Two other wild plums are occasionally encountered in Illinois.
Munson’s Wild Plum (_Prunus munsoniana_ Wight & Hedrick). Munson’s Wild
Plum is a small tree rarely more than 15 feet tall and often forming
thickets. It has gray or brown scaly bark, smooth brownish twigs, and
small, ovoid buds. The leaves are oval and up to 6 inches long and up to
2 inches wide. The edges of the leaves are finely toothed, with each
tooth gland-tipped. The upper surface of the leaf is smooth, while the
lower surface usually has some hairs. The showy white flowers appear
while the leaves are developing. The fruits are spherical or slightly
oblong red plums with sweet, juicy flesh. Munson’s Wild Plum is found
only in the midwestern states.
Narrow-leaved Plum (_Prunus angustifolia_ Marsh.). Also known as
Chickasaw Plum, this is a small tree up to about 15 feet tall, usually
forming thickets. The smooth, brownish twigs usually have several sharp
spines. Most of the leaves are lance-shaped and up to 2 inches long, and
conspicuously folded lengthwise. The flowers begin to bloom just as the
leaves start to unfold. The red, nearly spherical plum has tart, juicy
flesh. The Narrow-leaved Plum is found mostly in the southeastern United
States.
[Illustration: ANOTHER WILD PLUM]
WILD BLACK CHERRY
_Prunus serotina_ Ehrh.
Growth Form: Medium tree up to 75 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 3
feet; crown rounded, with rigid branches.
Bark: Thin, smooth, reddish-brown at first, becoming deeply furrowed and
black.
Twigs: Slender, smooth, dark brown; leaf scars half-round, each with 3
bundle traces.
Buds: Ovoid, sharp-pointed, dark brown, smooth, up to one-fourth inch
long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades oblong or oval, short-pointed at the
tip, tapering to the base, up to 6 inches long and about ⅓ as
broad, finely toothed along the edges, green, smooth, and shiny on
the upper surface, paler and smooth on the lower surface except
for rusty hairs along the veins; leafstalks slender, slightly less
than 1 inch long, smooth, with 1 or more reddish glands near the
tip.
Flowers: Crowded in showy, drooping, elongated clusters up to 6 inches
long, appearing when the leaves are partly grown, each flower
about ¼ inch across, with 5 white petals.
Fruit: Fleshy, juicy, spherical, dark purple, up to ½ inch in diameter.
Wood: Light weight, hard, strong, close-grained, light reddish-brown.
Uses: Cabinets, interior finishing.
Habitat: Roadsides, fencerows, edge of woods.
Range: Nova Scotia across to Ontario, south to Texas, east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The Wild Black Cherry is similar to the Choke
Cherry but usually is a larger tree with thicker leaves and with
the teeth tending to curve inward.
[Illustration: WILD BLACK CHERRY]
CHOKE CHERRY
_Prunus virginiana_ L.
Growth Form: Small tree to 20 feet tall, often only a shrub; trunk
diameter up to 5 inches; crown irregular.
Bark: Thin, smooth and reddish-brown at first, becoming furrowed and
darkened.
Twigs: Slender, smooth, reddish-brown with pale lenticels; leaf scars
alternate, half-round, each with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Ovoid, pointed, brown, more or less smooth, up to ¼ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades oblong or oval, short-pointed at the
tip, tapering to the base, up to 4 inches long and about half as
broad, finely and sharply toothed along the edges, green, smooth
and shiny on the upper surface, paler and smooth or with a few
hairs on the lower surface; leafstalks slender, up to 1 inch long,
smooth, with 2 glands near the tip.
Flowers: Crowded in showy, drooping, elongated clusters up to 6 inches
long, appearing when the leaves are partly grown, each flower up
to ½ inch across, with 5 white petals.
Fruit: Fleshy, juicy, spherical, up to ⅓ inch in diameter, red at first,
becoming deep purple at maturity.
Wood: Heavy, hard, not strong, close-grained, pale-brown.
Uses: Fuel, some interior finishing.
Habitat: Woods, along streams.
Range: Newfoundland across to Saskatchewan, south to Kansas, east to
North Carolina.
Distinguishing Features: Choke Cherry resembles Wild Black Cherry,
differing by its more pointed teeth along the edges of the leaves.
[Illustration: CHOKE CHERRY]
WAFER ASH
_Ptelea trifoliata_ L.
Other Name: Hop-tree.
Growth Form: Small tree or shrub up to 20 feet tall; trunk diameter up
to 5 inches; crown rounded.
Bark: Brown, somewhat roughened.
Twigs: Slender, dark brown, often with small “warts”; leaf scars
alternate, large, horseshoe-shaped, slightly elevated, with 3
bundle traces.
Buds: Spherical, pale brown, hairy.
Leaves: Alternate, divided into 3 leaflets; leaflets mostly ovate,
long-pointed at the tip, rounded or tapering to the base, up to 5
inches long, up to half as wide, smooth or with fine teeth along
the edges, dark green and smooth on the upper surface, paler and
smooth on the lower surface; leaflets without individual stalks.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate flowers borne separately but usually
in the same cluster, appearing in late May and June, with 3-5
obscure, greenish-white petals.
Fruit: Thin, flat, nearly spherical winged seed up to 1 inch across.
Wood: Hard, heavy, close-grained, yellow-brown.
Use: The fruit at one time was used as a substitute for hops in brewing.
Habitat: Rocky, wooded slopes.
Range: Quebec across Michigan to Iowa, south to eastern Texas, east to
Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The Wafer Ash is distinguished by its 3-parted
alternate leaves and its flat, spherical, winged seeds.
[Illustration: WAFER ASH]
WHITE OAK
_Quercus alba_ L.
Growth Form: Large tree up to 100 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 3
feet; crown very broad, with stiff, horizontal branches; trunk
relatively short and rather thick.
Bark: Gray or whitish with gray patches, shallowly furrowed.
Twigs: Slender, smooth, somewhat shiny, gray, whitish, or even purplish;
pith star-shaped in cross-section; leaf scars alternate but
crowded near the tip of the twig, half-round, slightly elevated,
with several bundle traces.
Buds: Nearly round, reddish-brown or gray, up to ⅛ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades usually with 7 or 9 lobes, the lobes
rounded and not bristle-tipped, the sinuses varying from shallow
to deep, the upper surface green and smooth, the lower surface
paler and smooth, up to 10 inches long, up to half as wide,
turning red in the autumn; leafstalks up to 1 inch long, rather
stout, smooth. Leaves on the same tree may vary considerably.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing when the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate many in drooping, yellow catkins, the
pistillate few in a group, red.
Fruit: Acorns borne 1 or 2 together, with or without a stalk, the nut
oblong, up to ¾ inch long, green to greenish-brown, shiny, the cup
covering up to ¼ of the nut, yellow-brown, often minutely hairy.
Wood: Heavy, hard, strong, durable, coarse-grained, pale brown.
Uses: Interior finishing, cabinets, general construction, fence posts,
fuel, tight cooperage.
Habitat: Moist woods; wooded slopes; dry woods.
Range: Maine across to Minnesota, south to eastern Texas, east to
northern Florida.
Distinguishing Features: White Oak is recognized by its grayish bark and
its 5-7 round-lobed, smooth leaves which are usually whitish on
the lower surface. Its oblong, greenish-brown, shiny acorns are
also distinctive.
[Illustration: WHITE OAK]
SWAMP WHITE OAK
_Quercus bicolor_ Willd.
Growth Form: Medium tree to 70 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 3 feet;
crown rounded and broad.
Bark: Grayish-brown, deeply furrowed, becoming flaky.
Twigs: Stout, grayish-brown to yellowish-brown; leaf scars alternate,
half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle traces; pith
star-shaped in cross-section.
Buds: Clustered at the tips of the twigs, ellipsoid to spherical, up to
⅛ inch long, yellow-brown, smooth or with a few hairs at the tip.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades usually broadest above the middle, up
to 6 inches long and 4 inches broad, coarsely round-toothed or
sometimes with a few shallow lobes, smooth or somewhat hairy on
the upper surface, white and softly hairy on the lower surface;
leafstalks nearly an inch long, smooth or slightly hairy.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing when the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, drooping catkins, the pistillate
in groups of 2-4.
Fruit: Acorns in pairs, on stalks 1 inch long or longer, the nut ovoid,
pale brown, 1-1½ inches long, enclosed about ⅓ its length by the
cup, the cup thick, light brown, hairy, roughened.
Wood: Hard, heavy, strong, pale brown.
Uses: Interior finishing, cabinets, fuel, fence posts.
Habitat: Bottomland woods.
Range: Maine and southern Quebec across to southern Minnesota, south to
Oklahoma, east to Georgia.
Distinguishing Features: The Swamp White Oak is distinguished by its
leaves which are coarsely round-toothed and softly white hairy on
the lower surface of the leaves.
