Wisconsin Tree Identification Flashcards
Conifer
Leaf: Scale-like; length 1/4 - 1/2”, arranged to make the small branches flat
Bark: Thin, gray to reddish brown, separating in long, vertical, narrow shreddy strips
Fruit: Small, oblong cone; yellow-ish brown; 1/3 - 1/2” in size; 6 to 12 scales; borne singly or in large clusters on ends of branches
Range: Throughout the state, except SW; usually grows in moist places in stands; farther north appears on well-drained slopes, usually in mixtures with hardwoods
Northern White Cedar
Conifer
Leaf, One: minute and scale-like, dark green, clasping the stem in 4 ranks so that the step appears square
Leaf, Two: awl-shaped, quite sharp-pointed, spreading and whitened on underside
Bark: Thin, reddish brown, peeling off in long, vertical shred-like strips
Fruit: dark blue berry-like cone; diameter 1/4”
Range: dry, gravelly soil, and rocky ledges in southern half of state
Red Cedar or Juniper
Conifer
Leaf: needle-like, stalkless and flat; length 1/2 - 1” with rounded point, dark green and lustrous above and silvery white bands beneath;
Bark: Thin, smooth, grayish, prominently marked by blisters filled with resin or balsam pitch
Fruit: cones upright on branches, purple, oblong; length 2-4”;
Range: found in forests in northern half of WI, usually in association w/ white spruce; thrives in cool, moist, or shaded places
Balsam Fir
Conifer
Leaf: needles 1/3-2/3”; flat; rounded to notched at tip; yellow-ish green with 2 whitish bands underneath;
Bark: 1/2-3/4” thick; varying from cinnamon-red to gray in color; with deep furrows separating the broad, flattened scales
Fruit: cones 1/2-3/4” in length; scales thin and almost as broad as long
Range: northeastern quarter of WI; isolated stands occur on cool north slopes; grows better in moister soils, often in mixtures with hardwood
Hemlock
Conifer
Leaf: needle about 1”; light to dark yellow-green; sharply pointed; two in a bundle and slightly twisted
Bark: dark brown, irregularly divided by furrows into small scales
Fruit: cones, 1.5”; brown when ripe, turning gray later;
Range: sandy soils of northern half of WI
Jack Pine
Conifer
Leaf: 4-6” long; dark green to yellow-green; brittle; clusters of 2
Bark: divides into large, reddish-brown plates as it matures
Fruit; cone 2”, thin, purplish when ripe; slightly concave cone scales are free from prickles and resin
Range: pure stands in northern WI and isolated stands south;
Red or Norway Pine
Conifer
Leaf: needle 3-5”; bluish-green; occurs in bundles of 5
Bark (Young): Thin, smooth, resinous, and greenish-gray on young trees
Bark (Old): thick and deeply fissured and graying-brown on old trees
Fruit: cone 4-6”; cylindrical; thin and very resinous scales; somewhat curved
Range: through WI; grows on sandy soils and rock ridges, but prefers fertile, well-drained soils
White Pine
Conifer
Leaf: needles 1/2”, bluish-green, pointed, four-sided;
Bark: thin and broken on surface into thin gray-brown scales
Fruit: cones 1”, oval shaped, light brown in color when ripe
Range: found in poorly drained swamps and occasionally well-drained slopes in northern WI; often associated with tamarack, balsam fir, and white spruce
Black Spruce
Conifer
Leaf: needle 1/2-3/4”, dark bluish-green when mature; sharply pointed; 4-sided and crowded along upper-half of branchlets
Bark: thin, separating into light, gray-brown scaly plates
Fruit: cone 2”, slender, light brown when ripe
Range: northern WI on moist, well-drained soils and in swamps with balsam and tamarack; also found associated with mixed hardwoods
White Spruce
Conifer
Leaf: needles 1”; flat, soft, and slender; bright green in spring, soft and flexible, turning dull yellow in fall; only conifer in WI that sheds all its leaves each fall
Bark: rough and separates into thin, reddish-brown scales
Fruit: cones 3/4” long, 1/2” wide; young red or greenish, mature light brown
Range: Chiefly in swamps in northern WI in coniferous forests; often in association with black spruce, balsam fir, and northern white cedar
Tamarack or Larch
Deciduous
Leaf: oblong in shape, tapering to a point; sharply toothed along edges; compound, with 7-11 leaflets; terminal bud is large and pointed
Bark: grayish on older portions of tree, furrowed and somewhat separated into thin scales that are easily rubbed off
Fruit: samara; similar to all ash, except thin wing surrounds the flattened seed; wing is broader than white or green ash, and apex is distinctly notched
