangular, up to ¹/₁₂ inch long, with a wing up to ⅓ inch long.
Wood: Light in weight, soft, reddish-brown.
Uses: Railroad ties, fence posts, fuel, pulpwood.
Habitat: Rocky woods.
Range: Quebec across to Yukon, south to Minnesota, northern Illinois,
and New York, Nova Scotia.
Distinguishing Features: The Jack Pine is distinguished by its short,
stiff, curved needles in clusters of 2 and by its short, curved
cones.
[Illustration: JACK PINE]
SHORTLEAF PINE
_Pinus echinata_ Mill.
Other Name: Yellow Pine.
Growth Form: Large tree to 80 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2 feet;
crown pyramidal or rounded.
Bark: Reddish-brown, broken into large plates.
Twigs: Slender, reddish-brown, becoming shreddy.
Leaves: Needles in clusters of both 2 and 3 on the same tree, flexible,
up to 5 inches long, dark green.
Flowers: Staminate crowded into several pale purple spikes up to ¾ inch
long; pistillate in groups of 1-3, rose-colored.
Fruit: Cones 1-3 in a group, ovoid, up to 2½ inches long, each scale
comprising the cone often bearing a small sharp prickle on the
back; seeds triangular; less than ¼ inch long, with an
asymmetrical curved wing up to ½ inch long.
Wood: Hard, heavy, coarse-grained, reddish-brown.
Uses: Interior finishing, paper pulp, construction.
Habitat: Dry, rocky slopes; widely planted in a variety of sites.
Range: Southern New York across Pennsylvania and southern Illinois to
Oklahoma, south to Texas, east to northern Florida.
Distinguishing Features: Shortleaf Pine is distinguished by its needles
which may be in clusters of 2 and 3 on the same tree.
[Illustration: SHORTLEAF PINE]
RED PINE
_Pinus resinosa_ Ait.
Growth Form: Medium to large tree to 150 feet tall; trunk diameter up to
3 feet; crown pyramidal.
Bark: Reddish-brown, divided irregularly into plates.
Twigs: Stout, reddish-brown, becoming roughened.
Leaves: Needles in clusters of 2, flexible, up to 6 inches long, dark
green.
Flowers: Staminate crowded into several purple spikes up to ½ inch long;
pistillate crowded into fewer scarlet clusters.
Fruit: Cones ovoid, mostly straight, up to 2 inches long, each scale
comprising the cone without any prickles; seeds triangular, up to
⅛ inch long, with a wing up to ¾ inch long.
Wood: Rather hard, heavy, close-grained, reddish-brown.
Uses: Ships, bridges, general construction.
Habitat: Dry, rocky woods.
Range: Newfoundland across to Manitoba, south to Minnesota, Michigan,
Pennsylvania, and New Jersey; also north-central Illinois and West
Virginia.
Distinguishing Features: The Red Pine is distinguished by its dark green
needles usually clustered near the tips of the twigs.
[Illustration: RED PINE]
WHITE PINE
_Pinus strobus_ L.
Growth Form: Tall tree well over 100 feet tall in some regions of the
United States; trunk diameter sometimes in excess of 3 feet; crown
pyramidal.
Bark: Brown, divided into broad ridges by shallow fissures.
Twigs: Slender, orange-brown, smooth or slightly hairy.
Leaves: Needles in clusters of 5, very flexible, up to 5 inches long,
blue-green.
Flowers: Staminate crowded into several yellow spikes up to ⅓ inch long;
pistillate crowded into fewer groups, pink to purple.
Fruit: Cones oblong, curved, drooping, up to 8 inches long, each scale
comprising the cone lacking any prickles; seeds narrowly oblong,
up to ¼ inch long, with a wing up to ¾ inch long.
Wood: Light in weight, soft, light brown.
Uses: Interior finishing, construction.
Habitat: Moist woods, wooded slopes.
Range: Newfoundland across to Manitoba, south to Iowa, northern
Illinois, and in the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia.
Distinguishing Features: The soft, blue-green needles in clusters of 5
readily distinguish the White Pine.