[Illustration: SWAMP WHITE OAK]
SCARLET OAK
_Quercus coccinea_ Muench.
Growth Form: Medium tree to 70 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2½ feet;
crown narrow but open.
Bark: Reddish-brown, shallowly fissured when mature.
Twigs: Slender, brown, smooth; leaf scars alternate, but crowded near
the tip, half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle
traces; pith star-shaped in cross-section.
Buds: Pointed, reddish-brown, hairy at the tip, up to ¼ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades divided more than half-way to the
middle into 5-7 bristle-tipped lobes, bright green, shiny and
smooth on the upper surface, paler and with tufts of hairs along
the veins on the lower surface, up to 6½ inches long and 4 inches
broad; leafstalks up to 2½ inches long, slender, usually smooth.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing when the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, drooping catkins, the pistillate
in groups of 1 or 2.
Fruit: Acorns solitary or paired, with or without stalks, the nut oval
or hemispherical, up to ¾ inch across, reddish-brown with
occasional darker rings around it, enclosed up to ½ its length by
the cup, the cup thin, top-shaped, reddish-brown, finely hairy.
Wood: Hard, heavy, coarse-grained, pale brown.
Uses: Fuel, fence posts, coarse construction.
Habitat: Dry woods.
Range: Maine to southern Ontario, south to Oklahoma, east to Georgia.
Distinguishing Features: Scarlet Oak looks very much like Pin Oak, but
differs in habitat and structure of the acorn cup. It sometimes
resembles Black Oak but has shorter, less hairy buds and acorns
without loosely arranged scales on the cup.
[Illustration: SCARLET OAK]
HILL’S OAK
_Quercus ellipsoidalis_ E. J. Hill
Other Name: Northern Pin Oak.
Growth Form: Moderate tree to about 75 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2
feet; crown rounded, with the drooping lowermost branches often
reaching nearly to the ground.
Bark: Gray-black, rather smooth to shallowly fissured.
Twigs: Rather slender, smooth at maturity, grayish-brown to
reddish-brown; pith star-shaped in cross-section; leaf scars
alternate, but clustered near the tip of the twig, half-round,
slightly elevated, with several bundle traces.
Buds: Nearly smooth, one-fourth inch long, ovoid, reddish-brown.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades 3-9 inches long, slightly tapering or
usually cut nearly straight across at the base, with 2-4 pairs of
bristle-tipped lobes usually cut over half-way to the mid-vein,
deep green and shiny on the upper surface at maturity; leafstalks
smooth, up to 3 inches long.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate on same tree, appearing as the leaves
unfold, inconspicuous, the staminate crowded in a catkin, the
pistillate solitary or 2-3 together.
Fruit: Ripening in October of the second year, on very short stalks;
acorns longer than broad, short-pointed at the base, about ½ inch
across, the cup bowl-shaped covering ⅓ to ½ of the acorn.
Wood: Heavy, hard, strong, pale brown.
Uses: Shingles and interior finishings.
Habitat: Dry upland woods, often where Black Oak occurs.
Range: Northwestern Ohio and central Michigan to southeastern Minnesota,
south to eastern Iowa and north-central Illinois.
Distinguishing Features: The elongated acorn of the Hill’s Oak
distinguishes it from pin oak, which it closely resembles.
[Illustration: HILL’S OAK]
SPANISH OAK
_Quercus falcata_ Michx.
Other Name: Southern Red Oak.
Growth Form: Large tree up to 80 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 4 feet;
crown broadly rounded, with stiff, stout, spreading branchlets;
trunk straight, rather stout.
Bark: Dark brown to nearly black, shallowly furrowed.
Twigs: Reddish-brown to gray, smooth or nearly so at maturity; pith
star-shaped in cross-section; leaf scars alternate but clustered
near the tip, half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle
traces.
Buds: Ovoid, pointed, chestnut-brown, hairy, up to ¼ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades broadly rounded at the base, 3- to
5-lobed, the terminal lobe usually long, narrow, and strongly
curved, all lobes bristle-tipped, up to 8 inches long, up to 6
inches wide, green on the upper surface, pale and densely
soft-hairy on the lower surface; leaf stalk up to 2½ inches long,
slender, usually hairy.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing when the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, drooping, densely hairy catkins,
the pistillate few in a rusty-hairy cluster, with dark red
stigmas.
Fruit: Acorn usually solitary, with or without a short stalk, the nut
spherical or ellipsoid, up to ½ inch long, orange-brown, the cup
covering only up to ⅓ of the nut, with hairy, reddish-brown
scales.
Wood: Heavy, hard, strong, coarse-grained, reddish-brown.
Uses: Fence posts, fuel, general construction.
Habitat: Dry and usually poor upland soil; occasionally in bottomlands.
Range: Central New Jersey south to central Florida, across to eastern
Texas, up the Mississippi Basin to central Missouri, south-central
Illinois, southeastern Indiana, western Kentucky, and western
Tennessee.
Distinguishing Features: The Spanish Oak is the only bristle-tipped oak
in Illinois in which the lower leaf surface is covered with a mat
of fine hairs.
[Illustration: SPANISH OAK]
SHINGLE OAK
_Quercus imbricaria_ Michx.
Growth Form: Medium tree up to 70 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 3
feet; crown rounded or oblong, with many branches; trunk straight,
columnar.
Bark: Dark brown, deeply furrowed between flat, tight plates.
Twigs: Slender, smooth, reddish-brown; pith star-shaped in
cross-sections; leaf scars alternate but crowded near the tip of
the twigs, half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle
traces.
Buds: Ovoid, pointed, brown, smooth, up to ⅛ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades without lobes or teeth, lanceolate to
oblong, with a bristle tip, narrowed to the base, up to 6 inches
long, up to 2 inches wide, dark green, smooth and shiny on the
upper surface, paler and hairy on the lower surface; leafstalks up
to ½ inch long, stout, hairy.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing as the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, yellow, drooping catkins, the
pistillate few in a cluster.
Fruit: Acorns solitary or 2 together, stalked, the nut nearly spherical,
dark brown, less than half enclosed by the cup, the cup
reddish-brown and slightly hairy.
Wood: Hard, heavy, coarse-grained, light reddish-brown.
Uses: Shingles, general construction.
Habitat: Moist soil along streams or in woods; occasionally on dry,
exposed sandstone cliffs.
Range: New Jersey across to Wisconsin, Iowa, and Nebraska, south to
Kansas, east to Arkansas and South Carolina.
Distinguishing Features: Only the Shingle Oak and the Willow Oak, among
all the oaks, have leaves without any teeth or lobes. The Shingle
Oak generally has broader leaves than does the Willow Oak. The
Shingle Oak can be told from Magnolias by its star-shaped pith and
the formation of acorns.
[Illustration: SHINGLE OAK]
OVERCUP OAK
_Quercus lyrata_ Walt.
Growth Form: Medium to large tree up to 80 feet tall; trunk diameter up
to 3 feet; crown rounded to oblong, with several branches, the
lowermost often drooping; trunk straight, columnar.
Bark: Gray or grayish-brown, divided into flat, sometimes squarish,
plates.
Twigs: Slender, smooth, buff-colored; pith star-shaped in cross-section;
leaf scars alternate, but clustered near the tip of the twig,
half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle traces.
Buds: Nearly round, smooth, pale brown, up to ⅛ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades divided into 5-7 rounded lobes, the
sinuses shallow to deep, up to 10 inches long, up to 4½ inches
broad, dark green and smooth on the upper surface, pale and softly
hairy to nearly smooth on the lower surface; leafstalk up to 1
inch long, smooth or hairy.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
plant, appearing when the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, yellow, drooping catkins, the
pistillate few in a group.
Fruit: Acorns solitary or 2 together, with or without a stalk, the nut
nearly spherical, up to 1 inch in diameter, pale brown, often
nearly entirely enclosed by the cup, the cup finely hairy, with
some of the scales forming a ragged rim near the base.
Wood: Hard, heavy, strong, dark brown.
Uses: Interior finishing, cabinets, fuel, fence posts.
Habitat: Bottomland woods; swamps.
Range: Southern Virginia across to eastern Texas, north up the
Mississippi Valley to southern Missouri, southern Illinois, and
southern Indiana; also in Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey;
southward to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The best identifying characteristic of this
plant is the acorn in which the nut often is nearly enclosed by
the cup.
[Illustration: OVERCUP OAK]
BUR OAK
_Quercus macrocarpa_ Michx.
Other Name: Mossy-cup Oak.
Growth Form: Large tree up to 120 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 5
feet; crown rounded, with stout branches; trunk straight, stout,
sometimes slightly buttressed at the base.
Bark: Dark brown or yellow-brown, rather deeply furrowed.
Twigs: Stout, dark brown, often with corky ridges; pith star-shaped in
cross-section; leaf scars alternate but clustered near the tip,
half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle traces.
