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FIFTY COMMON TREES OF NEW YORK
FORESTRY FOR 4-H CLUB BOYS AND GIRLS
SECOND YEAR—FOREST APPRECIATION
J. A. CopE AND GARDINER BUMP
Since one-half of the entire land area of New York State is better
adapted to growing trees than to any other use, forestry is a vital part
of agriculture within the State.
Work in forestry should appeal to boys and girls because of its outdoor
nature and the possibility of combining therewith activities in nature
study, camp, and woodcraft.
Because of the number of years required to grow a crop of wood, the
boys and girls, as future land owners, will reap the direct benefits of the
principles learned and the work undertaken.
Boys and girls who have planted 1000 forest trees as the first-year
project in forestry are now ready to take up a detailed study of our
native forest trees.
To have a real appreciation of the forest is to know the importance of
the forest to agriculture and industry, to have a thorough knowledge
of the trees of which the forest is composed, and to know the relative
values of these trees in producing crops of timber. The first step, there-
fore, in the appreciation of the forest is to become familiar with the
various kinds of trees, the individuals of the forest community. They
must be met at home, in the forest where they can be found in conditions
most natural to their growth. Each kind of tree will be found to have
certain characteristics that distinguish it from other trees. No two
trees have bark, leaves, or fruit exactly alike. Varying as much as
these external characteristics of the tree is the wood, and upon the char-
acteristics of that wood depends the use to which it can be put. In
growing timber for a definite use or in choosing trees to be cut for a cer-
tain purpose, it is important to know what woods can be put to that use
or will answer to that purpose.
AUTHORS’ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. The descriptive text (pages 10 to 61) covering
the tree characters is largely a compilation rather than the result of original investi-
gations. Trees in Winter by Albert Francis Blakeslee and Chester Deacon Jarvis was
freely consulted in the matter of bark characters; Trees of New York State by H. P.
Brown furnished valuable suggestions in the way of uses; and the recently published
Common Trees of New York by J. S. Ilick was followed closely in many particulars.
The cuts for the book were furnished through the courtesy of W. R. Mattoon of the
“Forest Service from a set cooperatively published some years ago by the Forestry De-
partments of the States of Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee.
In listing scientific names The Check List of Forest Trees of the United States, Mis-
cellaneous ‘Circular 92 of the United States Department of Agriculture, was followed.
3
4 CoRNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
In order to assist boys and girls in becoming better acquainted with
the forest trees of their neighborhood, this bulletin has been prepared.
There are probably a hundred distinet varieties of trees native to the
State, but some of them are so small that they are in this State scarcely
more than shrubs and do not deserve to be classed as trees. In such a
group are the alder, the pussy willow, and the witch-hazel. Still other
varieties, while of real forest-tree size, are confined to very limited lo-
ealities, such as the willow oak and the sweet gum on Long Island. No
attempt has been made, therefore, to provide an all-inclusive list of trees
in this publication’, but rather to pick out and to describe the commoner
trees that are generally distributed throughout the State and that are
likely to be found in the average woodlot.
With this bulletin as a guide, it should be possible for every boy and
girl electing the forestry projects to become familiar with all the forest
trees in their neighborhood. As future woodland owners, this basic
knowledge of the trees of the forest will put them in a position to eut
wisely and well in bringing about better forests.
HOW TO USE THE BULLETIN
The place, of course, to study the trees is in the woods. Take this
publication along with you, look for the characters—bark, twigs, buds,
leaves, and fruit. Compare the actual specimens with the outline draw-
ines to see how they agree.
Pay considerable attention to the bark. It is always present, summer
and winter, and even in the log you ean tell the tree if you know the
bark. Keep in mind the points mentioned in the text, such as color,
and texture, whether smooth or furrowed, sealy or firm.
The twigs are interesting to study in the winter time. They, too, vary
in color; some are brittle, while others are equally tough and pliable;
some are slender, while others are coarse. A taste of the twig will often
help, as in the case of the cherries or the black birch.
The buds go along with the twigs as part of the winter study of the
trees. It frequently may be important to be able to recognize a forest
seedling in the early spring before the leaves are out. Particularly is
this true in case you wanted to transplant the seedling or if it were a
valuable forest tree, like a sugar maple, and it was desired to eut around
it and give it more light. In such instanees the buds are a very helpful
means of identification. You will note in the text that all deciduous-
leaved trees are listed as having either a terminal bud present or absent.
1For complete study of the trees of New York State, the reader is referred to Trees
of New York State, Native and Natwralized by H. P. Brown, New York State College
of Forestry, Syracuse, New York. Technical publication 15. 1925.
» Di i 6 PR ow td
Firry ComMon TREES oF NEw YORK 5
Study the winter twigs carefully. It is obvious that hickories have a ter-
minal bud as do also the maples and the ashes. But watch out when you
come to the basswood, the elms, and the birches. They may look at first
elance as if they had a terminal bud, but on closer examination you will
see that there is really a leaf sear on the end of the twig and the bud is a
little below and to one side. The color of buds will also be helpful; for
example, by a glance at the color of the bud you can tell at once whether
you have a soft or a hard maple. Under leaves you will find a statement
as to whether they are arranged opposite or alternate. This will apply
also to the buds and will help to tell some trees apart.
Leaves are, for those just starting in the study of our forest trees, the
easiest approach. As you study the leaves and compare them, look for
the following points: Are they simple (one leaf to a stem) or compound?
Are they arranged opposite on the twig or alternate? How is the mar-
oin of the leaf shaped? This is very important. In some leaves the
margin is entire (no breaks at all) ; in some, it is like the fine teeth of a
varpenter’s saw, this we have called serrate (saw-like) ; in others, the
margin is more deeply notched, as in the chestnut, the beech, and the big-
toothed aspen, these margins we have called toothed. Then we come to
the oaks and some others where the margin is very deeply cut and the
leaves are described as lobed, and the hollows between are called clefts.
‘Trees have flowers as do most of our grcen plants, but they are as a
rule inconspicuous, and high up in tree tops where they cannot easily be
obtained to aid in identification. Then, too, they are only present for a
very brief season. In the interest of using available space for more im-
portant features, the description of flowers has been left out.
The fruit of the forest trees is an important item in the appreciation
of the forest, not so much as a means of identifying the tree, but as rec-
ognizing the origin from which the different forest trees must spring.
Fruit, it should be remembered, does not mean in this connection neces-
sarily fleshy, edible products, such as apples or cherries, but includes any
seed and the covering in which it develops, whether cone, pod, samara
(winged-seed), burr, or husk. Make careful note as to the time of year
the seed matures, which is given in the text in every ease.
Some brief mention is also made of the uses of the tree and where it is
to be found growing naturally. This should round out your knowledge
and appreciation of the trees of your community.
MAKING A TREE COLLECTION
One of the requirements of the forest-appreciation project is to make
a collection of (1) a winter twig, (2) a leaf, and (3) a fruit of at least
6 CoRNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
fifteen native forest trees. We hope you will want to know all the for-
est trees of your section, but as a tangible evidence of your vear’s work a
collection of only fifteen is required. Such collections may be used for
exhibit material at school and county fairs and at the state fair.
Collecting the specimens for mounting
1. Twigs. The twigs may be collected in the fall any time after
the leaves drop. Using a sharp knife, cut a section from the end of the
twig about 5 inches long, taking the twig from a side branch, never from
the top shoot. Do not take the twig from a stump sprout or a very vig-
orous-growing young sapling as it will not be average; on the other
hand, do not collect from a small lower branch that is dying due to lack
of ight. Cut the end of the twig slanting so as to show a section of the
pith. This is particularly important in the case of walnuts. If collecting
a number of twigs in any one day, each should be tagged so as to avoid
mistakes later on.
2. Leaves. Since this project starts in the fall, there will be many
deciduous-leaved trees whose leaves cannot be collected until the follow-
ing spring, but by the end of May most leaves will be out in an average
season. Here again avoid taking specimens from little seedlings or
sprout growth. Have a good-sized notebook along when making a leaf
collection so that the leaves can be placed out flat and carried home in
that condition. In the case of compound leaves, such as locust or ash or
walnut, remember that the whole leaf must be shown, not just a leaflet.
Many leaves, such as walnut, are longer than the 814-by-1114-inch
standard paper used for the collection, but usuadly a typical, yet some-
what smaller-sized leaf can be found.
3. Fruit. It will be important to begin looking in the autumn for
the fruit of some of the trees. If you wait until June of the following
year, the collection will be incomplete.
Preparing the specimens for mounting
1. Twigs. Twigs after collecting should be stored in a cool, dry
place where they will dry out gradually. The name of the tree written
on a piece of paper and the twig stuck through the paper will keep the
twigs separate.
2. Leaves. Leaves for mounting must be carefully dried and
pressed as soon as brought from the woods. [or this, use a press such
as is provided for preparing flower specimens at school. A simple press
can be made by placing newspapers on a flat surface and placing a
weighted board on the papers.
77m
~.
lirry Common Trees or New YCrK =. i
3. Fruit. Fruit and seeds need not be pressed, but should be kept
in envelopes or paper sacks with the name of the tree carefully written
on the outside.
Mounting the specimens on paper
Standard covers 9 by 12 inches will be furnished by the Department
of Forestry for the collection. Therefore, the paper for mounting should
be not larger than 81% by 114% inches. Heavy white paper or light
cardboard, either white or buff, is to be preferred. Have also on hand a
supply of Dennison’s gummed-cloth mending tape 114 inches wide. Cut
across the tape, making little strips about 4% inch wide. Punch holes in
one margin of the paper to correspond with the holes in the covers fur-
nished for the collection.
With these materials ready, remove the specimens from the press.
Place a piece of the mounting paper on a flat surface with the punched
margin to the left. This will make all your specimens appear on the
right-hand page as one opens the book. Do not mount anything on the
other side of the sheet.
Place the leaf on the portion of the sheet nearest the center, leaving
the twig and the seed for the outside, and at least 2 inches of space below:
for the name of the tree and its principal uses. In eases of larger
leaves, especially compound leaves, only one can be placed on the sheet,
but two averaged-sized leaves can be mounted, one above the other, to
advantage, one showing the upper surface and the other the lower sur-
face. (Note the difference in the case of black oak.) Do not fail to have
all of the leaf stem along with the leaf.
To hold the leaf in place, paste strips of gummed cloth across the
stem and the points of the leaves (figure 1). Use as few gummed strips as
possible ; too many strips spoil the neatness of the mount. In the case of
the needle-leaved trees, particularly spruce, fir, hemlock, and larch, it
will be necessary to glue each needle to the mounting paper, otherwise
the needles will eventually fall off and leave the twig bare.
There is an easy way to spread the glue over the needles. First spread
a very thin coating of the glue over a piece of paper. Then place the
needles on the glued paper and press down gently until every needle has
come in contact with a small amount of the glue. Now shift the needles
onto the paper on which you wish to mount them, press them down gently
and place a weight on them to hold them in place while the glue is dry-
ing. In this way, it is easy to stick every needle fast to the mounting
paper.
