Identification Flashcards
umbrella magnolia - Magnolia tripetala
Family: Magnoliaceae
Growth habits: understory, 10-40’ tall, often multi-stem, narrow crown
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: entire
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: very large, cluster at ends of branches, whorl-like “umbrella look”, no lobes at base like bigleaf magnolia, light green underside (compared to bluish-green underside on bigleaf)
Bark: Thin, gray, smooth but often with numerous raised lenticels
Fruit: clusters of dry fruit, not as fat as bigleaf fruit
Other:
Range: southern Appalachians
chestnut oak - Quercus montana
Family: Fagaeceae
Growth habits: canopy sized, 70-80’, can get very large girth when old
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: could be considered lobed or coarsely serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other:
Bark: dark, deeply fissured unlike other white oaks
Fruit: long plump acorn, rough scales on cap, can look like beatles haircut
Other:
Range: Appalachian, eastern/western KY but absent in central KY
Honey-locust - Gleditsia triacanthos
Family: Fabaceae
Growth habits: small-medium, multi-stemmed, huge triple thorns (more when young)
Leaf arrangement: alternate, pinnately or bipinnately compound
Leaf margins: unlobed, finely serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: small narrow leaflets, 15-30 leaflets (pinnate) 4-7 pairs minor leaflets (bipinnate)
Bark: tight plates that curl and look like they would strip away but will not
Fruit: large legume 6-8” long (peapod-like)
Other: zig-zag twigs/stems
Range: Central hardwoods into the south
mockernut hickory - Carya tomentosa
Family: Juglandaceae
Growth habits: tall and straight in forest, up to over 100’
Leaf arrangement: alternate, pinnately compound
Leaf margins: unlobed, finely serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: typically 7 leaflets, stout rachis with tufts of hair, tufts of hair on leaflet underside
Bark: light gray ridges with dark shallow furrows, never shaggy
Fruit: large 4 ribbed nut very similar to shagbark
Other: “monkey face” leaf scar, large terminal bud hershey kiss shaped
Range: widespread eastern US except far north, widespread KY
eastern white pine - Pinus strobus
Family: Pinaceae
Growth habits: very straight trunk, can be giant (100’+), very large trunk when old, “tiers” of branches, shallow crown when in forest
Leaf arrangement: bundles of 5 needles (only eastern tree with this)
Leaves other: soft/pliable, narrow, bluish-green, varied length 2”-6”
Bark: smooth and greenish-gray when young, when older reddish brown layers of scales forming ridges broken into irregular shapes
Cones: longer than wide, large/variable size, thin scales, unarmed
Other:
Range: northern US into southern Appalachians, in KY mostly restricted to Red River Gorge
shingle oak - Quercus imbricaria
Family: Fagaceae
Growth habits: medium up to 70’, lower branches often droop
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, entire
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: lanceolate with single bristle tip, leathery/shiny
Bark: tight, hard, very shallow furrows, gray-brown
Fruit: 5/8 inch acorn, apressed scales on cap, 1/3-1/2 covered by cap
Other:
Range: central hardwoods
American chestnut - Castanea dentata
Family: Fagaceae
Growth habits: shrubby, small, multi-stemmed
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, coarsely serrate (sharply angled teeth)
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: longer and more pointed than American beech
Bark: smooth when young, cracks when mature
Fruit: nut inside very spiny bur
Other:
Range: Appalachian, mostly Cumberland Plateau & EKY mountains
bald-cypress - Taxodium distichum
Family: Cupressaceae
Growth habits: large, pyramid shaped crown, fluted or buttressed base, often has knees in flooded conditions
Leaf arrangement: pinnately compound, small 2-ranked 1/2” leaflets
Leaves other: deciduous conifer, feathery looking leaves, yellow-green
Bark: red-brown, fibrous/shreddy
Cones: woody brown or green sphere, rough, shield-shaped scales
Other:
Range: southern US, far western KY
witch-hazel - Hamamelis virginiana
Family: Hamamelidaceae
Growth habits: shrub, can be 12-15’
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, wavy-toothed
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: oblique (lopsided) base
Bark:
Fruit: small 4-sectioned capsule
Other: flowers late in fall season
Range: widespread eastern North America, widespread KY but less common in central KY
bur oak - Quercus macrocarpa
Family: Fagaceae
Growth habits: large crown, large DBH when old, maybe 80’ tall
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: lobed, entire
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: deepest sinus in middle of leaf
Bark: rougher than white oak, rough/corky on branches but not peeling like swamp white oak
Fruit: largest acorn, loose scales, hairy, “mossy cup oak”
Other:
Range: Central hardwoods to Upper Midwest, ranges into prairie states nad central Texas
Osage-orange - Maclura pomifera
Family: Moraceae
Growth habits: medium sized, short trunk, stiff spiny branches
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, entire
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: slightly glossy, ovate/tear-drop shape, bleeds latex when broken off
Bark: orange-brown, scaly ridges w/ irregular furrows
Fruit: large round drupe cluster, citrus smell, looks like brains on outer surface, lots of latex inside
Other:
Range: widely planted in eastern US, widespread in KY but more common in western/central KY
royal paulownia - Paulownia tomentosa
Family: Paulowniaceae
Growth habits: medium sized, thick twigs
Leaf arrangement: opposite, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, entire/wavy
Leaf venation: palmate
Leaves other: very large, heart shaped, soft velvety texture