Buds: Rounded or slightly pointed at the tip, yellowish-brown to
reddish-brown, finely hairy.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades broader at the upper end, coarsely
round-toothed, usually with a pair of deep sinuses just below the
middle, often with as many as 5-7 lobes, the lobes not
bristle-tipped, dark green and smooth or slightly hairy on the
upper surface, paler and softly hairy on the lower surface, up to
14 inches long and 7 inches wide; leaf stalks up to 1 inch long,
stout, smooth or finely hairy.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing as the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, drooping catkins, the pistillate
few in a group, with red stigmas.
Fruit: Acorn usually solitary, with or without a stalk, the nut ovoid to
ellipsoid, dark brown, up to 1¾ inches long, the cup covering half
to nearly all the nut, hairy, the lowermost scales long-fringed.
Wood: Heavy, hard, durable, close-grained, brown.
Uses: Cabinets, ship-building, fenceposts, fuel, tight cooperage.
Habitat: Dry ridges to bottomland woods.
Range: Vermont across to North Dakota, south to Texas, east to Arkansas,
Tennessee, and Maryland.
Distinguishing Features: The leaves of the Bur Oak are distinctive
because they are very broad in the upper half with a pair of deep
sinuses a little below the middle. The large, fringed cups are
also distinctive.
[Illustration: BUR OAK]
BLACKJACK OAK
_Quercus marilandica_ Muench.
Other Name: Scrub Oak.
Growth Form: Relatively small tree, at most attaining a height of 50
feet, usually much shorter and often very gnarled; trunk diameter
up to 1½ feet; crown exceedingly round-topped, with numerous lower
branches hanging downward.
Bark: Dark brown, shallowly ridged.
Twigs: Moderately stout, brown, more or less hairy; pith star-shaped in
cross-section; leaf scars alternate but clustered near the top,
half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle traces.
Buds: Angular, from ¼-½ inch long, somewhat hairy.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades about 4-8 inches long, leathery, very
much broader near the apex than the base, mostly rounded or even
somewhat heart shaped at the base, more or less 3-lobed and
bristle-tipped nearer the apex, the upper surface hairy at first,
becoming shiny dark green at maturity, the lower surface
permanently hairy; leafstalks less than 1 inch long.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate on the same tree, appearing as the
leaves unfold, inconspicuous, the staminate crowded in a catkin,
the pistillate solitary or 2-3 together.
Fruit: Ripening in October of the second year, on very short stalks, or
the stalks sometimes lacking; acorns nearly round, usually at most
only ½ inch in diameter, the cup enclosing ½ the acorn, with
rather loosely arranged scales.
Wood: Hard, strong, heavy, dark brown.
Uses: Excellent as a source of charcoal and fuel.
Habitat: Poor soil, particularly on dry, exposed rocky cliffs.
Range: New York across to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and
southern Iowa to southeastern Nebraska, south into eastern Kansas,
eastern Oklahoma, and eastern Texas, then east to northern
Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The 3-lobed leaf, much broader at the apex, is
the most distinctive characteristic of this oak.
[Illustration: BLACKJACK OAK]
SWAMP CHESTNUT OAK
_Quercus michauxii_ Nutt.
Other Names: Basket Oak; Cow Oak.
Growth Form: Medium to large tree up to nearly 100 feet tall; trunk
diameter up to 6 feet; crown rounded.
Bark: Gray or silvery-white, scaly.
Twigs: Stout, reddish-brown to gray, smooth or nearly so; leaf scars
alternate but crowded near the tip, half-round, slightly elevated,
with several bundle traces; pith star-shaped in cross-section.
Buds: Pointed, finely hairy, reddish-brown, up to ¼ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades obovate, pointed at the tip, rounded
or tapering to the base, up to 10 inches long and 6 inches broad,
coarsely scalloped along the edges, thick, green and sparsely
hairy on the upper surface, whitish and densely hairy on the lower
surface; leafstalk up to 1½ inches long, hairy.
Flowers: Borne separately but on the same tree, minute, without petals,
the staminate crowded into long, slender catkins, the pistillate
few in a cluster.
Fruit: Acorns solitary or paired, with or without short stalks, the nut
ovoid to ellipsoid, brown, up to 1½ inches long, enclosed about ⅓
its length by the cup, the cup thick, cup-shaped, hairy,
short-fringed along the rim.
Wood: Hard, heavy, strong, close-grained, pale brown.
Uses: General construction, fuel, fence posts.
Habitat: Low woods.
Range: New Jersey across to southern Missouri, south to Texas, east to
Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The Swamp Chestnut Oak is distinguished from
other coarsely toothed oaks by the densely hairy, whitish lower
leaf surfaces and its short-stalked acorns.
[Illustration: SWAMP CHESTNUT OAK]
YELLOW CHESTNUT OAK
_Quercus muhlenbergii_ Engelm.
Other Names: Chinquapin; Chinquapin Oak.
Growth Form: Large tree up to 100 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 4
feet; crown oblong or rounded, with many branches; trunk straight,
columnar, buttressed at the base.
Bark: Pale gray, with scaly ridges.
Twigs: Slender, yellow-brown or reddish-brown; pith star-shaped in
cross-section; leaf scars alternate but clustered near the tip,
half-round, with several bundle traces; pith star-shaped in
cross-section.
Buds: Pointed, smooth, chestnut-brown, up to ¼ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades narrowly to broadly lanceolate,
pointed at the tip, narrowed or rounded at the base, coarsely
toothed along the edges, smooth and yellow-green on the upper
surface, paler and usually finely hairy on the lower surface, up
to 8 inches long and 5 inches broad; leafstalk up to 1½ inches
long, slender, usually smooth.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, minute, without petals, the staminate crowded into long,
slender catkins, the pistillate few in a group, with red stigmas.
Fruit: Acorns borne in groups of 1 or 2, usually on a short stalk, the
nut ovoid, chestnut-colored, up to ¾ inch long, the cup covering
about ½ the nut, the scales of the cup hairy and usually with a
short fringe.
Wood: Heavy, strong, durable, close-grained.
Uses: Fence posts, fuel, railroad ties.
Habitat: Low rich slopes; wooded hillsides; dry cliffs.
Range: Vermont across to southern Minnesota, south to eastern Nebraska
and eastern Texas, east to northern Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The Yellow Chestnut Oak is distinguished from
the other coarsely toothed oaks by its usually sharper pointed
teeth and by the size and shape of its acorns.
[Illustration: YELLOW CHESTNUT OAK]
CHERRYBARK OAK
_Quercus pagodaefolia_ Ell.
Other Name: Swamp Spanish Oak.
Growth Form: Large tree up to 100 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 4
feet; crown broadly rounded; trunk straight, columnar.
Bark: Dark gray, broken by narrow ridges into small scales.
Twigs: Rather stout, reddish-brown or gray, usually hairy when young,
becoming smooth; pith star-shaped in cross-section; leaf scars
alternate but clustered near tip of the twigs, half-round,
slightly elevated, with several bundle traces.
Buds: Ovoid, pointed, angular, hairy, chestnut-brown, up to ¼ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades divided into 5-11 pointed lobes, the
sinuses cut about half-way to the midvein, up to 10 inches long,
up to 7 inches wide, dark green, smooth and shiny on the upper
surface, pale and hairy on the lower surface; leafstalks up to 2
inches long, stout, hairy.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
plant, appearing when the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, drooping catkins, the pistillate
few together.
Fruit: Acorns solitary or 2 together, with or without a stalk, the nut
ellipsoid, about ½ inch long, brown, enclosed for less than ⅓ its
length by the cup, the cup finely hairy.
Wood: Strong, hard, coarse-grained, light reddish-brown.
Uses: Interior finishing, furniture, cabinets.
Habitat: Bottomlands and river banks.
Range: Southeastern Virginia to southeastern Missouri, south to Texas,
east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The shape of the leaf is distinctive for this
oak.
[Illustration: CHERRYBARK OAK]
PIN OAK
_Quercus palustris_ Muench.
Growth Form: Medium tree up to 75 feet tall; trunk diameter usually less
than 3 feet; crown narrowly rounded or oblong, but with the lower
branches drooping; trunk straight, with pin-like stubs developing
rather low on the trunk.
Bark: Light brown or dark brown, scarcely furrowed.
Twigs: Slender, smooth, reddish-brown to dark gray; pith star-shaped in
cross-section; leaf scars alternate but crowded near the tip,
half-round, usually slightly elevated, with several bundle traces.
Buds: Pointed, reddish-brown or dark gray, smooth, up to ⅛ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades divided more than half-way to the
middle into 5-7 bristle-tipped lobes, dark green, shiny and more
or less smooth on the upper surface, paler and with tufts of hairs
along the veins on the lower surface, up to 7 inches long and 4
inches broad; leafstalk up to 2 inches long, slender, usually
smooth.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing when the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, drooping catkins, the pistillate
in groups of 1-3.