8 CORNELL JUNIOR HXTENSION BULLETIN 26
‘'wies will be mounted on the right-hand side of the page. The twig
should be so turned as to expose the slant cut through the twig and the
central pith. ‘ :
Small fruits, more or less flat, such as those of black locust, maples,
ashes, elms, blue beech, basswood, and poplars, can be mounted easily on
the paper below the twig. A seed where it is easily separable, as in the
black locust or blue beech, should also be mounted alongside the fruit.
In some cases, it is impossible to mount the fruit due to its shape, size,
or condition, but it is possible to mount the seed. ‘This apples to all
evergreens (conifers), bireches, hop hornbeam, sycamore, cherries, cu-
cumber, and the lke. In these cases it will be necessary to draw a
sketch, first in pencil, then inked in, of the fruit, either natural size or toa
stated seale. In case of large-seeded specimens, such as walnuts, hicko-
ries, beech, chestnut, and oaks, it will be necessary to sketch the seed.
This can be shown natural size in every instance. In ease of mounting
fruits or seeds, glue is preferable to the strips of gummed mending tape.
Labeling the mounted specimens
In the space left at the bottom of the mounting paper, neatly write in
ink the common name of the tree from which the specimens were taken,
together with the most important uses of the wood of the tree (figure 1).
Trees must be labelled by their full names. For example, it is not suffi-
cient to write maple for sugar maple (figure 1). Learn and use the
common names given in this bulletin even if you have known the tree
by other names. These common names were selected because of their
general wide acceptance throughout the State. Do not depend on what
is written in the bulletin for the uses of the tree. If you know of other
uses, by all means put them down. Make inquiries in your section from
lumbermen and find new uses in that way.
Place the mounts in the covers provided. A logical arrangement of
sheets would follow that set forth herein. At least all needle-leaved and
all broad-leaved trees should be grouped separately. All trees in the
same family should be together, as the oaks, the maples, and so forth.
The completed collection of at least fifteen different kinds of forest
trees must be sent to the Department of Forestry, New York State Col-
lege of Agriculture, Ithaca, New York, by June 15. They will be ecor-
rected and returned so they may be used during the summer and fall
for fair and school exhibits.
A place is provided on the cover for name and address of sender. Do
not fail to fill it in.
of
>» SOS ee,
Firry Common TREES or NEw YorK
SUGAR MAPLE
Uses of Wood — Furwiroure, Froorine,
SMee Tones. ahiese lao twwooine
FIGURE 1
10 CORNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
1. WHITE PINE
(Pinus strobus Linnaeus) “¥
White pine is one of the most rapid-growing, widely distributed, beau-
tiful, and useful forest trees native to the State. It grows naturally in a
wide range of sites from the steep mountain sides in the Adirondacks
to the hillsides and valley swamps of central and western New York.
The miles of stump fences still stand-
ine in the southwestern section of the
State are evidence of the abundance of
the tree at one time in this region. The
wood is soft, even textured, very light
brown in color, and easily worked. The
lumber has a wide range of use for in- er
terior trim, sash and doors, boxes and
buckets. In fact, no other wood in the
United States has such a diversity of
uses.
Bark—thin, smooth, and greenish in
color on young trees, becoming deeply
furrowed and grayish brown in color
on older trees.
Twigs—rather slender, brittle, of a
hght brown color.
Winter buds—sharp-pointed, yellow-
ish brown in color.
Leaves—needle-like, in clusters of 5,
\ from 3 to 5 inches long, bluish green in
WHITE PINE color, soft, flexible, staying on the
Cone, one-half natural size; needles, : ;
natural size twies for two years.
Fruit—a cone, from 5 to 10 inches long, with short stalk, drooping,
cylindrical, 1% inch in diameter, tending to curve from stem to apex,
requiring two years to mature. Seeds—2 under each scale, winged, ripen.
ing in September.
|
Firry ComMoNn TREES oF NEw YORK 11
2. PITCH PINE
Hard Pine, Yellow Pine
(Pinus rigida Miller )
Pitch pine is to be found on dry ridges and slopes, in the northeastern
section of the State and on Long Island, and infrequently elsewhere.
The wood is coarse-grained and brownish red in color. The tree never
reaches a large size and the lumber is generally knotty. Its chief uses
are for rough framing lum-
ber, ties, and mine props.
Bark—early becomes very
rough and is of a reddish
brown to a very dark brown
color, with age becoming
deeply furrowed into broad
flat-topped ridges separating
on the surface into loose,
dark reddish brown seales.
The unusual thickness of
the bark makes it the most
fire-resistant tree in the
State. Clusters of needles
are very commonly found on
the main trunk.
Tuigs—coarse, brittle, of
a golden-brown color.
Winter buds—conspicu- PITCH PINE
ous, pointed, reddish brown Cone and needles, natural size
in color, resin-coated.
Leaves—needle-like, in clusters of 3, from 3 to 5 inches long, yellowish
green in color, very stiff, staying on twigs from two to three years.
Frwt—a cone, from 2 to 3 inches long, somewhat egg-shaped, without
stem, requiring two years to mature; persists on tree for many years.
Cone scales—each carries a stiff reeurved prickle. Seeds—2 under each
seale, dark brown in color.
12 CoRNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
3. RED PINE
Norway Pine
(Pinus resinosa Solander)
Red pine is a valuable, fast-growing timber tree less generally distrib-
uted than the white pine. It is found commonly on the sandy soils
adjacent to the Adirondacks and frequently on dry benches in west-
central New York. The wood
is light, medium in texture,
close-grained, pale red in color,
and is often sold as white-pine
lumber. Beeause of its rapid
growth and relative freedom
from insect and fungous dis-
eases, it is one of the best trees
for forest planting on many of
the thousands of aeres of idle
land in the State.
Bark—veddish brown in
color, with shallow, flat ridges
Separating into thin flaky,
seales.
Twigs—coarse, reddish brown
in color, roughened at base of
year’s growth.
Winter buwds—rather incon-
spicuous, with pointed reddish
RED PLNE
Cone and needles, natural size brown seales.
Leaves—necdle-like, in clusters of 2, from 3 to 6 inches long, dark
green in color, slender, flexible, remaining on twigs from three to four
years.
j Fruit—a cone, 2 inches long, without stem, requiring two years to
mature, light brown in color when ripe, staying on the tree into the next
season. Cone scales—without spines or prickles. Seeds—2 under each
seale, winged, light chestnut brown in color, 4% inch long, ripening in
September.
Firry Common TREEs oF New YORK 118:
4, RED SPRUCE
_ (Picea rubra Link)
Red spruce is a common and valuable forest tree of the Adirondacks
and Catskills, and occasionally is found at high elevations (2000 feet) in
eastern New York (Schoharie, Delaware, and Otsego Counties). The
wood is light, close-grained, soft,-and is in great demand for chemical
wood pulp. It has a peculiar resonant quality that makes it exceedingly
valuable for the sounding boards of musical instruments.
RED SPRUCE
Branchtet and cone, one-half natural size
Bark—very thin, peeling off in small reddish brown seales.
Twigs—slender, reddish brown in color, coated usually with fine pale
hairs.
Winter buds—small, pointed, reddish brown in color.
Leaves—needle-like, borne singly rather than in clusters as with the
pines, but coming out all around the stem, 4% inch long, without stalk,
yellowish green in color, blunt-pointed, 4-sided in cross section, remain-
ing on twigs from five to six years.
Fruit—a cone, from 11% to 2 inches long, borne on a short stalk, pen-
dant, maturing in one year, mostly falling off before the next season.
Cone scales—thin, entire-margined. Seeds—dark brown in color, winged,
+f inch long, ripening in September. ; |
4a. Black spruce closely resembles the red spruce and covers the
Same general range, but is confined to swamps.
14 CorRNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
5. WHITE SPRUCE
Cat Spruce
(Picea glauca (Moench) Voss)
White spruce is confined in its natural distribution to the Adirondacks,
reaching its best development in the so-called ‘‘spruce flats,’ but ex-
tending also far up the mountain slopes. The wood is in great demand
for chemical pulp. Its attractive foliage makes it prized as an ornamen-
tal tree, for which purpose it is planted far south of its natural range.
Bark—eray-
ish to pale red-
dish brown,
separating in
thin seales.
Twigs—
smooth, slen-
der, yellowish
brown in color.
Winter buds
small, — blunt-
pointed, leht
brown in color.
Leaves—nee-
dle-like, borne
sine ly and
densely, crowd-
ed on twigs,
heht shiny
WHILE SPRUCE é : l
Branchlet and cone, natural size green in color
when young, becoming blue green in color, 4 inch long, 4-sided in cross
section, without stalk, remaining on the twig from eight to ten years.
Frwt—a cone with very small stalk, pendant, from 1144 to 2% inches
long, pale brown in color when ripe, maturing in one year. Cone seales
—thin, rounded, entire margined. Seeds—2 under each seale, brown in
color, winged, 44 inch long, ripening in early autumn.
da. The Norway spruce from Europe is the common ornamental
spruce of our lawns and cemeteries throughout the State, also exten-
sively used in forest plantations. The cones more than 6 inches in
length easily distinguish it from our native spruce.
Firry CommMon TREES oF New YORK 15
6. BALSAM FIR
(Abies balsamea (Linnaeus) Miller)
Balsam fir is a medium-sized forest tree generally distributed in deep,
cold swamps throughout the State. The wood is light, soft, coarse-
grained, not durable, pale brown in color, and is of little value as a
source of lumber. It is cut along with spruce for pulp wood, and is de-
sirable as Christmas trees and for lawns.
z 5 —__ C
BALSAM FIR
Branchlet and cone, natural size
Bark—smooth, grayish brown in color, dotted with balsam blisters con-
taining fragrant oily resin; in old trees becoming somewhat roughened
with small scales.
Twigs—smooth with age, grayish in color.
Winter buds—small, almost spherical, glossy, clustered at end of
twigs.
Leaves—borne singly and twisting so as to appear 2-ranked as in the
hemlock, flattened rather than 4-sided as in the spruces, dark green
in color above, pale below with 2 broad white lines, 34 inch long, blunt,
not stalked, aromatic when crushed, persistent from two to three years.
Balsam pillows are frequently made from the needles.
Frwt—an erect cone, from 214 to 4 inches long, rounded at the top,
ripening the autumn of the first year, purplish green in color. Cone
‘scales—longer than broad, somewhat fan-shaped, falling the winter fol-
lowing maturity of cone and leaving only the erect central stalk to
which they were attached. Seeds—in pairs, winged, dark brown in color,
4, inch long, ripening in September.
