trees alternate simple leaves - ray a

TREESALTERNATE SIMPLE LEAVES

HAWTHORNS: THORNY TREES WITH MOSTLY UNBRANCHED THORNS

Reliable identification in this group may require examination of flowers. Leaf shapes may varyconsiderably on the same plant. Leaf characters used below apply primarily to mature leaves offruiting branchlets. For problem specimens consult the illustrations and key in Seymour's Flora of NewEngland.

Hawthorns in our area are found in old pastures, thickets, borders of woods and occasionally inwoods . The fruits of some species are palatable and sometimes used for making jellies.

SINGLE-SEED HAWTHORN Crataegus monogynaLeaves small, deeply sinused; veinsrunning to sinuses as well as to lobes.Fruit usually with only one nutlet.Small tree, occasionally thornless,which uncommonly spreads fromcultivation.

COCKS PU R THO RN Crataegus crus-gaJliLeaf base narrow. Leaves essentiallyunlobed, mostly less than 3 em. wide,glossy above. Fruit with 1-3 nutlets.Calyx lobes untoothed. Small tree.Uncommon.

SINGLE-5EED HAWTHORN

COCKSPUR THORN

20

LONG-SPINED THORN Crataegus macracantha(or C. succulenta var. macracantha)

Leaf base narrowed. Leaves sometimeswith small lobes and mostly wider than3 em., often glossy above. Fruit with2-3 nutlets. Calyx lobes toothed.Small tree or stout shrub. Uncommon.

HAWTHORN

LONG-5PINED THORN


SCARLET THORN Crataegus coccinea(including C. pedicel/ata, C. holmesiana,and C. pringle/)

Leaf bases broadly wedge-shaped or rounded.Leaves lobed (but lobes sometimes small).with some straight hairs above (use handlens), widest near middle. Calyx lobestoothed. Stamens with 5-10 pink or redheads. Small tree or stout shrub.Uncommon.

VARIABLE THORN Crataegus macrospermaOur most common hawthorn. Leaves widebased with distinct lobes, generallywidest below the middle, with somestraight hairs above (use hand lens).Leafstalks sometimes with slightglands. Calyx lobes untoothed (or withonly one or two pairs of teeth). Stamenswith 5-10 red heads (rarely pink). Smalltree, sometimes shrubby. Common.

FROSTED THORN Crataegus pruinosaFruit whitened dull red (or greenish)with calyx on a raised collar. Calyx lobesuntoothed (or with only one or two pairsof teeth). Leaves similar to Scarlet Thornbut hairless above (use hand lens). Stamens15-20 with pink heads. Small tree or shrub.Rare.

SCARLET THORN

VARIABLE THORN

21


SYCAMORE

CHESTNUT OAK

SWAMP WHITE OAK

WHITE OAK Que~usa~a

Leaves with rounded, distinct lobes,hairless when mature. Acorns on shortstalks or stalkless, sometimes sweet,edible if properly prepared. Barkusually pale and flaky. Dry woods,roadsides, pastures. Common.

CHESTNUT OAK Quercus prinusLeaves mostly with 10-16 pairs of rounded"teeth" (side veins), often slightlywhite-hairy beneath. Acorns on stalksshorter than leafstalk, or stalkless,sometimes sweetish, edible if properlyprepared. Trunk bark deeply furrowed.Dry, often rocky woods. Uncommon.

SWAMP WHITE OAK Quercus bicolorLeaves mostly with ten or fewer pairsof shallow lobes (side veins) usuallyrounded , usually white-downy beneath.Acorns on long stalks (2.5-6 cm.), sometimes sweetish, edible if properlyprepared. Bark flaky or ridged, sometimes deeply so. Mostly bottomlands,margins of streams, swamps. Common.

SYCAMORE Platanus occidentalisBark on upper trunk and branches verycharacteristic: thin brown flakes comingoff in jigsaw-puzzle-like pieces exposingwhitish underbark. Ball-like heads offruit mostly single on long stalks(introduced species with more than oneper stalk). Low woods, near streams.Occasionally planted. Uncommon.

