The Atlantic White-cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides (L.) B.S.P.) is found in southeast Virginia and favors swampy habitats. It is generally of medium height with a 1 to 2 feet diameter trunk. It looks very similar to the more common eastern redcedar but the needles are blue-green with small, round (¼ “diameter) woody cones with a waxy grayish coating.

2. Genus Juniperius L. – Junipers – Junipers are evergreen, have scale-like leaves that are pointed and prickly, and have fleshy cones that look like berries. The genus contains many shrubs and some trees.

The most common juniper tree in our area is the Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.). With a medium height and a trunk of 1 to 2 feet in diameter, it is the largest and most tree-like of the junipers. The eastern redcedar grows throughout most of the eastern United States on a variety of soils and is able to thrive where few other trees are found. The fleshy, berry-like cones appear only on female trees. Cones are small, ¼ to 1/3 inch in diameter. Cones start out as green and turn blue when they mature. It is one of the longest-lived of North American conifers and has been known to live almost 800 years. Its aromatic wood is used to line closets and chests.

3. Genus Taxodium Rich. This genus contains three species of large trees that are extremely flood tolerant. The needle-like leaves, 0.2 to 0.8-inch-long, are borne spirally on the shoots, twisted at the base so as to appear in two flat rows on either side of the shoot. The seed cones are shaped like globes, 0.8 to 1.4 inches diameter. The male (pollen) cones are produced in pendulous racemes, and shed their pollen in early spring.

Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) is the most familiar species within this genus. It is a tall, deciduous conifer with a trunk that can be as large as 3 to 6 feet in diameter. Needles occur flattened and two ranked on its twigs. The tree frequently naturally occurs near water and is considered the characteristic tree of southern swamps. Its unique characteristic is knobby wooden knees. The purpose of the knees is not known but are thought to provide additional oxygen to the plant. The tree generally does not produce knees in a non-wet environment.

4. Other

Other well know trees within the Cypress Family that Tree Stewards likely will want to be knowledgable of are:

• Arborvitae
• Leyland Cypress
• Cryptomeria
• Dawn Redwood
• Giant Sequoia

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Pine Family (Pinaceae)

All members of the Pine Family are monoecious (both male and female parts on a given plant). The bark varies across the species. Leaves are either simple needles or needles occurring in bundles of 2-5. Cones are usually woody with many scales.

There are 9 genera in the pine family. Key representative genus and trees of interest in this area are discussed below.

1. Genus Abies Mill. – Fir. Firs have needlelike leaves, arranged in a spiral but often appearing 2-ranked. The needles are generally soft to the touch. Firs live in regions that are covered in snow many months of the year, generally at elevations from sea-level to 6500 feet.

Fraser Fir (Abies fraseri) is the only native fir in the Appalachian mountains. It is a medium height tree with a trunk around 20 inches in diameter. The fraser fir is usually found in stands with red spruces in small areas in the south Appalachians that include areas in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. The twig is covered by red hairs with needles that are approximately ½ .to 1 inch long. Cones may be 1.5 to 2.5 inches long.^[14]

Red Spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) A tall tree with a trunk that could be 3 ft in diameter, the red spruce is found in small scattered areas at elevations above 4000 feet in the west of Virginia. Needles are ½ to 5/8 inches long, pointed and attached to the twig on tiny raised pegs. Cones are 1 ¼ to 2 inches long, light reddish-brown, and shiny with smooth edged scales. Cones drop their first winter. The wood is light, somewhat soft and elastic. Example uses are lumber, pulpwood, and musical instruments.3. Genus Pinus L. – Pine. Pines are evergreen trees with needle shaped leaves occurring in bundles of 2-5. Representative pines of interest are discussed below.

Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) Tall and straight trees with trunks of 2 to 3 feet in diameter. Needles are 6-9 inches long, three needles per cluster. Lower branches self-prune as the tree grows and ages. Cones are narrowly oblong, 2 to 6 inches long, and stay on the tree for a year after maturing. Loblollies are native to the eastern part of Virginia and are the most abundant tree in the Virginia coastal plain.^[15]They are also the most important commercial timber tree in the state. The wood is used for lumber, paper pulp, plywood, poles, pilings and fuel.

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana Mill.) A tall tree, somewhat smaller than the loblolly, with trunks of 12 to 14 inches in diameter. Needles are 1 ½ to 3 inches long, two needles in a bundle,. Needles are usually twisted. Cones are egg shaped, 1 ½ to 2 ¾ inches long. Cones mature in two years but stay on the tree several years before falling. The wood warps easily and is used for rough construction and paperpulp.

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Angiosperms

While all angiosperms flower, not all flowers are notable. This is especially true for trees that are angiosperms.

Birch Family (Betulaceae)

The Betulaceae family includes birches (Betula), alders (Alnus), hornbeams (Carpinus), and hazels (Corylus). The trees are deciduous and have simple, alternate leaves that are generally thin with serrated edges (saw-like teeth) and pinnate veins (major veins branching off from a central vein). The trees are monoecious with male and female catkins forming on the same plant. A catkin is an elongated cluster of single-sex flowers bearing scaly bracts, usually lacking petals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are 6 genera in the Birch Family. Key representative genus and trees of interest in this area are discussed below.