16 CORNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
7. HEMLOCK
Hemlock Spruce ae
(Tsuga canadensis (Linnaeus) Carriére)
Hemlock is a valuable forest tree very widely distributed throughout
the State, particularly common on northern exposures, shaded gorges,
steep mountain slopes, and borders of deep swamps. The wood is light,
not strong, coarse-grained, brittle, not durable, splinters easily, and is
HEMLOCK
Branchlet and cone, natural size
light brown in color. It is largely manufactured into construction lum-
ber and is also in demand for mechanical pulp.
Bark—Reddish to grayish brown in color, with shallow, broad con-
necting ridges; inner bark bright cinnamon red in color. The high-tan-
nin content of the bark is of commercial value in tanning leather.
Twigs—slender, yellowish to grayish brown in color, rough when
needles are shed.
Winter buds—very small, reddish brown in color, not resinous-coated.
Leaves—borne singly, twisting to appear 2-ranked with a third row
pointing forward on top of the twig; with distinct short stalk, flat, 14
inch lone
2, rounded or notched at the apex, dark green in color above,
pale below with 2 white lines, persistent from two to three years.
Frwit—a cone, stalked, pendant, 34 inch long, ripening in one year,
grayish brown in color when mature, falling during the winter following
maturity. Cone scales—with rounded entire margins. Seeds—in pairs,
winged, light brown in color, 1/16 inch long, ripening in September.
Firry Common TREES oF New YORK 17
8. AMERICAN LARCH
Tamarack, Hackmatack
(Larix laricina (Du Roi) Koch)
American larch is a forest tree of the swamps. In the mountainous
sections of the State, it is frequently found well up the slopes, but is
confined to cold swamps in eastern, central, and western New York. The
AMERICAN LARCH
Branchlet and cone, natural size
wood is very heavy, hard, and strong, light brown in color, and durable
in contact with the soil. It is used for fence posts, telegraph poles, and
railroad ties.
Bark—smooth, light gray in color on young trunks; with age becom-
ing roughened with thin reddish brown seales.
Twigs—slender, smooth, glossy brown in color, with short lateral
wart-like branches.
Winter buds—scattered along last season’s twigs and at the ends of
short lateral branches, small, rounded, reddish brown in color, shining.
Leaves—borne singly on twigs of last season’s growth, on spurs of
older twigs, in clusters of 10 or more, flat, slender, pale green in color,
about 1 inch long, falling off in the autumn of the first year.
Fruit—a cone, 42 inch long, borne on short curving stalks, maturing
in autumn of the first year, chestnut brown in color, standing upright
from the twigs, staying on the tree for several years. Cone scales—con-
cave in shape. Seeds—in pairs, winged, light brown in color, 4 inch
long, ripening in early autumn.
18 CoRNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
9. ARBOR VITAE
White Cedar
(Thuja occidentalis Linnaeus)
Arbor vitae (meaning ‘‘tree of life’’) is a medium-sized, slow-grow-
ing forest tree rather common in the northeastern part of the State, less
frequent in the central and western parts. Dense arbor-vitae swamps are
common in Madison
County and northward
and eastward. In the
Adirondack region it also
occurs frequently outside
the swamps. The wood is
hight, soft, brittle, coarse-
grained, light yellowish
brown in color, and dur-
able in contact with the
soil. It is used exten-
sively for fence posts and
small poles.
Bark—ashy gray to
light reddish brown, sep-
arating in long, narrow,
flat, shreddy strips, often
more or less_ spirally
twisted.
Twigs—decidedly _ flat-
ARBOR VITAE °
Natural size tened, arranged in fan-
shaped clusters, and not to be confused with the leaves which cover the
last season’s growth; with the death of the leaves in the second season,
the twigs become reddish brown in color and shiny.
Winter buds—extremely minute, almost covered by the scale-like
leaves.
Leaves—seale-like, yellowish green in color, aromatic when crushed,
borne in pairs closely overlapping ; on leaves of leading shoots, glandular
dot conspicuous in center of leaf.
Frwit—aAn oblong, erect cone, 4% inch long, reddish brown in color,
persists through the winter. Cone scales—from 6 to 12, open to the base
at maturity in autumn of the first season. Seeds—, inch long, in pairs,
nearly surrounded by broad wings.
9a. The name white cedar properly belongs to a Coastal Plain tree,
Chamaecyparis thyoides, closely resembling the arbor vitae.
~Firry Common TREES oF NEw YORK 19
10. RED CEDAR
(Juniperus virgimana Linnaeus)
Red cedar, a small-sized, slow-growing forest tree, is common to the
poor, dry soils of the lower Hudson and Mohawk Valleys, is not common
in the higher Adirondack region, and is infrequent in central and western
New York, except on barren soils
adjoining the Finger Lakes. It is
found growing only in open woods
and pastures where plenty of sun-
light is obtained. The wood is
soft, light, fragrant, brittle, dull
red in color with contrasting white
sap wood, extremely durable in
contact with the soil, and is easily
worked. It is largely used in the
manufacture of pencils, cedar
chests, cabinet work, and interior
finish. As a post wood, it has few
superiors.
Bark—light reddish brown in
color, separating in long, narrow
shreddy strips fringed along the
RED CHDAR
edges. Natural size
Twigs—generally 4-sided on mature trees, green in color from the
covering of minute leaves, not flattened or arranged in fan-shaped
clusters, becoming reddish brown in color after the fall of the leaves. _
Winter buds—minute, covered by the overlapping seale-like leaves.
Leaves—various shades of green to reddish brown in color, persistent
from three to four years, 2 kinds: (1) sceale-like, closely over-lapping,
opposite in pairs, giving the twig a 4-sided appearance; (2) awl-shaped, -
from 14 to %4 inch long, usually on young trees or more vigorous shoots
and yellowish green to light bluish green in color, very sharp-pointed.
Frwt—a berry-like cone, 4 inch in diameter, light blue in color, with
bloom at maturity in the autumn of the first year. Fruit remains on the
tree during the winter, highly prized by birds. Seeds—from 1 to 2,
wingless, brown in color, covered with a thin, sweet flesh with resinous
flavor.
20 CORNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
11. BLACK WILLOW
(Salix mgra Marshall)
Black willow is the largest and most widely distributed of our native
willows, though it is rare above an altitude of 2000 feet in the Adiron-
dacks and in the pine barrens of Long Island. It prefers moist or wet
soils along streams or lakes but will sometimes be found on fresh, grav-
elly or sandy soils where it can get plenty of
light. It is of little importance as a timber
tree as it often divides into several crooked,
medium-sized trunks close to the ground and
the wood is soft and weak. It is used chiefly
for boxes, excelsior, pulp, and also for artifi-
cial limbs on accounts of its lightness.
Bark—thick, rough with wide ridges cov-
ered by thick scales, varies from light to
dark brown in color.
Twigs—slender, smooth, somewhat droop-
ing, very brittle at the base, reddish brown
in color ; falling to the ground they may take
root and grow.
Winter buds—terminal bud absent, lateral
buds small, sharp-pointed, reddish brown in
color ; only one bud seale.
Leaves—alternate, simple, very long and
narrow, sharp-pointed, finely serrate mar-
ein, dark green in color above, pale green
BLACK WILLOW below.
ee ee eee a Fruit—a smooth capsule, about Y ineh
long, occurring in large numbers on drooping tassels, ripening in the
’ spring, reddish brown in color. Seeds—within capsule, covered with a
dense tuft of long, silky hairs.
lla. The shining willow is an attractive small tree of moist soils, used
extensively for holding soil in place where erosion is to be feared and
also for ornamental plantings. Its shiny, broad leaves and yellowish
brown twigs will help to distinguish it from the black willow.
Firry Common TREES oF NEw YORK 21
12. TREMBLING ASPEN
Popple, Smaill-toothed Aspen
(Populus tremuloides Michaux)
Trembling aspen is the most widely distributed tree in North Amer-
ica. It is common in most sections of New York State but is infrequent
on the pine barrens of Long Island. It is to be classed as a short-lived
TREMBLING ASPEN
Twig, natural size; leaf, one-half
natural size; pistillate flower, natural
size
‘‘weed’’ tree, but has some value as a cover tree in slashes, burns, and in
old fields where it quickly establishes itself. The wood is soft, weak, not
durable, light brown to white in color, and is used primarily in the
manufacture of mechanical pulp and exeelsior.
Bark—on young trunks and branches yellowish green to whitish in
color, on old trunks roughened with broad, flat, blackish ridges.
Twigs—smooth, shiny, reddish brown in color.
Winter buds—terminal bud 14 inch lone, narrow, conical, often in-
curved, sharp-pointed, shiny, reddish brown in color ; lateral buds smaller.
Leaves—alternate, simple, from 1144 to 3 inches in width, nearly
round, finely serrate margins, with flattened stems which allow the
slightest breeze to flutter the leaves, from which the name, ‘‘trembling
aspen,’’ is derived.
FPrwt—a scattered cluster of small, curved capsules, maturing in early
spring. Seeds—within capsule, each with a tuft of hairs, carried long
distances by the wind when capsule breaks open. This explains why the
aspens spring up so quickly after fires on burned-over areas and in aban-
doned fields.
22 CorRNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
13, LARGE-TOOTHED ASPEN
(Populus grandidentata Michaux)
Large-toothed aspen is a medium-sized, rapid-growing, short-lived
‘““weed’’ tree developing best on deep moist soils, but occurring com-
monly also on dry, upland, sandy or stony sites, where it rapidly covers
slashes and burns. Here it acts as
a temporary shelter. for seedlings of
more valuable species. The wood is
similar to that of the trembling as-
pen and is used for exeelsior, pulp,
and woodenware.
Bark—resembles that of small-
toothed aspen, though small branches
are of a more pronounced yellow
color. The lower trunk is generally
less deeply furrowed than is that of
the trembling aspen.
Twigs—stout, round, reddish or
yellowish brown in color in early
winter, often pale and downy as
contrasted with those of the trem-
bling aspen which are shiny.
Winter buds—usually larger than
< Ex
LARGE-TOOTHED ASPEN : : E
Leaf, one-half natural size; twig, one- those of the trembling aspen, ter
Palt natural size; truit, one-half natural inal bud present; lateral buds gen-
erally bending away from twig, dull, dusty-looking, hght chestnut brown
‘in color.
Leaves—alternate, simple, from 3 to 6 inches long, roughly triangular
-with broadly wedge-shaped bases, pointed apexes, coarsely teothed mar-
gins in direct contrast to the finely serrate margins of the trembling
aspen.
-Fruit—very similar to that of trembling aspen (page 21) spread br
wind in much the same way,
Firry ComMon TREES OF NEw YORK 23
14. COTTONWOOD
Carolina Poplar
(Populus'deltoides Marshall)
Cottonwood is an exceedingly rapid-growing, moisture-loving species,
occurring locally in moist places and along streams and lakes through.
out the State except at the higher elevations. The wood is light, soft.