OAKS & SYCAMORE: EVERY LEAF LOBED OR COARSELY ROUNDTOOTHED; 3-5 MAIN VEINS NOT MEETING AT LEAF BASE;THORNLESS

WHITEOAK

ENGLISH OAK Quercus rotuuLeaves similar to White Oak but lobedat base rather than tapered. Acorns onlong stalks. Mature bark deeply furrowed.Infrequently planted; occasionally escapes.

ENGUSH OAK

22

S CRU B OAK Quercus ilicitolieSmall tree or usually a shrub. Leavesrelatively small (5-12 em. long), whitishfelted beneath, lustrous dark green above.Acorns small, about 1 em. long, bitter.Dry, sterile scrub woods, or sandy-gravellyclearings. Common.


SCRUB OAK

SCARLET OAK Quercus coccineaLeaves with wide rounded sinuses reachingclose to midrib, usually lustrous above,mostly hairless beneath, turning dark redin autumn. Leafstalk slender (mostly 1 mm.thick or less). Mature acorn cup (1.5 -2.2 em. across) enclosing % or more ofacorn; upper scales of cup pressed together(not forming a definite fringe). Acornsbitter. Bark is somewhat intermediatebetween Red Oak and Black Oak. Dry woods,roadsides. Common.

PIN OAK Quercus palustrisLeaves similar to Scarlet Oak, but acorncups shallow and only 1-1.6 em. across.Main trunk essentially straight andundivided (like a pin). Main side branchesoften drooping or horizontal. Frequentlyplanted. Occasionally escapes cultivation.

BLACK OAK Quercus velutinaLeaves quite variable in shape, mostly5-7 lobes, usually dark lustrous greenabove, somewhat hairy beneath early butbecoming mostly hairless. Leafstalk thick,usually distinctly more than 1 mm. thick.Mature acorn cups (1.2-1.9 em. across)enclosing 1f3 or more of acorn; upper scalessomewhat loose, forming a rough fringe.Mature trunk bark dark, broken into short,irregular, block-like strips. Acorns bitter,inedible. Dry woods, roadsides. Abundant.

SCARLET OAK

PIN OAK

BLACKOAJ(

SCARLET & PIN OAK

••• • • •

., , r.'~ ,\ .."5:

'.' (

RED OAK Quercus rubraLarge, shallow, saucer-like acorn cups aredistinctive (1.8-3 em. wide when mature).Leaves somewhat variable in shape, mostly7-11 lobes with sinuses usually reachingabout halfway to midrib (not more than 0/.4of the way), mostly hairless beneath. Trunkbark flat-topped ridges. Acorns bitter.Moist to drv woods, roadsides. Abundant.

23


SOME LEAVES LOBED SOME NOT

SASSAFRAS

CRABAPPLE

CRABAPPLES Pyrus (Malus) spp.Sometimes lobed on vigorous shoots ofsome species . Leaves without 3-5 mainveins meeting at base. See pp. 103-1 06.

LEAVES UNTOOTHED AND UNLOBED

SOUR-GUM (BLACK TUPELO) Nyssa sylvaticaLeaves of flowering (fruiting) branchlets3·15 cm. long; veins not reaching stronglyforward. Fruits berry-like, sour, mostly \two or three on long stalk. Mature barkblocky, often deeply fissured. Leaves tumscarlet in early autumn. Low woods, swamps,shores. Common. SOUR-GUM

UMBRELLA MAGNOLIA Magnolia tripetalaLeaves Y!EE:i. large (30-60 cm. long), crowdedin an umbrella-like cluster at ends offlowering branches. Low deciduous woods.Escaped cultivation at one site in Concord.

WHITE MULBERRY Mowsa~a

Toothed leaves with 3-5 veins meetingat base, smooth above and mostly hairless beneath. Leafstalk sap milky. Fruitberry-like, dark purplish, pink or white,sweet but without flavor. Roadsides, wastelots. Uncommon.

SASSAFRAS Sassafras albidumLeaves untoothed, spicy fragrant whencrushed. Fruit berry-like, unpalatable.Dry, open woods and thickets. Uncommon.

