Download Field Guide Determining Tree Species in the Riparian Corridor

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Field Guide
Determining Tree Species
in the Riparian Corridor
Table of Contents
Reference Links
Silver Maple
Sugar Maple
Cottonwood
Green Ash
Sycamore
Box Elder
American Elm
Slippery Elm
Hackberry
Black Willow
Bur Oak
White Oak
Swamp White Oak
Black Walnut
Bitternut Hickory
Shellbark Hickory
River Birch
Kentucky Coffee Tree
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Understory Trees include:
20
Sandbar Willow
Gray Dogwood
Swamp Dogwood
PawPaw
Ohio Buckeye
21
22
23
24
25
Additional Riparian Oak Trees:
26
Overcup Oak
Post Oak
Dwarf Chestnut Oak
Pin Oak
Nuttall Oak
Willow Oak
Cherrybark Oak
Shumard Oak
Chinkapin Oak
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
i
Reference Links
Trees of Missouri/Red Oaks
http://mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/oak_hickory/r_oak.htm
Trees of Missouri/White Oaks
http://mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/oak_hickory/w_oak.htm
Trees of Missouri/Hickories
http://mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/oak_hickory/hickory.htm
Missouri Trees
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/plantpage/flora/motrees/
Key to Missouri Trees in Winter
http://www.mdcnatureshop.com/key-to-mo-trees-in-winter-pr-295.html
What kind of tree is that?
http://mdc.mo.gov/forest/whatkind.htm
Missouri Conservation Trees and Shrubs
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/MOConservationTreesAndShrubs/contents.html
1
Silver Maple
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/plantpage/flora/motrees/p46.htm
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/MOConservationTreesAndShrubs/silvermaple.html
Acer saccharinum
Silver maple is a large, fast-growing tree found in bottomlands. The wood is used commercially as a "soft" hardwood. Its rapid growth has encouraged the
overuse of silver maple as a shade tree. However, the brittle branches are easily broken in ice storms and windstorms and the abundant fruit produces litter.
Special notes: this is one species which should be avoided in yard plantings.
Identifying Characteristics
Height
90 ft
Spread
90 ft
Leaves
Opposite, simple, 4" - 6" in diameter; 5 lobes, edges coarsely toothed, pale green above, silvery below
Flowers
In clusters along twigs, reddish green
Fruit
Winged seed in pairs
Bark
Silvery-gray on young trees; older bark gray, breaking into long thin scaly plates
Associated species
Sweet gum, green ash, river birch, hackberry, pin oak
Ideal site conditions
Wet soil, partial sun
Value to man
Erosion, wood products
Value to wildlife
Food, dens
Growth Rate
Fast
Range
2
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum
Sugar maple becomes a very large shade tree that is well-known for fall colors ranging from yellow to orange to shades of red. It is less pollution tolerant than
red maple, especially to de-icing salts along roadways. Sugar maple thrives in deep, rich soils. It tolerates poor sites with good drainage, but grows slowly. It
needs plenty of space and therefore should be used in large yards, parks, golf courses or similar locations. In shallow soils and other poor sites, leaf scorch may
develop during dry periods. Its dense shade and shallow roots prevent a good lawn from growing beneath it. Sugar maple is tolerant of shade and can be used
near taller trees or buildings. Many cultivars exist to provide a variety of shapes, fall color and drought tolerance. These should be selected when available.
Some are `Green Mountain,' `Legacy,' `Bonfire,' and `Caddo.' Sugar maples grown from seed are much less predictable.
Hardiness Zones: 4-8
3
Eastern Cottonwood
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/MOConservationTreesAndShrubs/cottonwood.html
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/plantpage/flora/motrees/p10.htm
Populus deltoides
Cottonwood is one of the largest and fastest growing of the eastern hardwoods. It makes its best growth on deep, moist bottomland soils. The wood is used for
boxes, crates, furniture and pulpwood. Cottonwood is short-lived but serves an important function by stabilizing new sandbars and bare flood plains.
Identifying Characteristics
Height
90 ft
Spread
90 ft
Leaves
alternate, simple, 3" - 6" long; triangular in shape, edges have round teeth, shiny dark green above, paler below; leaf stalk long and flattened
Flowers
male and female flowers on separate trees; flowers in a catkin
Fruit
long hanging clusters of green capsules containing cottony seed
Bark
light greenish-yellow on young stems; older bark light gray, very thick, divided by deep fissures
Associated species
silver maple, bur oak, river birch, green ash, hackberry
Ideal site conditions
wet soil, full sun
Value to man
wood products, erosion
Value to wildlife
dens, food
Growth Rate
fast
Range
4
Green Ash
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/MOConservationTreesAndShrubs/greenash.html
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Green ash is a medium-sized tree distributed throughout the state along streambanks and in moist bottoms. It prefers wet soils but is adaptable to a wide range
of site conditions. It has been used for urban plantings, windbreaks and land reclamation. Many varieties of green ash are available commercially.
