NATIVE PLANTS

 Sycamore

Kingdom: Plantae 

  Class: Magnoliopsida

    Order: Proteales

      Family: Platanaceae

        Genus: Platanus

          Species: Platanus occidentalis L.

Description:

    Sycamore trees are commonly found along the banks of rivers, streams, and lakes. They are monoecious, meaning the male and female flowers occur on the same tree. The flowers bloom in the late spring are wind pollinated and not very showy. When the seed pods eventually fall off, they are easily transported by water to another place because they float. Sycamore trees have large alternate leaves with 3 to 5 lobes and a single leaf attached at each node. Sycamores are deciduous, as such they loose their leaves in the fall. Fortunately, Sycamore trees have distinctive bark making identification in the winter easy. They have a smooth bark that peals with age too expose younger white bark makes. Often, these trees grow 75 to 100 feet tall.  

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White Oak

Kingdom: Plantae

  Class: Magnoliopsida

    Order: Fagales

      Family: Fagaceae

        Genus: Quercus

          Species: Quercus alba L.

 

Description:

    White oaks are deciduous trees that prefer moist to dry well-draining soil. The leaves of a white oak are distinctive from other oaks because they have 7 to 9 rounded lobes. White oaks are monoecious, therefore, each tree has male and female reproductive parts. The buds bloom in the spring and are wind pollinated. They bear acorns. The bark of white oak trees is light grey. They usually grow up to 80 feet. 

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Black Oak

Kingdom: Plantae

  Class: Magnoliopsida

    Order: Fagales

      Family: Fagaceae

        Genus: Quercus

          Species: Quercus velutina Lam.

 

Description:

    Black oaks can be difficult to distinguish from other oak species. Their leaves usually have 5 to 9 lobes with sharp points. The size can differ on the amount of sunlight received. The upper side of the leaves is shiny, dark green and the underside is dull, pale green. They produce acorns. The bark is dark grey with deep furrows. Black oaks can grow up to 80 feet tall. 

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Red Maple

Kingdom: Plantae

  Class: Magnoliopsida

    Order: Sapindales

      Family: Sapindaceae

        Genus: Acer

          Species: Acer rubrum L.

 

Description:

    Red maple trees are also native to this range. They are deciduous trees that prefer moist to dry soil. They usually grow between 20 to 40 feet. However, some grow up to 100 feet. Maples leaves have 3 to 5 lobes and are oppositely arranged. They bloom in early spring before the leaves open. The trees are wind pollinated and bear winged fruit that are distributed by the wind. 

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Eastern White Pine

Kingdom: Plantae

  Class: Pinopsida

    Order: Pinales

      Family: Pinaceae

        Genus: Pinus

          Species: Pinus strobus L.

Description:

    The eastern white pine is a common evergreen tree. It is the tallest tree in the East, growing on average between 80 to 110 feet tall. Pine trees can be identified by their blue-green needle-like leaves that are 2 to 4 inches longs have 5 per cluster. The species is more shade-tolerant than most pines. Pine trees bear pinecones that are 3 to 10 inches long. 

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Black Walnut

Kingdom: Plantae

  Class: Magnoliopsida

    Order: Fagales

      Family: Juglandaceae

        Genus: Juglans

          Species: Juglans nigra L.

Description:

    The black walnut tree is a large deciduous tree that usually grows up to 100 feet tall. The species is monoecious with male and female flowers appearing in the late spring. The leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, 12 to 24 inches long with 10 to 24 leaflets. The tree produces round fruits that are ~2 inches across, with a thick, green indehiscent husk that does not split open to release the seed when it ripens. In late summer to fall, the nut matures to contains a sweet, oily walnut. 

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White Ash

Kingdom: Plantae

  Class: Magnoliopsida

    Order: Lamiales

      Family: Oleaceae

        Genus: Fraxinus

          Species: Fraxinus americana L.

Description:

    The white ash tree was once a common deciduous tree found throughout most of Virginia. Unfortunately, the invasive Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has nearly wiped out the hardwood species. Ash trees are characterized by having opposite, compound leaves with 5 to 9 leaflets, although usually 7. The leaves are 8 to 12 inches in length, with individual leaflets 2 to 6 inches in length. Ash trees can grow 50 to 80 feet tall.

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Eastern Hemlock

Kingdom: Plantae

  Class: Pinopsida

    Order: Pinales

      Family: Pinaceae

        Genus: Tsuga

          Species: Tsuga canadensis L.

Description:

    Eastern hemlocks are typically found in shady, moist habitats. These evergreen species help maintain moisture and moderate stream temperatures. Hemlocks have needles that are about ½ inch long. They are flat and dark green on top with two parallel white stripes underneath. Unfortunately, hemlocks are threatened by the invasive woolly adelgid which is an aphid-like insect that slowly kills the tree.

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Eastern Red Cedar

Kingdom: Plantae

  Class: Pinopsida

    Order: Pinales

      Family: Cupressaceae

        Genus: Juniperus

          Species: Juniperus virginiana L.

Description:

    The eastern red cedar is another evergreen species that is commonly found along the South River. Eastern red cedars is easy to identify by it’s scale-like needles. The species bears blueish colored cones that look like fruits. Red cedars tend to grow 40 to 50 feet tall. 

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Flowering Dogwood

Kingdom: Plantae

  Class: Magnoliopsida

    Order: Cornales

      Family: Cornaceae

       Genus: Cornus

         Species: Cornus florida L.

Description:

    The flowering dogwood is another important native species. Flowering dogwood leaves are opposite, unlobed, simple, and entire. It produces white showy flowers in the spring that mature into red berries which serves as a vital source of energy for migrating birds in the fall. They grow on average 20 to 35 feet tall. 

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References:

Joe Boggs, & Boggs, J. (n.d.). Heavy Maple Seed production. BYGL. Retrieved from: https://bygl.osu.edu/node/284

Common Trees of the North Carolina Piedmont - Cornus florida L. (Flowering dogwood). (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://www.ibiblio.org/openkey/intkey/  

Cornus Florida. Plant Information Center. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://www.ibiblio.org/pic/Tree_pages/Cornus_florida.htm  

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7250.html

Oak Tree flowers. Tree Guide UK. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://www.treeguideuk.co.uk/oak-tree-flowers/

Red Maple Tree. Nature Hills Nursery. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://www.naturehills.com/red-maple

Virginia Tech Dendrology Fact sheet. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=32

Welcome to the online virtual flora of Wisconsin. Online Virtual Flora of Wisconsin Home. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://wisflora.herbarium.wisc.edu/index.php  

White ash. Natural Resource Stewardship. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/forestry/iowa_trees/trees/white_ash.html  

Yale University. Eastern Red-Cedar | Yale Nature Walk. (2020, February 6). Retrieved from: https://naturewalk.yale.edu/trees/cupressaceae/juniperus-virginiana/eastern-red-cedar-109