AL TERNATELEAF DOGWOOD Comus altemifoliaLeaves 6-13 ern. long; main veins reachingstrongly forward. Mature bark shallowlyfissured. Fruit berry-like, in roundishclusters, unpalatable. Small tree or shrub.Wood borders, thickets, usually dry. Common.

PUSSY WILLOW Salix discolorLeaves narrow, sometimes untoothed. See p. 26.

DOOWOOD

24


POPLARS: LEAVES WITH 3-5 STOUT VEINS MEETING AT LEAFBASE. LEAFSTALKS USUALLY FLATTENED AND COMPARATIVELY LONG. AT LEAST UPPER TRUNK BARK SMOOTH ANDPALE (USUALLY TAN-COLORED).

Note: Atypical leaves are not uncommon in this group, particularly late in the season after stripping offirst leaves by insects.

ASPEN

BALM-oF-GILEAD

BIGTOOTH ASPEN

QUAKING ASPEN

BALM-OF-GILEAD Populus XgileadensisLeafstalks usually rounded. Leaves finetoothed (3-4 teeth per crn.), somewhathairy beneath especially on midrib andprincipal veins; young ones fragrant whencrushed. Roadsides. Rare escape.

BIGTOOTH ASPEN Populus grandidentataLeaves coarse-toothed with 5-15 teeth oneach margin, densely hairy at first,becoming hairless in maturity. Most ofbark pale-smooth. Dry, open woods, recentclearings. Common.

COMMON COTTONWOOD Populus deltoidesLeaves somewhat triangular, coarsetoothed; leaf tip tapered. Leafstalkwith small glands at leaf base. Maturebark gray, ridged or scaly. Woods, riverbottomlands, roadsides. Uncommon escape.

QUAKING ASPEN Populus tremuloidesLeaves fine-toothed (sometimes obscurely)with 20-40 teeth on each margin. Lowerbark usually pale-smooth as well. Namederives from leaves which flutter at theleast breeze. A short-lived weed tree.Dry, open woods, recent clearings, poorsoil. Common.

conONWOOD conONWOOD

WHITE POPLAR Populus albaLeaves irregularly very coarse-toothedor lobed, white-hairy beneath, very darkgreen above. Leafstalk usually rounded.Occasionally escapes cultivation .

WHITE POPLAR

25


WILLOWS: LEAVES USUALLY VERY NARROW. LEAFSTALKSUSUALLY QUITE SHORT. LEAFY GROWTHS (STIPULES)OFTEN PRESENT ON TWIGS AT BASE OF LEAFSTALKS.BUDS COVERED BY SINGLE SCALE (USUALLY VISIBLEFROM MIDSUMMER ON; EARLIER LOOK FOR DEAD BUDS).

26

BLACK WI LLOW Salix nigraLeaves pure green beneath, .5-1 .5 cm.wide, usually 10-14 times as long as wide,fine-toothed. Leaf teeth gland-tipped.Leafstalks without glands. Leafy stipulesoften prominent. Twigs becoming hair-less. Tree or shrub with flaky, dark brownto blackish bark. Riverbanks, meadows,pond shores, occasionally swamps and low,damp ground. Common .

PUSSY WILLOW Salix discolorOur only wild, tree-like willow blossoming before the appearance of leaves.Leaves sometimes nearly untoothed, 2-4times as long as wide, whitened andbecoming hairless beneath, green above.Leafstalks without glands. Tree or shrub.Damp situations. Common.

SHINING WILLOW Salix tucideMature leaves not distinctly whitenedbeneath, 5-17 cm. long, 1.5-5 cm. wide,mostly with long-tapered tips. Leafstalkwith glands near base. Small tree orlarge shrub. Meadows, shores, low ground,swamps. Rare.

WILLOW FRUIT

BLACK WILLOW

SHINING WILLOW

STIPULES

PUSSY WILLOW


WH I TE WI LLOW Salix albaLeaves 4-6 times as long as wide,usually whitened and silky beneath,fine-toothed (7-12 teeth per cm.),1-2.5 cm. wide. Leafstalk may bear smallglands at leaf base. Branchlets droopsomewhat but not conspicuously. Mediumsized or large tree . Frequently planted.An uncommon escape in low ground andalong riverbanks.