Bark: smooth with banding
Fruit: tear-shaped capsule, splits to release hundreds of seeds
Other:
Range: intro’d from East Asia, widespread mid-atlantic and southern states and KY
American elm - Ulmus americana
Family: Ulmaceae
Growth habits: large canopy sized, 70-80’, good growth form
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, doubly serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: very oblique base
Bark: rough, doesn’t stay smooth long into tree’s life
Fruit: samara, flat prickled dime-sized, 1 seed
Other:
Range: widespread eastern north america and KY
black cherry - Prunus serotina
Family: Rosaceae
Growth habits: small-med but up to 90’ on good sites
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, finely serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: narrow, shiny/glossy smooth, 1-3 basal glands
Bark: young bark is smooth w/ horizontal lenticels, very dark nearly black with small irregular plates when mautre
Fruit: dark purple round drupe in narrow clusters
Other: sharp bitter smell from broken twig (cyanide)
Range: widespread eastern NA and KY, especially common central KY
basswood - Tilia americana
Family: Malvaceae
Growth habits: canopy, 80-90’, straight trunk, abundant root crown sprouting
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: serrate, unlobed
Leaf venation: palmate
Leaves other: sometimes lopsided lobes at base, heart-shaped
Bark: young - smooth, gray mature - vertical fissures, often lines of woodpecker holes
Fruit: drupes wedded to tongue-depressor shaped bract
Other:
Range: widespread eastern N.A., widespread KY
pignut hickory - Carya glabra
Family: Juglandaceae
Growth habits: medium sized, straight growth, shallow crown
Leaf arrangement: alternate, pinnately compund
Leaf margins: unlobed, finely serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: typically 5 leaflets, smooth texture, smallest leaflets among hickories
Bark: tight bark, furrowed when mature, ridges split into “V” shape
Fruit: smallest among hickories, thin husk
Other: smallest twigs/buds among hickories
Range: widespread in eastern US and KY
persimmon - Diospyros virginiana
Family: Ebenaceae
Growth habits: small-med, 60’, round topped crown, crooked branches
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, entire
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: elliptical, yellow midrib stands out from dark green blade, sometimes fungal spotting on leaf
Bark: very dark alligator skin, resembles charcoal briquettes when mature
Fruit: plum like berry with leafy bracts on top
Other: 2 dark triangular scales on bud
Range: southeastern US
sweetgum - Liquidambar styraciflua
Family: Hamamelidaceae
Growth habits: straight growth, narrow crown
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: lobed, finely serrate
Leaf venation: palmate
Leaves other: 5 lobed star
Bark: rough and gray
Fruit: capsule that looks like a spiked mace head
Other: red, resinous buds
Range: southern US, widespread eastern/western KY, scarce in central KY
tree-of-heaven - Ailanthus altissima
Family: Simaroubaceae
Growth habits: medium, sometimes tall, straight growth, sparse branching
Leaf arrangement: alternate, pinnately compound
Leaf margins: unlobed, entire, a small notch or 2 on margin near base
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: odd # of leaflets, can be large number/large leaves
Bark: smooth, gray, streaky
Fruit:
Other:
Range: introduced from East Asia, widespread eastern US
water oak - Quercus nigra
Family: Fagaceae
Growth habits: medium sized, rounded crown, weeping lower branches
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: 0-5 lobes, entire
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: may or may not be bristle tipped, variabe shape from spatulate to lanceolate, smooth texture
Bark: dark, tight, smooth when young, scaly ridges when mature
Fruit: 1/2’ acorn, very dark, 1/3 covered by cap
Other:
Range: southern; western/souther counties of KY
Callery pear - Pyrus calleryana
Family: Rosaceae
Growth habits: small-medium, 30’
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, finely serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: long petioles, glossy and smooth
Bark: furrowed, indistinct
Fruit: small inedible pome
Other:
Range: widespread in eastern US
Amur honeysuckle - Lonicera maackii
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Growth habits: multi-stemmed clonal shrub
Leaf arrangement: opposite, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, entire
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: early leafout and late leaf drop
Bark: shreddy/papery with dark and light fissures
Fruit: clusters of red drupes
Other:
Range: widespread in our region
blue ash - Fraxinus quadrangulata
Family: Oleaceae
Growth habits: medium sized, can be massive and scrappy looking if open grown
Leaf arrangement: opposite, pinnately compound
Leaf margins: unlobed, finely serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: leaflets are lanceolate (widest near base) as opposed to elliptical for other ashes
Bark: irregular fissures, scaly ridges, tighter than other ashes
Fruit: twisted, flat samara
Other: Twigs are box-shaped, “4 angles”, can see lines lengthwise at corners along twigs
Range: central hardwoods
Kentucky coffeetree - Gymnocladus dioicus
Family: Fabaceae
Growth habits: medium sized, wide spreading crown, 80’ tall, 2’ DBH
Leaf arrangement: alternate, bipinnately compound
Leaf margins: unlobed, entire
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: ovate shape, leaflets are alternate
Bark: platy, gray, may be some orangish coloring between plates
Fruit: 3-8 inch long pod (legume) 1.5-2 inches wide
Other: large leaf scar, tree can look dead in winter
Range: Central hardwoods, western and central KY, especially bluegrass
cherrybark oak - Quercus pagoda
Family: Fagaceae
Growth habits: large, straight form, up to 100’ and 3’ dbh
