Tree Identification and EcologyThe Morton Arboretum

Instructor: Christopher David Benda

Camel Rock at Garden of the Gods Wilderness

Christopher Benda – Natural Areas Ecologist

Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Update

Degognia Canyon – Jackson County

Photo credit – Randy Nyboer

Statewide Project5 Regional Ecologists

High Quality Natural Communities

What is a Natural Area?

0.07% in a natural condition

Illinois Native Plant SocietySouthern Chapter

www.facebook.com/southernillinoisplants

Technical Expert

Consultant

The Flora of Southern Illinois

Chigger Poem

Icebreaker Exercise

Plant Resources for Southern Illinois

Field Guide Books & Websites

What do you notice about the

arrangement of the textbook?

Basic Plant Reproduction, Structure, and Terminology

Monoecious(one house)

Vs. Dioecious

(two houses)

Flowers

Perfect(monoecious plants)

Vs. Imperfect

(monoecious and dioecious plants)

Two Types of Flowers:

• 1. Perfect (Complete): flowers containing BOTH male (stamen) and female (pistil) sexual parts.

• Automatically monoecious

• The male part is termed the Stamen which consists of the anther and filament.

• The female part is the Pistil, which consists of the stigma, style and ovary.

• 2. Imperfect (Imcomplete): Flowers containing the reproductive parts of only one sex.

• These imperfect flowers may be on the same plant (monoecious),

• or on separate plants (dioecious).

Imperfect flowers

Staminate Vs.

Pistillate

Obligate(requires specific

conditions for survival)Vs.

Facultative(requires general

conditions for survival)

Plant Taxonomy•Non-Vascular

•Early Plants (spores)•Archaeplastida (algae)•Bryophyta (mosses)•Marchantiophyta (liverworts)•Anthocerophyta (hornworts)

•Vascular•Seedless plants

•Pteridophyta (Ferns)•Equisetaceae (Horsetail)•Isoetaceae (Quillwort)•Lycopodiaceae (Clubmoss)•Marsileaceae (Water-Clover)•Selaginellaceae (Spikemoss)

•Seed Plants•Gymnosperms (Conifers/Evergreens)

•Juniperus, Pinus, Taxodium•Angiosperms (Flowering Plants)

•Monocots (Greenbrier, (Smilax))•Dicots (most other flowering plants), (Oaks, Hickories, etc.)

Binomial Nomenclature

“The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their rightful names.”

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species

Animalia Cordata Reptilia Testudines Emydidae Emydoidea E. blandingii

The Top Ten reasons for using scientific names

Understand the meaning of the names!

Latin Pronunciation

Pronounce every letter except diphthongsEchinacea, Tradescantia, Opuntia, Ambrosia

“ch” is a “k” sound Polystichum, Heuchera, Aristolochia

If a word has two syllables, the accent always goes with the next to the last (called the penult); e.g., Àcer.

If a word has three or more syllables, the accent always goes either with the next to the last (penult) or the third from the last (called the antepenult).

Synandra hispidula, Onoclea sensibilis, Liriodendron tulipifera phyllum – rhizophyllum, Podophyllum, triphyllum

ae Pellaea, Arisaema, Chamaecristaau Daucus carotaEu Teucrium, LeucanthemumOe (phoebe), Platanthera peramoena, IpomoeaUi Equisetum

“oi” is not a diphthong!Pleopeltis polypodioides

Pronounce when ending with “e”Silene, canadense, sessile, hyemale

Latinized last names (one or two i’s) Dodecatheon frenchii, Emydoidea blandingii

Most trees have been feminized!Quercus rubra, Fagus grandifolia, Ulmus americana

Gymnosperms Vs.

Angiosperms

• 1. Gymnosperms (“Naked Seeds”): plants that don’t produce a protective fruit around the seed.

• Ex: all the conifers-pines, cedar, spruce, and cypress.

Illinois Gymnosperms • Cypressaceae – Cypress family

– Juniperus – 3 species• communis (Ground Juniper, rare)• horizontalis (Trailing Juniper, rare)• virginiana (Eastern Red Cedar)

– Thuja – 1 species• occidentalis (White Cedar, rare)

Red Cedar - Juniperus virginiana

Illinois Gymnosperms • Ginkgoaceae – Ginkgo family

– Ginkgo – 1 species• biloba (Ginkgo)

Illinois Gymnosperms • Pinaceae – Pine family

– Larix – 2 species• decidua* (European Larch)• laricina (Tamarack, rare)

– Picea – 2 species• abies* (Norway Spruce)• mariana* (Black Spruce)

Illinois Gymnosperms • Pinaceae – Pine family

– Pinus – 10 species• banksiana (Jack Pine)• echinata (Short-leaf Pine, rare)• nigra* (Austrian Pine)• resinosa (Red Pine, rare)• rigida* (Pitch Pine)• strobus (White Pine)• sylvestris* (Scots Pine)• taeda (Loblolly Pine)• 2 others

Illinois Gymnosperms • Taxaceae – Yew family

– Taxus – 1 species• canadensis (Canada Yew, rare)

• Taxodiaceae – Bald Cypress family– Taxodium – 1 species

• distichum (Bald Cypress)

Cypress Swamp – Little Black Slough

Buttonland Swamp – Lower Cache River

• 2. Angiosperms (“Hidden Seeds”): flowering plants, seed is encased in a protective fruit.