Range: fairly well distributed over WI; most abundant in cold, moist locations and along stream banks; usually associated with black spruce, balsam fir, white cedar, and tamarack
Ash, Black
Deciduous
Leaf: 10-12”, opposite, compound w/ 7-9 stalked leaflets;
Leaflets: 3-5” with apex pointed and slightly toothed; leaf differs from white ash in having leaf scars that are semi-circular to crescent shaped, extending to base of new bud
Bark: dark brown or gray, tinged with red; 1/2” thick; furrowed w/ flat, scaly ridges
Fruit: samara, borne in clusters; 1.5-2.25” long, 1/4-1/3” wide; wing extends down past middle of flattened seed-bearing part; slightly notched at apex
Range: Common throughout state, usually along stream banks/floodplains/wet uplands; may grow in pure stands or w/ elder and red maple
Ash, Green
Leaf: 8-10”, compound, opposite, 5-9 leaflets
Leaflets: 3-5” long, sharply pointed, smooth to rounded tooth along margin; dark green and smooth above, pale green or whitish beneath
Bark: grayish-brown, narrow ridges separated with marked regularities by deep, diamond-shaped fissures; rather thick on mature trees
Fruit: samara, 1-1.25” long, clusters; seed-bearing portion is rounded in cross-section and wing does not extend along its side
Range: over WI, most frequently in fertile, well-drained sites
Ash, White
Deciduous
Leaf: 6-8”, alternate, compound w/ 13-17 leaflets;
Leaflet: 3-4”, 1” wide at middle; long points with toothed edges; bright green above, turning bright yellow in fall
Bark: smooth, light gray, gradually breaking into small scales; 1/8” thick
Fruit: pome; bright orange; occurs in dense clusters; 1/4” diameter
Range: scattered in woods of northern WI; best development along edges of lakes and swamps; does best in moist locations, but survives fairly well in drier areas & thinner soils
Mountain Ash
Deciduous
Leaf: 3-4” long, simple, alternate; coarse-toothed; dark green upper surface
Bark: smooth, gray or yellow-ish green; furrowed and dark at base of old trees
Fruit: catkins; 4-6” long; capsule is 1/4” long
Range: Over entire state, but prefers sandy or rich soils that are moist
Bigtooth Aspen, Poplar, or Popple
Deciduous
Leaf: 1-2”; small, broadly oval, short-pointed at end and finely toothed along margin; green and shiny above, dull green below; leaf stalks are flattened at right angles to leaves, causing leaves to quake or tremble in a slight breeze
Bark: white to gray-green; thin; almost smooth with black areas around base of limbs
Fruit: catkins; 4-6” long; capsule 1/4” long
Range: All parts of WI; grows well in sandy, gravelly soils, but thrives on good soil
Quaking Aspen
Deciduous
Leaf: ovate, long pointed, edges finely toothed; dark green and shiny above, pale and often stained by resin blotches beneath; alternate
Bark: thin, smooth, greenish-brown (young); furrowed and gray-black (old)
Fruit: catkin, 4-6” long; capsule 1/4”
Range: northern WI, along streams and edges of swamps and other cool localities
Balm of Gilead or Balsam Poplar
Deciduous
Leaf: 4-6” length and width; heart-shaped, margin coarsely toothed, sharp-pointed at tip; at maturity, shiny green above and paler underneath
Bark: gray with shallow furrows and vertical, scaly ridges
Fruit: nut; round, hard, 1/4” diameter; covered with short, thick, brownish-red wool, attached in clusters to a leafy bract; flowers are fragrant
Range: common throughout WI on rich, well-drained loamy soils, in mixture with other hardwoods
Basswood or Linden
Deciduous
Leaf: 3-4”, oval, pointed at the apex and coarsely toothed; becomes leathery when mature; simple
Bark: maintains a smooth, steelgray surface through its life
Fruit: stalked, prickly, 4-valved bur, containing usually 2 triangular, shiny brown nuts with a sweet, edible kernel
Range: eastern WI on fertile-well drained soils derived from limestone
Beech
Deciduous
Leaf: 2-3”, oval, long pointed, double-toothed along margin; veins prominent in herringbone pattern; pale, blue-green and smooth above, light yellow-green below
Bark: thin, smooth; light, gray-brown to slate-gray, sometimes marked broad, dark-brown horizontal banks
Fruit: nutlet, 1/3”, attached to a 3-lobed leaf-like bract; bracts are clustered together on a hanging stalk
Range: found over entire state, usually on rich moist soils and well-drained soils in the shade of other trees
Bluebeech, American Hornbeam, or Musclewood