Seeing the Trees of the Forest
Essential Questions
1
What trees are common in Pennsylvania ?
How can these trees be identified ?
How do trees grow and reproduce ?
Name _______________________________
Period _____________
2
Types of Leaf Arrangement
3
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
SCIENTIFIC NAMES
Scientific names are all written in Latin. This method of naming organisms is
called binomial nomenclature. It was developed by an eighteenth century
Swedish scientist Carolus Linnaeus. We will learn more about him later.
These names provide a common language for scientists. This helps to reduce
two problems. First, it allows scientists who speak different languages to
communicate. Second it reduces confusion that arises when an organism has
more than one common name.
Tips for Writing Scientific Names
1. Each scientific name has two parts. They are the genus and species.
Always write both of these.
2. The first name is the genus. Only the first letter of the genus should be
capitalized.
3. The second name is the species. All letters in the species name should
remain in lower case.
4. Both the genus and species names should be underlined if they are written
by hand or typed in italics.
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PRACTICE PROBLEMS
Using a Common Trees of Pennsylvania book, write the scientific name for
each of the following common names.
1. Black Walnut
2. Common Honeylocust
3. American Linden
4. Witch Hazel
5. Black Oak
6. Red Maple
7. Paper Birch
8. Black Cherry
9. Sycamore
10. Shagbark Hickory
11. American Chestnut
12. Quaking Aspen
13. Red Pine
14. Eastern White Pine
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Trees of Pennsylvania Leaf Collection
Requirements
1. Collect leaves that represent ten species of Pennsylvania trees. Determine whether the
tree has leaves that are arranged alternately or oppositely on the tree and whether the
leaves are simple or compound. Then, using these characteristics and others that we learn
about in class, identify the tree by its common name and scientific name.
2. When you turn in your leaf collection, each page should include the information shown
below.
A single species of tree should be represented on each page. At least one entire leaf
should be used, but at times you may wish to use as many as three or four per page.
Each page should include all of the following in this order:
A. Common name
B. Scientific name
C. Alternate or Opposite leaves
D. Simple or compound leaves
An example:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Opposite leaves
Simple leaf
3. All species must appear on the list of approved trees.
4. The collection should be submitted in a 3-ring binder or photo album. The appearance
of the collection will be graded according to the rubric on one of the following pages.
5. The Leaf Collection Grade Sheet MUST be included as the FIRST PAGE of your leaf
collection.
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Grading
This project is worth 70 points. Grades will be determined as follows:
1. 20 points for the correct identification of common names. (2 points per leaf)
2. 30 points for the correct information for your answers to B, C, and D from above (2
points for the scientific name, 2 points for the leaf type, 2 points for the leaf
arrangement).
3. 10 points for the general appearance of your collection.
4. The grading sheet must be included as the first page in your collection. (10 points)
Leaf Collection Appearance Rubric
10 points
Leaves are neatly displayed and are flat on the page.
All leaves are whole with no pieces missing.
8 points
Leaves are neatly displayed and with most flat on the page.
Most leaves are whole with few pieces missing.
6 points
Leaves are somewhat neatly displayed, only some are flat on page or
some leaves have pieces missing.
4 points
Leaves are not neatly displayed. Most are not flat on page or most leaves
are torn and/or have pieces missing.
2 points
Leaves are not neatly displayed. No leaves are flat on the page. All leaves
are torn and/or have pieces missing.
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8
LEAF COLLECTION GRADE
Name: ________________________________
Period: ______________
Date Turned In: _________________________
Common Name
/20
Scientific Name
/10
Leaf Type
/10
Leaf Arrangement
/10
Appearance
/10
Grade Sheet
/10
Total
/70
You must complete the chart on the back of this sheet.
A check will be placed in the appropriate location if points
were missed for that leaf.
This form MUST be placed in your collection.
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1
Page
Common Name
Scientific Name
Simple or
Compound
Alternate or
Opposite
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1
10
2