Fruit: Acorns 1-4 together, with or without stalks, the nut
hemispherical, up to ½ inch across, pale brown, frequently with
darker lines, enclosed less than ¼ by the cup, the cup thin,
saucer-shaped, reddish-brown, finely hairy.
Wood: Hard, heavy, coarse-grained, pale brown.
Uses: General construction, fuel, fence posts, ornamental.
Habitat: Moist soil; in floodplain woods; along streams; edges of swamps
and ponds.
Range: Massachusetts across to southeastern Iowa, south to northeastern
Oklahoma, east to northern Virginia.
Distinguishing Features: Pin Oak is recognized by its drooping lower
branches and its small acorns.
[Illustration: PIN OAK]
WILLOW OAK
_Quercus phellos_ L.
Growth Form: Medium tree to 75 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 3 feet;
crown narrowly round-topped.
Bark: Reddish-brown, smooth at first, becoming irregularly and shallowly
furrowed with age.
Twigs: Slender, smooth, reddish-brown; pith star-shaped in
cross-section; leaf scars alternate but crowded near the tip of
the twigs, half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle
traces.
Buds: Ovoid, pointed, smooth, up to ⅛ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades without lobes or teeth, narrowly
lanceolate to narrowly oblong, with a bristle tip, narrowed to the
base, up to 5 inches long, up to 1 inch broad, light green and
smooth on the upper surface, usually smooth and paler on the lower
surface; leafstalks up to ½ inch long, smooth or slightly hairy.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing as the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, drooping catkins, the pistillate
few in a cluster.
Fruit: Acorns solitary or 2 together, with or without a short stalk, the
nut more or less spherical, pale yellow-brown, enclosed less than
¼ its length by the cup, the cup reddish-brown, finely hairy.
Wood: Heavy, rather soft, strong, coarse-grained, pale reddish-brown.
Use: General construction.
Habitat: Swampy woods.
Range: New York across to southern Illinois and eastern Oklahoma, south
to Texas, east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: This and the Shingle Oak are the only oaks in
Illinois with unlobed, untoothed leaves. The leaves of the Willow
Oak are usually much narrower than those of the Shingle Oak.
[Illustration: WILLOW OAK]
ROCK CHESTNUT OAK
_Quercus prinus_ L.
Other Name: Chestnut Oak.
Growth Form: Medium tree up to 55 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2½
feet; crown broad but irregular.
Bark: Dark brown, with conspicuous furrows between the rounded ridges.
Twigs: Rather stout, reddish-brown, smooth or nearly so; leaf scars
alternate, but clustered near the tip of the twig, half-round,
with several bundle traces; pith star-shaped in cross-section.
Buds: Pointed, brown, somewhat hairy, up to ½ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades obovate to broadly lanceolate, pointed
at the tip, narrowed to the base, thick and leathery, coarsely
round-toothed along the edges, smooth, shiny, and yellow-green on
the upper surface, finely hairy over all the lower surface, up to
9 inches long and up to 4 inches broad; leafstalk up to 1 inch
long, smooth or slightly hairy.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, minute, without petals, the staminate crowded into long,
slender catkins, the pistillate few in a group.
Fruit: Acorns borne in groups of 1 or 2, usually on a short stalk, the
nut ovoid to ellipsoid, chestnut-colored, up to 1½ inches long,
the cup covering about ½ the nut or less, the scales of the cup
reddish-brown and warty.
Wood: Hard, heavy, strong, close-grained.
Uses: Fence posts, railroad ties, fuel.
Habitat: Dry, rocky, wooded slopes.
Range: Maine across to southern Illinois, south to Mississippi and
Georgia.
Distinguishing Features: The acorns of the Rock Chestnut Oak are about
twice the size as those of the Yellow Chestnut Oak. The teeth of
the leaves of the Rock Chestnut Oak tend to be more rounded than
the pointed teeth of the Yellow Chestnut Oak.
[Illustration: ROCK CHESTNUT OAK]
NORTHERN RED OAK
_Quercus rubra_ L.
Other Name: Red Oak.
Growth Form: Medium to tall tree to 80 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 3
feet; crown broadly rounded, with large spreading branches; trunk
straight, columnar, often buttressed at the base.
Bark: Grayish-brown, reddish-brown, blackish, or gray, with dark
stripes.
Twigs: Slender, smooth, reddish-brown; pith star-shaped in
cross-section; leaf scars alternate, but clustered near the tip of
the twig, half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle
traces.
Buds: Pointed, smooth, reddish-brown, shiny, up to ¼ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades rather shallowly 7- to 11-lobed, the
lobes bristle-tipped, dark green and smooth or somewhat hairy on
the upper surface, paler and smooth or often with hairs along the
veins on the lower surface, up to 10 inches long, up to 6 inches
broad; leafstalks up to 2 inches long, stout, usually smooth.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing as the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, drooping catkins, the pistillate
in groups of 1-3.
Fruit: Acorns solitary or 2 together, with or without stalks, the nut
ovoid, up to 1½ inches long, pale brown, covered less than ¼ by
the cup, the cup reddish-brown, with tight scales.
Wood: Hard, heavy, close-grained, light brown.
Uses: Interior finishing, furniture, fuel, fence posts.
Habitat: Rich, upland woods; along river banks; on well-drained slopes.
Range: New Brunswick, across southern Quebec and Ontario, to
northcentral Minnesota, south to eastern Kansas, east across
Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and in the mountains of eastern
Tennessee and northeastern Georgia.
Distinguishing Features: The acorn with its very shallow, saucer-shaped
cap is the best identifying characteristic for the Red Oak. The
leaves are generally more shallowly lobed than those of the Black
Oak, Southern Red Oak, and Scarlet Oak.
[Illustration: NORTHERN RED OAK]
SHUMARD’S OAK
_Quercus shumardii_ Buckl.
Other Names: Southern Red Oak; Schneck’s Oak.
Growth Form: Up to 120 feet tall; trunk up to 5 feet in diameter; crown
broad and open, with wide-spreading branches.
Bark: Firmly ridged and dark brownish-black.
Twigs: Generally stouter than those of the Red Oak, smooth; pith
star-shaped in cross-section; leaf scars alternate, but clustered
near the tip of the twig, half-round, slightly elevated, with
several bundle traces.
Buds: Smooth, red-brown, about one-third inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades up to 8 inches long, straight across
or somewhat wedge-shaped at the base, with 2-4 pairs of lobes
divided over ⅔’s the way to the mid-nerve, each lobe toothed and
bristle-pointed at the tips, the sinuses broadly rounded, dark
green and shiny above, with white tufts of hair in the vein axils
beneath; leafstalks slender, smooth, up to 2½ inches long.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate on the same tree, appearing as the
leaves unfold, inconspicuous, the staminate crowded in a catkin,
the pistillate solitary or 2-3 together.
Fruit: Ripening in October of the second year, on stalks less than ¼
inch long, usually produced singly; acorns broadly egg-shaped,
short-pointed at the base and flat at the top, up to 1¼ inches
long and about ¾ as broad, light brown; cup shallow, about ¼-⅓
covering the acorn, with closely appressed, densely short-woolly
scales.
Wood: Light, strong, durable; not distinguished commercially from Red
Oak.
Uses: Interior finishing and furniture.
Habitat: Bottomland woods and stream banks.
Range: Most abundant in the Mississippi basin, but known from Florida
and Texas, north to Maryland, Pennsylvania, eastcentral Kentucky,
Indiana, central Illinois, the eastern half of Iowa, and
southeastern Kansas. The largest known Shumard’s Oak in the
country occurs at Beall Woods in Wabash County, Illinois.
Distinguishing Features: Deeply lobed, shiny leaves with broadly rounded
sinuses.
[Illustration: SHUMARD’S OAK]
POST OAK
_Quercus stellata_ Wang.
Growth Form: Small to medium tree up to 60 feet tall; trunk diameter up
to 3 feet; crown rounded or obovoid, with rather stout branches;
trunk gnarled or straight, usually not buttressed.
Bark: Gray or light brown, divided into flat, sometimes squarish,
plates.
Twigs: Stout, brownish, covered when young by a tawny-colored fuzziness;
pith star-shaped in cross-section; leaf scars alternate but
densely clustered toward the tip, half-round, usually slightly
elevated, with several bundle traces.
Buds: Spherical but often short-pointed, reddish-brown, up to ⅛ inch
long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades thick, 5-lobed, the upper three lobes
squarish, separated from the lowest pair of lobes by a deep sinus,
up to 6 inches long, up to 4½ inches wide, dark green and hairy on
the upper surface, paler and hairy on the lower surface;
leafstalks up to 1 inch long, stout, hairy.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing when the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, yellow, drooping catkins, the
pistillate few in a cluster.