Identifying Characteristics
Height:
60 ft
Spread:
40 ft
Leaves:
Opposite, compound, with 7-9 lance-shaped leaflets; each leaflet 3" - 6" long, finely toothed, dark green
Flowers:
Male and female flowers on separate trees; female flowers green, very small, in clusters
Fruit:
Winged seed
Bark:
Gray, ridges cross to form diamond pattern
Associated species:
Silver maple, hackberry, pin oak, sweetgum, pecan
Ideal site conditions
Wet soil, full sun
Value to man
Erosion control, landscaping, wood products, windbreaks
Value to wildlife
Food, dens
Growth Rate
Fast
Range:
5
American Sycamore
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/MOConservationTreesAndShrubs/asycamore.html
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/plantpage/flora/motrees/p39.htm
Platanus occidentalis
Sycamore is one of the largest eastern hardwoods. It is tolerant of wet soil conditions and is found in rich river bottoms. Sycamore can be used to stabilize
streambanks along with other bottomland species, where it provides nest sites for large birds such as bald eagles and great blue herons. It is also a pioneer
species in old fields.
Identifying Characteristics
Height
90 ft
Spread
90 ft
Leaves
Alternate, simple, 4" - 8" in diameter with 3-5 main lobes; edges coarsely toothed, yellow-green above, paler below
Flowers
Tiny; greenish, in 1-2 ball-like drooping clusters
Fruit
Many seeded ball 1" - 1 l/2" in diameter on a stem 3" - 6" long; each seed attached to a hairy plume
Bark
Distinctive smooth whitish and mottled bark on upper trunk and branches; lower bark thin, dark brown, scaly
Associated species:
Cottonwood, sweet gum, river birch, silver maple, green ash, pin oak
Ideal site conditions
Wet soil, partial sun
Value to man
Landscaping, wood products, erosion
Value to wildlife
Dense, cover
Growth Rate
Fast
Range
6
Box Elder
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxelder
(Acer negundo)
Box elder is native to portions of the southern tier and Susquehana Valley, but has become more broadly established throughout many parts of
the state. Box elder grows commonly along the banks of streams and rivers, and may occur as a weedy species in urban areas where its seeds
are able to germinate. Box elder has a soft wood that has no commercial value, but is important for wildlife and the stabilization of stream
banks where it grows. Box elder is not recommended for horticultural plantings.
Bark - smooth on younger trees but soon developing narrow ridges and shallow furrows. Ridges and furrows are interlacing. Bark on mature
trees is dark brown.
Twigs - moderate to very stout, smooth and covered with a waxy film giving the twig a shiny green to
purple color.
Winter buds - white and covered with a
hairy scale. Buds held tightly against the
twig. Buds are located on the twig within leaf scars having a "v-shaped" notch.
Leaves - pinnately compound and opposite, usually 5 leaflets; often resembles poison ivy, which has
alternate, pinnately (3 leaflets) compound leaves
.
Fruit - large clusters of V-shaped samaras; mature in autumn
Outstanding features - pinnately compound leaves, purple to green twigs, ridged and furrowed bark
7
American Elm
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/plantpage/flora/motrees/p28.htm
Ulmus americana, generally known as the American Elm or, less commonly, as the White Elm or Water Elm, is a species
native to eastern North America, occurring from Nova Scotia west as far as British Columbia, from northern Alberta at the top of
its range, south to Florida and central Texas. It is an extremely hardy tree that can withstand winter temperatures as low as −42 °C
(−44 °F). Trees in areas unaffected by Dutch elm disease can live for several hundred years. A prime example of the species was
the Sauble Elm [3], which grew in Ontario, Canada, to a height of 43 m (140 ft), with a d.b.h of 196 cm (6.43 ft) before
succumbing to Dutch elm disease. Felled in 1968, a tree-ring count established that it had germinated in 1701.
The American Elm is a deciduous tree, which, before the advent of Dutch elm disease, commonly grew to > 30 m (100 ft) tall with
a trunk > 1.2 m (4 ft) d.b.h.
Bark
The crown forms a high, spreading canopy with open air space beneath. The leaves are alternate, 7–20 cm long, with doubleserrate margins and an oblique base. The tree is hermaphroditic, having perfect flowers, i.e. with both male and female parts, and
is therefore capable of self-pollination. The flowers are small, purple-brown, and, being wind-pollinated, are apetalous; they
emerge in early spring before the leaves. The fruit is a flat samara 2 cm long and 1.5 cm broad, with a circular wing surrounding
the single 4–5 mm seed.
Leaves
As in the closely related European White Elm, U. laevis, the flowers and seeds are borne on 1–3 cm long stems. American Elm is
wholly insensitive to daylight length (photoperiod), and will continue to grow well into autumn until injured by frost [2].
The tree reaches sexual maturity at around 15 years of age and is unique within the genus in being tetraploid, i.e. having double
the usual number of chromosomes. However, nowadays it is uncommon for the tree to reach over 10 years of age, such is its
susceptibility to Dutch elm disease.
8
Slippery Elm
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/plantpage/flora/motrees/p28.htm
The Slippery Elm Ulmus rubra[2] is a species of elm native to eastern North America (from southeast North Dakota, east to
southern Quebec, south to northernmost Florida, and west to eastern Texas). It is similar to American Elm in general appearance,
but more closely related to the European Wych Elm, which has a very similar flower structure. Other common names include Red
Elm, Gray Elm, Soft Elm, Moose Elm and Indian Elm.
