Lesson: Winter Tree Identification
Have you ever wondered how an arborist can identify a tree in the winter?
We arborists use lots of different physical clues to help us identify trees in the winter, after the leaves have long since fallen. These obvious physical clues include things like:
- Bark (think river birch)
- Persistent fruit (think crabapple)
- Form (think basswood or gingko)
Less obvious but no less effective is using buds to identify trees. Each tree species has a unique bud structure that helps us identify trees during the leafless time. Although the temperatures indicate that winter is still here, the days are getting longer. This increase in daylight is a trigger to the buds to begin developing, thereby making this time of year perfect for winter twig identification.
Use the photos below and take your students outside to identify your trees!
Japanese Tree Lilac
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Distinctive buds
Basswood
.jpg "Basswood")
Distinctive red buds
Honeylocust
.jpg "Honeylocust")
Leaf scar and zig-zag stems
Serviceberry
.jpg "Serviceberry")
Distinctively pointy buds
Burr Oak
.jpg "Burr Oak")
Another clue: check out the young bark - it has wings!
Consult this handy website for further assistance in identifying trees in winter.
http://www.portraitoftheearth.com/trees/specieslist.html
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