WEEPING WILLOW Salix babylonicaMature leaves whitened beneath, mostlymore than 6 times as long as wide,mostly with less than 8 short teeth percm., .5-2 cm. wide. Leafstalk may bearsmall glands at leaf base. Branchletsconspicuously hanging. Medium-sized orlarge tree. Frequently planted. Rarelyescapes cultivation to low ground.

CRACK WILLOW Salix fragilisBranchlets y§y brittle at base (breakingoff easily). Mature leaves pale beneath,mostly with less than 8 prominent teethper cm., 1.5-3 cm. wide. Leafstalks maybear small glands at leaf base. Mediumsized or large tree. Uncommon escapeto shores and swamps.

WEEPING WILLOW

WHITE WILLOW

CRACK WILLOW

27


ELMS: LEAVES DOUBLE-TOOTHED, WITH UNEVEN, ROUNDEDLEAF BASES. OFTEN SANDPAPERY ABOVE.

AMERICAN ELM Ulmus americanaWhen growing in the open, vase-shapedform of tree is dist inctive. Leavesdeeply coarse-toothed; main side veinsfork a few times at most. Fruitwafer-like, fringed along the edge.Rich soils, especially along streams,roadsides. Common (most often as youngtrees because of Dutch Elm disease).

AMERICAN ELM

SLIPPERY ELM Ulmus rubraLeaves 10-20 em. long, shallowlytoothed, hairy beneath (especiallyon veins); main side veins frequentlyforked. TWigs sandpapery rough. Fruitwafer-like, hairy at center . notfringed along edge. Common namederives from slimy inner bark. Richwoods, bluffs. Rare.

WY CHELM Ulmus glabraLeaves mostly 8-16 em. long, prominently toothed, sometimes slightly 3-lobedtoward tip; main side veins frequentlyforked. Twigs hairy. Fruit wafer-like,hairless, not fringed along edge,comparatively large (1.5 em. or morein width). Rarely escapes cultivationto roadsides.

ELM FRUIT

SUPPERY ELM

WYCH ELM


BIRCHES: UPPER TRUNK BARK MARKED BY NUMEROUS CROSSSTREAKS, SOMETIMES PEELING IN PAPERY CURLS. MAINSIDE VEINS GENERALLY RUNNING DIRECTLY TO LEAFEDGE. SPUR BRANCHES TWO-LEAVED. ~I

GRAY BI RCH Betula populifolia ~jiA shrub-like weed tree. Typical mature bark '- Idingy white, often not peeling. Leaves hair- ,less, often shiny, with tail-like tip andstraight-cut (or nearly so) leaf base. Male FEMALE CATKINS

catkins (or catkin buds) mostly solitary oroccasionally in 2's. Dry to wet soils, espec- MALE CATKINS

ially old fields and roadsides. Common.GRAY BIRCH

EUROPEAN WEEPING BIRCH

PAP ERBI RCH Betula papyriferaMature trunk bark usually clear white, oftenpeeling Bark of saplings and young branchesbrown. eaves broadly wedge-based or roundbased, usually with some tufts of hair be-neath in leaf vein angles. Male catkins (orcatkin buds) mostly in clusters of 2-3. Mostlynorth-facing wooded slopes, rich woods. Common.

EUROPEAN WEEPING BIRCH Betula pendulaMature bark white, more or less peeling. Youngbark brown. Branchlets hanging. Leaves generallysmaller than two preceding species (3-7 cm. longon fruiting branchlets). Leaf bases wedge-shapedor straight-cut. Twigs hairless. Male catkinsclustered 1-3. Escapes cultivation rarely.

RIVER BIRCH Betula nigraYoung bark reddish brown to whitish cinnamon,much peeling and shaggy. Mature trunk bark darkand furrowed. Leaves broadly wedge-based. Twigshairy. Stream borders. Uncommon.

PAPER BIRCH

BLACK BIRCH Betula lentaBark dark brown, usually not peeling, furrowedwhen mature. Broken twigs very wintergreen fragrant. Mostly rich, well-drained (dryish) woods.Common.