COTTON WOOD
Leaf and fruit, one-half
natural size; twig, one-third
natural size
weak, and dark brown in color with thick nearly white sapwood, warping
badly in drying. It is used for pulp and for boxes. The cottonwood has
been extensively planted as an ornamental tree along streets, but as such
it has few merits as it is short-lived and the roots often penetrate and
clog drains and sewers. It is not easy to destroy, for, once cut down, the
stump continues to sprout vigorously.
Bark—smooth on young trunks and branches; light yellowish green in
color, becoming thick, ashy gray in color, and deeply furrowed with age.
Twigs—stout, round or ridged below the bud, yellowish or greenish
yellow in color.
Winter buds—terminal bud present, large, resinous, glossy, smooth,
chestnut brown in color; lateral buds smaller, in many instances bend-
ing away from the twigs.
Leaves—alternate, simple, broadly Gabuealen from 3 to 5 inches long,
coarsely serrate margins, with long and laterally flattened leaf stalks.
Frwt—a scattered cluster of capsules as in the aspens, though some-
what larger (3 to 6 inches lone), arranged in long, drooping’ tassels.
Seeds—within capsule, numerous, small, surrounded by a mat of fine
hairs, ripening in the spring, conveyed long distances by the wind. The
cotton-like mat of fine hairs is responsible for the name ‘‘cottonwood.’’
24 CORNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
15. BLACK WALNUT
(Juglans mgra Linnaeus)
Black walnut is one of the most valuable timber trees native to this
State. It reaches a large size and produces highly prized wood and
large edible nuts. It is common at low elevations in rich, well-drained
BLACK WALNUT
Leaf, one-fifth natural size; twig. three-fourths nat-
ural size; fruit, one-third natural size
bottomlands northward to Saratoga and Jefferson Counties and west to
Lake Erie. The wood is heavy, hard, strong, durable, rich dark brown
in color, easily worked, and takes a fine polish. It is largely used in cabi-
net-making, interior trim, and for gunstocks. It deserves protection and
planting in suitable locations.
Bark—thick, dark, deeply furrowed with rounded ridges between;
grayish brown in color; inner bark dark chocolate brown in color.
Twigs—at first hairy, later smooth, stout, orange brown in color, light
brown chambered pith.
Winter buds—terminal bud pale, downy, searcely longer than broad,
blunt-pointed, less than 14 inch lone; lateral buds less than 14; inch lone.
Leaves—alternate, compound, with from 13 to 23 leaflets; leaflets from
3 to 4 inches long, sharp-pointed, serrate along margin, usually stalk-
less; leaves up to 2 feet in length.
Fruwt—a round nut, 14% inches in diameter, black, the surface
roughened by rather coarse ridges, enclosed in a yellowish green, fleshy,
husk, usually solitary or in clusters of 2, ripening in October. Kernel—
sweet, edible, and when properly cured somewhat easier to extract than
the butternut. It is necessary to remove the outer husk if nuts are to be
stored.
Firry Common TREES ofr New YORK 25
16. BUTTERNUT
White Walnut
(Juglans ‘cinerea Linnaeus)
Butternut is a close kin to the black walnut though not so valuable a
timber tree. It produces attractive wood and edible nuts, but branches
freely and seldom reaches a large size. It is common in moist soils, es-
BUTTERNUT
Leaf, one-fifth natural size; twig, one-half natural size;
fruit, one-third natural size.
pecially along fences and roads throughout the State, but is infrequent
in the higher Adirondacks. The wood is light, soft, not strong, coarse-
erained, light brown in color, and easily worked and polished. It is used
for interior trim and furniture.
Bark—smooth on young trunks and branches, light gray in color; on
older trunks deeply divided into long, broad, flat-topped, whitish ridges.
Twigs—stout, greenish-gray in color, often hairy, easily identified by
a dark-brown furry growth, or ‘‘moustache,’’ found just above most
leafscars ; chambered pith dark brown as contrasted with the light brown
chambered pith of the black walnut.
Winter buds—terminal bud pale, downy, blunt-pointed, from 1% to 34
inch long, flattened, longer than wide; lateral buds smaller and shorter.
Leaves—alternate, compound, with from 11 to 17 practically stemless
long-pointed leaflets, margins serrate as in black walnut; leaves up to
216 feet in length.
Frwt—a rather large nut, 144 inches lone, tapering at the end, black
with fine cut ridges, enclosed in a sticky, gr-en husk usually in clusters
of from 3 to 5, ripening in October of the first season. Kernel—sweet,
oily, but somewhat difficult to extract, much sought after in the autumn.
The butternut has the advantage of curing without removing the outer
husk. |
26 CoRNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
17. SHAGBARK HICKORY
Shellbark Hickory, Scalybark Hickory
(Hicoria ovata (Miller) Britton)
_ Shagbark hickory is the best known and most valuable of our hicko-
ries in the State. It is common in deep, moist soils throughout New
York, though rare in the higher Catskills and Adirondacks, and is not re-
SHAGBARK HICKORY
Leaf, one-third natural size; twig, one-half
natural size; fruit, one-third natural size
ported from the pine barrens of Long Island. In the forest it is a tall
straight-branched tree but in open fields and along hedgerows where it
often grows it usually forks near the ground into stout ascending limbs.
The wood is very heavy, tough, elastic, close-grained, and is used chiefly
for handles, vehicles, agricultural implements, and fuel.
Bark—light gray in color, smooth and seamy, becoming shaggy with
age and peeling off into lone strips which are loose at both ends and at-
tached in the middle, thus giving rise to the name ‘‘shagbark hickory.”’
Twigs—covered with numerous light dots, extremely tough and plia-
‘
ble, reddish brown to gray in color.
Winter buds—large, egg-shaped, blunt-pointed, with papery, dark
brown, loose bud scales, the outer scales much darker, persistent
through the winter; terminal bud usually more than 14 inch long.
Leaves—alternate, compound, from 8 to 14 inches long, with from 5 to
7 leaflets, the three upper ones being by far the largest.
Fruit—a smooth, white, 4-angled nut, enclosed in a thick, round husk
that splits into 4 sections as the nut falls after heavy autumn frosts.
Kernel—large, sweet.
Firry ComMon TREES oF NEw YORK 27
18. PIGNUT HICKORY
Pignut, Brown Hickory
(Hicoria glabra (Miller) Sweet)
Pignut hickory is a fair-sized, upland species preferring dry ridges
and hillsides throughout the State, except in the Adirondack region
where it is found only at the lower elevations. The wood is strong and
‘very tough. Its uses are similar to that of shagbark hickory.
g
yf
% 7) TRUCE ANA Os HICKORY
nr eat and fruit, one-third natural size; twig, one-half natural
Bark—typieally close-fitting, dark gray in color, marked with shallow
furrows and narrow ridges which are seldom shaggy, though sometimes
becoming detached at end. The variation in bark characteristics of the’
pignut hickory is very pronounced.
Twigs—comparatively slender, smooth, tough, and pliable, reddish
brown to gray in color. |
Winter buds—small, oval, blunt-pointed, covered with reddish brown
seales, the outer pair of which often drop off in winter; terminal bud
less than 14 inch long, much smaller than the terminal bud of the shag-
bark hickory.
Leaves—alternate, compound, from 8 to 12 inches long, with from 5 to
7 leaflets all of which are alike or nearly alike as to size.
Fruwi—a pear-shaped to nearly round, thin-husked, buff-colored nut
without ridges, 1 inch long, thick shelled. Kernel—at first sweet, later
somewhat bitter. Husk—contrasted with shagbark hickory, all or part
usually clings to the nut after it has fallen to the ground.
‘
28 CoRNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
19. BITTERNUT HICKORY
Swamp Hickory, Water Hickory, Tightbark Hickory
(Hicoria cordifornis (Wangenheim) Britton)
Bitternut hickory is occasional in most sections of the State except
in the higher Adirondacks or Catskills. It is by preference a bottom-
land tree growing on wet sites in pastures, fields, and along streams,
though it is oceasion-
ally found on_ hill-
sides. It grows well
on moist, rich soil
such as is found in
many farm woodlots.
The wood is heavy,
very hard, strong,
tough, and dark
brown in color with
paler sapwood. It is
inferior to that of the
other hickories but is
used for practically
the same purposes.
Bark—thin, close,
with shallow furrows
_ BITTERNUT HICKORY and narrow regular
Twig, one-half natural size; leaf, one-third natural fi
size; fruit, one-half natural size ridges, usually does
not seale or shag off, ight gray in color.
Twigs—slender, often yellowish in color, hairy toward the end; gray-
ish or orange brown in color during the first winter.
Winter buds—long, flattened, blunt-pointed, covered by 4 sulfur-col-
ored scales; terminal bud from 1% to 34 inch long; pith brown and un-
like any other hickory in this respect.
Leaves—alternate, compound, from 6 to 10 inches long, with from 7 to
11 long, narrow, sharp-pointed leaflets which are smaller and more slen-
der than are those of other hickories.
Friit—a nearly round nut, thin-husked, brown in color, from %4 to 1
inch long, without ridges. Kernel—bitter, not edible. Husk—clings to
the nut after falling. Shell is so thin that it can easily be crushed between
the fingers.
Firry Common TREES oF NEw YORK 29
20. GRAY BIRCH
Old-field Birch, White Birch, Poplar Birch
(Betula populifolia Marshall)
Gray birch must be classed with the aspens as one of New York’s
*‘weed’’ trees, being particularly abundant in the lower Hudson Valley
where it grows chiefly on dry, gravelly soils of burned-over areas and
abandoned farms. Though often con-
fused with the true paper birch, it is far we :
inferior to that species in size and value ; Yn, a f
of the wood. Its white bark renders it Te Sy iS
more attractive than the aspens, and the : ey e |
‘ mye
characteristic clump effect of its growth ¢&
is striking, particularly along streams. ~
The tree is short-lived and is rarely as
much as 8 inches in diameter. The wood
is light and soft, decaying quickly. In
New York it is used for fuelwood and
pulpwood only.
Bark—on small stems, reddish brown
in color, becoming with age dull, chalky
white, not peeling off in papery layers GRAY
BIRCH
Leaf and twig, two-thirds natural
as in paper birch; with distinct black size; fruit, natural size
triangular patch below each branch where it joins the stem.
Twigs—slender, reddish brown in color, becoming dull chalky white
with age.
Winter buds—small, smooth, pointed, brownish in color, in many in-
stances bending away from the twigs; end bud on the season’s growth
not terminal.
Leaves—alternate, simple, from 3 to 4 inches long, triangular in shape,
very long-pointed, shiny on upper surface, margin coarsely serrate.
Frwit—a slender, erect, cone-like structure, 34 inch long, 14 inch thick,
on a short stalk; consisting of winged nutlets and 3-lobed scales in alter-
nate layers; both become detached from the central stem in late autumn
and winter. Seeds—minute, broad wines, spread by the wind.