1. Genus Betula – Birch. Birches usually have smooth bark, dark brown to silvery white, that often peels into plates or papery layers. Trees often have several trunks.

River Birch (Betula nigra L.) is the only birch native to the Coastal Plain in the southeastern United States. It can be a tall tree and is often divided into several trunks. The trunks may be 1 to 3 feet in diameter. The bark peels back in papery layers. The leaves are 1 ½ to 3 inches long with an oval to triangular shape and doubly serrated edges. The wood is quite hard and close-grained but the tree is seldom harvested. It is commonly planted for erosion control situation such as stream bank restoration and is frequently used as an ornamental tree in home yards.

The American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana Walt.) and Eastern Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana (P. Mill) K. Koch.) are both native in this area. While they are very similar and both belong to the Birch Family, they belong to different genera. Both are small trees growing 20 to 30 feet and can have a single trunk or multiple trunks. Both trees have leaves that are alternate, simple, 2 to 4 inches long with doubly toothed edges. The leaves of the American hornbeam are oval and long-pointed while the leaves of the eastern hophornbeam are oblong with narrow tips. The trunk of the American hornbeam is smooth and rippled, resembling well-defined muscles. This leads to alternate common names of ironwood or musclewood. The fruits of the American hornbeam are 4 to 6 inch hanging clusters of slightly folded, 1 inch, 3-lobed leafy bracts; each bract contains a ⅓ inch ribbed nutlet. These clusters somewhat resemble the samaras (helicopter seeds) of maples. However, the hophornbeam has fruits hanging in clusters of leafy, oval, papery sacs 1½ to 2½ inches long, with each sac containing a 1/4 inch nutlet. These clusters of papery sacs resemble hops and thus the name Hophornbeam.

The wood of both trees is strong and durable but is seldom harvested.

Bean or Pea Family (Fabaceae)

The Fabaceae Family is the third largest plant family and contains approximately 730 genera. More than 45 genera of trees exist north of Mexico across North America. All members have compound leaves, mostly pinnately or bipinnately compound. However, the leaves of some species, such as the redbud, are unifoliate, that is they are theoretically compound but have only one leaflet and therefore appear to have a simple leaf. The unifying feature of the family is that the fruit is a legume, that is multiple seeds reside in a pod that opens along two sides. Roots often have nitrogen-fixing bacterial nodules. This document addresses one genus and two species in other genera within the Fabaceae Family.

1. Genus Gleditsia – Locusts. Locusts are medium height, single trunk trees with pinnate or bi-pinnate compound leaves. The compound leaves alternate and within the compound leaf, leaflets also alternate. A distinguishing characteristic is thorns that occur on the trunk and/or branches. Fruits are flattened legume pods with one to multiple seeds. Two species are native to North America.

Honey Locust (Gleditsia Triacanthos L.) The leaves are pinnately compound, 5 to 8 inches long, with 15 to 30 leaflets. However, the leaves can also be bipinnately compound with 4 to 7 pairs of minor leaflets. Leaflets are elliptical and ½ to 1 ½ inches long. Trunk, large branches and twigs have branched thorns that are strong and sharp. Small greenish-yellow flowers are fragrant and appear on 2 to 3 inch hanging clusters in late spring. The seed pod is 6 to 8 inches long and flattened. The pod matures in late summer and early fall, becoming dry and twisted. Seeds are oval, dark brown and 1/3-inch-long with multiple seeds in each pod. Because the wood is hard, strong, and moderately resistant to decay, it is sometimes used for fence posts and crossties. The tree may be planted for erosion control and windbreaks. Thornless varieties are available and are commonly chosen for planting in urban landscapes.

2. Other Genera

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis L.) is a short tree, frequently multi-stemmed, that grows as an understory tree generally at the edge of a forest. It is one of the most common ornamental trees. In spring, it is covered with very small (½ inch) pink to purple flowers that resemble the flowers of a pea. The flowers occur in clusters along the twigs and small branches and appear before the leaves. Leaves are alternate, heart shaped, and smooth edged, 3 to 5 inches long and wide. While the leaves appear to be simple, they are an example of the infamous unifoliate. Although the wood is heavy and hard, it is not strong and has little commercial value.

Other trees in the Fabaceae Family that the Tree Steward may find interesting include:

• Yellowwood
• Black Locust
• Kentucky Coffeetree
• Golden Chain Tree

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Beech or Oak Family (Fagaceae)

The Fagaceae Family contains deciduous and evergreen woody plants with simple leaves arranged alternately. The leaves may have entire, toothed, or deeply lobed leaf margins. Flowers are typically unisexual with male and female flowers appearing on the same plant (monoecious) in catkins (elongated cluster of highly reduced unisexual flowers). Fruits are nuts within a scaly or spiny cap.