[Illustration: WHITE PINE]
SCOTCH PINE
_Pinus sylvestris_ L.
Growth Form: Medium tree to 65 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2 feet;
crown irregular.
Bark: Large branches reddish-brown, broken into plates.
Twigs: Slender, brown, roughened.
Leaves: Needles in clusters of 2, stiff, to 3 inches long, gray-green.
Flowers: Staminate crowded into several yellow spikes up to ½ inch long;
pistillate crowded into 1 to several clusters.
Fruit: Cones narrowly ovoid, to 2½ inches long, each scale comprising
the cone without any prickles.
Uses: Often planted as an ornamental, Christmas trees.
Habitat: Planted in plantations in Illinois, rarely escaped.
Range: Native of Europe; widely planted in the eastern United States.
Distinguishing Features: The rather short, stiff, gray-green needles in
clusters of 2 distinguish this pine.
[Illustration: SCOTCH PINE]
LOBLOLLY PINE
_Pinus taeda_ L.
Other Name: Old-field Pine.
Growth Form: Large tree sometimes over 125 feet tall; trunk diameter up
to 2 feet; crown rounded.
Bark: Reddish-brown, divided into irregular plates.
Twigs: Slender, brown, becoming roughened.
Leaves: Needles in clusters of 3 or occasionally 2, stiff, up to 9
inches long, light green.
Flowers: Staminate crowded into several yellow spikes up to ½ inch long;
pistillate crowded into 1 to several yellow clusters.
Fruit: Cones ovoid to oblong, mostly straight, up to 6 inches long, each
scale comprising the cone with a short, sharp prickle; seeds
rounded, up to ¼ inch long, with a wing up to 1 inch long.
Wood: Weak, brittle, coarse-grained, yellow-brown.
Uses: Pulpwood, construction.
Habitat: Planted in plantations in Illinois, rarely escaped.
Range: New Jersey to Tennessee, south across Arkansas to eastern Texas,
east to central Florida; not native in Illinois.
Distinguishing Features: The Loblolly Pine is distinguished by its
stiff, long needles usually in clusters of 3 and by its long
cones. It is similar to Shortleaf Pine but has longer needles and
cones.
[Illustration: LOBLOLLY PINE]
WATER ELM
_Planera aquatica_ Gmel.
Other Name: Planer-tree.
Growth Form: Small tree to 30 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 10 inches;
crown broadly rounded, with slender branchlets.
Bark: Gray or pale brown, smooth at first but later splitting into large
scales.
Twigs: Slender, reddish-brown to gray, usually smooth; leaf scars
alternate, nearly circular, each with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Slender, pointed, brownish, smooth or somewhat hairy, up to ¼ inch
long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades lance-ovate, rounded or somewhat
pointed at the tip, tapering to the usually asymmetrical base, up
to 3 inches long, less than half as broad, regularly coarsely
toothed, smooth or a little roughened on the upper surface at
maturity, smooth or hairy on the lower surface; leafstalks up to ½
inch long, finely hairy.
Flowers: Of three kinds, all on the same tree, appearing after the
leaves have begun to expand, greenish-yellow, without petals, the
staminate in several small clusters, the pistillate and perfect in
drooping clusters of 1-3 flowers.
Fruit: Oblong, fleshy, up to ½ inch long, with warts irregularly
scattered over the surface, pale brown.
Wood: Soft, light in weight, close-grained, pale brown.
Uses: Fence posts, fuel.
Habitat: Swampy areas.
Range: North Carolina across southern Illinois to southeastern Missouri,
south to Texas, east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The Water Elm resembles other native elms in
Illinois, but has only single-toothed leaves. The warty fruits are
also distinctive.
[Illustration: WATER ELM]
SYCAMORE
_Platanus occidentalis_ L.
Other Names: Buttonwood; Plane-tree.
Growth Form: Large tree sometimes more than 100 feet tall; trunk
diameter up to 8 feet; crown broad, often irregular.
Bark: Reddish-brown when young, quickly breaking into thin, flat scales,
falling away in sections to expose large patches of whitish or
greenish inner bark.
