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
Deciduous
Leaf: 2-3” long, 1-2” wide; oval or heart-shaped, pointed, rounded at base, irregularly toothed; dark green on upper side and yellow-ish green on lower side; alternate
Bark: thin, smooth, reddish-brown on young trees turning creamy white with age; marked by lenticels; readily peeling in large pieces exposing orange inner bark
Fruit: catkin, 1” long; may tiny, winged seeds, 1/6” long
Range: generally abundant, occurs chiefly on the better sand and gravel soils in mixture with pine and aspen
Paper, White, or Canoe Birch
Deciduous
Leaf: 2-4”; doubly toothed; simple; alternate; usually shallowly and irregularly lobed
Bark: dark brown at base of old trunks and deeply furrowed; higher up, becomes lustrous red-brown; peels freely in papery layers
Fruit: catkin, 1-1.5”; contains numerous little winged seeds
Range: along rich bottomlands of streams and rivers in SW corner of WI
River or Red Birch
Deciduous
Leaf: 3-5”; oval to oblong, double-toothed margin; dull dark green upper and paler beneath; alternate
Bark: yellow-gray or straw colored; peeling freely into thin, papery layers on young trees, but developing ragged, broken plates on mature trees
Fruit: catkin, 1”; contains numerous minute winged seeds
Range: northern half of WI on rich, moist uplands
Yellow Birch
Deciduous
Leaf: 5-8”; opposite; compound, usually 3 leaflets (rarely 5)
Leaflet: 2-4” long, 1-2” wide; lustrous green in color
Bark: smooth and green to purple on young branches, grayish to light brown and deeply divided on old trees
Fruit: samara, 2-winged, hanging in clusters
Range: common throughout WI, grows naturally along streams and in cool ravines
Box Elder
Deciduous
Leaf: compound; 15-30”; 11-17 leaflets
Leaflet: 2-3”; oblong, finely-toothed, sharply pointed; yellow-ish green above and hairy underneath
Bark: light gray to light brown; divided into broad, scaly intersecting ridges, forming a rough diamond-shaped pattern
Fruit: nut; 2”; light brown enclosed in oblong, somewhat pointed, sticky, yellowish-green husk covered with short, rusty, sticky hairs; rough, grooved shell and oily, sweet edible kernel
Range: souther part of WI
Butternut or White Walnut
Deciduous
Leaf: simple; oval; shiny above, paler below; edges broken by many fine incurved teeth
Bark (young): smooth, bright, reddish-brown marked by conspicuous narrow, white horizontal lines
Bark (old): thick, dark brown to nearly black, rough and broken into thick irregular scales
Fruit: drupe; borne in long, hanging clusters, containing a single seed
Range: entire state, but most common in southern half
Cherry, Black
Deciduous
Leaf: simple; 3-4” long, 1-2” wide; alternate; broadly oval, abruptly and sharply pointed, fined tooth; bright green above, paler underneath;
Bark (young): thin, smooth, shiny, brownish and peels off easily in thin, film-like layers
Bark (old): thicker, dark grayish, shallow fissures
Fruit: drupe; in dense clusters; reddish, turning nearly black when fully ripe; each berry contains a single seed
Range: through state along streams, open woods, cut-over and brushy areas
Cherry, Choke
Deciduous
Leaf: simple; 3-4” long, 1” wide; oblong, apex pointed, finely incurved teeth along edge; shiny green when fully grown
Bark: thin, reddish-brown, breaking into papery layers; marked by large, irregular horizontal band of orange lenticels
Fruit: drupe, 1/4” diameter; thick, reddish skin; fruit borne on long-stalked clusters
Range: entire state, most common in northern half on areas of previous forest fires, cutovers, old fields and roadsides
Cherry, Pin
Deciduous
Leaf: simple; 3-5” long and wide; broadly ovate or triangular, tapered tip, square at base; toothed/wavy edges;
Bark (young): thin, smooth, light gray
Bark (old): deeply furrowed into broad, rounded ridges; dark gray
Fruit: catkin, 6-8”; capsule contains seed enclosed in clusters of white cottony hairs
Range: throughout WI, rarer in north; forms extensive groves along waterways; will grow in dry locations
Cottonwood, Eastern
Deciduous
Leaf: simple; 4-6”; somewhat one-sided, doubly toothed on margin; rough above, smooth below; rather thick; veins very pronounced and run in parallel lines from mid-rib to edge of leaf
Bark: thick; divided into irregular, broad, flat ridges; ash-gray to grayish brown
Fruit: samara; winged, light green, oval, and wafer-like; seed portion in center surrounded entirely by wings; outer end of wings deeply notched
Range: Fairly common throughout state; found on rich bottomlands and low, moist hills in mixture with other hardwoods
Elm, American
Deciduous
Leaf: simple; alternate; double-toothed margin; resembles American Elm but more regular in shape; smaller, smoother on both sides, more leathery