YELLOW BIRCH Betula alleghaniensisYoung bark yellowish- or silver-gray (often drab)and peeling. Broken twigs somewhat wintergreenfragrant. Rich moist woods or swamps. Uncommon.

BLACK & YELLOW BIRCH

RIVER BIRCH

29


CHERRIES &PLUMS: LEAFSTALKS AND LEAF TEETH USUALLYBEARING GLANDS. MAIN SIDE VEINS GENERALLY NOTREACHING LEAF TEETH. UPPER TRUNK BARK OFTENMARKED WITH CROSS-STREAKS. FRUIT WITH 1 SEED.

AME RICAN PLUM Prunus americanaFruit (flowers) not in elongated clusters. Leafteeth sharp and not bearing glands. Leafstalkglands sometimes present. Spur branches oftenspiny and sharp. Mature fruit more or lessspherical , about 2.5 em. long, with a groove orline running from base to tip, red or yellow,juicy, usually a bit sour but edible. Often ashrub. Thickets, roadsides, wood borders.Uncommon. AMERICAN PLUM

CANADA PLUM

BLACK & CHOKE CHERRIES

PLUM

CHOKE CHERRY

BLACK CHERRY

BLACK CHER RY Prunus sera tinaFruit (flowers) in elongated clusters. Leafteeth blunt. Leaves often with midrib hairybeneath ; tips not abruptly tapered. Dark purpleor black cherries have bitter-sweet pulp,edible when fully ripe. Woods, roadsides. Abundant.

CHOKE CHERRY Prunus virginianaFruit (flowers) in elongated clusters. Leafteeth sharp. Leaves with mostly hairless midribs ;tips abruptly tapered. Purplish red or paleyellow fruit is tart, scarcely palatable raw, butused in jellies and pies. Usually a shrub, occasionally a small tree. Roadsides, thickets, woodborders. Common.

CANADA PLUM Prunus nigraFruit (flowers) not in elongated clusters. Leafteeth rounded. Spur branches often spiny sharp.Mature fruit oblong, 2.5 em. long, with a grooveor line running from base to tip, orange-red toyellowish, edible. A small tree or shrub .Thickets, fencerows, wood borders . Rare.

30

PIN (FIRE) CHERRY Prunus pensylvanicaFruit (flowers) not in elongated clusters.Leaves finely toothed (10-18 teeth per cm.),hairless or nearly so beneath. Mature fruitsmall, only 5-7 mm. thick, red, without agroove or line from base to tip, edible andused in jellies. A small tree or shrub. Dry,open woods, roadsides, recent bums. Common.

SWEET CHERRY Prunus aviumFruit (flowers) not in elongated clusters.Leaves more coarsely toothed (5-10 teeth percm.), hairy on veins beneath, inclined todroop, up to 15 cm. long. Mature fruit 1.5-2.5cm. thick, variable in color, without agroove or line from base to tip, sweetishand edible. Old house sites, roadsides,woods. Uncommon escape.

SOU R CHERRY Prunus cerasusFruit (flowers) not in elongated clusters.Leaves more coarsely toothed (5-1 0 teeth percm.), hairless, more or less erect, up to10 cm. long. Mature fruit 1.5-2.5 cm. thick,red, without a groove or line from base totip, sour. Roadsides, thickets . Rare escape.


PIN CHERRY

SWEET & SOUR

CHERRIES

CHERRY

31


MISCELLANEOUS SPECIES (ALL LEAVES TOOTHED, UNLOBED)

PART A: 3-5 MAIN VEINS MEETING AT LEAF BASE

AMERICAN LINDEN (BASSWOOD)Tilia americana

Leaves large (on fruiting branchlets mostly7-20 cm. long), hairless beneath; leaf tipsabruptly tapered; teeth slender-tipped.Leafstalks 3-5 cm. long. Rich woods, riverbanks. Sometimes planted. Uncommon.

EUROPEAN LINDEN Tilia europaeaLeaves on fruiting branchlest mostly 5-10cm. long, hairless beneath; leaf tips abruptlytapered; teeth short-pointed. Leafstalks3-5 cm. long. Lower branches usuallydrooping. Sometimes escapes from roadsideplantings.