There are 9 genera in the Beech/Oak Family. Key representative genus and trees of interest are discussed below

1. Genus Fagus – Beech. Beeches have smooth bark that is either silvery gray or blue-gray, though some species develop shallow furrows and ridges. Leaves are simple, elliptic or ovate, with margins that are bluntly or sharply toothed. The leaves have lateral veins that are parallel and terminate in the tip of a marginal tooth. The fruit is two nuts in a four-valved prickly capsule. Beeches are tardily deciduous trees. Many have a tendency to retain their leaves in a dry, lifeless state through the winter, especially when young.

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) is a common understory tree in the Coastal Plain. It can grow to be fairly tall with a trunk of 2 to 3 feet. It can be easily identified by its smooth silvery bark. The leaves are coarsely toothed with 9-14 pairs of lateral veins. Buds are distinctly elongated and torpedo-shaped.

Oak wood is heavy, strong, hard, close-grained and durable. It is used for lumber, furniture, and flooring.

The majority of oak species are placed in either the Red Oak group or the White Oak group. Red Oaks have a bristle on the tip of their lobes and their acorns require two years to ripen. White Oaks do not have bristles. Their acorns ripen in a single season and are sweeter (have less tannin) than acorns from trees in the Red Oak group. White Oaks generally are slower growers than Red Oaks. The Sawtooth Oak is neither in the Red or White group but is considered an intermediary between the two groups.

White Oak (Quercus alba L.) is the most common oak in Virginia forests. It is a tall tree with a trunk that can be 3 to 4 feet in diameter. Leaves are alternate and simple, 4 to 7 inches long, with 7 to 10 rounded lobes. The sinuses between the lobes may be shallow to deep, almost reaching the midrib; this can give the leaf a very different appearance even among trees of the same species. The acorn is light chestnut brown, ¾ inch long, with a bowl-shaped cap that covers ¼ of the acorn. The cap detaches at maturity. The wood is close-grained, strong, and durable. Uses include furniture, flooring, and fuel. The wood is well suited for whiskey and wine barrels because it is highly water-tight due to the presence of a substance called tyloses in the wood vessels.

Willow Oak (Quercus phellos L.) is long lived, fast growing, and frequently planted in public spaces. The tree has an erect trunk that is medium to tall in height with a diameter of 1 to 2.5 feet, sometimes considerably wider in the taller specimens. Leaves are alternative, simple, and narrow oval (lanceolate) with a bristle tip, making them members of the Red Oak group. The acorn is small (¼ to ½ inches) and tan. The cap covers ¼ of the acorn nut and is flat, thin, and scaly. The wood is heavy and strong, but coarse-grained. It is used for rough construction and pulpwood.There are many oak species. Examples include:

• Southern Red Oak
• Northern Red Oak
• Swamp Chestnut Oak
• Live Oak
• Sawtooth Oak
• Water Oak
• Overcup Oak
• Scarlet Oak
• Pin Oak

3. Genus Castanea – Chestnut. Chestnuts have alternate leaves with bristle-tipped marginal teeth and conspicuous parallel lateral leaf veins. The trees produce large, sweet, edible fruit. The nuts are enclosed in a spiny, prickly capsule that may contain up to three nuts. There are 4 native species in North America. Of particular note is the greatly missed American chestnut.

 

American Chestnut (Castanea dentate) used to be a tall tree that was a dominant species in forests in much of Virginia. Trunks could be quite large with diameters up to 4 feet. In the early 1900s chestnut blight was introduced into eastern North America. By 1940 the chestnut had disappeared as a major tree in American forests. Today the plant can be found as sprouts from the stumps of dead American chestnut trees. The sprouts may get up to 20 feet in height and may live as long as 40 years. They do not produce fruit.

Another common tree in the Chestnut Genus is Allegheny Chinkapin, Castanea pumila.

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Walnut Family (Juglandaceae)

The Juglandaceae Family contains mostly trees and has 13 native species in eastern North America plus three nonnatives. All members have pinnately compound leaves and are usually odd-pinnate, that is they have a terminal leaflet at the end of the leaf. While the compound leaves are alternate; within the compound leaf, the leaflets are opposite. Flowers are tiny. The fruit presents itself as a nut surrounded by a husk that has developed from the fruit wall. The seed is large, oily, and often edible. Nuts mature late summer to fall. This document addresses two genera.

1. Genus Juglans – Walnut. The leaves of walnut trees usually have a spicy scent. Twigs are covered with hairs that have an enlarged gland at the tip. The fruit is shaped like a globe or ovoid surrounded by a green husk that turns black as it dries and does not split. In addition to providing edible nuts, walnuts provide dyes and lumber used in furniture and cabinets.

