Tree Identification Powerpoint

Deciduous Tree (Angiospermae)

Hard wood
Enclosed seed example:
acorn of oaks, pome of
apple
Lose their leaves in
winter
Two Classes:
1)Monocots
2)Dicots

Monocots vs Dicots
Monocot

One initial seed leaf

Bamboo
Palm
Important for
making furniture

Dicot
-Initial seed leaf
-Hardwood lumber
-25 different families

Coniferious (Gymnospermae)
Softwood trees
Stay green
Usually have
needles as their
leaves

What makes a tree a tree?

Heights at least 4.5
meters (about 15 feet)
Single dominant
woody stem (trunk or
bole)
Capable of diameter
growth
Perennial plant
(present at all seasons
of the year)

What makes a shrub a shrub?

Heights under 4.5
meters (less than 15
feet)
Multi-stemmed
Capable of diameter
growth
Perennial plant

Tree Identification
By observing leaves

Conifers vs. Deciduous

Which is Which?

Characteristics of Conifers
Needle shaped leaves
Seeds that develop
inside cones
Evergreen green
year round
Gymnosperm, conifer,
softwood
Examples: pine,
spruce, hemlock, fir

Examples of conifers

Balsam fir

Fraser fir

Red pine

Douglas fir

White pine

Scotch pine

Conifer leaves
Needle like

Scale like

Conifer needles
Clusters

Singles

Families of the coniferous tree

Spruce Family
Very stiff short needles

Pine family
Found in bundles
Tend to be quite long
and flexible

Fir trees
Average length needles
Christmas trees

Cedar trees
Very short flexible
needles
Flat

Deciduous Tree Characteristics

Broad flat leaves
Lose all leaves each
year in the fall
Angiosperm
(flowering plants),
broadleaf, hardwood
Examples: oak,
maple, beech, aspen,
ash

Deciduous examples

Red oak

Black locust

Elm

White
birch

Honey locust

beech

Red maple

Crimson king

Leaf characteristics-deciduous
Leaf arrangement: whorl,
alternate, opposite
Leaf type: simple or
compound
Leaf edge: entire
(smooth), lobed
(projection), toothed
(serrated)
Leaf texture: hairy, waxy,
rough, smooth, thick, thin,
etc.
Leaf shape: various

Leaf Arrangement

alternate

opposite

whorl

Leaf Type
Simple vs. Compound

Simple
Only one leaf blade
Joined by its stalk to
the woody stem
Examples: maple,
oak, aspen, beech

Compound
Made up of several
leaflets
Leaflets are joined to a
midrib that is not
woody
Examples: ash,
walnut, sumac

Simple or Compound?

What is the leaf type?

Leaf Edge
Lobed , smooth, toothed?

Leaf Texture

Leaf Shape

Common
Used in day to day
conversation
Usually based on a
characteristic or region
of origin
Sometimes named
after the person who
studied the species
Often confusing

Scientific
Each species is
uniquely identified
Made up of two parts,
the genus and species
Groups similar
individuals
More accurate

Scientific names
Two part name
binomial nomenclature
Made up of the genus
and the species
Written in italics
Example:
Pinus strobus

Leaf Observations
Deciduous

Conifer

Leaf arrangement:
Needles or scales
Alternate, opposite, whorl
Leaf type:
Simple, compound
Leaf edge:
Entire, lobed, toothed

Needle attachment:
Single, clusters

Outside Assignment!!!
We are going to go outside in the school yard to look at some
of the leaves we can identify. When we are outside if possible
I want you to find at least one deciduous and one coniferous
based on what you know about the different shapes of leaves
explain how you knew it was a coniferous or deciduous tree.
Then if possible identify the exact type of tree the leaf came
from. In your own words I also want you to define what the
difference between a coniferous and deciduous tree is.