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: entire, lobed
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: lobes resemble pagoda when viewed upside down, bright green above and duller below
Bark: smooth when young, dark/scaly/rough when mature, can resemble black cherry
Fruit: 1/2” acorn, cap covers about 1/3
Other:
Range: southern US
winged elm - Ulmus alata
Family: Ulmaceae
Growth habits: small-med w/ rounded crown
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, doubly serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: smaller than American, base not as oblique
Bark: red-brown to ash gray, flat topped ridges and irregular furrows
Fruit: flat samara, hairy on margin
Other: corky “wings” on twigs and branches
Range: southern US, common in western KY
white oak - Quercus alba
Family: Fagaceae
Growth habits: large canopy tree
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: lobed, entire
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: rounded lobes, deep sinuses, no bristle tips
Bark: light to med gray, flaky and furrowed, “opening door” look to plates
Fruit: acorn with a cap about 1/3 the length of the nut
Other:
Range: widespread in eastern US and KY
American plum - Prunus americana
Family: Rosaceae
Growth habits: shrubby small tree, spreading crown, spiny branches
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: finely serrate, unlobed
Leaf venation: pinnate w/ prominent texture
Leaves other: tiny basal glands
Bark: reddish gray smooth w/ lenticels when young, rough w/ exfoliating strips when mature
Fruit: fleshy drupe, nearly 1” across and round
Other:
Range: widespread eastern US, scattered throughout KY
eastern redbud - Cercis canadensis
Family: Fabaceae
Growth habits: large shrub or small tree up to 30’, wide spreading branches
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, entire
Leaf venation: palmate
Leaves other: smallish, heart-shaped (cordate)
Bark: ridged/furrowed to scaly/shreddy, may have orange in cracks
Fruit: flattened dry legumes, similar to pea-pod size
Other: flowers/fruits out of trunk and major branches in addition to twigs
Range: widespread eastern US except north, widspread in KY
eastern cottonwood - Populus deltoides
Family: Salicaceae
Growth habits: can be very large with big girth, 100’, straight, trunk dominant, upturned branching
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, coarsely serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: long petioles
Bark: rugged, deeply furrowed when mature
Fruit: capsule that releases lots of windblown seeds
Other:
Range: central/southern NA, western KY and along Ohio River
eastern redcedar - Juniperus virginiana
Family: Cupressaceae
Growth habits: small-med up to 60’, deep dense crown
Leaf arrangement: opposite, scale-like and needle-like
Leaves other:
Bark: red-brown color, exfoliates in strips exposing ash gray color
Cones: berry-like cones, green in spring to dark blue in fall
Other:
Range: widespread eastern US, widespread KY, more common in west and central KY
sweet birch - Betula lenta
Family: Betulaceae
Growth habits: medium sized 40-50’ tall, often multi-stemmed, rounded crown of twiggy dense spreading branches
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: doubly serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: leaves often in pairs
Bark: dark colored, smooth when young, thin horizontal “dashes”
Fruit: cone-like clusters of samara
Other: very strong wintergreen scent from cracked twig (this is diagnostic!)
Range: Appalachian, eastern KY, rocky/thin soils
boxelder - Acer negundo
Family: Sapindaceae
Growth habits: small-medium, poor form
Leaf arrangement: opposite, pinnately compound
Leaf margins: lobed, coarsely serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: 3-5 leaflets, could be confused with poison ivy
Bark: gray-brown
Fruit: double samara (helicopter), holds onto fruit into fall
Other: green twigs, white kinda fuzzy buds
Range: widespread eastern North America, wide range into northern great plains along rivers
mountain laurel - Kalmia latifolia
Family: Ericaceae
Growth habits: multi-stemmed shrub, could be 15’
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, entire
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: broadleaf evergreen, shorter than rhododendron leaves
Bark: shreddy/fibrous
Fruit: capsule
Other:showy white flowers, poisonus if eaten (can even taint honey if bees use its pollen)
Range: Appalachian and southern US, mostly eastern KY
white ash - Fraxinus americana
Family: Oleaceae
Growth habits: large up to 80’, straight growth, narrowly oblong crown
Leaf arrangement: opposite, pinnately compound
Leaf margins: unlobed, entire
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: underside of leaf has whitish stuff that is like surface of tongue
Bark: gray/brown, interlacing ridges that form diamonds, older trees may be scaly
Fruit: single wing samara, plump seed and wing does not envelope much of the seed
Other: curved “clown smile” leaf scar can differentiate from green ash
Range: widespread eastern NA, far north/high in Appalachians, widespread KY, more common in limestone regions central/western KY
yellow buckeye - Aesculus flava
Family: Sapindacaea
Growth habits: canopy, 80-90’, oval spreading crown
Leaf arrangement: opposite, palmately compound
Leaf margins: serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other:
Bark: young - smooth and gray mature - furrowed or scaly
Fruit: smooth, buff-colored capsule
Other:
Range: Appalachian, eastern KY into KY River watershed in central KY, ranges high into Appalachian mts (to 4k feet)
black willow - Salix nigra
Family: Salicaceae
Growth habits: shrubby in forest
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, finely serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other:
Bark: dark, furrowed, forking ridges, plates seperate from trunk