Twigs: Smooth, light brown, somewhat zigzag; leaf scars alternate,
encircling the buds, somewhat elevated, with 5-7 bundle traces.
Buds: Light brown, pointed, about one-fourth inch long, entirely covered
by the base of the leafstalk. When the leaves fall off, exposing
the buds, they leave a scar which surrounds the base of each bud.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades circular in outline but divided into 3
or 5 shallow, sharp-pointed lobes, heart-shaped or cut straight
across at the base, up to 7 inches long (longer on vigorous
shoots) and often as broad, bright green and smooth on the upper
surface, paler and smooth on the lower surface except for the
sparsely hairy veins; leafstalks to 5 inches long, slightly hairy;
stipules, resembling the leaves but only about an inch long, often
persist near the base of the leafstalks.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate flowers borne separately but on the
same tree, minute, crowded together in dense, round heads.
Fruit: Round light brown heads, about one inch in diameter, on long
drooping stalks, containing many small seeds surrounded by hairs.
Wood: Hard and strong.
Uses: Furniture, interior finishing. Sometimes planted as an ornamental
because of its rapid growth and unusual bark.
Habitat: Bottomlands, along streams, around lakes and ponds.
Range: Maine across southern Wisconsin to eastern Nebraska, south to
eastern Texas, east to northern Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The large palmately lobed leaves and the brown
and gray mottled bark readily distinguish this tree.
[Illustration: SYCAMORE]
WHITE POPLAR
_Populus alba_ L.
Other Names: Silver-leaved Poplar; Abele.
Growth Form: Moderate tree to 50 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2 feet;
crown broadly rounded but often irregular.
Bark: Grayish to whitish, at first smooth, later becoming deeply
fissured and very dark gray to nearly black.
Twigs: Greenish-gray, white-hairy at least when young; leaf scars
alternate, crescent-shaped, each with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Ovoid, pointed, hairy, up to ⅛ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades usually ovate, with a few broad teeth
along the edges, bluntly pointed at the tip, cut straight across
or a little heart-shaped at the base, up to 4 inches long, dark
green on the upper surface, silvery-hairy or white-wooly on the
lower surface; leafstalks up to 3 inches long, densely hairy, not
flat.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne on separate trees, crowded
together in catkins, appearing when the leaves unfold.
Fruit: Often curved, flask-shaped capsules, greenish, hairy, up to ¼
inch long, containing many seeds with cottony hairs attached.
Wood: Light weight, soft.
Use: Grown as an ornamental because of its silvery leaves.
Habitat: Along roads, around old homesteads.
Range: Native of Europe and Asia; frequently planted and escaped from
cultivation in the United States.
Distinguishing Features: The leaves, with their silvery or white-wooly
under-surface and their few broad teeth, provided the best means
of identifying this tree.
[Illustration: WHITE POPLAR]
COTTONWOOD
_Populus deltoides_ Marsh.
Growth Form: Large rapidly growing tree up to 100 feet tall; trunk
diameter up to eight feet; crown spreading or broadly rounded,
with some drooping branches. The largest tree in Illinois, in
Grundy County, is a Cottonwood measuring twenty-eight feet six
inches in circumference.
Bark: Smooth and gray when young, becoming furrowed at maturity.
Twigs: Yellow-green, gray, or tan, smooth, moderately stout, with
numerous pale “dots”; leaf scars alternate, triangular, with 3
large bundle traces.
Buds: Lance-shaped, long-pointed, up to ½ inch long, sticky,
chestnut-colored.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades to 5 inches long and often nearly as
broad, triangular, abruptly pointed at the tip, cut straight
across or even slightly heart-shaped at the base, with coarse
rounded teeth along the edges, green, smooth, and shiny on the
upper surface, paler on the lower surface; leafstalks to 4 inches
long, smooth, often yellow, flat.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne on separate trees, the staminate
crowded in rather thick, reddish catkins, the pistillate crowded
in narrower, greenish-yellow catkins, both sexes appearing before
the leaves begin to unfold.