The Slippery Elm is a deciduous tree which can grow to 20 m in height with a 50 cm d.b.h.. The tree has a different branching
pattern to the other American species, and its heartwood is reddish-brown, giving the tree its alternative common name 'Red Elm'.
The leaves are 10-18 cm long and have a rough texture, coarsely double-serrate margin and an oblique base. The perfect windpollinated apetalous flowers are produced before the leaves in early spring, usually in clusters of 10-20. The fruit is an oval
winged samara 20 mm long and containing a single, central seed. Slippery Elm may be distinguished from American Elm by the
hairiness of the buds and twigs (both smooth on the American Elm) and by its very short-stalked flowers.
9
Hackberry
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/MOConservationTreesAndShrubs/hackberry.html
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/plantpage/flora/motrees/p31.htm
Celtis occidentalis
Hackberry is a common bottomland species found over the entire state. It does very well in prairie regions of the state and is used in windbreak plantings. A
variety of birds eat the fruit.
Identifying Characteristics
Height
90 ft
Spread
90 ft
Leaves
alternate, simple, 2" - 5" long, oval, usually sharply toothed; leaf base unequal sided; shiny green
Flowers
l/8", greenish; at base of young leaves
Fruit
l/4" - 3/8" in diameter; orange-red to dark purple one-seeded berry
Bark
gray, smooth, often with corky warts or ridges; becoming scaly on old trees
Associated species
green ash, silver maple, red mulberry, sycamore
Ideal site conditions
wide range, partial sun
Value to man
landscaping, wood products, windbreaks
Value to wildlife
foodcover
Growth Rate
medium
Range
10
Black Willow
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/plantpage/flora/motrees/p9.htm
Salix nigra (Black Willow) is a species of willow native to eastern North America, from New Brunswick and southern Ontario
west to Minnesota, and south to northern Florida and Texas.[2]
It is a medium-sized deciduous tree, the largest North American species of willow, growing to 10-30 m tall, exceptionally up to 45
m, with a trunk 50–80 cm diameter. The bark is dark brown to blackish, becoming fissured in older trees. The shoots are slender,
variable in color from green to brown, yellow or purplish; they are (like the related European Salix fragilis) brittle at the base,
snapping evenly at the branch junction if bent sharply. The foliage buds are small, 2–4 mm long, with a single pointed reddishbrown bud scale. The leaves are alternate, long, thin, 5-15 cm long and 0.5-2 cm broad, usually somewhat falcate, dark, shiny
green on both sides or with a lighter green underside, with a finely serrated margin, a short petiole and a pair of small stipules. It is
dioecious, with small, green flowers borne on catkins 2.5-7.5 cm long in early spring at the same time as the new leaves appear.
The fruit is a 5 mm capsule which splits open when mature to release the numerous minute, down-covered seeds. It is typically
found along streams and in swamps.[3][4][5]
11
Bur Oak
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/MOConservationTreesAndShrubs/buroak.html
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/plantpage/flora/motrees/p21.htm
Quercus macrocarpa
Bur oak grows on both upland and lowland sites, but does best on rich, moist soils. The acorns of bur oak, distinguished by the very deep fringed cup, are the
largest of all native oaks. Its wood is similar to white oak and is used in the manufacture of watertight barrels.
Identifying Characteristics
Height
85 ft
Spread
85 ft
Leaves
alternate, simple, 6" - 12" long; 5-9 rounded lobes, broadest above the middle, dark green
Flowers
male flowers in yellow-green catkins; female flowers inconspicuous
Fruit
acorn, 3/4" - 2" in diameter; with a fringed cap enclosing l/2 to 3/4 of the acorn
Bark
light gray-brown, thick, divided into large broken ridges at maturity; branches with corky ridges
Associated species:
shagbark and shellbark hickory, hackberry, northern red oak
Ideal site conditions
moist soil, full sun
Value to man
landscaping, wood products
Value to wildlife
food, cover, dens
Growth Rate
slow
Range
12
White Oak
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/plantpage/flora/motrees/p19.htm
Quercus alba
The most important hardwood lumber tree in the United States and Missouri, setting the standard of lumber for all other oaks. The wood is outstanding for
making tight barrels for whiskey and other liquids. It makes its best growth in deep, moist well-drained soils of coves and bottomland benches, but is found on
a variety of sites throughout the state.
Identifying Characteristics
Height
85 ft
Spread
85 ft
Leaves
alternate, simple, 5" - 9" long; 7-9 rounded lobes, edges smooth, bright green
Flowers
male flowers in yellow-green catkins; female flowers inconspicuous
Fruit
acorn, 3/4" long; shiny brown with a thick warty cap
Bark
light gray; rough with long loose scales; becoming blocky on very old trees
Associated species
black oak, northern red oak, hickory, black-gum, flowering dogwood
Ideal site conditions
moist soil, partial sun
Value to man
landscaping, wood products
Value to wildlife
food, cover, dens
Growth Rate
slow
Range
13
Swamp White Oak
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swamp_white_oak
The Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor), is a species of oak in the white oak section Quercus section Quercus, primarily found
in the Midwestern and Eastern Seaboard regions of North America, from southernmost Quebec and southern Maine west to
southern Minnesota. It is rare south of the Ohio River. As its name implies, it is a tree of wetlands, but grows farther north than the
other wetland white oaks (Swamp Chestnut Oak and Overcup Oak). It is not a large tree, typically growing to 20-25m tall, with
the tallest known reaching 29m.