30 CoRNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
21. PAPER BIRCH
Canoe Birch, White Birch
(Betula papyrifera Marshall)
Paper birch is well known throughout the Adirondacks and the Cat-
skills and along the highlands of the Susquehanna and Delaware drain-
age on account of its white, papery bark. This tree grows on a wide
range of soils; it thrives along lakes, streams, and swamps, and main-
PAPER BIRCH
Twig, one-half natural size; leaf and fruit, natural
size
tains itself on the higher slopes of our mountains. Spools, woodenware,
shoe lasts, wood pulp, and fuel wood are made from its light, strong
tough, hard, ight brown wood.
Bark—on young stems, golden to reddish brown in color, early be-
coming chalky white and peeling off in thin, papery layers, which once
separated from the tree are never renewed. Because it is tough, resinous,
durable, and impervious to water, it was the choice of all northern In-
dians for their canoes. Now it is the choice of the souvenir hunter.
Twigs—stouter than those in gray birch, dull reddish brown in color.
Winter buds—terminal bud absent as in gray birch; lateral buds
small, sharp-pointed, bending away from twig.
Leaves—simple, alternate, blunt-pointed rather than slender at apex,
from 2 to 3 inches long, coarsely serrate on margin; at maturity dull
dark green in color above, paler below. .
Frwit—a cone-like structure as in the gray birch, 1 inch long, 14 inch
thick, usually pendant rather than erect; nutlets and bracts falling in
late autumn and winter as with other birches.
a)
Y
—
Fiery Common TREES oF New YorRK 31
22. BLACK BIRCH
Cherry Birch, Sweet Birch
(Betula lenta Linnaeus)
Black birch yields a variety of useful products. From Lake Cham-
plain and the Hudson River Valley to Lake Hrie, except along the
higher mountains, in moist or dry, gravelly or rocky soils, its twigs are
well known to boys and girls for their wintergreen flavor. The wood is
BLACK BIRCH '
Leaf and twig, one-half natural size;
Staumninate eatkin, three-fourths natural
heavy, strong, hard, close-grained, and dark brown in color with yel-
lowish sapwood, and is the delight of farmers for fuel and of cabinet
makers for furniture, especially as a substitute for cherry or mahogany.
Oil of wintergreen, used medicinally and for flavoring, is distilled from
the twigs, and birch beer is obtained by fermenting the sugary sap.
Bark—on branches smooth, close, not peeling, dark reddish brown in
color with conspicuous, light colored, elongated breathing spores; on
older trunks breaking into long, thick irregular plates almost black in
color. .
_ Twigs—slender, light reddish brown in color, with numerous, short,
spur-like lateral twigs; strong wintergreen flavor when chewed.
Winter buds—terminal bud present on spur-like lateral branches only,
about 14 inch long, conical, sharp-pointed, reddish brown in color, buds
on season’s growth usually bending away from twigs.
Leaves—alternate, simple, egg-shaped, from 2 to 5 inches long, sharp-
pointed, with finely serrate margins, found usually in pairs, not opposite
on lateral spurs.
Frwt—an erect, cylindrical, cone-like structure as in other birches,
from 11% to 2 inches long, without stalk; the winged nutlets falling in
autumn and winter.
32 CoRNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
23. YELLOW BIRCH
Silver Birch, Gray Birch *
(Betula lutea Michaux)
Yellow birch is one of the most important and largest timber trees of
New York State. It is common throughout the State, except on Long
Island, on rich, moist uplands in company with beech and sugar maple,
but is found also with red spruce a
in the swamps and along water-
ways. The heavy, very strong,
hard, close-grained, light brown
wood is largely used for furniture,
woodenware, flooring, interior fin-
ish, and for agricultural imple-
ments. Its value for fuel wood en-
titles it to a place in farmers’
woodlots.
Bark—on young branches close,
bright, silvery, vellowish gray in
color; with age peeling into thin
papery layers which roll back and
extend up the trunk in long lines of YELLOW BIRCH
ragged fringe, making excellent a Ae Se Ra sre
tinder for starting a fire in the rain; on very old trunks becoming rough
and furrowed, reddish brown in color.
Twigs—similar to those of black birch thought more yellowish brown
in color, shghtly wintergreen-flavored ; abundant, spur-like laterals as in
black birch.
Winter buds—similar to those of black birch. +
Leaves—similar to those of black bireh though with leaf margins more
coarsely serrate; undersurface somewhat hairy, particularly along veins.
Frwt—similar to that of black birch though usually wider in propor-
tion to its length, falling in late autumn and throughout the winter.
Bracts—3-lobed, distinctly hairy, while in the black biren they are
smooth.
.
Firry Common TREES oF New YorK 33
24. BLUE BEECH
Ironwood, Water Beech
(Carpinus carolinana Walter)
Blue beech is a small-sized, bushy tree frequent along water courses
and along the edges of swamps generally throughout the State. It is
rarely more than 6 inches in diameter and may be classed as a ‘““weed’’
tree. The wood is very heavy, hard, strong, close-grained, and is ocea-
sionally used for mallets on account of its hardness.
BLUE BEECIL
Twig, one-half natural size; leaf,
one-half natural size; fruit, one-
half natural size
Bark—smooth, thin, dark bluish gray in color, close-fitting, with
smooth, rounded lengthwise ridges that resemble tensed muscles.
Twigs—very slender, dark red in color, and shining.
Winter buds—terminal bud absent; lateral buds small, narrowly egg-
Shaped, pointed, covered with many reddish brown scales.
Leaves—simple, alternate, egg-shaped, from 2 to 4 inches long, finely
and doubly serrate on margin.
Frwt—a small prominently ribbed nutlet, 14 inch long, enclosed in a
3-lobed leaf-like bract. Bracts with their enclosed nutlets are in long,
drooping clusters which ripen and fall before winter.
34 CoRNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
25. HOP HORNBEAM
Ironwood
(Ostrya virginiana (Miller) Koch)
Hop hornbeam is another ‘‘weed”’ tree closely related to the blue beech
and is rather generally distributed throughout New York State on dry,
eravelly, and stony soils of slopes and ridges, sometimes taking posses-
HOP HORNBEAM
Twig, one-half natural size; leaf, one-half
natural size; fruit, one-half natural size
sion of woodlots in central New York to the exclusion of other species.
The tree is slow-growing and is rarely found larger than 10 inches in
diameter. The wood is very heavy, hard, and strong, hence the name
‘Gronwood.’’ It is used for tool and implement handles and for levers,
and makes excellent fuel wood when seasoned.
Bark—thin, very markedly flaky, hght grayish brown in color, broken
into narrow, flattish pieces, loose at the ends.
Twigs—tine, reddish brown in color, smooth, and shiny; a very easy
winter character for identification of the tree, particularly of young
saplings.
Winter buds—terminal bud absent as in birches and elms; lateral
buds small, light reddish brown in color, bending away from the twig.
Leaves—alternate, simple, egg-shaped, from 3 to 5 inches long, doubly
and finely serrate on margin. .
Frwuit—a small, seed-like nutlet, enclosed in an inflated, sac-like bract.
Bracts—in clusters, from 1 to 2 inches long, resembling hops, henee the
name “‘hop hornbeam.’’ Fruit usually falls before winter.
Firry ComMon TREES oF NEw York 35
26. BEECH
(Hagus grandifolia Ehrhart)
Beech has perhaps the widest distribution of any forest tree in the
State and for that reason, no doubt, is one of the best known. In the
BEECH
Twig, leaf, and fruit, one-half natural size
forest, but is almost equally common throughout the rest of the State.
Though the tree is of large and stately size, the wood is less valuable
than that of many of its associates in the woodlot section of the State,
with the result that it has been left standing. Because of its heavy
shade, it has also excluded more valuable trees. In such conditions, it
is, in effect, a ‘‘weed’’ tree. The wood is heavy, hard, strong, tough, and
close-grained, and is excellent as fuel wood. It is also used largely in
the acid-wood industry and to some extent for furniture.
Bark—smooth, close, steel gray in color, easily recognized by this
character.
Twigs—slender, zigzag, smooth, shining reddish brown in color be-
coming gray on older twigs.
Winter buds—terminal bud present, slender, 34 inch long, sharp-
pointed, covered with light brown scales; lateral buds not much smaller
than terminal bud.
Leaves—simple, alternate, from 3 to 4 inches long, coarsely toothed on
margin; at maturity very thin, dull green in color above, pale green
beneath.
Frwt—a stalked burr, covered with soft, curving prickles, containing
anut. Burrs—usually in pairs, open up to let the nuts fall in the early
autumn, remaining on the tree into the winter. Nut—triangular, pale
brown in color, shining, with sweet edible kernel.
36 CoRNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
27. CHESTNUT
(Castanea dentata (Marshall) Borkhausen)
Chestnut, once common across the State south of the Adirondacks, has
in the last decade succumbed to the deadly chestnut blight, so that with
the exception of Chautauqua County, there are practically no live trees of
commercial size in the State. It is only a matter of time until the blight
CHESTNUT
Twig, one-half natural size; leaf and
fruit, one-third natural size
will wipe out the species in Chautauqua County also. Perhaps almost
any other species could have been better spared in the farmer’s woodlot
because of its rapid growth, the many uses of its wood, and the fine crop
of nuts it furnished in addition. The wood is light, soft, coarse-grained,
reddish brown in color, and durable in contact with the soil. It is
used largely for ties, telephone poles, and posts.
Bark—on young trunks smooth, reddish brown in color, with age
broken by shallow fissures into long, broad, flat, more or less slanting
ridges.
Twigs—stout, greenish yellow or reddish brown in color, somewhat
swollen at base of buds.
Winter buds—small, egg-shaped, light chestnut brown in color, set at
an angle to the leaf scar ; terminal bud absent.
Leaves—simple, alternate, from 6 to 8 inches long, sharp-pointed,
widely toothed.
Frwit—a light brown burr, sharp, spiny without and hairy within;
opening at the first frost and letting fall generally 3 nuts. Nuts—shiny,
woolly at the top; shell very thin; kernel solid, white, sweet, and makes
excellent eatine.
Firry ComMon TREES or New YORK - 37
THE OAKS’
Of the 300 oaks known in the world, fifty-five are native to North
America, and most of these occur in the eastern United States. The
oaks make up the largest group of forest trees native to New York. In
all there are sixteen different kinds of oaks native to this State. They
grow under a wide range of conditions and show wide variations in form
and other distinguishing characteristics. The oaks of New York do not
thrive in the high forests of the mountains; therefore, representatives of
the family are found in the Adirondack section, in the sheltered valleys
of the foothills. South and westward in the drainages of the Susque-
hanna, Genesee, and Alleghany Rivers, they become very plentiful in
variety and number.
The best way to get acquainted with New York oaks is to divide them
into two major groups, the one group to comprise the white oaks and the
other the black oaks. It is easy to place the oaks of New York in these
two groups by remembering the following characteristics of each :
The white oaks—The leaves of the members of the white-oak group
have rounded lobes (not bristle-tipped), and the kernels of the acorns
are usually sweet. All the oaks of this group mature their acorns in a
single season, for this reason they are sometimes called ‘‘annual oaks.’’