• This is the dominant group of plants on Earth today.– Monocots– Dicots (Eudicots)

AngiospermsMonocot

Vs.Dicot

Seed

Mo

no

cots

Eu

dic

ots

One cotyledon in seed

FlowerRoot

Root xylem andphloem in a ring

Vascular bundlesscattered in stem

Leaf veins formaparallel pattern

Flower parts in threesand multiples of three

Flower parts in fours orfives and their multiples

Leaf veins formanet pattern

Vascular bundlesin a distinct ring

Root phloem betweenarms of xylemTwo cotyledons in seed

Stem Leaf

Monocot vs. Dicot

Common Woody Angiosperms • Aceraceae (Maple family)

– Acer - 11 species• barbatum (Southern Sugar Maple)• campestre (Hedge Maple)• ginnala (Amur Maple)• negundo (Box Elder)• nigrum (Black Maple)• palmatum (Japanese Maple)• platanoides (Norway Maple)• pseudoplatanus (Sycamore Maple)• rubrum (Red Maple)• saccharinum (Silver Maple)• saccharum (Sugar Maple)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Anacardiaceae (Cashew or Sumac

family)– Rhus – 4 species

• aromatica (Fragrant Sumac)• copallina (Winged Sumac)• glabra (Smooth Sumac)• typhina (Staghorn Sumac)

– Toxicodendron – 4 species• radicans (Poison Ivy)• vernix (Poison Sumac)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Annonaceae (Custard Apple family)

– Asimina - 1 species• triloba (paw-paw)

• Betulaceae (Birch family)– Alnus – 3 species

• glutinosa (Black Alder)• incana (Speckled Alder)• serrulata (Smooth Alder)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Betulaceae (Birch family)

– Betula – 8 species• alleghaniensis (Yellow Birch, rare)• nigra (River Birch)• papyrifera (Paper Birch, rare)• pumila (Dwarf Birch, rare)• 2 other species and 2 hybrids, (rare)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Caprifoliaceae

– Lonicera – 19 species• dioica – (Red Honeysuckle)• flava – (Yellow Honeysuckle, rare)• japonica* (Japanese Honeysuckle)• maackii* (Amur Honeysuckle)• tatarica* (Tartarian Honeysuckle)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Caprifoliaceae

– Sambucus – 2 species• canadensis (Elderberry)• racemosa (Red-berried Elder)

– Symphoricarpos – 1 species• albus* (Snowberry)• occidentalis (Wolfberry)• orbiculatus (Coralberry)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Caprifoliaceae

– Viburnum – 13 species• acerifolium (Maple-leaved Arrowwood)• dentatum* (Arrowwood)• lentago (Nannyberry)• prunifolium (Black Haw)• rafinesquianum (Downy Arrowwood)• recognitum (Smooth Arrowwood)• rufidulum (Rusty Black Haw)• trilobum (High-bush Cranberry, rare)

Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle family)

Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle family)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Corylaceae (Hazelnut family)

– Carpinus – 1 species• caroliniana (Musclewood, Blue Beech)

– Corylus – 1 species• americana (Hazelnut)

– Ostrya – 1 species• virginiana (Ironwood, Eastern Hop

Hornbeam)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Cornaceae (Dogwood family)

– Cornus – 12 species• alternifolia (Alternate-leaved Dogwood)• amomum (Swamp Dogwood)• canadensis (Bunchberry, rare)• drummondii (Rough-leaved Dogwood)• florida (Flowering Dogwood)• foemina (Stiff Dogwood)• obliqua (Silky Dogwood• racemosa (Gray Dogwood)• rugosa (Round-leaved Dogwood)• sericea (Red-osier Dogwood)• 2 non-native (alba and mas)

Flowering Dogwood – Cornus florida

Common Woody Angiosperms • Ebenaceae (Ebony family)

– Diospyros – 1 species• virginiana (Persimmon)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Ericaceae (Heath family)

– Gaylussacia – 1 species• baccata (Black Huckleberry)

– Rhododendron – 2 species• prinophyllum – (Wild Azalea)