Swamp White Oak leaves
The bark resembles the White Oak. The leaves are broad ovoid, 12-18 cm long and 7-11 cm broad, always more or less glaucous
on the underside, and are shallowly lobed with five to seven lobes on each side, intermediate between the Chestnut Oak and the
White Oak. In autumn, they turn brown, yellow-brown, or sometimes reddish, but generally, the color is not as reliable or as
brilliant as White Oak can be. The fruit is an acorn, 1.5-2 cm (rarely 2.5 cm) long and 1-2 cm broad, maturing about 6 months
after pollination.
It forms hybrids with Bur Oak where they occur together in the wild.
14
Black Walnut
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/MOConservationTreesAndShrubs/blackwalnut.html
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/plantpage/flora/motrees/p11.htm
Juglans nigra
Black walnut is one of the scarcest and most valuable native hardwoods. It is prized for its nuts and lumber. Walnut grows best on deep, alluvial soils. It is very
site sensitive and growth rates decline rapidly with poorer site quality. A chemical in the leaves and nuts will kill some plants such as tomatoes and apples.
Special notes: black walnut is the state tree nut.
Identifying Characteristics
Height
85 ft,
Spread
85 ft
Leaves
alternate, compound, 12" - 24" long with 13-23 leaflets; each leaflet 2" - 4" long, lance-shaped, edges finely toothed, yellow-green
Flowers
yellow-green catkin
Fruit
nut, 1" - 1 l/2" in diameter, covered with a thick yellow-green fibrous husk
Bark
young bark smooth and gray; older bark dark brown and furrowed
Associated species:
northern red oak, white oak, tulip tree
Ideal site conditions
moist soil, full sun
Value to man
food, wood products
Value to wildlife
food, cover, dens
Growth Rate
medium
Range
15
Bitternut Hickory
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/plantpage/flora/motrees/p16.htm
THERE ARE SEVEN READILY recognizable hickories in Missouri but bitternut hickory is the only hickory tree which has long, sulphur-yellow colored
buds. It is widely distributed over the state.
The nut is nearly globe-shaped and covered by a thin husk which is partially winged along the lines where it splits. The kernel is bitter but the squirrels don't
seem to mind it. For them it is an important winter food which they store in hollow trees and bury in the ground. Forgotten buried nuts become new trees. The
leaf, ranging from 6 to 10 inches long, is compound with 7 to 9 elliptically shaped leaflets. They are usually broadest above the center with toothed edges.
These leaflets are supported from hairy stalks and are dark yellow-green and smooth above, pale and slightly hairy below.
In winter, this tree can be identified by its slender, pale gray twigs which are dotted with corky rises. The bark is nearly smooth and light gray when young,
remaining on the trunk for several years. As the tree ages the bark becomes shallowly furrowed with thin interconnecting ridges.
Small bitternut hickory trees will grow in dense shade under the tops of sugar maple, white oak, white ash, and black walnut among others and still survive. It
is a moderately fast growing tree, but short lived compared with other hickories.
Bitternut hickory wood is used to some degree in making handles, but is used largely for making charcoal for outdoor barbecuing. This wood smoke gives meat
a rich flavor and aroma. Some meats are smoke cured with hickory because of its distinctive taste. It also makes an excellent fuelwood for cook stoves,
furnaces or fireplaces.
16
Shellbark Hickory
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/MOConservationTreesAndShrubs/shellbarkhickory.html
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/plantpage/flora/motrees/p13.htm
Carya laciniosa
Shellbark hickory, sometimes called big shagbark hickory, is the largest of the true hickories. Shellbark hickory is found in the fertile bottomland soils along
rivers and streams. It occurs throughout most of Missouri with the exception of the Ozarks. Shellbark hickory can be distinguished from shagbark hickory by
the larger leaves, greater number of leaflets, large nuts and orange twigs. Special notes: this is the best tasting of Missouri hickory nuts.
Identifying Characteristics
Height
90 ft
Spread
50 ft
Leaves
alternate, compound, 12" - 24" long, 7 leaflets; each leaflet 5" - 9" long, oval, broadest above the middle, edges finely toothed, dark green
Flowers
male flowers in catkins, female flowers in spikes at the end of branches
Fruit
nut, 1 3/4" -2 l/2" in diameter, covered with a thick 4-part husk
Bark
similar to shagbark hickory
Associated species
green ash, shagbark hickory, Shumard oak, white oak, sweetgum
Ideal site conditions
moist soil, partial sun
Value to man
food, wood products
Value to wildlife
food, cover, dens
Growth Rate
slow
Range
17
River Birch
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/MOConservationTreesAndShrubs/riverbirch.html
Betula nigra
River birch is the only birch native to Missouri. It is found throughout Missouri in lowlands and along streambanks. Its ability to thrive on wet sites makes it
useful for streambank stabilization. The attractive bark and its resistance to borers make river birch the preferred birch for landscaping.
