Trees

February 5, 2012

Every year we attend the Missouri State Fair.  That is certainly an event that we all look forward to.  One of my favorite places at the fair is the Conservation building.  Each day there is a presentation given by one of the conservation agents in their area of expertise.  One of the fellas I most look forward to each year is the young man who talks about trees.  (I believe his name is Chuck Conner)  He is very knowledgable and engaging and typically ends his talk with a nature walk around the fairgrounds looking at the various types of trees.  This year it was pouring down rain so we weren't able to take the walk, but it did allow me to pull out my notepad and try to take notes on what he was saying.  I missed a good deal of it (he talks fast!!) but managed to get some scribbles down.  I have been planning to post them here to the blog ever since August...

This past week the boys have been doing a closer study on trees for Biology and I was reminded of my notes in my little notebook.  Although most of the notes are about tree identification with tips that are more useful in summer, I thought it would still be appropriate to post them.  So, here are my frantically scribbled notes from the MO trees presentation given at the fair last summer.   :)

When trying to identify trees by their leaves, keep in mind two important distinctions.  'Alternate' vs. 'Opposite' and 'Simple' vs. 'Compound'.

Opposing leaves form directly opposite each other on the stem or branch.  Examples of Opposite leaves include Maple, Ash, Dogwood and Buckeye.  (He gave the acronym of MAD Buck to remember those four trees.)  Alternating leaves go in step fashion... alternating.  :)  Tip to remember... poison ivy has alternating leaves.

Simple leaves have one point or shape.  Compound leaves bear multiple leaflets in a variety of patterns and numbers.  Look for the bud to help determine simple vs. compound.

Varieties of trees...  (all photos from the MO Conservation website unless otherwise noted)

Maple trees - Silver Maple - deep cut, white underside.  Not a good yard tree.  The 5 point Canadian maple is the Sugar Maple.  The 3 point maple is Red Maple.



Oak leaves can be so different, even within the same tree.  Look for acorns.  They have cluster terminal buds at tip of branch (that is a sign it is an oak).  If leaves are rounded it is in the white oak group.  If leaves are bristled tip, pointy leaves, it is in the red oak group or family.  Red oak trees take 2 years to flower to acorn crop.  White oak trees take 1 year to flower to acorn crop.  Both are good trees for wildlife management.  Pin Oak is in the red oak family.  A pin oak grows down (as you know if you have to mow around one!).  Peeling oak bark on a white oak indicates a Swamp Oak.  Swamp white oak has a long stem attached to the acorn.

American basswood - good tree.  Has long fruit bud.  Brings in bees.  (good thing!)



Sweet gum - favorite tree to have in your neighbors yard.  :)  This tree drops the big ball pod thing every time the wind blows, but it is a lovely tree.



Black gum (tupelo) - small bluish fruit that birds really like.  BEAUTIFUL fall color. Medium to large size - multi color - 40 feet tall.


River Birch - perfect tree to plant in wet areas.  Fast growing (but brittle wood).  Never buy multiple stem ones - ONLY buy single stem ones.



Sycamore - fast growing, strong tree.  Bark falls off as it gets older.  Plant at the back of your property.  It likes wet ground but can also handle dry ground.  Messy tree, but pretty and large.



Mulberry - good tree for wildlife, but not your yard.  It draws in birds (and bird droppings) so don't plant near your house.  A soft mass tree - means the food can't be stored by animals.  They must eat at it like a buffet, they can't take it with them.  (the opposite would be a hard mass tree with acorns that animals can store for a future time)



Smoketree - flowers in June, later than other trees.  Ornate and pretty.  Not very long lived but fast growing.  More like a shrub.



Eastern red bud - fruit looks like snow pea pod.  Heart shaped leaf.  Alternating leaf.  Won't do well in too wet an area.

The Ash tree has an Opposite Compound leaf.  Green Ash vs. White Ash - green ash grows closer to water.  White doesn't like wet roots.  White ash more purple in fall.  Green ash is more yellow in fall.  You can look at the leaves to tell the difference.  Look at the bud scar - a green ash should be more straight across and the white ash will cut down at the top of the bud scar where the bud comes off.  (clear as mud... I know, but it is what I wrote down)



Tree of heaven - this is the tree that is in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.  He said it is actually terribly invasive and it should be killed!!



Here are a few links to the Missouri Department of Conservation tree identification pages.  Just as an fyi - this is a tremendous website that you might enjoy browsing through.  There is much useful information about plants and animals that would be applicable even to folks who don't necessarily live in Missouri.

Identify Trees by Characteristics

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines

Missouri Department of Conservation

I have long been a fan of the books and magazines put out by the MO Dept. of Conservation.  Some of my favorite field guides and books are their publications.  You can see the entire selection here.

If you are a Missouri resident you can receive two free magazines.  Missouri Conservationist and XPlor (for kids).  We get both and they are wonderful.