Fruit: capsule releases windblown seeds
Other: oppressed buds on thin twigs
Range: widespread eastern NA and KY
leaf smells of green pepper when broken open
pawpaw - Asimina triloba
Family: Annonaceae
Growth habits: understory tree/shrub, clonal copies/sprouts
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, entire
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: smells like green pepper if you break it open, large leaves that are wider toward tip
Bark: smooth, brown, sometimes wart-like lenticels
Fruit: large, yellowish-green berry, oblong
Other: quite tropical looking tree with its large leaves
Range: southern US
shortleaf pine - Pinus echinata
Family: Pinaceae
Growth habits: medium sized, shallow crown, straight growth
Leaf arrangement: bundles of 2 or 3 needles
Leaves other: straight (no twist)
Bark: flat pale plates, pitch pockets/blisters
Cones: small, slight, a little longer than they are wide, 2-3” maybe, delicate woody unarmed scales
Other:
Range: southern US, eastern KY
miniscule tufts of “hair” between teeth on leaf margin
shagbark hickory - Carya ovata
Family: Juglandaceae
Growth habits: canopy sized, straight trunk, narrow shallow crown in forest, 60-75’
Leaf arrangement: alternate, pinnately compound (usually 5 leaflets)
Leaf margins: unlobed, finely serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: odd number of leaflets, very miniscule tufts of hair between margin teeth (difficult to see)
Bark: vertical plates that separate from trunk, “shaggy”
Fruit: nut inside large green woody husk, round/pumpkin shaped, husk scraps on ground will be very thick and half moon shaped
Other:
Range: widespread eastern US, widespread KY
pin oak - Quercus palustris
Family: Fagaceae
Growth habits: medium sized, can get 80-90’ on best site, drooping lower branches, poor pruning
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: lobed, entire, bristle tips
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: usually 2 lobes/side, mostly perpindicular lobes, wide sinuses, smaller than other red oak leaves
Bark: similar to other reds but smoother
Fruit: small acorn that looks squashed or compressed
Other:
Range: central hardwoods
river birch - Betula nigra
Family: Betulaceae
Growth habits: small-medium, sometimes multi-stemmed, can be 60-80’
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, very doubly serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other:
Bark: papery, peels a lot
Fruit: samara
Other: rough fuzzy feel on twigs
Range: southern US, ranges north to Wisconsin along Mississippi River, up to NY in coastal plain, east/west KY absent centeral KY
American holly - Ilex opaca
Family: Aquifoliaceae
Growth habits: small-medium, 20-30’ tall in forest, deep crown
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: sharp spines all around margin
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: broad-leafed evergreen
Bark: light-gray and smooth
Fruit: on females, green to bright red drupe
Other:
Range: southeastern US, coastal plain to southern NE, eastern KY
black locust - Robinia pseudoacacia
Family: Fabaceae
Growth habits: crooked wandering trunk/branches, lots of root suckers
Leaf arrangement: alternate, pinnately compound
Leaf margins: unlobed, entire
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: 9-23 leaflets, terminal present, elliptical, broader than honey-locust, differentiate from honey-locust by never being bipinnately compound
Bark: deeply furrowed, stout ridges, woven look
Fruit: flattened legume
Other: armed with spines when young
Range: widespread eastern US, common in Appalachians and Ozarks
swamp white oak - Quercus bicolor
Family: Fagaceae
Growth habits: medium sized, similar form to other white oaks
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: lobed/larged teeth, 6-8 lobes per side
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: dark on top, light on underside
Bark: similar to white oaks, exfoliates on limbs
Fruit: acorn on very long stalk
Other:
Range: central hardwoods
sycamore - Platanus occidentalis
Family: Platanaceae
Growth habits: can be very large, tall and thick
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: lobed, coarsely toothed
Leaf venation: palmate
Leaves other: “batman” like leaf margins, obvious stipules
Bark: white mottled, flakes/sloughs off
Fruit: round balls/clusters of seeds, fluffy when pulled apart
Other: buds hidden, exposed when leaf is pulled off
Range: widespread in eastern North America and KY
bitternut hickory - Carya cordiformis
Family: Juglandaceae
Growth habits: can be very tall 100’, open rounded crown
Leaf arrangement: alternate, pinnately compound
Leaf margins: unlobed, serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: more leaflets than other hickories (7-11), leaflets gradually decrease in size from apex to base
Bark: tight, narrow ridges, lighter gray than other hickories
Fruit: small for a hickory, thin husk, raised wings at shell sutures
Other: naked yellow bud
Range: widespread eastern US, widespread KY
northern red oak - Quercus rubra
Family: Fagaceae
Growth habits: fast growing, 75’ tall, straight dominant trunk
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: 7-11 bristle-tipped lobes, acute angled sinus cut halfway to the midrib
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other:
Bark: dark grey with lighter colored vertical furrows resembling ski trails
Fruit: fat acorn with small cap (5 gallon hat on a 10 gallon head)
Other:
Range: widespread eastern N.A., widespread KY
willow oak - Quercus phellos
Family: Fagaceae
Growth habits: medium sized up to 80’, dense oblong crown, poor self-pruning
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: entire, unlobed
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: single bristle tip, short petiole
Bark: smooth/gray/tight when young, dark w/ irregular ridges/furrows when mature