Identifying Characteristics
Height
60 ft
Spread
40 ft
Leaves
alternate, simple, 1 l/2" - 3" long, oval to triangular with a sharp point at tip; edges doubly toothed, dark green above, pale yellow-green below
Flowers
flowers in catkins
Fruit
1" long cone-like clusters of small winged seeds
Bark
light reddish-brown to cinnamon colored; peels off in thin papery layers
Associated species
sweetgum, pin oak, silver maple, green ash, cottonwood
Ideal site conditions
moist soilfull sun
Value to man
landscaping, erosion
Value to wildlife
dens
Growth Rate
fast
Range
18
Kentucky Coffeetree
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/MOConservationTreesAndShrubs/kentuckycoffeetree.html
Gymnocladus dioicus
Kentucky coffeetree is distributed throughout the state although it is most common in the western part of Missouri. It rarely grows in pure stands and is usually
found growing with other hardwoods. It is a legume and the large persistent seedpods and short, heavy twigs make this tree distinctive in winter.
Identifying Characteristics
Height
85 ft
Spread
65 ft
Leaves
alternate, doubly compound, 12" - 30" long; the axes with 3-8 pairs of side axes; leaflets 1" - 3" long, oval, dull green
Flowers
male and female flowers on separate trees; 5/8" - 3/4" long, greenish-white, with narrow tube and 4-5 spreading petals
Fruit
dark brown, heavy wooden pod, 4" - 7" long; seeds 3/4" in diameter, shiny dark brown
Bark
gray, deeply furrowed into narrow scaly ridges often curling up on one edge
Associated species
green ash, silver maple, black walnut, hackberry
Ideal site conditions
moist soilfull sun
Value to man
landscapingwindbreakserosion
Value to wildlife
food
Growth Rate
slow
Range
19
Understory Trees
Sandbar Willow
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/trees/handbook/th-3-65.pdf
Sandbar Willow (Salix interior)
General Description
A medium shrub, native along riverbanks, lakes and sloughs throughout most of North Dakota. Suckers profusely.
Leaves and Buds
Bud Arrangement - Alternate.
Bud Color - Greenish-yellow.
Bud Size - 1/8 to 1/4 inch long.
Leaf Type and Shape - Linear to linear-lanceolate.
Leaf Margins - Sharply toothed, the teeth larger, farther apart than on most willows.
Leaf Surface - Smooth, slightly pubescent on juvenile growth.
Leaf Length - 2 to 4 inches.
Leaf Width - 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
Leaf Color - Green, paler beneath.
Flowers and Fruits
Flower Type - 3/4 to 2 inches long, catkins on new leafy branches.
Flower Color - Yellowish-green.
Fruit Type - Capsule, seed attached to cottony hairs.
Fruit Color - Brown and white.
Form
Growth Habit - Medium shrub, rounded, suckers to form a thicket of wispy, slender stems.
Texture - Fine, summer; medium-fine, winter.
Crown Height - 5 to 10 feet.
Crown Width - 5 to 10 feet.
Bark Color - Brownish-tan.
Root System - Fibrous, spreading.
Environmental Requirements
Soils
Soil Texture - Performs best on deep, moist loams; found along stream beds. Soil pH - 5.5 to 8.0. Adaptable to moderately high pH soils. Windbreak
Suitability Groups- 1, 1K, 2, 2K, 2H.
Cold Hardiness
USDA Zone 3.
Water
Does well in moist sites and survives severe flooding. Not drought tolerant.
Light
Full sun.
21
Gray Dogwood
http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_cora6.pdf
Uses
Gray dogwood is useful as a low-growing wild hedge which provides summer food and some cover for small animals and birds.
Status
Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species,
state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).
Description
Cornus racemosa Lam, gray dogwood, is a thickly branched, slow growing dogwood seldom more than 6 feet high at maturity. Its flowers, which bloom in
June or July, are white and loosely clustered, and its white fruit, which appears in September and October, is set off by bright red fruit-stalks. Its leaves are
opposite, taper-pointed and oval.
Adaptation
Gray dogwood has a range of adaptability equaled by few other shrubs, and it tolerates many climatic conditions. Tolerance to shade is considered
intermediate. It is not well adapted to coastal plain conditions.
Gray dogwood is distributed throughout the northeastern United States. For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on
the PLANTS Website.