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra L.) can be medium to tall in height with a diameter of 2 to 3 feet. Leaves are odd-pinnately compound. The terminal leaflet is often much smaller than the side leaflets. Frequently the terminal leaflet is lost so that the compound leaf appears even-pinnate. The compound leaves are long, 12 to 24 inches, with 10 to 24 leaflets. The leaflets are 3 to 3.5 inches long, finely toothed, with a narrow oval shape tapering to a pointed tip (lanceolate). Yellow-green flowers appear in spring with male flowers appearing in 2.5 to 5.5 inch catkins and female flowers on short spikes at the tip of branches. The nuts are encased in thick green husks that do not split. The husks turn black as they dry. The nut inside has a black shell that is wood-like, thick and furrowed. The nut meat is difficult to extract from the shell but has a delicious and distinctive taste when added to baked goods. The heartwood is of superior quality and value and is used for fine furniture and cabinetwork. Sometimes one hears the statement, “Nothing grows under walnut trees.” That is not quite true. Black walnuts secrete a toxic chemical called juglone that prevents some plants from growing near them. Examples of susceptible plants include azalea, rhododendron, mountain laurel, blackberry, blueberry, apple, tomato and potato.

• English Walnut
• Butternut

2. Genus Carya – Hickories. Each compound leaf has 3 to 21 leaflets arranged opposite each other with a conspicuous terminal leaflet. The leaflets are usually hairy although sometimes the hairs only occur on the axis of the vein on the lower surface. The fruit is a nut enclosed in a husk that may be either thick or thin. In contrast to members of the Juglans genus, whose husks do not split, husks of hickories split when mature.

Pecan (Carya illinoensis (Wangenh) K. Koch) is a tall tree with long compound leaves usually having from 9 to 15 leaflets, 12 to 18 inches long. Occasionally there may be only 5 to 7 leaflets. The leaflets are relatively long and narrow oval-shaped tapering to a pointed tip (lanceolate) with toothed margins. The base of the leaflet is often asymmetric. Twigs are fuzzy, especially when young. Fruits are husk-covered nuts, 1 ½ to 2 inches long. Sutures (lines of fusion) are narrowly ridged and separate the husk into four sections. The thin husk splits to the base revealing a dark brown, ellipsoid nutshell. The kernel is edible and is used in baking or roasted as a snack.

 

Mockernut Hickory (Carya alba Nutt) (formerly Carya tomentosa Nutt.) is a medium to tall tree. Compound leaves are 9 to 14 inches long with 7 to 9 finely toothed leaflets of differing sizes and obovate-elliptic in shape. The leaflet on the tip is the largest. The lowest pair of leaflets are the smallest. Occasionally there are only 5 leaflets. Leaflets are dark green on the top with sparse hairs. The underside is orange-brown and hairy. Leaves are aromatic when crushed. The fruit is an oval, husk-covered nut. The husk splits almost to the base when mature forming four sections. The nut is 1 ½ to 2 inches long with a very thick shell and is sweet. The hard, strong wood has a number of uses to include tool handles, furniture, charcoal and smoking of meats.

Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis (Wangenh.) K. Koch) is a medium height tree. The compound leaves have 7-9 finely toothed leaflets, with a narrow, long oval shape tapering to a pointed tip (lanceolate). The top of the dark yellow-green leaflet may be hairless or hairy. The underside is paler and covered with resinous scales. The 4-ribbed nutshells have a thin husk and are 1 ¼ inches long, round and slightly flattened. Nutshells split from the middle to a sharply pointed tip. The nuts are bitter. The hard, strong wood has a number of uses to include tool handles, furniture, flooring, and smoking of meats.

Other trees in the Carya genus that the Tree Steward may find interesting are:

• Shagbark Hickory
• Pignut Hickory

Magnolia Family (Magnoliaceae)

“The Magnolia Family is an ancient family, dating back more than 100 million years in the fossil record. The flowers have retained some ancestral characteristics, where the sepals, petals, stamen, and pistils are arranged in a spiral on a cone-like receptacle, rather than in concentric rings as they are in most other plant families.”^[20]

Trees in the Magnolia Family have showy flowers that are white, cream, or yellow tinged. The pistons in the middle of each flower grow into a cone-like structure that contains the seeds.

There are two tree genera of significance to Virginia in the Magnolia family. Both genera and selected trees of interest are discussed below

1. Genus Liriodendron – Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) is the only species in this genus. Tuliptree, aka tulip poplar, yellow poplar, is one of the most common trees in Virginia forests and one of the largest and most valuable hardwood trees in the United States. It is also one of the easiest to identify. The large leaves (4 to 6 inches) are shaped like tulips and are the only tree leaf that is concave in the middle leaf top. In spring, after the leaves appear, the tree produces tulip-shaped flowers that are creamy yellow with blotches of orange and measure 2 to 3 inches across. The pistils in the center of the flower evolve into a 3” cone-like cluster of woody, wing-like seeds. The seeds break away in the fall but leave behind a spike that resembles wooden flowers. In the winter after the leaves fall, the tree can be identified by these wooden flowers. The tree has a straight trunk and is one of the tallest hardwood trees in the forest, typically growing to 90 to 110 feet. This fast-growing tree produces light, soft wood that is easily worked. Uses for the wood include lumber, plywood, paper pulp, and fuel.

2. Genus Magnolia – Magnolia. Leaves are simple, typically elliptical, obviate, or ovate. Most leaf edges have entire margins, that is the edges are smooth without teeth or lobes; but some have slightly undulating edges.^[21]The top of the leaf is deep green with the backside a lighter green or somewhat silvery color. Leaves can be quite large on some species and are deciduous or persistent depending on the species and location. Magnolias have solitary flowers that are showy, creamy white and often very fragrant. The center of the flower matures into a cone-like structures containing red, pink, or orange-coated seeds. The seeds can separate from the cone-like structure to dangle on a threadlike attachment.

Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) has thick leathery very stiff leaves with brown on the underside. Leaves can measure 4 to 12 inches long and 2.5 to 4 inches wide. The tree is evergreen with a pyramidal shaped crown. The flowers can be 6 to 10 inches wide. It is probably one of the most recognizable trees in Virginia.

Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) may have a single trunk or multiple trunks. Leaves are elliptical with smooth edges and a blunt point and measure 4 to 6 inches long. They are shiny bright green above and pale or whitish below and not as thick as the leaves of the Southern Magnolia. When crushed they release a pleasant, spicy odor. The tree sheds its leaves later than other trees in the fall. Further south it may be almost evergreen. The white flowers are smaller than those of other native magnolias and measure 2 to 3 inches across. The wood is soft and not of significant commercial value. The tree is often grown as a landscape tree.

Other well know trees with which Tree Stewards likely will want to be familiar are:

• Star Magnolia
• Saucer Magnolia
• Cucumber Magnolia, aka Cucumber Tree
• Fraser Magnolia, aka Umbrella Magnolia

Rose Family (Roseaceae)

The Roseaceae Family contains a variety of fruits of which many are edible. The fruits vary from fleshy to false fruits (fruits not formed from the ovary), dry seeds, capsules, or follicles. Leaves are alternate but diverse in shape. They may be simple or compound with edges that are entire, toothed, or lobed. Plants in the Roseaceae Family have flowers that most commonly have five petals and five sepals. In rare cases the flowers may have three to ten petals. Flowers generally have a fuzzy looking center surrounded by stamens. Stamens are usually numerous and occur in whorls, with a minimum of five and additional stamen occurring in groups of five.

 

Genus Rosa – Rose. Includes 105 species of roses. Most roses have more than five petals, a condition known as doubling. Doubling occurs when some or all of the stamens become modified to look like petals. These petal-like structures are called petaloids. Examples of species roses include Bourbon rose, Cherokee Rose, damask rose, tea rose, and climbing rose.

Genus Fragaria – Strawberry

Genus Rubus – Raspberry, blackberry, boysenberry

2. Almond Subfamily (Amygdaloideae)

• Plum group: Fleshy fruits are drupes, meaning they have an outer skin covering a fleshy layer surrounding a stony center that contains the seed. Fruits have an indentation that appears to be a seam down one side. Two genera belong to the plum group.

Genus Prunus – Plums and Relatives. Familiar plants include plum, cherry, apricot, peach, nectarine, and almond.

• Apple group: Fleshy fruits are pommes, meaning they have a compound ovary and multiple seeds. The bottom of the fruit contains a five-pointed star that is the remains of the flower. Twelve genera belong to this group.

Genus Malus – Apple and crabapple

Genus Pyrus – Pear and ornamental pear

Genus Amelanchier – Serviceberry

Other well know trees in the apple group with which Tree Stewards likely will want to be familiar are spread across various other genera and include:

• Quince
• Flowering Quince
• Photinia
• Pyracantha
• Hawthorn
• Mountain Ash

Willow Family (Salicaceae)

The Salicaceae Family includes 50 to 60 genera, five genera occur in North America of which three are native. Most members have alternate, simple leaves with a toothed edge. Stipules are often present. A common characteristic relates to their flowers. The flowers do not have petals and sepals are greatly reduced or absent. Flowers are borne on catkins that appear with or before the emergence of new leaves. Trees are unisexual, that is male and female parts occur on separate trees. Plants in this family have a strong affinity to water and tend to prefer moist sites. Plants in the Willow Family contain varying amounts of organic compounds (glycosides, populin, salicin, and methyl salicylate) which provided the basis for aspirin. The compounds are strongest in the inner bark, but also present in the leaves. This document considers two genera that includes poplars, cottonwoods, aspen, and willows.

1. Genus Populus – Poplars, Cottonwoods, Aspen. Trees are deciduous and medium to tall height. The bark is smooth and pale on young trees but on older trees the bark can become darker, thick, and deeply furrowed. As characteristic of the family, the leaves are alternate, simple, and toothed. In addition to these common family characteristics, leaves in this genus are heterophyllous, that is leaves from different parts of the twig can have different forms. There are seven species in eastern North America.

Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoids Bartr. Ex Marsh) is a tall tree that can be 3 to 4 feet in diameter. It characteristically lives along river borders, floodplains, and other moist, well-drained sites. Leaves are triangular and somewhat heart-shaped with pinnate veins. Twigs are yellowish and have a bitter aspirin taste. The fruit is a small capsule, ¼ inch long, that appears on female trees and splits to release many tiny, cottony seeds. The wood is soft and lightweight and often warps when dried. Example uses are for baskets, rough lumber, fiberboard, plywood, and paper pulp.