Bark: 1” thick, ash-gray; divided by deep, irregular fissures into broad, flat ridges; corky ridges/wings develop on the bark of the twigs
Fruit: samara, 1/2”, ovate, flattened; slightly notched at outer end
Range: grows best in well-drained soils, and southward/westward throughout the state on a variety of soils
Elm, Rock
Deciduous
Leaf: simple; 4-6”; ovate, sharp-pointed, base not symmetrical, double toothed on margin; thick; dark green and rough on both sides; turns to yellowish before falling
Bark: 1” thick; dark greenish-brown; broken by shallow fissures into flat ridges
Fruit: samara; seed surrounded by thin, broad, greenish wing; 1/2” seed diameter
Range: Throughout state, but rare in northern portion; usually found on banks of streams and fertile hillsides
Elm, Slippery or Red
Deciduous
Leaf: simple; alternate; 2-4” long; ovate and sharply toothed towards end of leaf; oblique at base; prominent veins; hairy on upper side
Bark: grayish-brown, much roughened with prominent, short, corky ridges
Fruit: drupe, berry-like; 1/4-1/3” diameter; thin, purplish skin; sweet yellowish flesh; frequently hangs on trees most of winter
Range: most abundant on rich alluvial soil but will grow on various types of soils; found sparingly in S and W part of WI
Hackberry
Deciduous
Leaf: compound; alternate; 6-10”; 7-9 leaflets
Leaflet: 4-6” long, toothed margins, smaller and more slender than other hickories
Bark: granite-gray, faintly tinged with yellow; broken into thin, plate-like scales; not as rough as most hickories
Fruit: nut, 1”, broader than long; thin-shelled, smooth, brittle
Range: well-drained and fertile soils in the S part of WI
Hickory, Bitternut
Deciduous
Leaf: compound; alternate; 8-15” long, 5 (rarely 7) leaflets
Leaflet: ovate, margin covered with fine teeth and numerous hairs; end leaflet much larger than other leaflets
Bark: rougher than other hickories; shaggy, light gray and separates into thick, vertical strips only slightly attached to tree
Fruit: nut; borne singly or in pairs; husk is thick, deeply grooved, and splits entirely into four parts
Range: S WI on moist, rich soils and well-drained hillsides
Hickory, Shagbark
Deciduous
Leaf: single; alternate; 2-4”; oblong with narrow tips, doubly toothed along margins; dark dull, yellow-green above and light yellow-green below
Bark; 1/4” thick; light gray-brown; finely divided into narrow, thin scales that are easily rubbed off
Fruit: nutlet, 1/3” long and 1/8” wide; borne singly in clusters of leafy bracts
Range: throughout WI, usually on better, well-drained soils or gravel ridges in mixtures with other hardwoods
Ironwood or Hop Hornbeam
Deciduous
Leaf: simple; 3-4”; alternate; ovate, apex sharply pointed, fine toothed; purplish-brown until nearly mature; ling green covered with scattered silky hairs when mature
Bark: thin, usually gray; smooth on branches and upper part of stem; shallow fissures on short trunk
Fruit: pome; 1/3-1/2”, dark purple when ripe; sweet, edible, and round
Range: throughout state; best development is along banks of streams, shores of lakes, or upland woods
Juneberry or Serviceberry
Deciduous
Leaf: Compound, alternate, 7-19 leaflets
Leaflet: oblong, thin
Bark: brown with yellow or orange inner bark; heavily furrowed, forming an interlacing pattern of fibrous ridges; rope-like
Fruit: legume; 3-5” long containing 4-8 small, hard seeds
Range: not native to WI but planted extensively; grows in a wide variety of soils
Locust, Black
Deciduous
Leaf (type 1): compound; alternate; 18-28 leaflets
Leaf (type 2): doubly compound, 6-8” long, 4-7 leaflets
Leaflet (type 2): consists of 16-24 secondary leaflets
Bark: dark gray/brown on old trees; dividing into strips; strong, sharp, shiny branched thorns
Fruit: legume, 10-18” long, 1/2-1.5” wide; flat, dark brown/black when ripe
Range: native only to SW WI, but planted elsewhere; develops best on rich, moist river bottoms, but will do well on fertile, well-drained soil
Locust, Honey
Deciduous
Leaf: simple; opposite; 2-5” long, 3-5 lobes, double-toothed margins; upper light green when mature, lower whitish and partly covered with pale down
Bark (young): smooth, light gray
Bark (old): rough, dark gray; divided by shallow fissures into flat, scaly ridges on surfaces, making tree look shaggy
Fruit: samara, 2 winged; 1/2-1” long; drooping stems; red/reddish-brown/yellow
Range: throughout WI, prefers moist soils, although common on drier sites in mixtures with other trees
Maple, Red
Deciduous
Leaf: simple; opposite; 3-5 lobes ending in long points; deep, angular openings; margins toothed; pale green on top and silvery underneath
Bark (young): smooth and varies from reddish to yellow-gray