Establishment
Only seedlings of gray dogwood are practical. All should be planted as early in the spring as possible. When using dogwood for streambank planting, eroded or
steep banks should be graded before planting. Plant in the early spring with dormant planting stock. Planting after May will severely reduce chances for
success. One-year rooted cuttings or seedlings can be planted vertically into the bank with one or two inches of cutting wood protruding. They should be stuck
in a hole large enough to accommodate the root system when well spread. The soil must be tamped well around the roots. Fresh, unrooted hardwood cuttings,
easier to handle but less reliable, should be stuck vertically into the bank, leaving one to two inches above ground. A dibble can be used to make a hole. Tamp
adequately to provide complete contact between the cutting and the soil. Cuttings may also be buried horizontally two inches deep in damp soil, if the ground is
stony. Fresh hardwood cuttings, 3/8 to 1/2 inch at the thick end, 9 inches long, and made while dormant, are ideal. Without cold storage, planting should be
done as soon as possible after cutting. Plant both rooted cuttings and unrooted hardwood cuttings on 2 feet spacing in a diamond pattern. When using for
wildlife or screening purposes, the planting site should be cultivated to destroy existing vegetation. If not, the sod should be removed from an area two feet
across for each plant. The holes should be deep enough to allow for the full extension of the roots. Spacing for hedges and screens should be staggered and 2 x
2 feet, and 4 to 5 feet for windbreaks. A small handful of fertilizer can be placed around each plant.
Management
Dogwoods used on streambanks are subject to mechanical damage. The site should be inspected annually for needed repairs in the spring after heavy runoff or
ice floes. Fill in gaps by replanting or by laying down and covering branches of nearby plants. Any mechanical measures used to control the bank, Chris Miller
USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program such as riprap, must be kept in repair to maintain effective protection.
Competing vegetation should be controlled around all dogwood plants used for hedges, screens, etc. This is particularly important during the first few years
after planting.
Pests and Potential Problems
There are currently no serious pests of gray dogwood.
Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin)
No cultivars are available at this time, however common seedlings are available at most commercial hardwood nurseries.
Prepared By & Species Coordinator: USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program
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Swamp Dogwood
http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_cofo.pdf
Uses
Wildlife: Fruits are eaten by several species of birds including quail, catbirds, mockingbirds, robins, and brown thrashers.
Recreation and Beautification: Excellent landscape tree for its very attractive form and profuse white flowers. Frequently used for massing or naturalizing,
screen and border.
Status
Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species,
state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).
Description
Cornus foemina P. Mill., swamp dogwood, is primarily found along the coastal plain from eastern Virginia to central Florida, west to Louisiana and north to
southeastern Missouri. It is a deciduous small tree to large shrub, growing to 15 ft in height, with multiple trunks, 4 inches in diameter. Its bark is thick and
smooth, frequently furrowed with shallow ridges exposing gray inner bark. The plant’s leaves are opposite and oval-shaped, with smooth margins. Flowers are
creamy white, loose, and small; they occur in flat topped clusters without showy bracts. Fruits are small, open clusters of bluish to purple drupes (fleshy, oneseeded fruits).
Adaptation and Distribution
Swamp dogwood generally grows in swampy, low wetland habitats, barrier islands, and along streams, riverbanks, marshes and creeks. It is found growing
along ditches on the second road back from the ocean at Emerald Isle and found to exhibit moderate salt tolerance.
Swamp dogwood is distributed throughout most of the southeast United States. For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this
species on the PLANTS Website.
Establishment
Like most dogwoods, this species can be grown easily from seeds collected from mature, native trees and from softwood cuttings. Seeds at maturity must be
either planted immediately or prechilled. Seeds sown in nursery beds should be covered with ¼ to ½ inch of soil and mulched during the winter.
Management
Plant in moist soils in full sun to partial shade as it is tolerant to wet and/or low fertility soils. It requires little maintenance in naturalized settings. When used
for massing, pruning to within a few inches of the ground every few years promotes fullness.
Pests and Potential Problems
This plant has no serious insects and diseases except occasional infestation by scale insects and leaf spot.
Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin)
None recommended. Plants are not readily available from nurseries.
Prepared By & Species Coordinator:
USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program
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Pawpaw
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/asimina_triloba.html
Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Habit: Deciduous
Growth Rate: Moderate
Site Requirements: Sun to partial shade; moist, well drained soil
Texture: Medium to coarse
Form: Multistemmed with short trunk and spreading branches
Height: 15 to 30'
Width: 15 to 20'
Leaf: 6 to 12" alternate, simple leaves; has an unpleasant odor when crushed; yellow fall foliage
Flower/Fruit: Maroon flowers in early spring; 3 to 5" yellowish green fruit ripens to dark brown with yellow pulp; taste similar to
banana
Comments: Native; difficult to transplant; best used along edges of property; may form clumps from root sprouts; larva food for
zebra swallowtail butterflies
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Ohio Buckeye
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/trees/handbook/th-3-109.pdf
(Aesculus glabra)
General Description
A medium-sized tree with an oval to rounded crown. Unique characteristics include palmate compound leaves, terminal candle-like flowers and large globose
fruits. The largest tree in North Dakota is 49 feet tall with a canopy spread of 38 feet.
Leaves and Buds
Bud Arrangement - Opposite.
Bud Color - Brown, prominent scales.
Bud Size - Large, 1/2 to 1-1/5 inches long.
Leaf Type and Shape - Palmate compound, leaves with 5 and rarely 7 leaflets, leaflets are elliptic to obovate.
Leaf Margins - Acuminate, cuneate, and finely serrate.
Leaf Surface - Pubescent when young beneath, nearly glabrous when mature.
Leaf Length - 6 to 9 inches; leaflets 3 to 5 inches.