Other trees in the Populus genus that the Tree Steward may find interesting include:

• Bigtooth Aspen
• Lombardy Poplar
• Quaking Aspen
• White Poplar (invasive)

2. Genus Salix – Willow. Many of the willow species have leaves that are lanceolate, long, narrow, with a pointed tip. In addition to the flowers having no petals, they also have no sepals. The willow contains salicylic acid and is known for its aspirin-like ability to treat headaches, fevers, and inflammations of the joints. There are about 30 tree-like species in eastern North America occurring from sea-level to above the timberline.

Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica L.) is a generally small tree that can reach 40 to 50 feet. The tree is thought to have originated in China. While it no longer occurs in the wild, the weeping willow is naturalized in many places in eastern North American. It needs to grow in a moist area. The crown is usually rounded with long, flexible branches that gracefully droop toward the ground. The fruit is a one inch long cluster of light brown valve-like capsules, containing many fine, cottony seeds, and maturing in late May to early June.

Other trees in the Salix genus that the Tree Steward may find interesting include:

• White Willow
• Black Willow
• Pussy Willow

Soapberry Family (Sapindaceae)

The Sapindaceae Family contains approximately 150 genera of trees, shrubs, and woody vines distributed primarily in tropical and subtropical areas, but extending into the north temperate region. The observable characteristics such as leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds vary considerably across the family. At various times during the 20^th century, there was discussion in the scientific community about the relation of the Aceraceae (Maple) and Hippocastanaceae (Horse Chestnut) Families to Sapindaceae. In the 21^st century taxonomists officially moved maples and buckeyes/horse chestnuts into the Soapberry Family. This move was based on DNA evidence and phylogenetic theory, i.e. the theory of the evolution of a genetically related group of organisms. While this move is generally accepted, the USDA Plant Database does not reflect this change and continues to show Aceraceae as the Maple Family and Hippocastanaceae as the Horse Chestnut Family. This document presents maples and buckeyes/horse chestnuts as genera within the Soapberry Family.

1. Genus Acer – Maple. Maples have tiny, inconspicuous flowers in the spring. The fruit/seed are winged samara, usually in joined pairs and designed to be carried by the wind. The samaras are colloquially called “helicopters.” The time when the samaras are produced varies according to the species. For example, red maples produce samara before the leaves come out in the spring. Other species produce samara after the leaves appear later in the season. Leaves are opposite and most, but not all, are palmately lobed. Leaves have 3 to 5 lobes with coarsely toothed edges. The characteristics of the wood vary according to species. For example, red maples produce cream colored wood that is soft and rather weak and is used for furniture and paper pulp. Sugar maples produce pale brown or pink wood that is heavy, strong, and close grained and is used for flooring as well as furniture. Wood from silver maples is soft, brittle, and weak and is used for boxes, furniture, and fuel. There are 15 species of maples in eastern North America of which 9 are native.

Red Maple (Acer rubrum L.) is one of the most common and abundant trees in eastern North America forests. The U.S. Forestry service has noted dramatic increases in the number of red maples in eastern North American forests since the 1970s, with the red maple replacing other species (generally not considered a good thing). These increases have been achieved primarily for two reasons. First, the species grows in a wide variety of conditions from swamps and wetlands to dry uplands, tolerating the widest variety of soil conditions of any North American forest species. Second, the tree is not tolerant of fire and the suppression of fire has enabled the proliferation of the species in the forests.^[24] The tree is considered an understory tree in forests but can grow up to 90 feet tall.The species gets its name, red maple, from the red flowers, samara, leaf stems, and fall color. Flowers appear in the spring before leaves appear and are red, attractive but very small. The red flowers are followed by reddish, paired samara which give the impression of flowers from a distance. Individual samaras are relatively short (½ to ¾ inches) compared to the samaras of other maple species. Leaves appear after the samaras. Leaves have 3 to 5 lobes and are coarsely, but finely, toothed. The leaf stem is often red. In the fall, the leaves turn brilliant scarlet, orange or yellow.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum Marsh) is a tall tree with tiny yellow-green flowers clustered and hanging from 1 to 3 inch threadlike, hairy stems. The flowers appear with or slightly before the leaves. Samaras are 1 inch long. The leaves have lobes separated by rounded, shallow sinuses. In the fall, the leaves turn brilliant scarlet, orange or yellow. The sweet sap of sugar maples is used to make maple syrup and maple sugar.

Silver Maple (Acer saccharinim L.) is a medium to tall tree that was popular as a yard tree in the mid-20^th century. Flowers are greenish to reddish in dense clusters and appear in the spring long before the leaves. The samaras are longer (1.5 to 2.5 inches) than those of the red and sugar maples. Leaves have 5 main lobes with deep sinuses. Lobe edges are coarsely toothed. The species gets its name from the silver underside of the leaves. The leaves turn yellow in the fall.