Bark (old): dark gray and broken into long flakes/scales
Fruit: pair of winged samaras; wings 1-2” long; thread-like stems 1” long
Range: common on river bottoms or other deep, moist soils in southern 2/3 of state
Maple, Silver
Deciduous
Leaf: simple; opposite; 3-5” long; usually 3-lobed, lobes wavy toothed; dark green upper, paler green below; turn brilliant yellow/orange/red in autumn
Bark (young): light gray-brown and somewhat smoth
Bark (old): gray-almost black with long, irregular plates/scales which loosed on the sides
Fruit: samara; pair fused together; 1” long
Range: throughout WI on better soils
Maple, Sugar
Deciduous
Leaf: simple; alternate; 5-8” long, 3-5” wide; lobed, ends are bristle-tipped; when mature, thick, dark green and shiny on upper, pale on lower; conspicuous rusty brown hairs in forks of veins
Bark (young): smooth and dark browth
Bark (old): thick and black with deep furrows and rough, broken ridges; inner bark bright yellow
Fruit: acorn, 1/2-1”, light brown, somewhat round, kernel extremely bitter
Range: dry uplands, gravel slopes, ridges in S half of WI
Oak, Black
Deciduous
Leaf: single; 6-10” long, 3-6” wide; resembles white oak but has pair of deep indentations near base and wavy notches or broad middle and upper portions; dark green above, paler and hairy below
Bark: thick, deeply furrowed on surface into irregular, plate-like broken scales; dark gray-black in color
Fruit: acorn; set deeply in fringed, burr-like cap; ovoid in shape, may reach diameter of 1”; seed is bitter
Range: entire state; towards the north, trees are smaller
Oak, Bur
Deciduous
Leaf: simple; 4-7” long; margin with sharp, incurving or broad round teeth; upper surface is yellow-green, underside pale and covered with fine short hairs
Bark: rarely 1/2” thick; broken into loose, pale, gray scales
Fruit: acorn; grows singly or in pairs w/ short, heavy stalks; nut covered for half its length by the thin cup; seed is sweet
Range: distributed sparsely over S WI
Oak, Chinkapin
Oak, Northern Pin, Hills, or Jack
Deciduous
Leaf: single; 5-7 lobes; similar to scarlet oak, but less shiny above; in autumn, they turn yellow/pale brown with purple blotches
Bark: resembles scarlet oak, but inner bark is pale yellow
Fruit: acorn; enclosed in cap for 1/3-1/2 of length
Range: throughout WI; usually on sandy soils of low fertility
Deciduous
Leaf: simple; alternate; 5-9” long, 4-6” wide; 7-9 lobes, somewhat coarsely toothed and bristle-tipped; dull green above, paler below
Bark (young): smooth, dark gray-dark brown
Bark (old): broken by shallow fissures into regular, flat, smooth-surfaced, vertical plates; thick and gray to brown
Fruit: acorn; 1-1.5”; blunt-topped, flat at base, enclosed in a shallow, dark brown cup
Range: throughout WI on better sites
Oak, Red
Deciduous
Leaf: simple; 5-6” long, 2-4” wide; broad at middle (pear shaped) and wedge-shaped at base; wavy and indented along margin; dark green and shiny above, grayish and fuzzy beneath
Bark: Thick, deeply and irregularly divided by fissures into broad ridges; grayish-brown; bark on upper branches ragged and often peeling
Fruit: acorn; 1” long, 3/4” wide, enclused ~1/3 of length in thick-walled cup; usually in pairs
Range: sparsely distributed over S of WI; grows on borders of streams and swamps in moist, fertile soil
Oak, Swamp White
Deciduous
Leaf: simple; alternate; 5-9” long and half as wide; deeply divided into 5-9 lobes; light green above and much paler below; sometimes remain on tree most of winter
Bark: pale gray, scaly, not deeply fissured
Fruit: acorn; 3/4-1” long, ~1/4 enclosed in cap, light brown
Range: common on better soils in S of WI
Oak, White
Form: shrub/small tree, 15-25ft tall, 10” max trunk diameter
Leaf: simple; alternate; 2-5” long, 2” wide; oval, narrow-pointed, double-toothed along edge; dark green above, paler below
Bark: thin, reddish-brown, broken into thin plates
Fruit: drupe; 3/4” diameter; outer skin orange-red when ripe, with yellow-ish, sweet flesh
Range: throughout state in thickets, along banks of streams; grows best on rich soil or in moist locations
Plum, Wild
Form: height often 100ft, trunk diameter 2-4ft
Leaf: compound; alternate; 1-2ft long, 7-11 pairs of leaflets
Leaflet: 3” long, extremely tapered on ends, toothed margins, yellow-green; smooth above, pale and hairy underneath
Bark: thick and very dark brown; divided by deep fissures into round ridges; blocky appearance
Fruit: nut; large, round, borne singly or in pairs; solid green husk; nut is black with very hard, thick, finely ridged shell; edible
Range: S of WI in rich bottomlands and moist, fertile hillsides
Walnut, Black
Form: 35-50ft high in favorable sites; diameter 6-25”
Leaf:
Willows