Fruit: 1/4” acorns, nearly round, thin cap covering 1/4 of nut
Other:
Range: southern US, western/southern KY
bigleaf magnolia - Magnolia macrophylla
Family: Magnoliaceae
Growth habits: understory, 30-40’ tall, spreading, course/sparse branching
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: entire, wavy
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: very large (up to 30”), 2 lobes a leaf base (differentiates from umbrella magnolia), grayish/blueish white underside that stands out when dropped on ground
Bark: Thin, smooth and gray-brown, may develop small platy patches
Fruit: round to egg-shaped clusters of dry fruit, rose-colored and about 3 inches long
Other: large flower buds at branch tips
Range: southern US, eastern KY
underside leaf midrib feels rough due to fine little stiff “hairs”
sourwood - Oxydendrum arboreum
Family: Ericaseae
Growth habits: small-medium understory, 20-30’, often multi-stemmed, crooked wandering trunk with side branches that may go vertical
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, finely serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: fine little stiff hairs on underside midrib make it feel rough
Bark: dark, ridges/furrows, firm
Fruit: capsules lined op on “spray” of twigs at end of branch
Other: new twig growth can be colorful
Range: southern US, Cumberland Plateau in KY
fine fibers visible if you slowly pull apart a leaf blade
flowering dogwood - Cornus florida
Family: Cornaceae
Growth habits: understory, 20-30’, usually single trunk split close to ground
Leaf arrangement: opposite (difficult to tell), simple
Leaf margins: entire
Leaf venation: pinnate, secondary veins gradually curve back to tip (diagnostic!!)
Leaves other: fine fibers visible when slowly pulling apart leaf blades
Bark: young - light gray and smooth mature - gray-brown alligator/lizard skin
Fruit: groups of green to red drupes
Other: four bracts look like showy white flowers
Range: widespread eastern N.A.
leaves may be slightly fuzzy
shellbark hickory - Carya laciniosa
Family: Juglandaceae
Growth habits: tall, straight, thick twigs
Leaf arrangement: alternate, pinnately compound
Leaf margins: unlobed, finely serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: generally 7 leaflets, largest hickory leaves, slightly fuzzy, rachis is stout
Bark: similar to shagbark hickory
Fruit: largest hickory nut, oblong (shagbark is round), very thick shell, typically 4-ribbed
Other: sheds leaflets in fall but leaves rachis behind on tree, gives look of “claws)
Range: central hardwoods, western/central KY but not eastern KY
slippery elm - Ulmus rubra
Family: Ulmaceae
Growth habits: medium up to 80’, less drooping than american elm
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: doubly serrate, unlobed
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: 4-7”, much larger than American elm, drip tip, feels rough like sandpaper
Bark: dark reddish brown, fissures not as diamond shaped as American
Fruit: round, papery samara, quarter sized
Other:
Range: widespread eastern US and KY, absent deep south
Devil’s walkingstick - Aralia spinosa
Family: Araliaceae
Growth habits: clonal shrub to small tree
Leaf arrangement: alternate, bipinnately compound
Leaf margins: unlobed, finely serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: VERY large bipinnately compound leaf
Bark: very sharp spines on bark
Fruit: clusters of drupes
Other:
Range: southern US, common in east/west KY but absent in central KY
rosebay rhododendron - Rhododendron maximum
Family: Ericaceae
Growth habits: understory shrubs/small trees, 10-18’ tall, dense thickets often called “rhodohells”
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: smooth
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: broadleaf evegreen, 6-10” long, dark green, light green underside w/ rust colored hairs in early season
Bark: thin, light brown, smooth when young, thin scales when older
Fruit: clusters of dry capsules
Other: also known as great laurel
Range: Appalachian, eastern KY
freshly broken twig smells slightly skunky
Ohio buckeye - Aesculus glabra
Family: Sapindaceae
Growth habits: dense, broad-oblong crown becoming rounded with age
Leaf arrangement: opposite, palmately compound
Leaf margins: unlobed, finely serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: 5 leaflets, slightly smaller than yellow buckeye
Bark: dull brownish gray due to very fine hairs, scattered pale lenticels
Fruit: fleshy globular capsule, golden brown, leathery with short spines or bumps
Other: fresh broken twig smells slightly skunky
Range: Central hardwoods, common in central and western KY
red maple - Acer rubrum
Family: Sapindaceae
Growth habits: 40-55’ tall, straight growth, dense branching
Leaf arrangement: opposite, simple
Leaf margins: lobed, finely serrate, deep v-shaped sinus
Leaf venation: palmate
Leaves other: 3 major lobes with 2 small basal lobes, landscaping/bottomlands varieties may lack the basal lobes
Bark: smooth, light gray, irregular cracking when mature
Fruit: samara, double helicopter, usually red
Other: twig and bud growth is generally reddish
Range: widespread in eastern North America
red mulberry - Morus rubra
Family: Moraceae
Growth habits: understory, 20-35’ tall, spread branching, lacks root-crown sprouting
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: finely serrate
Leaf venation: palmate
Leaves other: variable shape (1, 2, or 3 lobed), sometimes like mitten with narrow point on thumb, rough upper surface, soft hairy undersurface, produces milky-white latex from leaf stem
Bark: grayish-brown, somewhat non-desrcipt, narrow irregular strips separated by very shallow furrows
Fruit: large berries similar to a blackberry
Other:
Range: widespread eastern US, widespread KY
post oak - Quercus stellata
Family: Fagaceae
Growth habits: small-med up to 65’, gnarled twisted branching