– Vaccinium – 8 species• arboreum (Farkleberry)• pallidum (Blueberry)• stamenium (Deerberry)

Wild Azalea - Rhododendron prinophyllum

Farkleberry – Vaccinium arboreum

Lowbush Blueberry - Vaccinium pallidum

Common Woody Angiosperms • Caesalpiniaceae (Caesalpinia family)

– Cercis – 1 species• canadensis (Redbud)

– Gleditsia – 2 species• aquatica – (Water Locust)• triacanthos (Honey Locust)

– Gymnocladus – 1 species• dioicus (Kentucky Coffee Tree)

Redbud - Cercis canadensis

Common Woody Angiosperms • Fabaceae (Bean/Pea family)

– Amorpha – 3 species• canescens (Leadplant)• fruticosa (False Indigo Bush)• nitens (Smooth False Indigo, rare)

– Cladrastis – 1 species• kentukea (Yellowwood, rare)

– Robinia – 1 species• pseudoacacia (Black Locust)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Fagaceae (Beech family)

– Castanea – 1 species• dentata (Chestnut)

– Fagus – 1 species• grandifolia (American Beech)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Fagaceae (Beech family)

– Quercus – 21 species • acutissima (Sawtooth Oak)• alba (White Oak)• bicolor (Swamp White Oak)• coccinea (Scarlet Oak)• ellipsoidalis (Northern Pin Oak)• falcata (Southern Red Oak)• imbricaria (Shingle Oak)• lyrata (Overcup Oak)• macrocarpa (Bur Oak)• marilandica (Blackjack Oak)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Fagaceae (Beech family)

– Quercus – 21 species • michauxii (Swamp Chestnut Oak)• muhlenbergia (Chinquapin Oak)• pagoda (Cherrybark Oak)• palustris (Pin Oak)• phellos (Willow Oak)• prinus (Rock Chestnut Oak)• rubra (Red Oak)• shumardii (Shumard’s Oak)• stellata (Post Oak)• texana (Nuttall’s Oak)• velutina (Black Oak)

Xeric/Dry Upland Forest/Woodland

Blackjack Oak - Quercus marilandica

Post Oak - Quercus stellata

Rock Chestnut Oak - Quercus prinus

White Oak – Quercus alba

Common Woody Angiosperms • Hamamelidaceae (Witch Hazel

family)– Hamamelis – 1 species

• virginiana (Witch Hazel)

– Liquidambar – 1 species• styraciflua (Sweet Gum)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Hippocastanaceae (Horse Chestnut

family)– Aesculus – 4 species

• flava (Sweet Buckeye, rare)• glabra (Ohio Buckeye)• hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut)• pavia (Red Buckeye)

Red Buckeye – Aesculus pavia

Common Woody Angiosperms • Juglandaceae (Walnut family)

– Carya – 10 species• aquatica (Water Hickory, rare)• cordiformis (Bitternut)• glabra (Pignut Hickory)• illinoiensis (Pecan)• laciniosa (Shellbark Hickory)• ovalis (Sweet Pignut Hickory)• ovata (Shagbark Hickory)• pallida (Pale Hickory, rare)• texana (Black Hickory)• tomentosa (Mockernut)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Juglandaceae (Walnut family)

– Juglans – 10 species• cinerea (Butternut)• nigra (Black Walnut)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Lauraceae (Laurel family)

– Lindera – 1 species• Benzoin (Spicebush)

– Sassafras – 1 species• albidum (Sassafras)

• Magnoliaceae (Magnolia family)– Liriodendron – 1 species

• tulipifera (Tulip Tree)

– Magnolia – 1 species• acuminata (Cucumber Magnolia)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Moraceae (Mulberry family)

– Maclura – 1 species• pomifera (Osage Orange)

– Morus – 2 species• alba (White Mulberry)• rubra (Red Mulberry)• tatarica* (Russian Mulberry)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Nyssaceae (Nyssa family)

– Nyssa – 3 species• aquatica (Tupelo Gum)• biflora (Swamp Gum)• sylvatica (Black Gum)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Oleaceae (Olive family)

– Forestiera – 1 species• acuminata (Swamp Privet)

– Forsythia – 1 species• suspensa (Forthysia)

– Ligustrum – 2 species• obtusifolium (Blunt-leaved Privet)• vulgare (Common Privet)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Oleaceae (Olive family)

– Fraxinus – 7 species• americana (White Ash)• biltmoreana (Biltmore Ash)• lanceolata (Green Ash)• nigra (Black Ash)• pennsylvanica (Red Ash)• profunda (Pumpkin Ash)• quadrangulata (Blue Ash)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Platanaceae (Sycamore family)