Fruit: Acorns solitary or 2 together, with or without a short stalk, the
nut oval to oblong, up to 1 inch long, pale brown, less than half
enclosed by the cup, the cup reddish-brown, hairy.
Wood: Hard, heavy, close-grained, brown.
Uses: Fence posts, fuel, general construction.
Habitat: Dry woods; dry bluffs.
Range: Massachusetts across to Kansas, south to Texas, east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The 3 squarish lobes at the upper end of the
thick leaves distinguish the Post Oak.
[Illustration: POST OAK]
BLACK OAK
_Quercus velutina_ Lam.
Other Name: Yellow-bark Oak.
Growth Form: Large tree up to 80 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 3½
feet; crown broadly rounded or oblong, with spreading branches;
trunk straight, columnar, scarcely buttressed at the base.
Bark: Black, with a yellow or orange inner bark, deeply furrowed.
Twigs: Slender or rather stout, reddish-brown to dark brown; pith
star-shaped in cross-section; leaf scars alternate but clustered
near the tip, half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle
traces.
Buds: Pointed, angular, gray or reddish-brown, hairy, up to ½ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades deeply to shallowly 7- to 9-lobed, the
lobes bristle-tipped, dark green, shiny and usually smooth on the
upper surface, smooth, finely hairy, or hairy only along the veins
on the lower surface, up to 10 inches long and 8 inches wide; leaf
stalk up to 5 inches long, stout, smooth or finely hairy.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing when the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, drooping clusters, the
pistillate in groups of 1-4.
Fruit: Acorns solitary or 2 together, with or without a short stalk, the
nut ovoid or ellipsoid, up to ¾ inch long, reddish-brown, not more
than ½ enclosed by the cup, the cup with scales not appressed at
the tip, thus appearing ragged.
Wood: Hard, heavy, coarse-grained, reddish-brown.
Uses: General construction, fuel, fence posts.
Habitat: Mostly upland woods.
Range: Maine across to south-central Minnesota, south to eastern Texas,
east to northern Florida.
Distinguishing Features: Black Oak is easily distinguished by its large,
angular, gray-hairy buds and its acorns with their ragged-edged
cup.
[Illustration: BLACK OAK]
CAROLINA BUCKTHORN
_Rhamnus caroliniana_ Walt.
Growth Form: Small tree to 30 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 6 inches;
crown spreading.
Bark: Gray, somewhat roughened.
Twigs: Slender, gray or pale brown, smooth or somewhat hairy; leaf scars
alternate, crescent-shaped, with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Lance-shaped, pointed, up to ¼ inch long, very hairy.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades elliptic, short-pointed at the tip,
tapering or somewhat rounded at the base, up to 6 inches long, up
to 2 inches broad, finely toothed or toothless along the edges,
dark green, smooth, and glossy on the upper surface, paler and
smooth or finely hairy on the lower surface; leafstalks finely
hairy, up to 1 inch long.
Flowers: Few in umbrella-like clusters, inconspicuous, appearing when
the leaves are nearly grown, each flower with 5 small petals.
Fruit: Spherical berries, up to ⅓ inch in diameter, red and shiny,
containing 2-4 seeds.
Wood: Hard, light in weight, close-grained, light brown.
Use: Fuel.
Habitat: Rocky woods and along streams.
Range: Virginia across to Kansas, south to Texas, east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The Carolina Buckthorn is distinguished by its
shiny, elliptical leaves, its red berries, and its small stature.
[Illustration: CAROLINA BUCKTHORN]
COMMON BUCKTHORN
_Rhamnus cathartica_ L.
Growth Form: Small tree to 25 feet tall, often branching from near the
base; trunk diameter up to 10 inches; crown spreading and
irregular.
Bark: Gray to brown, roughened when mature.
Twigs: Gray to brown, usually smooth, some of them usually ending in a
spine; leaf scars opposite to nearly so, narrow, with 3 bundle
traces.
Buds: Lanceolate, brown, smooth, up to ¼ inch long.
Leaves: Broadly elliptic to ovate to nearly orbicular, rounded to
pointed at the tip, usually rounded at the base, up to 2½ inches
long and up to 1½ inches wide, finely toothed along the edges,
smooth on both surfaces, the veins prominent; leafstalks slender,
smooth, up to 1 inch long.
Flowers: Borne in clusters from the axils of the leaves, during May and
June, some of them either only staminate or only pistillate, some
of them with both stamens and pistils, each flower with 4 small
petals.
Fruit: Nearly round, fleshy, black, up to ¼ inch in diameter, bitter,
containing 3 or 4 seeds.
Wood: Heavy, hard, durable, yellowish, fine-grained.
Uses: This tree is sometimes planted as an ornamental hedge. The wood is
used in making such things as tool handles. The fruits serve as a
powerful purging agent.
Habitat: Thickets.
Range: Native of Europe and Asia; naturalized throughout much of
northeastern North America.
Distinguishing Features: The spine-tipped twigs, nearly opposite leaves,
and small black fruits readily distinguish this species.
[Illustration: COMMON BUCKTHORN]
SHINING SUMAC
_Rhus copallina_ L.
Other Names: Dwarf Sumac; Winged Sumac.
Growth Form: Small tree to 35 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 6 inches;
crown widely spreading.
Bark: Dark brown, roughened.
Twigs: Rather stout, gray-brown to reddish-brown, sometimes hairy, with
conspicuous red lenticels; leaf scars alternate, U-shaped,
elevated with 6-9 bundle traces.
Buds: More or less rounded, rusty-hairy, about ⅛ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound, with as many as 21 leaflets;
leaflets oblong to elliptic, up to 3 inches long and 1 inch broad,
sharp pointed at the apex, tapering or rounded at the sometimes
asymmetrical base, smooth or with low teeth along the edges, dark
green, smooth and shiny on the upper surface, paler and hairy on
the lower surface, all leaflets attached to a winged stalk. The
leaves turn a deep red or wine color in the autumn.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate sometimes borne on separate plants,
sometimes on the same plant, sometimes in the same flower,
numerous in much branched clusters, appearing from late May to
mid-August, each flower greenish-yellow, small.
Fruit: Cluster of red berries, each berry round, finely hairy, up to ⅛
inch in diameter, containing a single orange seed.
Wood: Light in weight, soft, coarse-grained, pale brown.
Use: Sometimes grown as an ornamental.
Habitat: Dry hills, fields.
Range: Maine across southern Michigan to eastern Nebraska, south to
Texas, east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The Shining Sumac is readily distinguished by
the winged stalk to which the leaflets are attached.
[Illustration: SHINING SUMAC]
SMOOTH SUMAC
_Rhus glabra_ L.
Growth Form: Small tree up to 20 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 8
inches; crown widely spreading.
Bark: Light brown, smooth on young plants, becoming somewhat rough at
maturity.
Twigs: Stout, angular, smooth, reddish-brown or greenish-brown and
covered by a whitish coat which can be wiped off, leaf scars
alternate, nearly encircling the bud, elevated, with 6-9 bundle
traces.
Buds: More or less rounded, smooth, about ⅛ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound, with up to 31 leaflets; leaflets
lance-shaped, up to 4 inches long, less than 2 inches broad, sharp
pointed at the apex, tapering or rounded at the often asymmetrical
base, toothed along the edges, green and smooth on the upper
surface, nearly white and smooth on the lower surface. The leaves
turn red in the autumn.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate sometimes borne on separate plants,
sometimes on the same plant, sometimes in the same flower,
numerous in much branched clusters, appearing from late May to
mid-August, each flower greenish-yellow, small.
Fruit: Cluster of red berries, each berry round, smooth, up to ⅛ inch in
diameter, containing a single brown seed.
Wood: Light in weight, soft, pale.
Use: Sometimes grown as an ornamental.
Habitat: Woods, fields, disturbed areas.
Range: Nova Scotia across to Manitoba and North Dakota, south to Texas,
east to Florida; also in Mexico.
Distinguishing Features: This species lacks the winged leaf stalks of
the Shining Sumac and lacks the velvety twigs of the Staghorn
Sumac.
[Illustration: SMOOTH SUMAC]
STAGHORN SUMAC
_Rhus typhina_ L.
Growth Form: Small to medium tree up to 40 feet tall; trunk diameter up
to 15 inches; crown broadly rounded or sometimes flat.
Bark: Dark brown, smooth at first, becoming scaly in age.
Twigs: Stout, dark brown, covered by velvety hairs; leaf scars nearly
encircling the twigs, with 6-9 bundle traces.