Leaf Width - 5 to 6 inches; leaflets 1 to 2 inches
Leaf Color - Medium green; yellow to amber fall color.
Flowers and Fruits
Flower Type - Upright panicles.
Flower Color - Greenish-yellow.
Fruit Type - Obovoid capsule, dehiscent, 1 to 2 inches long, with a prickly husk.
Fruit Color - Light brown, nutlike ovule or “buckeye,” dark brown, glossy.
Form
Growth Habit - Dense, broad-oblong crowns, becoming rounded with age.
Texture - Medium-coarse, summer; coarse, winter.
Crown Height - 20 to 40 feet.
Crown Width - 20 to 35 feet.
Bark Color - Thick, ashy gray, deeply furrowed and plated.
Root System - Forms a tap root.
Environmental Requirements
Soils
Soil Texture - Adapted to a variety of soils, prefers moist loams. Leaf scorch is a problem on dry sites.
Soil pH - 5.0 to 7.5.
Windbreak Suitability Group - 1, 3, 4, 4C.
Cold Hardiness
USDA Zone 3.
Water
Not drought resistant. Needs adequate moisture during drought, or leaf scorch may become a problem.
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Additional Riparian
Oak Trees
Overcup Oak
http://mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/oak_hickory/w_oak.htm
(Quercus lyrata)
Leaves: Lobed with irregular broad lobes of varying depths. Leaf is dark green and shiny above; light green and
hairy beneath.
Bark: Brownish-gray and rough; with large irregular plates or ridges.
Acorns: Up to 1-inch in diameter; almost entirely enclosed in a deep, unfringed cup.
Restricted to southeast bottomlands and a few localities in east-central Missouri.
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Post Oak
http://mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/oak_hickory/w_oak.htm
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/plantpage/flora/motrees/p20.htm
(Quercus stellata) - Grows in dry and rocky upland woods, to 60 feet tall. Characteristics similar to white oak.
Although it is found in nearly every county of the state, it is most common in the Ozarks.
Leaves: Usually with five lobes, two of which, above the middle of the leaf, are broad, forming a cross with the
axis of the leaf. These and the top lobe are normally slightly indented.
Bark: Light brown; divided by deep fissures and scaly ridges.
Acorns: Small to 3/4-inch long, the cup overs one-third to one-half of the nut.
The name post oak indicates that the wood used to made into fence posts.
The Latin Stellata means "star," referring to the starlike tufts of hair on the surfaces of the leaf.
SAWMILL MEN GROUP POST OAK with other white oaks in the manufacture of lumber since the wood properties
are similar. Woods fires scar the trunks or trees, exposing live wood. This makes an easy opening for decay to hollow
the center of wounded trees. As a result of this decay final gross board-foot volume is reduced.
Probably the key identifying feature of post oak is its cross-shaped leaf. Being alternate and simple, it usually has five
lobes, is shiny green and fuzzy yellow below.
The acorn is 3/4 inch log and 1/2 inch wide. It is enclosed for about one-third of its length in a bowl-shaped cup. Forest
wildlife such as the gray and fox squirrel, raccoon, quail, deer, wild turkey and ruffed grouse make this acorn a part of
their diet.
Twigs are moderately stout, orange-tan in color. They are wooly at first, darker and smooth later. The buds are globe to
egg-shaped and wooly. The bark is light brown and divided by deep furrows and scaly ridges.
Found in almost every county in the state, post oak seldom exceeds 60 feet in height. Many poor timber growing areas
support stands of post and blackjack oak. Under average conditions post oak is a very slow growing tree.
Post oak wood is used for the same purposes as white oak except for stave bolts because of defects.
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Dwarf Chestnut Oak
http://mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/oak_hickory/w_oak.htm
(Quercus prinoides) - (also know as dwarf chinkapin or scrub oak). Grows as a multi-stemmed shrub only a few feet
tall or as a small tree Usually found in prairies and open areas of north Missouri.
Leaves: Similar to those of chinkapin oak but smaller and usually with more blunt lobes. Leaf is green above,
lighter-colored and hairy beneath.
Bark: Brownish-gray becoming rough or scaly on older wood.
Acorns: About ½-inch in diameter with small, warty scales on cup. This is the shortest of Missouri's oaks, and it
can produce abundant acorns although only 3 to 10 feet tall
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Pin Oak
http://mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/oak_hickory/r_oak.htm
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/MOConservationTreesAndShrubs/pinoak.html
(Quercus Palustris) - Under natural conditions a medium-size tree—50- to 70-feet tall—moist valleys, along streams,
ponds and swamps, but also sometimes on dry locations. The lower branches spread downward, covering a large area.
Pin oak grows faster than other oak species and has become a much planted ornamental. Grows throughout most of
Missouri, but absent from the Ozark Plateau and southwestern counties. Many specimens provide good fall coloration.
Palustris, Latin, "marshy."
Height - 65 ft
Spread - 65 ft
Leaves - alternate, simple, 3" - 7" long; 5-7 bristle-tipped toothed lobes, lobes deeply divided, shiny dark green
Flowers - male flowers in yellow-green catkins; female flowers inconspicuous
Fruit - acorn, Rounded, often striped with many dark lines, with a thin, saucer-shaped cup.
