Identifying Trees by Characteristics
December 23rd, 2011 | ma
A tree is one of our greatest natural resources. Usually, the tree identification can be made by its characteristics. As you observe each characteristic you will be able to filter or eliminate trees that do not possess the same characteristic. You must learn to recognize one of several plant characteristics, such as: leaf shape, flowers, fruit, twigs and buds, bark, and overall appearance or shape. Leaves are highly variable ranging from the needle-like leaves you see on pine trees to the broad leaves of sycamore trees. Reproductive features, such as the flower, can sometimes be very distinctive for tree identification. While some flowers of trees are showy (flowering dogwood, Cornus florida) other tree flowers are inconspicuous and small (oaks). All trees have fruits; cones, nuts, acorns, and seeds are just some of the many kinds of fruits that trees produce. When you observe the twigs it is best to focus on the most recent twig growth because the older branches lose some of their key features. Buds are growth or potential growth points on a twig. Buds are either scaly or naked. When observing a tree’s bark, focus on such features as its texture, color, and the presence of lenticels or pores.
Identifying one species from another can be challenging, especially in winter when the leaves have dropped from deciduous trees.