Buds: More or less rounded, hairy, about ⅛ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound, with up to 31 leaflets; leaflets
lance-shaped, up to 5 inches long, less than 2 inches broad,
pointed at the tip, tapering or rounded at the usually
asymmetrical base, toothed along the edges, dark green and smooth
on the upper surface, paler and smooth except for the hairy veins
on the lower surface. The leaves turn purple to red to orange in
the autumn.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate sometimes borne on separate plants,
sometimes on the same plant, sometimes in the same flower,
numerous in much branched clusters, appearing from June to August,
each flower greenish, greenish-yellow, or reddish.
Fruit: Dense cluster of red berries, each berry round, conspicuously
hairy, up to ⅛ inch in diameter, containing a single brown seed.
Wood: Light in weight, soft, coarse-grained, orange.
Use: Sometimes grown as an ornamental.
Habitat: Woods and thickets.
Range: Nova Scotia across to Minnesota, south to Iowa and Kentucky, east
to North Carolina.
Distinguishing Features: The densely velvety twigs are distinctive for
this species.
[Illustration: STAGHORN SUMAC]
POISON SUMAC
_Rhus vernix_ L.
Growth Form: Small tree or shrub to 20 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 5
inches; crown narrowly rounded.
Bark: Gray, smooth.
Twigs: Rather stout, smooth, orange-brown to gray; leaf scars alternate,
rounded except for where the bud is, with several bundle traces.
Buds: Rounded or somewhat pointed, about ¼ inch in diameter, except for
the larger, terminal one, hairy, often purplish.
Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound, with 7-13 leaflets; leaflets
elliptic to obovate, pointed at the tip, rounded or tapering to
the base, up to 4 inches long, up to half as wide, dark green and
smooth on the upper surface, paler and usually smooth on the lower
surface, the edges without teeth. The leaves turn a brilliant
scarlet in the autumn.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate sometimes borne on separate plants,
sometimes on the same plant, sometimes in the same flower,
numerous in much branched clusters, appearing from May to July,
each flower greenish-yellow, small.
Fruit: Cluster of white or creamy berries, each berry round, smooth,
shiny, up to ½ inch in diameter, containing a single yellow seed.
Wood: Soft, light in weight, coarse-grained, yellow-brown.
Use: Little used because of the extremely poisonous nature of most parts
of the plant to the touch.
Habitat: Bogs and swampy woods.
Range: Maine across southern Ontario to Minnesota, south to Texas, east
to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: This species differs from other sumacs with
numerous leaflets by the absence of teeth along the edges of the
leaves and by the absence of a winged stalk between the leaflets.
[Illustration: POISON SUMAC]
BLACK LOCUST
_Robinia pseudoacacia_ L.
Growth Form: Moderate tree up to 70 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2½
feet; crown narrowly oblong, with irregularly ascending or
spreading branches.
Bark: Gray or black, deeply furrowed, with numerous, elevated, scaly
ridges.
Twigs: Slender but strong, angular, often zigzag, reddish-brown, with a
pair of short, sharp thorns where each leaf is attached; leaf
scars alternate, three-lobed, with 3 bundle traces per lobe.
Buds: Sunken in the twigs, dark brown, without bud scales, up to
one-eighth inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound, with 7-21 leaflets; leaflets
oval, rounded at both ends but usually with a short point at the
tip, without teeth, blue-green and smooth on the upper surface,
paler and smooth on the lower surface except for the veins, up to
two inches long and nearly half as wide. The leaflets turn yellow
in the autumn.
Flowers: In long, drooping clusters, white with a yellow spot, very
fragrant, up to 1 inch long, appearing in May and June.
Fruit: Legumes up to 4 inches long and about ½ inch wide, flat, smooth,
reddish-brown, with 4-8 seeds.
Wood: Hard, heavy, strong, brown.
Uses: Fence posts, tool handles; often planted as an ornamental.
Habitat: Woodlands, thickets, roadsides.
Range: Pennsylvania across to Oklahoma, east to Georgia; often planted
in other regions of the eastern United States.
Distinguishing Features: The pinnately compound leaves with up to 21
oval, smooth-edged leaflets, together with the pairs of spines,
serve to distinguish this species.
[Illustration: BLACK LOCUST]
PEACH-LEAVED WILLOW
_Salix amygdaloides_ Anders.
Growth Form: Moderate tree up to 60 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 1½
feet; crown narrowly rounded.
Bark: Grayish-brown, shallowly furrowed, becoming somewhat scaly.
Twigs: Slender, pale brown to grayish, smooth; leaf scars alternate,
U-shaped, with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Small, oblong, brown, up to one-sixth inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades broadly lance-shaped, long-pointed at
the tip, rounded or tapering to the base, up to 5 inches long,
finely toothed along the edges, dark green and shiny on the upper
surface, pale on the lower surface; leaf stalks up to ½ inch long.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate flowers borne on separate trees,
minute, crowded into elongated catkins, appearing as the leaves
begin to unfold.
Fruit: Several rather broad, flask-shaped, brown capsules up to
one-sixth inch long, crowded in elongated clusters.
Wood: Light weight, soft, pale brown.
Use: Fuel.
Habitat: Along streams, around lakes and ponds.
Range: Vermont across southern Ontario to British Columbia, south to New
Mexico, east across southern Illinois to central New York.
Distinguishing Features: This willow has broader leaves than almost any
other willow in Illinois. The pale lower surface of the leaves
also distinguishes it from the Black Willow.
[Illustration: PEACH-LEAVED WILLOW]
CAROLINA WILLOW
_Salix caroliniana_ Michx.
Other Name: Ward’s Willow.
Growth Form: Medium tree to 40 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 1 foot;
crown widely spreading, often irregular.
Bark: Dark brown to gray to black, scaly and ridged.
Twigs: Slender, brown, usually finely hairy; leaf scars alternate,
U-shaped, with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Small, oblong, reddish-brown, smooth, up to one-eighth inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades lanceolate, long-pointed at the tip,
tapering to the base, up to 5 inches long and up to 1 inch broad,
finely toothed along the edges, green and smooth on the upper
surface, whitish and smooth on the lower surface; stipules
conspicuous; leafstalks up to ½ inch long, hairy.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate flowers borne on separate trees,
appearing as the leaves begin to unfold, crowded in elongated,
yellowish, hairy catkins.
Fruit: Several narrow, flask-shaped, brownish capsules up to ¼ inch
long, crowded in elongated clusters.
Wood: Light weight, soft, not strong.
Use: Fuel.
Habitat: Moist woods, along streams.
Range: Maryland across southern Illinois to Kansas, south to Texas and
Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The leaves of the Carolina Willow are shaped
similarly to those of the Black Willow, but differ by being
whitened on the lower surface.
[Illustration: CAROLINA WILLOW]
SANDBAR WILLOW
_Salix interior_ Rowlee
Growth Form: Small tree to 25 feet tall; trunk diameter less than 1
foot; crown irregular.
Bark: Gray, furrowed, broken into rough scales.
Twigs: Slender, grayish-green, smooth; leaf scars alternate, U-shaped,
with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Small, oblong, pale brown, up to one-sixth inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades very narrow, pointed at the tip,
tapering to the base, to 4 inches long, less than one-half inch
broad, with widely spaced teeth along the edges, green and usually
smooth on both surfaces when mature; leafstalks nearly absent.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate flowers borne on separate trees,
minute, crowded into elongated catkins, appearing when the leaves
are partly grown.
Fruit: Several flask-shaped, brownish, smooth or silky capsules up to
one-eighth inch long, crowded in elongated clusters.
Wood: Light weight, soft, weak.
Use: Fuel.
Habitat: Along streams, often forming thickets.
Range: Quebec across to Alaska, south to Oklahoma and Arkansas, east to
Maryland.
Distinguishing Features: The best characteristics to identify this small
tree are the narrow leaves with the teeth relatively far apart.
[Illustration: SANDBAR WILLOW]
BLACK WILLOW
_Salix nigra_ Marsh.
Growth Form: Medium to large tree up to 90 feet tall; trunk diameter up
to three feet; crown usually round-topped, but sometimes
irregular.
Bark: Rough, furrowed, forming elongated, vertical, rather tight scales.
Twigs: Slender, olive-green, smooth; leaf scars alternate, U-shaped,
with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Small, oblong, reddish-brown, up to one-eighth inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades narrowly lance-shaped, usually curved,
long-pointed at the tip, rounded or tapering at the base, up to 6
inches long, finely toothed along the edges, green and shiny on
the upper surface, smooth or hairy on the veins of the lower
surface; leafstalks short, often surrounded at the base by a pair
of green leaf-like stipules.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate flowers borne on separate trees,
minute, crowded in elongated catkins, appearing as the leaves
begin to unfold.
Fruit: Several narrow, flask-shaped, reddish-brown capsules up to
one-eighth inch long, crowded in elongated clusters.
Wood: Light weight, soft, not strong.
Uses: Flooring, boxes, crates, fuel.
Habitat: Wet ground, frequently along rivers and streams.