The most important members of the group in New York are white oak,
swamp white oak, bur oak, post oak, and chestnut oak.
The black oaks—The leaves of the members of the black-oak group
have bristle-tipped (not round-lobed) leaves, and the kernels of their
acorns are usually bitter. All the oaks of this group require two sea-
sons to mature their acorns; for this reason the representatives of this
group are sometimes called ‘‘biennial oaks,’’ which means two-year
oaks in contrast with the one-year white oaks. The immature acorns
are very helpful in recognizing the members of the black-oak group, es-
pecially during the winter months when the:trees are without leaves.
The most important members of this group in New York State are black
oak, red oak, scarlet oak, and pin oak.
*
“Largely adapted from Common Trees of New York, by J. S. Illick. 1927.
38 CoRNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
28. WHITE OAK
(Quercus alba Linnaeus)
White oak is one of the most important forest trees in the southern
two-thirds of the State, growing to large size and producing lumber of
high grade and value. It is found in moist as well as in dry locations,
and was once particularly abundant on what are now the best farm lands
WHITE OAK
Leaf and fruit, one-third natural
size; twig, one-half natural size
of the Genesee Valley. The wood is hard, heavy, strong, and durable.
2;
It is highly prized for furniture, flooring, implements, ties, and in gen-
eral construction where strength is required.
Bark—ashy gray in color, broken by shallow furrows into long, ir-
regular, thin scales which readily flake off; on old trunks furrows fre-
quently become deep.
Twigs—medium in thickness, greenish red to gray in color, smooth,
sometimes covered with a bloom. |
Winter buds—celustered at end of twigs, blunt, reddish brown in color,
1 inch long.
Leaves—alternate, simple, from 5 to 9 inches long, with from 5 to 9
rounded lobes, generally deeply cut toward midrib, dark green in color
above, paler below, frequently staying on tree over winter.
Frwit—an acorn, either with short stalk or stalkless, maturing in one
year. Nut—light brown in color, 84’ inch long, 144 enclosed in the eup,
falling in September, frequently starts sprouting in late autumn. Meat
—white, slightly bitter.
Firry Common TREES oF NEw YORK 39
29. CHESTNUT OAK
‘Rock Oak
(Quercus montana Willdenow)
Chestnut oak gets its name from its chestnut-like leaves. It is found
principally on dry, rocky ridges and hillsides, and is very common on
such soils in the lower Hudson Valley. The wood is similar though
somewhat inferior to white oak and is used generally for the same pur-
poses.
CHESTNUT OAK
Leaf, twig, and fruit, one-third natural size
Bark—on young branches smooth, thin, yellowish brown in color; with
age becoming dark brown to black in color, deeply furrowed into long,
more or less continuous thick, rough ridges which are sharp and angular.
At the bottom of the furrow, the bark may be reddish brown in color.
The thick bark of mature trees is an important source of tannin.
Twigs—stout, light orange or reddish brown in color.
Winter buds—clustered at ends of twigs, sharp-pointed, light yellow-
ish brown in color, 14 inch long.
Leaves—simple, alternate, thick, yellowish green in color above, some-
what paler beneath, from 5 to 9 inches long, coarsely toothed as in chest-
nut, but teeth rounded and without bristle tips.
Frwt—an acorn, borne singly or in pairs on short stalks, maturing
in September of the first season, starts sprouting soon after falling; one
of the larger of our native acorns. Nut—shiny, light chestnut brown in
color, from 1 to 14% inches long, 144 enclosed in the cup. Meat
somewhat bitter.
white,
40 CORNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
30. RED OAK
(Quercus borealis Michaux)
Red oak is the fastest growing and largest of all the oaks native to
New York State. It shows adaptability to a wide variety of soil condi-
tions and ranges farther north than any other oak in the State. The
wood is heavy, hard, strong, light reddish brown in color, and is used for
furniture, interior finish, ties, and general construction, though less dur-
able than white oak.
1 RED OAK
Leaf, one-third natural size; twig, one-
half natural size; fruit, one-half natural size
Bark—on young trees smooth, gray green in color; with age tardily
breaking into rather regular, firm, elongated, flat-topped ridges with
shallow furrows between. The smooth ridge tops are markedly livhter
in color than are the furrows. On very large trees, this characteristic
is lost at the base but is evident higher up the trunk. Inner bark is red in
color.
Twigs—stout or slender, reddish to greenish brown in color.
Winter buds—clustered at end of twigs, oval, sharp-pointed, 1% inch
long, generally smooth (particularly on the lower half)
Leaves—alternate, simple, from 5 to 9 inches long, from 4 to 6 inches
wide, from 7 to 9 lobed; lobes sparsely toothed, bristle-tipped; wide
rounding clefts extending halfway to midrib. At maturity thin, dark,
shiny green in color above, paler and smooth below.
Fruit—an acorn, borne solitary or in pairs, either with or without
stalk, maturing in the autumn of the second year; one of our largest
acorns. Nut—chestnut brown in color, 34 inch long, only YS enclosed
in a wide, shallow eup. Meat—pale yellow in color, quite bitter.
Fiery Common Tres or New Yore 41
31. BLACK OAK
: Yeliow Oak
(Quercus velutina La Marck)
Black oak is another dominant forest tree of the southern part of the
State though not so valuable or so fast growing as the red oak. It is
usually found in gravelly soils and on drier sites than red oak. The
wood is hard, heavy, strong, but not considered so valuable as red oak.
It finds its chief use for ties, construction, and fuel wood.
BLACK OAK
Twig, one-half natural size; leaf, one-third
natural size; fruit, one-half natural size
Bark—on young stems smooth, dark brown in color, soon becoming
dark gray to black in color, very rough, broken by deep furrows into
thick ridges which are further divided by cross furrows; roughened es-
pecially at the base of trunk even in quite young trees; inner bark orange
yellow in color, rich in tannin, yields a yellow dye.
Twigs—stout, reddish brown in color mottled with gray.
Winter buds—cone-shaped, sharp-pointed, from 4 to % inch long,
covered with yellowish gray wool, clustered at end of twig.
Leaves—simple, alternate, from 4 to 10 inches long, from 3 to 6 inches
wide, from 5 to 7 lobed, toothed, bristle tipped, separated by wide,
rounded clefts, extending over halfway to midrib; at maturity leaves
thick, dark green in color and shining above, paler and woolly beneath.
Frwit—an acorn, borne singly or in pairs, with or without stalks, ma-
turing in autumn of second year. Nut—reddish brown in color, from 14
to % inch long’, enclosed about 1% its length in light brown cup. Meat—
yellow, very bitter.
42 CoRNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
32. SCARLET OAK
(Quercus coccinea Muenchhausen )
Scarlet oak, so called from the brilliant coloring of its autumnal foli
age, thrives on poor soils. The wood is hard, heavy, strong, and coarse
in texture. It is of inferior commercial value except for props, ties, and
fuel. Because of its characteristic shape and brilliant coloring of the
leaves in autumn, it is often used for,ornamental purposes.
SCARLET OAK
Twig, one-half natural size; leaf, one-
third natural size; fruit, one-half natural
81ze
Bark—on young trunks, smooth, light brown in color; with age di
viding into irregular ridges with shallow furrows between; in general,
ridges not so regularly flat-topped as in red oak or so roughly broken
up as in black oak; inner bark reddish in color.
Twigs—medium, stout to slender, light red in color.
Winter buds—broadly oval, blunt at the top, clustered at end of twig,
dark reddish brown in color, somewhat woolly.
Leaves—simple, alternate, from 3 to 6 inches long, from 3 to 5 inches
wide, from 5- to 9-lobed; lobes toothed, separated by wide, rounding
clefts, extending well over halfway to the midrib; at maturity leaves
thin, firm, shiny, dark green in color above, paler below.
Frwit—an acorn, borne singly or in pairs with or without stalks, ma-
turing in autumn of second year. Nut—oval, reddish brown in color,
from 144 to 1 inch long, from 1% to 14 enclosed in reddish brown euy
Meat—pale yellow, bitter.
Mirry Common TREES oF NEW YORK 43
33. AMERICAN ELM
White Elm
(Ulnius americana Linnaeus)
American elm is one of the most beautiful, graceful, and best known
of our forest trees. It occupies a wide range of sites though typically
a tree of the bottomlands, and grows to be one.of the largest trees in the
State. (The Gowanda elm has a basal circumference of 39 feet.) The
wood is heavy, hard, strong, tough,
coarse-grained, difficult to split, and
light brown in color; largely used for
veneer, barrel staves and hoops, crates
and wheel hubs. The graceful sym-
metry of the crown makes the elm
highly prized for ornamental plant-
ing.
Bark—dark gray in color, divided
by irregular up-and-down furrows
into broad flat-topped ridges, rather
firm or occasionally in old trees flak-
ing off; inner bark in alternate layers AMERICAN ELM
Twig, one-half natural size; leaf and
of brown and white. fruit, one-half natural size
Twigs—slender, smooth, reddish brown in color, not mucilaginous
when chewed.
Winter buds—winter twig obviously ends in leaf scar, hence larger
bud near end of twig not truly terminal; lateral buds somewhat smaller,
ego-shaped, pointed, light reddish brown in color, smooth, 4 inch long.
Leaves—simple, alternate, from 4 to 6 inches long, unequal at the base,
margin with coarse saw-like edge; at maturity dark green in color above,
lighter beneath, midrib and parallel veins prominent; upper surface of
leaf somewhat rough to the touch, though not so pronounced as in slip-
pery elm.
Frwt—fiat, winged, deeply notched at the end, 1% inch long, contain-
ing one small seed; in clusters, ripens in early May as the leaf buds un-
fold, falling soon thereafter.
44 CoRNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
34. SLIPPERY ELM
4
Red Elm
(\Ulmus fulvua Michaux)
Slippery elm is a medium-sized forest tree of stream banks and low
fertile slopes and is common south of the Adirondacks. The wood is hard,
heavy, strong, coarse-grained, and fairly durable in contact with the A
%
al
SLIPPERY €LM
Twig, one-half iuatural_ size;
leaf, one-third natural size; fruit,
one-half natural size
soil. This tree is not an important commercial species but is used for
fence posts, ties, barrel staves and hoops.
Bark—grayish brown in color, more or less deeply furrowed, the ridges
tending to lift more along one edge than in the American elm; layers of
outer bark reddish brown in color, shows no alternate layers of brown and
white as in the American elm; inner bark, next to the wood, whitish,
strongly mucilaginous, giving the name ‘‘slippery elm.”’
Twigs—light gray in color, hairy, somewhat rough, characteristically
mucilaginous when chewed.