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: lobed, entire/wavy
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: cruciform shape w/ squared middle lobes, leathery texture, felty and pale underside
Bark: blocky and ridged similar to white oak
Fruit: small acorn w/ warty cap, individual scales more apparent than white oak
Other:
Range: southern, throughout KY but more common in western KY
butternut, white walnut - Juglans cinerea
Family: Juglandaceae
Growth habits: small-med up to 60’, forked/crooked trunk, wide spreading branches
Leaf arrangement: alternate, pinnately compound
Leaf margins: unlobed, finely serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: usually has terminal leaflet, 11-17 leaflets, stout rachis
Bark: light ash gray, flat-topped shiny ridges, diamond patterns
Fruit: oblong, yellow-green to light brown, 4-ribbed
Other:
Range: northern US, uncommon to rare throughout most of KY
winged sumac - Rhus copallina
Family: Anacardiaceae
Growth habits: small tree or clonal shrub w/ spreading branches
Leaf arrangement: alternate, pinnately compound
Leaf margins: entire, unlobed
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: prominent wings on rachis between leaflets, 7-15 leaflets, terminal present
Bark: light brown to gray, smooth young, thin scales mature
Fruit: terminal clusters of dark red round drupes
Other:
Range: southern US, widespread KY but scarce in central KY
chinkapin oak - Quercus muehlenbergii
Family: Fagaceae
Growth habits: medium sized w/ rounded crown
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: shallow lobes or very coarse teeth
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: tiny gland on tip of each lobe
Bark: thin, light gray, rough and flaky, similar to white oak
Fruit: small acorn, broadest below middle, thin cap with tattered fringe
Other:
Range: central hardwoods into south, mostly central/western KY
silver maple - Acer saccharinum
Family: Sapindaceae
Growth habits: medium sized, multi-stemmed
Leaf arrangement: opposite, simple
Leaf margins: lobed, coarsely serrate
Leaf venation: palmate
Leaves other: deep sinuses flank middle lobe, sides of middle lobe are concave, whitish on underside
Bark: light gray and smooth when young, broken separated plates when mature
Fruit: double samara (helicopter) with wider angled ‘V’ shape
Other:
Range: widespread eastern North America
black maple - Acer nigrum
Family: Sapindaceae
Growth habits: med-large, similar to sugar maple
Leaf arrangement: opposite, simple
Leaf margins: lobed, entire
Leaf venation: palmate
Leaves other: pointier lobes than sugar maple, thicker than sugar, raised veins on underside, leaves look wilted but are not, may have stipules
Bark: similar to sugar maple
Fruit: double samara similar to sugar maple
Other: mottled bark on twigs (sugar maple is typically plain)
Range: Central hardwoods, often in limestone regions
pecan - Carya illinoinensis
Family: Juglandaceae
Growth habits: large tree, can be over 100’, spreading crown
Leaf arrangement: alternate, pinnately compound
Leaf margins: finely serrate, unlobed
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: often curved, 9-15 leaflets, smooth size graduation from base to tip, terminal present
Bark: smooth young, narrowly fissured in thin broken strips when mature
Fruit: thin shell, large, oblong, splotched with black, 1.5-2” long, raised wings
Other: twigs moderately fuzzy
Range: southern
overcup oak - Quercus lyrata
Family: Fagaceae
Growth habits: medium sized, poor form
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: entire, lobed
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: variable, 5-9 lobes, white pubescent underside
Bark: resembles white oak
Fruit: 1/2-1” acorn, almost entirely covered by warty cap
Other:
Range: southern
white mulberry - Morus alba
Family: Moraceae
Growth habits: small up to 40’, low branching, spreading crown
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: lobed, finely serrate
Leaf venation: palmate
Leaves other: smaller, glossier, and with rounded lobes compared to morus rubra
Bark: orangish brown
Fruit: berries like red mulberry
Other:
Range: common in central KY, widespread
nut husk is very fragrant
black walnut - Juglans nigra
Family: Juglandaceae
Growth habits: spreading, zig-zaggy branches, not trunk dominant at maturity
Leaf arrangement: alternate, pinnately compound
Leaf margins: finely serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: even numbered leaflets, usually no terminal leaflet (very small if so), slightly curved
Bark: deep brown/chocolate, deep fissures/furrows, rough
Fruit: round hard shelled nut, thick green husk, fragrant
Other:
Range: widespread eastern US, widespread KY, especially common central KY
may have brown “fuzz” on leaf underside in spring
black oak - Quercus velutina
Family: Fagaceae
Growth habits: canopy sized, 80-90’
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: lobed, entire, deep sinuses, typically 2-3 lobes/side, sinus angle less acute than northern red
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: extremely variable, in spring have brown “fuzz” underneath, shinier and larger than northern red oak leaf
Bark: dark blocky bark that continues up into canopy
Fruit: very small acorn with rough scales on cap
Other: long pointed somewhat hairy buds
Range: widespread eastern US, scarce or absent in north, widespread in KY
common hackberry - Celtis occidentalis
Family: Cannabaceae
Growth habits: small-med, 60’, wide spreading crown
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, finely serrate
Leaf venation: palmate (looks pinnate farther from base)
Leaves other: slightly oblique base, very long leaf point
Bark: strands of corky warts, very rugged
Fruit: round drupes, orange-red to dark purple
Other: thin zig-zaggy twigs
Range: central hardwoods, widespread Ky but more common central/western
hawthorn - Crataegus spp.