– Platanus – 1 species• occidentalis (Sycamore)

• Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn family)– Ceanothus

• americanus (New Jersey Tea)• herbaceous (Redroot, rare)

– Frangula – 2 species• alnus (Glossy Buckthorn)• caroliniana (Carolina Buckthorn)

– Rhamnus – 6 species• cathartica (Common Buckthorn)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Rosaceae (Rose family)

– Amelanchier – 5 species• arborea (Serviceberry)

– Aronia – 2 species• melanopcarpa (Black Chokeberry)• prunifolia (Purple Chokeberry)

Serviceberry - Amelanchier arborea

Common Woody Angiosperms • Rosaceae (Rose family)

– Crataegus – 44 species• mollis (Hawthorn)

– Malus – 8 species• ioensis (Iowa Crab Apple)

– Prunus – 18 species• americana (Wild Plum)• mexicana (Big Tree Plum)• serotina (Black Cherry)• virginiana (Common Chokecherry)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Rosaceae (Rose family)

– Rosa (many species)– Rubus (many species)

Carolina Rose - Rosa carolina

Prairie Rose - Rosa setigera

Common Woody Angiosperms • Rubiaceae (Madder family)

– Cephalanthus – 1 species• occidentalis (Buttonbush)

Buttonbush – Cephalanthus occidentalis

Common Woody Angiosperms • Rutaceae (Citrus family)

– Ptelea – 1 species• trifoliata (Wafer Ash)

– Zanthoxylum – 1 species• americanum (Prickly Ash)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Salicaceae (Willow family)

– Populus – 10 species• alba (White Poplar)• deltoides (Cottonwood)• grandidentata (Large-toothed Aspen)• heterophylla (Swamp Cottonwood)• tremuloides (Quaking Aspen)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Salicaceae (Willow family)

– Salix – 29 species• babylonica (Weeping Willow)• discolor (Pussy Willow)• glaucophylloides (Blue-leaf Willow)• humilis (Prairie Willow)• interior (Sandbar Willow)• nigra (Black Willow)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Tiliaceae (Basswood family)

– Tilia – 3 species• americana (American Basswood)• cordata (Heart-leaved Basswood)• heterophylla (White Basswood)

Common Woody Angiosperms • Ulmaceae (Elm family)

– Celtis – 3 species• laevigata (Sugarberry)• occidentalis (Common Hackberry)• tenuifolia (Dwarf Hackberry)

– Planera – 1 species• americana (Water Elm)

– Ulmus – 5 species• alata (Winged Elm)• americana (American Elm)• pumila* (Siberian Elm)• rubra (Red Elm)• thomasii (Rock Elm)

Winged Elm - Ulmus alata

Leaf Characteristics

Simple leaf, magnolia

a. Simple versus compound leaves

Pinnately compound leaf,black walnut

Palmately compound leaf,buckeye

b. Arrangement of leaves on stem

Opposite leaves, maple

Whorled leaves,bedstraw

Alternate leaves,American beech

Leaf Characteristics

Simple leaf, magnolia

Palmately compound leaf,buckeye

Pinnately compound leaf,black walnut

Alternate leaves,American beech

Whorled leaves,bedstraw

Opposite leaves, mapleMADCapBuckHorse(buttonbush)

Dichotomous key demonstration

1.Needle-like or scale-like leaves1. Leaves broad and flat

2. Leaves compound2. Leaves simple

3. Leaves opposite or whorled3. Leaves alternate

4. Leaves not toothed or lobed

4. Leaves toothed or lobed5. Leaves toothed5. Leaved lobed

•Reproductive feaures like flowers, cones, and fruits are less variable•Tree age•Time of season

•Flowers available for only a short time early in the season. Why?

•Leaves easier to use for ID but not always available

•Twisg available all year but hard for most to use for ID

Opposite leaved woody plants

MADCap Buck Horse

Known the habitat and soil moisture!

Xeric - Dry - Dry-mesic -

Mesic - Wet-mesic - Wet - Hydric

Plant Collections

CC values (Erigenia link)

www.ill-inps.org/publications

T & E Species Linkhttp://www.dnr.illinois.gov/ESPB/Documents/ETChecklist2011.pdf

Plant HumorQ. How can you ID a dogwood

tree?

Plant HumorA. By its bark!

Gee whiz?! informationIf you can’t tell a joke about it, explain where the name comes

from, or tell story about the plant then:

WHO CARES!!!

Field NotebookEach Plant

•Plant name (scientific and common)•Plant family•Synonyms•Meaning of scientific name•CC value (native vs. non-native)•Leaf arrangement•How to ID (terminology)•Other plants in same family/similar species•Plant humor/folklore/gee whiz facts

Questions?