Bark - thin, smooth gray bark on young trees; older bark shallowly fissured
Associated species - pecan, bur oak, river birch, cottonwood, sweetgum
Ideal site conditions - wet soil, full sun
Value to man - landscaping, wood products, windbreaks
Value to wildlife - food, cover, dens
Growth Rate - fast
Range
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Nuttall Oak
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/MOConservationTreesAndShrubs/nuttalloak.html
Quercus texana
Nuttall oak was not recognized as a separate species until 1927. It grows on the poorly drained clay flats and low
bottoms of the Bootheel. Its leaves and bark are similar to pin oak, a tree it is easily confused with. Nuttall oak may be
distinguished from pin oak by its more elongated acorn.
Identifying Characteristics
Height 95 ft
Spread 80 ft
Leaves alternate, simple, 4" - 8" long; deeply divided into 5-7 narrow long-pointed lobes ending in a few bristle-tipped
teeth; wide sinuses between lobes
Flowers male flowers in yellow-green catkins; female flowers inconspicuous
Fruit acorn, 3/4" - 1 l/4" long, oblong, usually dark-striped; 1/4 - l/2 enclosed by a deep thick cup
Bark gray and smooth; becoming dark and furrowed into flat, scaly ridges
Associated species green ash, sweetgum, baldcypress, bur oak, silver maple
Ideal site conditions wet soil, full sun
Value to man landscaping, wood products, windbreaks
Value to wildlife food, cover, dens
Growth Rate fast
Range
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Willow Oak
http://mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/oak_hickory/r_oak.htm
(Quercus phellos)
A medium-size oak, to 75 feet tall, growing on poorly drained soils and swampy woods. Restricted to southeast
Missouri. May do well when planted as ornamental throughout Missouri.
Leaves: Narrow, lance-shaped, willowlike; much narrower than the similar shingle-oak leaves, light green above
with a pointed tip.
Bark: Smooth and gray on young trees; later becoming darker and breaking into thick rough ridges separated by
irregular fissures.
Acorns: Small, only one-half-inch long, pale brownish-yellow, with striped nuts. The bitter nuts are important food
for ducks.
Phellos, Greek, means "cork"
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Cherrybark Oak
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/MOConservationTreesAndShrubs/cherrybarkoak.html
Quercus pagoda
Cherrybark oak is found in the bottomland forests of southeast Missouri. It prefers rich, well-drained bottomland soils.
It is among the largest of the southern oaks and its wood is rated superior to any of the other oaks in the South.
Identifying Characteristics
Height 100 ft
Spread 90 ft
Leaves alternate, simple; variable in shape; 5-11 irregular lobes, with the top of the lobes at nearly right angles to the
midrib; shiny dark green above, pale and hairy below
Flowers male flowers in yellow-green catkins; female flowers inconspicuous
Fruit acorn, l/2" in diameter; l/2 enclosed with a flat, saucer-shaped cup
Bark nearly black; broken into shallow fissures; on older trees, resembling the bark of black cherry
Associated species shellbark hickory, sweetgum, Shumard oak, tulip tree, white oak
Ideal site conditions wet soil, full sun
Value to man landscaping, wood products, erosion
Value to wildlife food, cover, dens
Growth Rate fast
Range
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Shumard Oak
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/MOConservationTreesAndShrubs/shumardoak.html
Quercus shumardii
Shumard oak is one of the largest of the southern red oaks. It extends northward into central and southern Missouri and
is found along drainages and river bottoms. The wood is commercially valuable and it also makes a handsome shade
tree.
Identifying Characteristics
Height 90 ft
Spread 90 ft
Leaves alternate, simple, 3" - 7" long; deeply divided into 5-9 lobes with bristle-tipped teeth, shiny dark green above
Flowers male flowers in yellow-green catkins; female flowers inconspicuous
Fruit acorn, 5/8" - 1" long; l/4 - 1/3 enclosed by a shallow cup
Bark gray and smooth; becoming dark gray and slightly furrowed into ridges
Associated species northern red oak, white oak, hickory, white ash, flowering dogwood
Ideal site conditions moist soil, partial sun
Value to man landscaping, wood products, windbreaks
Value to wildlife food, cover, dens
Growth Rate medium
Range
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Chinkapin Oak
http://mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/oak_hickory/w_oak.htm
Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) - (also known as chestnut oak; Steyermark: Q. prinoides). Grows both
on dry, rocky uplands and moist bottomlands throughout Missouri, to 100 feet tall.
Leaves: Coarsely serrated (like saw teeth) along entire margin, either narrow or wide oblong, wider above the
middle, ending in a pointed tooth (but no bristles).
Bark: Ashy gray; rough and flaky
Acorns: Small, to 3/4-inch long, dark chestnut colored, the cup usually with a short fringe, covering one-third to
one-half of the nut.
Chinkapin is the name of a shrubby chestnut, which has leaves similar to this oak.
Muehlenbergii (often misspelled) for the botanist Gotthilf Henry Ernest Muehlenberg, 1753-1815.
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