Winter buds—terminal bud absent as in American elm; lateral buds
4 inch long, dark chestnut brown in color, covered at tip with long,
rusty hairs.
Leaves—alternate, simple, oval, from 5 to 7 inches long, unequal at
the base, margin with coarse saw-like edge; at maturity thick, dark
green in color above, decidedly rough to the touch, paler and white-
hairy below; midrib and parallel veins prominent.
Frwt—fiat-winged, but not notched at the end, from 14 to 34 inch
long, containing one seed; in clusters, maturing in late May or early
June when the leaves are about half grown, falling soon thereafter.
a
Firry Common TREES oF NEw YORK 45
35. CUCUMBER TREE
(Magnolia acuminata Linnaeus)
Cucumber tree, so called because of its cucumber-like fruit, is the
only magnolia that is at all common to this State outside of Long Island.
In rich woods, on moist slopes, and along stream courses, from the central
CUCUMBER TREE
Fruit and leaf, one-third natural size;
twig, two-thirds natural size
part of the State westward and southward, it is to be found locally. The
wood is light, soft, close-grained, brittle, and light yellowish brown in
color. It resembles that of yellow poplar and has much the same uses.
Because of its yellowish green flowers, its large leaves, its rapid growth,
and its red seeds, it is often found in lawns and parks.
Bark—erayish brown in color, with long narrow furrows separating
into rather loose, scaly, flat-topped ridges.
Twigs—brittle, brown in color, smooth or shiny, aromatic odor.
Winter buds—terminal bud oblong, somewhat curved, thickly covered
with pale, silky hairs, pointed, about ae inch long; lateral buds smaller,
blunt, also hairy.
Leaves—alternate, simple, egg-shaped, pointed at the tip, from 4 to 10
inches long, entire margin. One of the few forest trees of the State that
has an entire-margined leaf.
Fruit—a cone-like or cucumber-like, cylindrical mass, often curved,
about 244 inches long, containing a large number of scarlet, pea-like
seeds which dangle from the ends of short, white threads when ripe in
the early autumn.
46 CORNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
36. YELLOW POPLAR
Tulip Tree, Tulip Poplar, Whitewood
(Liriodendron tulipifera Linnaeus)
Yellow poplar is one of our most distinctive and attractive trees. It
is native from Saratoga and Rensselaer Counties westward along Lake
Ontario to Lake Erie, and becomes more abundant southward in deep,
YELLOW POPLAR
Flower, fruit, and leaf, one-half natural size; twig, two-
thirds natural size
rich, moist soils. Its large tulip-like, greenish yellow flowers have given
rise to the name ‘“‘tulip tree.’’? The wood is light, soft, brittle, not
strong, straight-grained, light yellow or brown in color, and is largely
made into lumber and used where a soft, easily worked wood is required.
Bark—on young trees, smooth, ashy gray or brown in color; on older
trunks, ight gray to brown in color, thick, distinetly and regularly fur-
rowed and ridged.
Twigs—smooth, shiny, rather stout, reddish brown in color, often
branching the first year, aromatic odor, very bitter taste.
Winter buds—terminal bud smooth, flattened, about 14 inch long, sim-
ple, blunt, covered by two reddish brown bud scales giving the appear-
ance of a mitten; lateral buds similar but much smaller.
Leaves—alternate, simple, from 4 to 6 inches long, almost square in
outline, usually 2- or 4-lobed with the tip appearing to be cut off; the
most distinctive and unusual leaf of any of our native forest trees.
Frwt—a cone, light brown in color, upright, pointed, from 2 to 3
inches long. Seeds—long winged, ripening in September, and for the
most part falling soon after; outer ring of winged seeds may stay on the
tree into the next season.
>
Firry ComMon TREES oF New YORK 47
37. SASSAFRAS
(Sassafras varwifolium (Salisbury) Kuntze)
Sassafras is a small to,medium-sized tree, best known, perhaps, for its
bark and root which have long been used for making sassafras tea. It
is rare or absent in the higher Adirondacks and Catskills but is locally
SASSAFRAS
Twig, one-half natural size; leaf, one-third
natural size; fruit, one-third natural size
common on the sandy soil between these mountain ranges, and is abun-
dant on the hills along the lower Hudson River Valley and on Long
Island. Its wood is soft, weak, brittle, coarse-grained, aromatic, and
very durable in contact with the soil. It is used locally for fence posts.
Bark—+reddish brown in color, deeply furrowed even in young trees,
with flat-topped ridges crossed by horizontal cracks; inner layers bright
cinnamon red in color.
Twigs—slender, brittle, spicy to smell, at first light yellowish green in
color, later becoming reddish brown in color.
Winter buds—terminal bud present, from 14 to 34 inch long, pointed,
greenish ; lateral buds much smaller.
Leaves—alternate, simple, from 4 to 6 inches long, entire margined.
The leaves present a great variation in shape on the same tree, some are
ege-shaped, others mitten-shaped (both left and right handed), still
others are 3-lobed, more rarely 5-lobed.
Fruit—hberry-like, small, dark blue in color, containing a stony seed 14
inch long, on a stout red stem, usually in clusters; ripens early in au-
tumn.
48 CoRNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
38. SYCAMORE
Buttonwood, Buttonball, Plane Tree
(Platanus occidentalis Linnaeus)
Sycamore is a large-sized forest tree common throughout the State ex-
cept in the Adirondacks and the higher Catskills and on Long Island.
Wherever the soil is moist and fertile, along streams, in river bottoms,
in low, damp woods, and ocea-
sionally in dryer places it is
likely to be found. Its wood
is heavy, tough, hard, not
strong, coarse-grained, red-
dish brown in color, and is
difficult to split or work. It
is used for erates, tobacco
boxes, butchers’ blocks, nov-
elties, and occasionally for
furniture and for interior
woodwork.
ae a
‘ Bark—dark brown in eolor
SYCAMORE at base of older trunks, shal-
Leaf, one-third natural size; twig, one-half aleey eee ee . A
natural size; fruit, one-half natural size low ly furrowed into broad
ridges which are broken up into small plate-like scales; higher up on
trunk and branches, peeling off in large, thin plates exposing areas
of whitish, yellowish, or greenish inner bark which are very striking in
winter.
Twigs—rather stout, somewhat shiny, zigzag, at first green in color
and fuzzy, later grayish or brownish in color and smooth.
Winter buds—terminal bud absent; lateral buds conical, dull-pointed,
smooth, reddish brown in color, 1% inch long, only one seale visible
forming a cap over the bud.
Leaves—alternate, simple, broad, from 4 to 10 inches across, from 3 to
5 shallow lobes, thin, firm, smooth, bright green in color above, pale
green and white woolly below.
Frwt—a ball, brown in color, about 1 inch in diameter, borne on a
long stem, made up of tiny seeds. Seeds—each furnished with a long
tuft of hairs; seed balls seldom break up before spring.
Firty ComMMOoN TREES oF NEw YorK 49
39. SHAD BUSH
June Berry, Service Berry -
(Amelanchier canadensis (Linnaeus) Medicus)
Shad bush is an attractive tree though not commercially valuable be-
cause of its small size. In the spring when the shad are ascending the
rivers, its small white flowers are commonly noticed along the drier
SHAD BUSH
Twig, leaf, and fruit, one- ©
half natural size
banks of the streams, along fence rows, and on hillsides in open woods.
It is common throughout most parts of the State, particularly in the
central and southern highlands. Its wood is heavy, harder than white
oak, strong, close-grained, and dark brown in color often tinged with red.
It is occasionally used for tool handles.
Bark—very smooth, grayish brown in color, with age often marked
with dark lengthwise streaks.
Twigs—slender, somewhat zigzag, olive green to purplish brown in
color, smooth, but usually covered by a thin grayish outer layer.
Winter buds—terminal bud from 14 to % inch long, slender, sharp-
pointed, greenish or purplish brown in color; lateral buds somewhat
smaller than terminal bud or undeveloped.
Leaves—alternate, simple, egg-shaped, from 2 to 4 inches long, sharp-
pointed, finely serrate on margin.
Fruit—a berry, sweet, reddish purple in color, about 14 inch in diame-
ter, contains many seeds; borne in cluster; ripening in June or July; a
favorite food of birds.
50 CorRNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
40. THE HAWTHORNS
Thorn Apple
(Crataegus Linnaeus)
Hawthorns comprise a large group of small-sized trees. More than a
score of varieties are common in New York State. The differences are
chiefly in flower and fruit and it seems advisable in this publication to
SCARLET HAWTHORN
Leaf, twig, and fruit, two-thirds natural
size
eall attention to the general characteristics of the group without going
into the minute differences that separate the many species. The very
small size of the trees, generally less than 20 feet, make them of no com-
merical value. In fact, some members of the group may be regarded as
a serious pest, because of the rapidity with which they seed up old pas-
tures, shading out its available pasturage or rendering costly the prep-
aration of the land for forest planting.
Bark—generally dark brown to gray in color, scaly.
Twigs—stiff, zigzag, armed with large, generally unbranched thorns
from 11% to 2 inches long.
Winter buds—round, chestnut brown in color; terminal bud usually
present but no larger than lateral buds.
Leaves—simple, alternate, from 3 to 4 inches long, from 2 to 3 inches
wide, serrate on the margin; in some species leaves more or less ege-
shaped, others from 5- to 9-lobed.
Frwt—berry-like, in a cluster, each fruit the size of a small cherry;
when mature in early autumn, usually red, with from 1 to 5 nutlets in
center of fleshy covering ; highly prized by birds in winter.
Firry Common TREES oF NEw YORK 51
41. WILD BLACK CHERRY
(Prunus serotina Ehrhart)
Wild black cherry is the largest of the cherry trees found in New
York State. It prefers rieh, bottomlands, and moist hillsides, but is also
found in drier situations. It is common in most sections of the State,
WILD BLACK CHERRY
Twig, two-thirds natural size; leaf, one-
third natural size ; fruit, one-half natural
6ize
though seldom found above an altitude of 3000 feet in the Adirondacks.
Its wood is light, strong, hard, close-grained with pale reddish brown
heartwood and is much in demand for cabinetmaking, interior finishing,
tools, and ties. It is a most valuable fast-growing timber tree and
should be encouraged in every woodlot.
Bark—at first smooth, reddish brown in color, marked with easily
seen long, white breathing pores; with age becoming much roughened by
irregular, close, dark scaly cireular plates with upturned edges.
Twigs—slender, smooth, reddish brown in color, having bitter almond
taste which is characteristic of all cherries.
Winter buds—smooth, egg-shaped, from 14 to ¥% inch long, sharp-
pointed, chestnut brown in color; terminal bud present.
Leaves—alternate, simple, from 2 to 5 inches long, broader than are
those of pin cherry, fairly long-pointed, finely toothed.
_ Frui—a single-seeded juicy fruit, about 14 inch in diameter, grouped
on very short stems, in long scattering, drooping clusters, purplish black
when ripe in late summer. Birds and animals eat the fruit, though its
flavor is decidedly bitter.