Family: Rosaceae
Growth habits: dense shrub or small tree up to 15-25’
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: lobed (usually), serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: highly variable shapes on different plants
Bark: smooth gray/brown young, darker and scaly mature
Fruit: small red pomes, 1/4’ diameter
Other: long sharp spines
Range: widespread eastern NA and KY
Shumard oak - Quercus shumardii
Family: Fagaceae
Growth habits: pyramidal when young, open rounded crown when mature, 70-80’
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: lobed, entire
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: sinuses deep and somewhat narrow, ends of lobes flare a bit, creating “thumb” shaped outline in sinues
Bark: similar to northern red oak
Fruit: 3/4-1-1/4 in long, shallow bowl-shaped scaly cap covering less than 1/3 of nut
Other:
Range: Central hardwoods and southern
longer/shinier leaves are bottomlands/landscaping variety, more obvate pointed leaves are forest/uplands variety
blackgum - Nyssa sylvatica
Family: Nyssaceae
Growth habits: small-medium sized, straight trunk w/ perpendicular branching
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, entire
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: often attached to short shoots, 2 leaf versions: bottomlands/landscaping will be longer and shinier, woods/upland type will be more obvate with a point
Bark: gray-brown, broken up, can be furrowed or alligator skin or both
Fruit: paired or tripled drupes, similar to blueberries in appearance
Other:
Range: widespread eastern US, rare in northern states, common in east and west KY but rare in central KY
pitch pine - Pinus rigida
Family: Pinaceae
Growth habits: small-medium, poor growth form
Leaf arrangement: bundles of 3 needles
Leaves other: pretty long needles, slightly twisted and thick
Bark: dark, deep fissures, no pitch blisters
Cones: fat, fist-shaped or squat cone shaped, armed with prickles
Other:
Range: northeastern US into southern Appalachians, eastern KY
leaves may be thin or leathery
American beech - Fagus grandifolia
Family: Fagaceae
Growth habits: big, straight, abundant stump sprouting, rounded crown, dense horizontal branching, 60-80’ tall sometimes taller
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, coarsely serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: can be either thin or leathery
Bark: light gray and smooth throughout life
Fruit: irregular triangular, brown, prickly husk
Other:
Range: widespread eastern N.A., widespread in KY
downy serviceberry - Amelanchier arborea
Family: Rosaceae
Growth habits: minor tree, 15-25’, multi-stemmed
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, finely serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: thin, elliptical w/ point, secondary veins “break up” near margin, sometimes small notch at leaf base
Bark: light gray, smooth until maturity, vertical dark streaks on close inspection
Fruit: pomes that look similar to blueberries
Other:
Range: Applachian, ranging into the north, widespread in KY but most common in eastern KY
scarlet oak - Quercus coccinea
Family: Fagaceae
Growth habits: medium sized, often poor form
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: lobed, entire
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: deep, open rounded sinuses, lets light through in canopy
Bark: dark and blocky down low, similar to northern red oak up higher
Fruit: slightly bigger acorn than black oak, often has concentric circles around point on bottom
Other: showy red fall color
Range: widespread eastern US, rare/absent in northern states, east and west KY but nearly absent in central KY
glossy-smooth texture/feel on top of leaves
American hornbeam - Carpinus caroliniana
Family: Betulaceae
Growth habits: understory, 15-20’ tall, often multi-stemmed
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: doubly serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: glossy smooth feel/texture on top
Bark: thin, bluish-gray, fairly smooth
Fruit: very small nut at base of 3-lobed leafy bract
Other: also known as musclewood for the muscle-like look of mature trunk and larger branches, lack of wintergreen smell and lack of paired leaves can help differentiate from sweet birch
Range: widespread in eastern N.A. and KY
tulip-poplar - Liriodendron tulipifera
Family: Magnoliaceae
Growth habits: very straight, dominant trunk, can be giant, high canopy
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: 4 lobes, very unique to this tree
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other:
Bark: mature: dark gray, deeply furrowed, long rough interconnecting ridges separated by lighter gray fissures
Fruit: aggregate group of samaras
Other: showy flowers in spring
Range: widespread eastern US except north, widespread in KY
southern red oak - Quercus falcata
Family: Fagaceae
Growth habits: medium sized, open rounded form
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: lobed, entire, small # of lobes
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: long terminal lobe, “jet wings”, u shaped base (sometimes oblique), shade leaves can look like duck feet
Bark: blocky, dark
Fruit: ver small acorns
Other:
Range: southern US
Virginia pine - pinus virginiana
Family: Pinaceae
Growth habits: small-medium, poor growth form