Boxelder (Acer negundo L.) is a medium height tree that is frequently multi-stemmed. Unlike the previously discussed maples, male and female flowers of the boxelder occur on separate trees. Flowers are yellow-green in drooping clusters, appearing in late spring before or with new leaves. The samaras also appear in drooping clusters. The most distinguishing characteristic is the pinnately compound leaves that commonly have 3 leaflets, but sometimes 5 and rarely 7 to 9 leaflets. This is a distinct difference from the other maples that have simple leaves. The form of the boxelder leaf reminds one of a simple maple leaf that has been cut apart to form leaflets. The leaflets are coarsely toothed. The 3-leaflet form resembles poison ivy. In the fall, the leaves turn yellow.Other maples with which Tree Stewards may want to be familiar include:

• Striped Maple
• Black Maple
• Japanese Maple
• Norway Maple (introduced from Europe, considered invasive in the Northeast)

2. Genus Aesculus – Buckeyes and Horse Chestnuts. Buckeyes and horse chestnuts generally are of medium height. They can be recognized by their palmately compound leaves with 5 to 11 leaflets occurring opposite each other on branches. The edge of the leaflets is toothed. Flowers are elongated, often cone-shaped terminal clusters that appear after new leaves. The fruit is produced in pear shaped or rounded green or brown leathery capsules that usually have 1 to 3 large seeds and occasionally 4 to 6. At maturity, the seed capsule commonly splits into 3 parts.

Yellow Buckeye (Aesculus flava Ait.) has leaves that are 10 to 15 inches long with 5 to 7 oval leaflets, each 3 to 7 inches long. The flowers are pale yellow-orange in large, showy upright 4 to 8 inch clusters. The flower petals have two different lengths. The fruit is 2 to 3 inches long with 1 to 3 brown nuts with a spot on one side. The nuts are poisonous to eat. The wood is light, soft, and close-grained and is sometimes used for pulpwood and woodenware.

3. Genus Koelreuteria – Goldenrain Tree. Genus is native to Asia, but all three species have been introduced into the United States. Only one is significant as a landscape tree in Virginia.

Goldenrain Tree (Koelreuteria Paniculata Laxm) is a short tree with a spread equal to its height. Leaves are pinnately (or partially bi-pinnately) compound, 8 to 14 inches long and with 9 to 15 leaflets. The compound leaves are alternate but the leaflets are opposite and have irregular serrations or lobes. The tree has showy, large bright yellow flowers that appear on 10-15-inch-long panicles (a loosely branched flower cluster in a somewhat pyramidal form).

 

Note: The golden shower tree (Cassia fistua) is very similar in size and appearance to the goldenrain tree but is a member of the Fabaceae Family. It has evenly compound leaves with showy yellow flowers. While the flower panicles of the goldenrain tree appear to be held somewhat stiffly and frequently upward, the flowers of the golden shower tree appear to droop downward.

Additional Trees Worthy of Note

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) is sometimes called a living fossil. The tree essentially has not changed for more than 200 million years. In the distant past, there were other ginkgo-like plants but these plants no longer exist. The ginkgo is now the only plant in its genus (Ginkgo L.), family (Ginkgoaceae), order (Ginkgoale), class (Ginkgoopsida), and division (Ginkgophyta). One has to go all the way back to the superdivision (Spermatophyta – the point at which seed producing plants and spore producing plants separate) to find a taxonomical category where there are other plants in addition to the ginkgo.

The leaves appear to have more in common with angiosperm trees than the needles and scale-like leaves of conifers. The ginkgo does not have flowers. Its leaves are shaped like fans with a radiating pattern of veins. No other tree has a similar shaped leaf or similar vein pattern. The seed of the ginkgo is produced on female plants. While the seed is considered naked, it has a fleshy covering, unlike the hard seeds of other gymnosperms. This covering has a foul odor, like rotten meat, when it drops to the ground. The seeds themselves are edible and are a delicacy in many parts of Asia.

The ginkgo can be a tall tree and is resistant to pollution. Males are frequently used as street trees. The leaves turn bright yellow in the fall. Most of the leaves fall from the tree in a short span of time rather than over several days or weeks.

American Holly (Ilex opaca Ait.) is a medium height tree with a diameter of 1 to 2 feet. It is a very common understory tree in Virginia forests. The evergreen leaves are alternate, simple, leathery, glossy green and stiff. They are elliptical, 2 to 4 inches long, with 1 to 7 large, sharp, spine-tipped teeth. The bark is light gray and smooth throughout the life of the tree. Male and female flowers are on separate trees. Female trees produce ¼ inch bright red berry-like fruit that matures in October and persists on the tree over winter.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) Is a relatively tall tree that can be 2 to 3 feet in diameter. Leaves are alternate, simple, palmately lobed, and star-shaped with 5 to 7 lobes. Leave edges are finely toothed. The fruit is a distinctive brown spiny ball containing about 50 seeds. While the wood is heavy and moderately hard, it does not stand up to weather. Example uses include interior finish, paper pulp, and plywood.