Fruit: Elliptic, greenish-brown capsules up to ¼ inch long, grouped in
elongated clusters, containing numerous seeds with cottony hairs
attached.
Wood: Light weight, soft, readily warping.
Uses: Pulpwood, fuel.
Habitat: Bottomland woods, along streams.
Range: New Hampshire across to southeastern North Dakota, south central
Texas, east to northern Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The Cottonwood is easily recognized by its
triangular leaves with flattened leafstalks. The cottony seeds,
when the fruits are mature, are also distinctive.
[Illustration: COTTONWOOD]
BIG-TOOTH ASPEN
_Populus grandidentata_ Michx.
Other Name: Large-tooth Aspen.
Growth Form: Medium tree to 60 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 1½ feet;
crown rounded.
Bark: Grayish-green, smooth at first, becoming shallowly fissured and
broken up into thin scales.
Twigs: Grayish-green, with numerous orange “dots,” hairy when young but
becoming smooth; leaf scars alternate, raised, 3-lobed, each with
3 bundle traces.
Buds: Ovoid, pointed, chestnut-brown, somewhat hairy, up to one-eighth
inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades nearly circular in outline,
short-pointed at the tip, rounded at the base, up to 5 inches
long, nearly as broad, with several rather coarse teeth along the
edges, green on the upper surface, paler on the lower surface,
smooth when mature; leafstalks up to 3 inches long, flat, enabling
the leaf to rustle even in gentle breezes.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne on separate trees, crowded
together in catkins up to 5 inches long, appearing as the leaves
unfold.
Fruit: Long, narrow, flask-shaped, green, slightly hairy capsules,
grouped in elongated clusters, containing many seeds with cottony
hairs attached.
Wood: Light weight, soft, pale brown.
Use: Pulpwood.
Habitat: Wooded slopes, edges of woods.
Range: Quebec across to Manitoba, south to central Illinois, east to
Maryland; Kentucky and north-central Tennessee east to western
North Carolina.
Distinguishing Features: The coarsely toothed, tremoring leaves and the
grayish-green trunks combine to make this a tree easy to
recognize.
[Illustration: BIG-TOOTH ASPEN]
SWAMP COTTONWOOD
_Populus heterophylla_ L.
Other Name: Swamp Poplar.
Growth Form: Up to 90 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2 feet; crown very
irregular, with a few, large, upright branches.
Bark: Gray or brown, smooth when young, becoming scaly ridged at
maturity.
Twigs: Rather stout, smooth or hairy, reddish; leaf scars alternate,
3-lobed, each with 3 bundle traces; pith 5-angled.
Buds: Ovoid, pointed, dark brown, sticky, up to one-half inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades ovate, rounded or bluntly pointed at
the tip, heart-shaped at the base, up to 8 inches long, up to 6
inches broad, with rounded teeth along the edges, green on the
upper surface, paler on the lower surface, densely white-woolly
when young, becoming essentially smooth at maturity; leafstalks to
4 inches long, smooth or sparsely hairy, not flattened.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne on separate trees, the staminate
crowded in thick catkins up to 4 inches long, the pistillate in
slender catkins up to 6 inches long, both appearing before the
leaves begin to unfold.
Fruit: Ovoid, reddish-brown capsules up to ½ inch long, grouped in
elongated clusters, containing numerous seeds with cottony hairs
attached.
Wood: Light weight, soft, pale brown.
Uses: Pulpwood, fuel, interior finishing.
Habitat: Swamps, low woods.
Range: Connecticut to southern Michigan, southwestward across southern
Illinois to central Louisiana, east to northern Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The broad, heart-shaped, toothed leaves readily
distinguish the Swamp Cottonwood from other trees in Illinois.
[Illustration: SWAMP COTTONWOOD]
QUAKING ASPEN
_Populus tremuloides_ Michx.
Growth Form: Medium tree up to 50 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2
feet; crown rounded or occasionally spreading.
Bark: Pale yellow-green or white, becoming grayish and divided into dark
scaly ridges at maturity.