Leaf arrangement: bundles of 2 needles
Leaves other: pretty short needles
Bark: blocky down low, scaly up high, sometimes a reddinsh/orange hue up high
Cones: similar to shortleaf but armed with prickles, small
Other:
Range: southern US, eastern KY and along TN border
smooth sumac - Rhus glabra
Family: Anacardiaceae
Growth habits: small tree or clonal shrub, spreading crown
Leaf arrangement: alternate, pinnately compound
Leaf margins: serrate, unlobed
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: 11-31 leaflets, terminal present, dark green above and paler below
Bark: smooth w/ lenticels, scaly ridges develop with age
Fruit: small 1/8” red drupes in terminal clusters
Other:
Range: widespread US, widespread KY
sugar maple - Acer saccharum
Family: Sapindaceae
Growth habits: canopy tree 80-90’ tall, dense/fine branching
Leaf arrangement: opposite, simple
Leaf margins: mostly 5-lobed (3 larger, 2 smaller near base), sharp points separated by shallow u-shaped notches
Leaf venation: palmate
Leaves other:
Bark: young - smooth, light gray mature - darker color w/ wide vertical strips separated by irregular cracks/grooves
Fruit: double samara (helicopter)
Other:
Range: northern US, widespread in KY on good sites
soft flaky bark, can dent with thumbnail or rub away with palm of hand
cucumber magnolia - Magnolia acuminata
Family: Magnoliaceae
Growth habits: straight trunk, course/thick branching, can be 50+ ft tall
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: entire, slightly wavy
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: elliptical with pointed tip
Bark: Light gray-brown and flaky, quite soft (can dent with thumbnail), much darker reddish brown when flaked away.
Fruit: cucumber shaped cluster of dry fruit with waxy red aril
Other: also called cucumbertree
Range: Appalachia, eastern KY
sassafras - Sassafras albidum
Family: Lauraceae
Growth habits: small-med up to 60’, irregular sometimes twisted trunk/branches, usually flat-topped crown
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: lobed, entire
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: 3 distinct leaf shapes (unlobed, 2 or 3 lobed), fragrant when crushed
Bark: brown, cinnamon colored inner bark, coarsely ridged/furrowed, spicy aroma when cut
Fruit: dark berry/drupe held upright in red cup
Other:
Range: widespread eastern US and KY
swamp chestnut oak - Quercus michauxii
Family: Fagaceae
Growth habits: med-large 80’, good form with narrow crown
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: lots of large blunt teeth or very small lobes
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: larger than chestnut oak, no glands like chinkapin oak
Bark: ragged version of white oak bark
Fruit: large 1-1.5” acorn, cap covers 1/3 of nut
Other:
Range: southern, far west KY
sugarberry - Celtis laevigata
Family: Cannabaceae
Growth habits: medium up to 80’, can be big dbh, broad crown, drooping branches
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: varies from serrate to entire
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: smaller than hackberry, oblique base, long pointed
Bark: warty like hackberry, smoother when young
Fruit: small round drupe, usually orangish-brown in fall
Other:
Range: southern US, western KY
northern catalpa - Catalpa speciosa
Family: Bignoniaceae
Growth habits: medium up to 80’, spreading crooked branches, irregular crown, trunk often crooked
Leaf arrangement: whorled or opposite, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, entire
Leaf venation: palmate/pinnate
Leaves other: 3 per node when whorled, large heart-shaped
Bark: gray to brown, irregular shallow fissures and scaly ridges
Fruit: very long round bean-like stiff hanging capsules
Other:
Range: widely planted in eastern US
eastern hemlock - Tsuga canadensis
Family: Pinaceae
Growth habits: pyramid shaped, very branchy, deep crown, 80-90’ tall, large girth, drooping branches
Leaf arrangement: alternate, individual small flat green pointed needles
Leaves other: 2 parallel white stripes on underside (caused by rows of stomata)
Bark: when young, gray-brown and smooth. when mature, cinnamon brown w/ thick ridges forming flat plates
Cones: very small, egg-shaped, papery scales, unarmed, rounded at tips
Other:
Range: northern US and Appalachian, eastern KY
eastern hophornbeam - Ostrya virginiana
Family: Betulaceae
Growth habits: small understory up to 30’, round crown with fine branches
Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple
Leaf margins: unlobed, doubly serrate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: dull upper leaf and softer texture compared to musclewood, many secondary veins fork near the margins
Bark: medium brown with shreddy appearance
Fruit: nut under bract cluster that looks like hops
Other:
Range: widespread eastern NA and KY
green ash - Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Family: Oleaceae
Growth habits: large, good form, very regular branching
Leaf arrangement: opposite, pinnately compound, 5-7, possibly 9 leaflets
Leaf margins: finely serrate, unlobed
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaves other: elliptical shape (widest at middle)
Bark: rough and furrowed
Fruit: samara, wing slightly envelopes seed
Other: shield shaped bud on top of leaf scar
Range: wide spread eastern north America ranging into northern great plains in Canada