Range: New Brunswick across to Ontario, south to Texas, east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The narrow lance-shaped leaves which are green
on the lower surface and which have many fine teeth along the
edges distinguish this willow from other willows in Illinois.
[Illustration: BLACK WILLOW]
SASSAFRAS
_Sassafras albidum_ (Nutt.) Nees
Other Names: White Sassafras; Red Sassafras.
Growth Form: Usually small to moderate tree up to 40 feet tall, but
rarely as much as 80 feet tall; trunk diameter usually up to 2
feet, rarely as much as six feet; crown flat-topped, irregular,
oblong.
Bark: Greenish-gray when young, becoming deeply furrowed and dark
reddish-brown when older.
Twigs: Slender, green, smooth, aromatic; leaf scars alternate, small,
half-round, usually with three bundle traces.
Buds: Ovoid, scarcely pointed at the tip, greenish, up to one-fourth
inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades of three different shapes, some
3-lobed, some 2-lobed, some unlobed, tapering to the base, up to 6
inches long, without teeth along the edges, green and smooth on
the upper surface, paler and either smooth or hairy on the lower
surface. The leaves turn brilliant shades of orange, red, and
yellow in the autumn.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate flowers borne on separate trees, in
few-flowered clusters as the leaves begin to unfold, each flower
about ⅓ inch long, greenish-yellow.
Fruit: Dark blue berries about one-third inch long in deep red cups and
on stalks up to 2 inches long.
Wood: Soft, brittle, orange-brown.
Uses: Fence posts; the roots are strongly aromatic and are dug, dried,
and used in the making of sassafras tea.
Habitat: Roadsides, old fields, woods.
Range: Maine across to Michigan and (formerly) Wisconsin, south to
Texas, east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The Sassafras is distinguished by its
distinctively shaped, aromatic leaves and its green twigs.
[Illustration: SASSAFRAS]
BALD CYPRESS
_Taxodium distichum_ (L.) Rich.
Growth Form: Large tree to over 100 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 8
feet; crown open and spreading to pyramidal; base of trunk often
swollen; “knees” usually produced if tree is growing in water.
Bark: Pale reddish-brown, broken into numerous thin scales, becoming
fibrous.
Twigs: Slender, reddish-brown; leaf scars absent.
Buds: Spherical, up to ⅛ inch in diameter, pale brown.
Leaves: Needles borne singly, pointed at the tip, up to ¾ inch long,
yellow-green, falling away during the autumn.
Flowers: Staminate borne in branched clusters up to 5 inches long,
purplish; pistillate few to several near the ends of the twigs,
spherical.
Fruit: Cones nearly spherical, up to 1 inch in diameter, green to brown,
wrinkled in appearance.
Wood: Soft, durable, light in weight, brown.
Uses: Railroad ties, fence posts, barrels, bridges; often planted as an
ornamental.
Habitat: Swamps and low, wet woods.
Range: New Jersey across to southern Illinois and southern Missouri to
eastern Texas, east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: Bald Cypress is distinguished by the feathery
appearance of its leaves and by its spherical, wrinkled cones.
[Illustration: BALD CYPRESS]
BASSWOOD
_Tilia americana_ L.
Other Name: Linden.
Growth Form: Medium or large tree to 80 feet tall; trunk diameter up to
2 feet; crown broadly rounded.
Bark: Brown, scaly, deeply furrowed.
Twigs: Slender, gray or brown, smooth; leaf scars alternate,
half-elliptical, with 3 to several bundle traces.
Buds: Ovoid, red, smooth, up to ¼ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades ovate, pointed at the tip,
heart-shaped at the very asymmetrical base, up to 8 inches long,
up to ⅔ as broad, coarsely toothed along the edges, green and
smooth on the upper surface, paler and smooth or with tufts of
hair on the lower surface; leafstalks up to 2 inches long, smooth.
Flowers: Few in clusters on a long stalk attached to a paddle-shaped
structure, each flower fragrant, greenish-yellow, with 5 petals,
appearing in June and July.
Fruit: Hard, spherical but often with a short point at the tip, up to ⅓
inch in diameter, light brown, finely hairy.
Wood: Light in weight, close-grained, strong, not durable.
Uses: Coarse construction, furniture, paper pulp, fuel.
Habitat: Rich woods.
Range: New Brunswick across to Manitoba, south to Texas, east to North
Carolina.
Distinguishing Features: The large, heart-shaped leaves sometimes
resemble the leaves of the Red Mulberry, but the leafstalks of the
Basswood do not have milky sap in them. The Basswood differs from
the White Basswood by the virtual absence of hairs on the lower
surface of the leaves.
[Illustration: BASSWOOD]
WHITE BASSWOOD
_Tilia heterophylla_ Vent.
Growth Form: Medium to large tree up to 70 feet tall; trunk diameter up
to 2 feet; crown broadly spreading.
Bark: Brown, scaly, deeply furrowed.
Twigs: Slender, pale red-brown, smooth; leaf scars alternate,
half-elliptical, with 3 to several bundle traces.
Buds: Ovoid, red, usually smooth, up to ¼ inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades ovate, pointed at the tip,
heart-shaped at the asymmetrical base, up to 6 inches long, about
half as wide, coarsely toothed along the edges, green and more or
less smooth on the upper surface, densely covered with white hairs
on the lower surface; leafstalks up to 2 inches long, more or less
smooth.
Flowers: Several in clusters on a long stalk attached to a paddle-shaped
structure, each flower fragrant, greenish-yellow, hairy, with 5
petals, appearing in June and July.
Fruit: Hard, more or less spherical, somewhat pointed at the tip, up to
⅓ inch in diameter, reddish-brown, finely hairy.
Wood: Light in weight, close-grained, strong, not durable.
Uses: Paper pulp, fuel.
Habitat: Low, moist woods.
Range: New York across to Missouri, south to Mississippi and Georgia.
Distinguishing Features: The dense coat of white hairs on the lower
surface of the leaves distinguishes the White Basswood from the
Basswood.
[Illustration: WHITE BASSWOOD]
WINGED ELM
_Ulmus alata_ Michx.
Other Name: Wahoo Elm.
Growth Form: Small or moderate tree to 60 feet tall; trunk diameter up
to 2 feet, but usually much smaller; crown oblong and relatively
narrow.
Bark: Dark gray, with shallow furrows.
Twigs: Slender, gray or brown, more or less zigzag, smooth, often with
corky wings; leaf scars alternate, half-round, each with 3 bundle
traces.
Buds: Narrow, pointed, brown, smooth or slightly hairy, up to one-fourth
inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, pointed
at the tip, rounded at the slightly asymmetrical base, up to three
inches long, doubly toothed along the edges, green and smooth or
slightly roughened on the upper surface, paler and hairy on the
lower surface; leafstalks short, stout, hairy.
Flowers: In drooping clusters of 2-7, appearing before the leaves
unfold, greenish, hairy, small.
Fruit: Oblong, winged, up to one-third inch long, hairy along the edges,
each wing notched at the top and surrounding a single central
seed.
Wood: Heavy, hard, pale brown.
Uses: Tool handles, small wooden articles.
Habitat: Dry cliffs, wooded slopes, rarely low woods.
Range: Virginia across to Missouri, south to Texas, east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The corky wings identify the Winged Elm from
all other Illinois elms except the Rock Elm. It differs from the
Rock Elm by its shorter, hairy leaf stalks and its usually smaller
leaves.
[Illustration: WINGED ELM]
AMERICAN ELM
_Ulmus americana_ L.
Other Name: White Elm.
Growth Form: Large tree up to 80 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 4 feet;
crown broadly rounded or sometimes flat-topped, usually with
drooping branchlets.
Bark: Light or dark gray, furrowed, at maturity breaking into thin
plates.
Twigs: Brown, slender, smooth or sparsely hairy, often zigzag; leaf
scars alternate, half-round, each with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Broadly ovoid, reddish-brown, smooth or sparsely hairy, up to
one-fourth inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades oval to elliptic, pointed at the tip,
strongly asymmetrical at the base, up to 6 inches long and about
half as wide, coarsely doubly toothed along the edges, the upper
surface dark green and smooth, the lower surface pale and either
softly hairy or smooth; leafstalks very short, usually yellow.
Flowers: In drooping clusters of 3-4, appearing before the leaves
unfold, greenish-red, hairy, small.
Fruit: Oval, winged fruits up to one-half inch long, hairy along the
edges, each wing notched at the top and surrounding a single
central seed.
Wood: Heavy, strong, pale brown.
Uses: Flooring, farm implements, shipbuilding; frequently planted as an
ornamental and as a shade tree, but greatly diminished in number
by the Dutch Elm disease and phloem necrosis.
Habitat: Bottomland woods, along streams.
Range: Nova Scotia across to southern Manitoba, south to central Texas,
east to south-central Florida.
