DENDROLOGY
The study of trees and tree
identification.
Evergreen vs. Deciduous
• Evergreen
– Trees that do
not lose all
their leaves
every year but
go through a
gradual
replacement by
dropping only
their oldest
leaves each
year. These
trees have
leaves all year.
• Deciduous
– Trees that loose
all of their
leaves every
year.
Broadleaf vs. Conifer
• Broadleaf
– A class of trees
that have
broad, flat
leaves of many
different
shapes; most
are deciduous;
also called
hardwood
trees.
• Conifer
– A class of trees
that are
evergreen, have
needle or
scalelike
foliage and
conelike fruit.
Which Tree Is It?
• 5 Clues to Narrow Your
Choices
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Habitat
Form
Bark
Branches and Twigs
Leaves, Flowers and Fruits
Habitat
• Location (site and geographic)
• Shade Tolerance
• Position in the Forest
Stratification
Form
• The shape of the crown
• Texture, color and shape of the
bole
Bark
• Color and texture
Beech
Loblolly Pine
Shagbark Hickory
Branches and Twigs
• Branching Pattern (Opposite vs.
Alternate)
• Buds
• Leaf scars
• Lenticels
• Pith
Branching Pattern
• Opposite
– MAD Bucking
Horse
– Maple, Ash,
Dogwood,Buck
eye, and Horse
chestnut
• Alternate
Leaves, Flowers, Fruits
• Leaves:
– Leaf pattern, venation, shape,
margin, texture
– Simple vs. compound
• Flowers:
– Color, arrangement, shape, timing
of bloom
• Fruits:
– Type, size, color, arrangement