AMERICAN HACKBERRY Celtis occidentalisLeaf tips gradually tapered. Leafstalks1-1.5 cm. long. Mature bark often with~ warts or ridges . Fruit berry-like,edible. Open places, wood borders,roadsides. Rare.

AMERICAN LINDEN

EUROPEAN LINDEN

LINDEN

32

HACKBERRY



PART B: MAIN SIDE VEINS (3-5 NOT MEETING AT BASE)PROMINENT, RUNNING DIRECTLY TO LEAF EDGE

AMERICAN CHESTNUT Castanea dentataLeaves coarsely single-toothed, long (13-23crn.). Leaf teeth sharp and prominent. Dry,gravelly, mostly acid soil. Once abundant,now common as sprouts from roots and stumpsof blight victims. Occasionally maturingenough to bear fruit before dying.

AMERICAN BEECH Fagus grandifoliaLeaves coarsely and distinctly singletoothed, 6-12 em. long, mostly with12-16 pairs of side veins (introducedspecies with 9 or fewer and withindistinct teeth). Smooth , gray barkoften subjected to intials carving.Rich woods. Uncommon.

IRONWOOD (AMERICAN HORNBEAM)Carpinus caroliniana

Small tree or shrub with distinctivesmooth, sinewy-muscular-like bark.Leaves double-toothed, main veinsseldom fork. Wood very hard and tough,used (at least formerly) for axehandles. Low or wet woods, streambanks. Uncommon.

HOP-HORNBEAM Ostrya virginianaMature bark scaly or shreddy withrectangular scales ; young bark brown,resembling cherry or birch. Leavesdouble-toothed; main veins frequentlyfork. Wood very hard and tough,used (at least formerly) for axehandles . Woods, mostly rich and dry.Uncommon. HOP-HORNBEAM

33



PART C: MAIN SIDE VEINS (3-5 NOT MEETING AT BASE)NOT RUNNING DIRECTLY TO LEAF EDGE.

APPLE, PEAR, CRABAPPLES: FRUIT (FLOWER) CLUSTERS NOT TREELIKE; STALKS JOINED NEAR ONE POINT.

COMMON APPLE Pyrus malus (Malus pumila)Leaves single-toothed, hairy beneath, 4.5-10 cm. long; leaf teeth rounded . Brancheswith many spur branches. Fruit of wildtrees usually small and often "crippled".Roadsides, old pastures, wood borders .Uncommon escape.

COMMON PEAR Pyrus communisLeaves single-toothed, hairless beneath,2-8 cm. long; leaf teeth rounded . Spurbranches often spiny. Fruit of wild treesusually small (seldom longer than 5 cm.),greenish, rather dry and gritty. Rarelyescapes cultivation.

CRABAPPLES Pyrus (Malus) spp.Leaves mostly with fewer than 8 mainside vein pairs. Fruits mostly lessthan 3 cm. thick. See pp. 103-106.

APPLE & PEAR

o....r,..':, . ....~' "

APPLE

PEAR

SHADBUSHES: FLOWERS (FRUIT) ARRANGED (OUR SPECIES) IN TREELIKE CLUSTERS. TRUNK BARK USUALLY SMOOTH WITH INTERLACING STRIPES OR RIDGES. SMALL TREES OR SHRUBS.OUR SPECIES WITH 9 OR MORE SIDE VEIN PAIRS.

34

SMOOTH SHADBUSH Amelanchier leevisLeaves hairless beneath (nearly so atflowering time) with reddish or purplishcast in spring; teeth with sinuses sometimes rounded. Fruit dark purplish, juicy,sweet. Open woods, thickets, roadsides.Uncommon.

DOWNY SHADBUSH AmelanchwrarooreaLeaves hairy beneath at flowering timeand remaining somewhat hairy near baseand on stalk; teeth long and wide-spreading.Fruit reddish-purple, dry, tasteless. Dry,often rich, woods, thickets. Rare.

SHADBUSH

trees alternate simple leaves - ray a

Documents