 

Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) is a tall tree that can be up to 4 feet in diameter or sometimes even wider. Leaves are alternate, simple, palmately shaped with 3 to 5 lobes. Leaf edges are large toothed. The fruit is a ball, about the same size as the sweetgum ball. However, the sycamore fruit is tightly packed with winged ½ inch seeds surrounded by fine hairs. The fruit matures in late fall and disperses its seeds in late winter. The most distinguishing characteristic is the mottled brown, green and tan bark that peels readily and looks like camouflage. The tree does not put on a show for fall. It is one of the first trees to start losing its leaves. Leaves dry up and turn a pale yellow and brown dropping from the tree. The camouflage-looking smooth bark does provide winter interest for the bare tree. While the wood is hard and moderately strong, it decays quickly in the ground. Example uses are chopping blocks, particle board, and paper pulp.

Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica Marsh.) is generally seen as a medium height tree, 1 to 2 feet in diameter. It is also called Blackgum. Occasionally it can reach up to 100 feet high and 4 feet in diameter. The leaves are alternate, simple, 2 to 5 inches long, shaped as an elongated oval with a pointed tip and a smooth edge. As the season progresses, the green leaves often develop purple spots. The leaves are arranged on the twig in such a way that they appear to be a whorl at the end of the twig. Trees are most commonly either male or female, but occasionally may be bisexual. Flowers are tiny, greenish yellow, and are not ornamentally significant. They appear with the leaves, in clusters on stalks up to 1 ½ inches long. Tupelo produces a berry-like fruit (drupe); each having a single seed and measuring about ½ inch across. The drupes appear in clusters on stalks less than 1 ½ inches and ripen in late September or early October. In the fall, the leaves turn scarlet and provide beautiful color. The wood is tough, hard to work, and easy to warp. Example uses are rough flooring and pulpwood.

 

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra L.) is of medium height with a 1 to 2 feet trunk and prefers a rich, moist soil. Leaves are alternate, simple, 3 to 5 inches long, with toothed edges. Leaves can have multiple shapes: oval, one lobe (mitten shaped), or 3 or more lobes. The leaves of young trees tend to have more lobes. Mature trees tend to have mostly leaves with no lobes. The leaves have stiff hairs on the top that make them rough to the touch; however, the underside can feel downy. Flowers are pale green, tiny, and clusters on 1 to 2 inch catkins (male) or 1 inch catkin (female). Male and female flowers may be on the same or separate trees and appear with the leaves in the spring. The mulberry fruit looks like a small blackberry that starts out red and then ripens to deep purple in mid-summer. The fruit is sweet, juicy, and edible. They also make a mess where they fall under the tree. The wood is light, soft, and not strong but quite durable. Examples of uses are fencing and barrels.The white mulberry (Moras alba) is the main food source for silkworm caterpillars. In the early colonial period, white mulberries were brought to the United States in the hope of establishing silk production. This was unsuccessful but white mulberry became naturalized throughout the southern states.

Big Tree Program

American Forests, a non-profit conservation organization, sponsors the National Big Tree Program and maintains the Champion Trees National Register. The register contains information on American’s biggest trees, the largest recorded living specimens of each tree type measured by height, trunk circumference, and crown spread. Trees species must be either native or naturalized in the continental United States to be eligible. The continental United States includes the 48 lower states and Alaska but not Hawaii. The National Register of Big Trees has been maintained by American Forests since 1940 and currently contains over 700 Champion Trees.

The following formula is used to calculate a point score for each tree:

Trunk Circumference (in inches) + Height (in feet) + 1/4 Average Crown Spread (in feet) = Total Points

The current list of National Champion Trees is available online at:

http://www.americanforests.org/explore-forests/americas-biggest-trees/champion-trees-national-register

Several states, counties, and cities maintain their own list of local Champion Trees. Virginia has consistently ranked in the top five states for national champion trees. The Virginia Big Tree Program is a educational program of the VCE, coordinated by the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech. The Virginia Big Tree Register maintains information on the five largest specimens of over 300 native and naturalized tree species. The Virginia website provides photographs of the trees, their location, the names of the individuals who nominated them, and in some cases, the name of landowner. The Virginia website is:

http://bigtree.cnre.vt.edu/search.cfm

How to Measure Trees

Trees are commonly measured by three parameters: height, girth, and crown spread.

Height is the vertical distance from the base of the tree to the highest sprig at the top of the tree. The base point is the point at which the tree germinated. If the tree is on a slope, the base point is the ground level halfway between the upper and lower sides of the tree.

Girth is a measurement of the circumference of the tree measured at 4.5 feet above ground level. If there are significant branches below this height, then the girth should be measured at the narrowest point below the lowest branch and that height noted. If there is a burl or protuberance at the measurement height, then the girth should be measured immediately above the protuberance or at the narrowest point of the trunk below the protuberance and that height noted. If there are multiple trunks, measure with a tape measure around all trunks at the 4 ½ feet height.

Crown spread measures the footprint of the crown of the tree expressed as a diameter. The simplest approach is to take measurement along the longest axis of the crown from one edge to the opposite edge. A second measurement is take perpendicular to the first lie through the central mass of the crown. The two measurements are then averaged to reach a number for crown spread.

More in-depth discussions of taking tree measurements can be found in the following publications: American Forests Champion Trees Measuring Guidelines Handbook and The Tree Measuring Guidelines of the Eastern Native Tree Society.^[25][26]