Twigs: Pale yellow-green or white, slender, smooth; leaf scars
alternate, crescent-shaped, each with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Lance-shaped, short-pointed, smooth, sticky, up to ⅓ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades ovate to nearly round, short-pointed
at the apex, rounded at the base, up to 4 inches long, nearly as
broad, with many small round teeth along the edges, green, smooth,
and shiny on the upper surface, not shiny on the lower surface;
leafstalks to 3 inches long, smooth, flat. The flat leafstalks
allow for the leaves to tremor at the slightest wind.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne on separate trees, the staminate
crowded in catkins up to 4 inches long, the pistillate crowded in
catkins up to 6 inches long.
Fruit: Narrow, flask-shaped, green capsules up to ¼ inch long, grouped
in elongated clusters, containing numerous seeds with cottony
hairs attached.
Wood: Light weight, soft, pale brown.
Use: Pulpwood.
Habitat: Edge of woods, thickets.
Range: Newfoundland to Alaska, south to California and New Mexico and
Texas, east across Missouri and Tennessee to New Jersey.
Distinguishing Features: The whitish trunk and the ovate, trembling
leaves serve to distinguish this species.
[Illustration: QUAKING ASPEN]
WILD PLUM
_Prunus americana_ Marsh.
Other Name: American Plum.
Growth Form: Small tree to 20 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 8 inches;
crown broad, often irregular.
Bark: Dark gray to brown, rough and scaly.
Twigs: Slender, brown, speckled with many dots, smooth or hairy; leaf
scars alternate, half-round, elevated, with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Ovoid, pointed, reddish-brown, smooth or hairy, up to ¼ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades oval to ovate, pointed at the tip,
rounded or tapering to the base, up to 4 inches long and less than
half as broad, finely toothed along the edges, the teeth not
glandular, green and smooth or hairy on the upper surface, paler
and smooth or hairy on the lower surface; leafstalks slender, up
to 1 inch long, sometimes with 1 or 2 glands near the upper end,
smooth or hairy.
Flowers: Showy, several in a cluster, up to 1 inch across, with 5 white
or pinkish petals, appearing before or as the leaves begin to
unfold.
Fruit: Spherical or nearly so, up to 1 inch in diameter, red or covered
with a whitish wax, juicy, sweet, 1-seeded.
Wood: Hard, close-grained, brown.
Uses: The fruits are used in making jelly and preserves.
Habitat: Woods, thickets.
Range: Southern Ontario to Manitoba, south to New Mexico, east to
Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The Wild Plum differs from other plums in
Illinois by the absence of glands on the teeth of the leaves. The
Wild Plum may have either smooth or hairy leaves and twigs.
[Illustration: WILD PLUM]
WILD GOOSE PLUM
_Prunus hortulana_ Bailey
Growth Form: Small tree to 20 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 8 inches;
crown broad and rounded.
Bark: Gray or brown, becoming scaly at maturity.
Twigs: Slender, reddish-brown, smooth; leaf scars alternate, half-round,
elevated, with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Ovoid, rounded at the tip, reddish-brown, smooth, up to ¼ inch
long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades oblong to oval, pointed at the tip,
rounded or tapering to the base, up to 6 inches long and about ⅓
as broad, finely toothed along the edge, the teeth gland-tipped,
green and usually smooth on the upper surface, paler and sometimes
hairy on the lower surface; leafstalks slender, up to 1 inch long,
with 1-several glands, smooth or sparsely hairy.
Flowers: Showy, several in a cluster, up to 1 inch across, with 5 white
petals, appearing after the leaves are partly grown.
Fruit: Spherical or nearly so, up to 1 inch in diameter, red or rarely
yellowish, fleshy but hard, bitter, 1-seeded.
Wood: Hard, close-grained, brown.
Habitat: Edges of woods, thickets.
Range: Indiana to Iowa, south to Oklahoma, east to Alabama.
Distinguishing Features: Wild Goose Plum flowers when its leaves are
partly grown, thereby distinguishing it from the Wild Plum which
blooms before or as the leaves begin to unfold.
[Illustration: WILD GOOSE PLUM]