Distinguishing Features: American Elm may be distinguished from the
Winged Elm and the Rock Elm by its lack of corky wings on the
branchlets. It differs from the Slippery Elm by its relatively
smooth leaves and the lack of rusty-colored hairs on its buds. The
Siberian Elm, which is also similar, does not have distinctly
asymmetrical leaves. Hackberry leaves, which are also somewhat
similar in appearance, have three main veins originating at the
base of each leaf blade.
[Illustration: AMERICAN ELM]
SIBERIAN ELM
_Ulmus pumila_ L.
Growth Form: Small tree to 35 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 1 foot;
crown broadly rounded, with slender branchlets.
Bark: Gray or brown, shallowly furrowed at maturity.
Twigs: Slender, brown or grayish, smooth; leaf scars alternate,
half-round, with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Spherical, reddish-brown, up to ⅛ inch in diameter, somewhat
hairy.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades short-pointed at the tip, tapering or
rounded at the asymmetrical base, up to 7 cm long, up to half as
broad, mostly singly toothed along the edges, smooth on both
surfaces; leafstalks very short, usually smooth.
Flowers: In drooping clusters of 2-5, appearing before the leaves begin
to unfold, greenish, small, without petals.
Fruit: Nearly round, winged fruits, up to ½ inch in diameter, not
notched, smooth, 1-seeded.
Wood: Hard, heavy, pale brown.
Use: Grown chiefly as an ornamental and frequently reproducing around
old buildings.
Habitat: Along roads, around buildings.
Range: Native of Asia; widely planted in the United States and
naturalized from Minnesota to Kansas and eastward.
Distinguishing Features: The Siberian Elm is distinguished by its small,
smooth, singly-toothed leaves.
[Illustration: SIBERIAN ELM]
SLIPPERY ELM
_Ulmus rubra_ Muhl.
Other Name: Red Elm.
Growth Form: Moderate tree up to 80 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 4
feet; crown broadly rounded or occasionally flat-topped.
Bark: Reddish-brown to gray, with shallow furrows; the inner bark
becomes slippery when chewed.
Twigs: Rather stout, reddish-brown, with short, gray hairs; leaf scars
alternate, half-round, each with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Nearly round, up to one-fourth inch in diameter, with
rusty-colored hairs.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades oval to elliptic, pointed at the tip,
strongly asymmetrical at the base, up to 7 inches long, about half
as wide, coarsely doubly toothed along the edges, the upper
surface green and very rough to the touch, the lower surface
smooth or hairy; leafstalks stout, hairy, up to one-half inch
long.
Flowers: In drooping clusters, appearing before the leaves unfold,
greenish, hairy, small.
Fruit: Circular, winged fruits up to three-fourths inch in diameter, not
hairy except over the seed, each wing surrounding a single seed.
Wood: Heavy, strong, dark brown.
Uses: Shipbuilding, farm implements, fence posts.
Habitat: Bottomland woods; along streams; rocky, upland woods.
Range: Quebec across Ontario to North Dakota, south to Texas, east to
Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The rough, sandpapery texture of the
asymmetrical leaves distinguishes this elm from all others in the
state.
[Illustration: SLIPPERY ELM]
ROCK ELM
_Ulmus thomasii_ Sarg.
Other Name: Cork Elm.
Growth Form: Medium tree up to 75 feet tall; trunk diameter up to three
feet; crown narrow, oblong, with drooping branches.
Bark: Grayish-brown, with shallow furrows.
Twigs: Slender, brown, smooth or finely hairy, usually with corky wings;
leaf scars alternate, half-round, each with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Lance-shaped, pointed, brown, more or less hairy, up to one-fourth
inch long.
Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades oval to oblong, pointed at the tip,
rounded at the slightly asymmetrical base, up to 4 inches long,
doubly toothed, green, smooth, and shiny on the upper surface,
paler and hairy on the lower surface; leafstalks up to one-half
inch long, smooth.
Flowers: In drooping clusters of 2-4, appearing before the leaves begin
to unfold, greenish-red, hairy, small.
Fruit: Oval, winged fruits up to one-half inch long, hairy, each wing
with a shallow notch at the top and surrounding a single seed.
Wood: Hard, strong, heavy, close-grained, pale brown.
Uses: Railroad ties, farm implements, hockey sticks.
Habitat: Wooded slopes, rock ledges.
Range: Quebec to Ontario and Minnesota, southwestward to Kansas, east to
Tennessee.
Distinguishing Features: Rock Elm differs from other elms in Illinois by
its corky-winged twigs and its smooth leafstalks.
[Illustration: ROCK ELM]
SWEET VIBURNUM
_Viburnum lentago_ L.
Other Names: Nannyberry; Wild Raisin; Sheepberry.
Growth Form: Small tree to 25 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 5 inches;
crown rounded.
Bark: Reddish-brown, broken into irregular plates.
Twigs: Slender, grayish, sometimes with orange dots, smooth; leaf scars
opposite, crescent-shaped, with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Red, nearly smooth, long-pointed, up to ¾ inch long.
Leaves: Opposite, simple; blades ovate, pointed at the tip, tapering or
rounded at the base, up to 3 inches long, about half as wide,
sharply and finely toothed along the edges, green and slightly
hairy on the upper surface, yellow-green and minutely black-dotted
on the lower surface; leafstalks up to 1½ inches long, sometimes
rusty-hairy, winged.
Flowers: Many in broad, round-topped clusters, slightly fragrant,
appearing during April and May, each flower small and
creamy-white.
Fruit: Fleshy, oval to ellipsoid, blue-black, up to ½ inch long, sweet,
containing a single stone.
Wood: Hard, heavy, close-grained, dark orange-brown.
Use: Sometimes planted as an ornamental.
Habitat: Rocky woods; woods along streams.
Range: Quebec across to Manitoba, south to Colorado, east across
northern Illinois to Georgia.
Distinguishing Features: The Sweet Viburnum, like other viburnums, has
opposite, simple leaves which are finely and sharply toothed. It
differs from other viburnums in Illinois by its long-pointed
leaves and its winged leaf stalks.
[Illustration: SWEET VIBURNUM]
BLACK HAW
_Viburnum prunifolium_ L.
Other Name: Nannyberry.
Growth Form: Small tree to 25 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 6 inches;
crown irregular.
Bark: Reddish-brown, broken into irregular plates.
Twigs: Slender, grayish, sometimes with orange dots, smooth; leaf scars
opposite, crescent-shaped, with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Brown, nearly smooth, up to ½ inch long.
Leaves: Opposite, simple; blades oval to ovate, short-pointed at the
tip, rounded or tapering to the base, up to 3 inches long and 2
inches broad, finely and sharply toothed along the edges, dark
green and smooth on the upper surface, paler and smooth on the
lower surface; leafstalks up to ⅔ inch long, smooth, scarcely or
not at all winged.
Flowers: Many in broad, round-topped clusters, appearing during April
and May, each flower small and white.
Fruit: Fleshy, oval to ellipsoid, blue-black, up to ⅔ inch long, sweet,
containing a single stone.
Wood: Hard, heavy, strong but brittle, coarse-grained, reddish-brown.
Use: Sometimes planted as an ornamental.
Habitat: Rocky woods.
Range: Connecticut across to Michigan, southwest to Kansas, south to
Texas, east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: Black Haw differs from the Sweet Viburnum by
the absence of wings along the leafstalks. It differs from the
Rusty Nannyberry by the absence of rusty hairs on the buds and
leafstalks.
[Illustration: BLACK HAW]
RUSTY NANNYBERRY
_Viburnum rufidulum_ Raf.
Other Name: Southern Black Haw.
Growth Form: Small tree to 30 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 8 inches;
crown irregular.
Bark: Dark brown, broken into square plates.
Twigs: Slender, somewhat rusty-hairy; leaf scars opposite,
crescent-shaped, with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Rusty-hairy, up to ½ inch long.
Leaves: Opposite, simple; blades elliptic to obovate, short-pointed or
rounded at the tip, rounded or tapering to the base, up to 3
inches long, about half as wide, sharply and finely toothed along
the edges, dark green and usually smooth on the upper surface,
paler and with some rusty hairs on the lower surface; leafstalks
up to ¾ inch long, rusty-hairy.
Flowers: Many in broad, round-topped clusters, appearing during April
and May, each flower small and creamy-white.
Fruit: Fleshy, oblong, to obovoid, blue-black, up to ⅔ inch long. sweet,
containing a single stone.
Wood: Hard, heavy, strong but brittle, close-grained, dark orange-brown.
Use: Sometimes planted as an ornamental.
Habitat: Dry, rocky woods.
Range: Virginia across to Missouri, south to Texas, east to Florida.
Distinguishing Features: The most distinguishing characteristics of the
Rusty Nannyberry are the rusty-hairy buds and leaf stalks.
[Illustration: RUSTY NANNYBERRY]