52 CORNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
a
42. PIN CHERRY
Wild Red Cherry, Fire Cherry
(Prunus pennsylvannica Linnaeus fils.)
Pin cherry is a ‘‘weed’’ tree coming in on burned, eut-over, and
abandoned land throughout the State, except in the higher Adirondacks.
It is not a timber-producing species and its main value lies in its ability
PIN CHERRY
Leaf and fruit, natural size;
twig, one-half natural size
to cover waste land and to protect the soil until larger and more im-
portant trees can establish themselves and crowd it out. The wood is
light, soft, close-grained, with light brown heartwood, and is seldom used.
Bark—bright, reddish brown in color, for the most part smooth, often
slightly peeling around the trunk, marked with numerous long, pale
breathing pores; in old trees somewhat roughened near the base.
Twigs—slender, smooth, shiny, bright red in color, a characteristic
bitter almond taste, peculiar odor.
Winter buds—very small, reddish brown in color, characteristically
clustered at the twig tip and sometimes along the sides; terminal bud
present, usually smaller than the lateral buds around it.
Leaves—alternate, simple, from 3 to 5 inches long, much longer than
broad as contrasted with the broader leaves of wild black cherry, sharp-
pointed, with finely serrate margins.
Fruit—a round, juicy, one-seeded fruit, light red in color, about 14
inch in diameter, arrayed on long stems, from 3 to 5 in a cluster, ripen-
ing in July. Birds often pick the ripe fruit.
Firry Common TREES or New YORK 53
43. BLACK LOCUST
Yellow Locust, White Locust
(Robinia pseudoacacia Linnaeus)
Black locust was not originally a native of the State, but was a great
favorite with early settlers as a dooryard tree from where it has escaped
to form dense thickets along the roadside in many sections of the State.
In favorable locations, its spread by
means of root suckers is very rapid. It
grows with exceptional rapidity on well-
drained fertile soils, and in such loca-
tions seems better able to survive attacks
of the locust borer which in some sections
has rendered the tree worthless. The
wood is very strong, heavy, hard, and ex-
tremely durable in contact with the soil.
As a post wood it has no equals and is
also used for insulator pins on pole lines
and for ties and fuel wood.
Bark—rough even on young trunks,
yellowish brown in color, becoming
deeply furrowed into distinct, thick, —
rounded ridges, which are not scaly.
Twigs-—slender, brittle, reddish to
greenish brown in color; generally bear-
ing short stiff spines from 14 to 1% inch
long, in pairs at base of leaves (nodes). ee
Winter buds—terminal bud _ absent; Leaf and fruit, one-third nat-
3 A ural size; twig, two-thirds natural
lateral buds very small, in a cavity below size
leaf scars, rusty brown in color, covered with down.
Leaves—alternate, compound, from 8 to 14 inches long, with from 7 to -
19 entire leaflets arranged along a central stem; leaflets usually odd in
number, short-stalked, oval in shape, from 11% to 2 inches long.
Frwt—a pod, flat, smooth, brown in color, from 2 to 4 inches long,
containing from 4 to 8 small brown or black seeds, ripening in Septem-
ber. Pods—hang on into the winter; finally torn off by the wind in
halves with seeds attached, the dried pod acting as a sail to carry the
seed considerable distances.
54. CoRNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
44. HONEY LOCUST
(Gleditsia triacanthos Linnaeus)
Honey locust, while native in western New York only, has been widely
introduced as a hedge and ornamental tree, and is hardy and frequent
throughout the State except in the mountains. The wood is hard, strong,
coarse-grained, but not so durable
in contact with the soil as is the
black locust. It is not commer-
cially important on account of
its scattered distribution and the
knotty character of the wood due
to its being open-grown as con-
trasted with forest-grown.
sark—on young branches
smooth, grayish brown in color,
with age becoming roughened
into firm, broad, blackish ridges
with edges that curve outwards.
Twigs—rather stout, smooth,
glossy, zigzag; usually bearing
stiff, sharp-branched thorns from
HONEY LOCUST 3 to 4 inches long, above leaf base
Leaf and fruit, one-fourth natural size ;
twig, three-fourths natural size (node).
Winter buds—terminal bud absent; lateral buds very small, not easily
seen.
Leaves—alternate, simply or doubly compound, from 6 to 8 inches
long; if singly compound, with from 18 to 28 leaflets; leaflets usually
even in number, elliptical, 144 to 2 inches long; if doubly compound,
with from 4 to 7 pairs of secondary leaf stems.
Fruit—a pod, flat, usually twisted, reddish brown in color, from 10 to
18 inches long, 14% inches wide, from 2 to 3 in a cluster, ripening in late
autumn but staying on the tree well into winter; each pod containing
from 10 to 20 brown oval seeds, 144 inch long. The fleshy part of the
pod is sweet, hence the name ‘‘honey locust.’’
Firry Common TREES or New YORK 5d
THE MAPLES
Maples are a very important group of forest trees in New York State.
Of the nine maples occurring east of the Rocky Mountains, six are found
in the State. In the order of their abundance, they are sugar maple,
red maple, silver maple, mountain maple, striped maple, ash-leaved ma-
ple. The first three only are important timber trees.
Maples as a group are readily distinguishable from other trees by the
opposite arrangement of buds, leaves, and twigs together -with the char-
acteristically shaped simple maple leaf (the ash-leaved maple as an ex-
ception has a compound leaf). The fruit of the maple group is also very
distinctive. They are without exception winged-seeds borne in pairs,
and popularly known as maple keys.
The mountain maple and the striped maple are very small trees or
often shrub-like, growing as an understory at higher elevations through-
out the State. The ash-leaved maple is a medium-sized forest tree
found in moist locations at lower elevations but very common and of
little commercial importance. It is the only maple that has a compound
leaf.
The. three important maples of the State, sugar, red, and silver, are
divided by lumbermen into two groups, the hard and the soft maples.
The sugar maple is classed as a hard maple due to that characteristic of
the wood, while both the red and silver maples are classed as soft maples
to denote that characteristic of their wood.
The foliage of both the sugar and red maple is particularly brilliant
in the fall, and for that reason these species are often planted as shade
trees.
Two important maples from Europe are worthy of mention because
of the frequency with which they are planted in the State for shade and
ornament. These are the Norway maple and the sycamore maple.
56 CORNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
45. SUGAR MAPLE
Hard Maple
(Acer saccharum Marshall)
Sugar maple is a magnificent forest tree everywhere abundant in the
State outside of Long Island. If there were state trees as there are
state flowers, the sugar maple would have no competitors in New York.
SUGAR MAPLE
Leaf, one-third natural size; fruit
and twig, one-half natural size
Besides providing beautiful borders to many miles of highway, and
thousands of gallons of maple sirup from the many hundreds of sugar
bushes in all parts of the State, it yields a wood of high grade. It is
hard, strong, close-grained, and tough, with a fine, satiny surface, and is
in great demand for flooring, interior finish, furniture, shoe lasts, rollers,
and as a fuel wood of the best quality.
Bark—on young trees dark gray in color, close, smooth, and firm, be-
coming furrowed into long irregular plates lifting along one edge.
Twigs—slender, shining, the color of maple sugar.
Winter buds—very narrow, sharp-pointed, brown in color, the ter-
minal bud much larger than the laterals.
Leaves—simple, opposite, from 3 to 5 inches long and fully as wide,
from 38 to 5 shallow lobes with wide-spaced coarse teeth, dark green in
color above, paler below; the clefts are rounded at the base.
Frwt—maple keys, in short clusters, ripening in September. Seeds—
join each other in a straight line. Wings—turn down almost at right
angles.
—
Fiery Common TREES oF NEw YORK Dil
46. RED MAPLE
Swamp Maple, Soft Maple
(Acer rubrum Linnaeus)
Red maple derives its name from its brilliant autumnal foliage. While
common in swamps all over the State, it is also found abundant on moist
slopes. It is an extremely rapid-growing tree, furnishing a fairly
RED MAPLE
Leaf and fruit, one-third natural
size, one-half natural size
strong, close-grained wood, extensively used for cheap furniture, in the
manufacture of baskets and erates, for mine props, railroad ties, and
fuel wood.
Bark—on young trunks smooth, light gray in color, often resembling
beech ; with age becoming darker and roughened into long ridges, often
shaggy or scaly on surface; bark character extremely variable on differ-
ent trees in the same stand.
Twigs—rather slender, bright or dark red in color, without odor when
cut or broken.
Winter buds—blunt-pointed, short stalked, red in color; terminal bud
shghtly larger than lateral buds; numerous large, plump flower buds
along the twig.
Leaves—simple, opposite, from 3 to 4 inches long, fully as wide, usu-
ally 3-lobed; the clefts between lobes shallow as contrasted with deep
clefts of silver maple; margins of leaf lobes coarsely serrate; at ma-
turity leaves light green in color above, pale greenish white below.
Frwit—maple keys, in clusters.on long stalks, ripening in May or
early June. Seeds—joined more or less end on end. Wings—diverge
at wide angles.
CoRNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
1 3]
oo
47. SILVER MAPLE
White Maple
(Acer saccharinum Linnaeus)
Silver maple is generally distributed throughout the State, but is not
nearly so common as is red maple. It prefers the same general moist
soil conditions, and the wood is used for the same purposes as the red
SILVER MAPLE
Twig, one-half natural size; leaf and
fruit, one-third natural size
‘
maple with which it is included under the term ‘‘soft maple’’ by lum-
berman. Frequently it is planted as a shade tree on account of its rapid
growth.
Bark—on young trunks smooth, gray in color with reddish tinge;
with age becoming reddish brown in color, more or less furrowed, the
surface separating in long thin flakes which become free at the ends and
flake off.
Twigs—similar to red maple but having a distinctly rank odor when
broken or crushed.
Winter buds—similar to red maple but larger, usually very dense
clusters of lateral buds; the large, plumper ones are flower buds.
Leaves—simple, opposite, from 3 to 5 inches long, fully as wide, 5-
lobed; margins of lobes coarsely serrate; clefts between lobes, particu-
larly the middle three, very deep; at maturity leaves pale green in color
above and silvery white below, hence the name.
Fruit—maple keys, much larger than in the red maple though matur-
ing at about the same time in the spring. Wings—more widely divergent
than those of the red maple. Sometimes only one side of the key de-
velops.
,
Firry Common Trees or New York 59
48. BASSWOOD
Linden, Whitewood
(Tilia glabra (Ventenat) Linnaeus)
Basswood takes front rank as a valuable forest tree in New York
State on account of its rapidity of growth and the wide range of use for
its lumber. It does best in the deep, moist soils of the woodlot sections
BASSWOOD
Leaf and fruit, one-third natural size; twig, one-
half natural size
but is found generally distributed except in the high Adirondacks and
Catskills. The wood is soft, even-grained, light, and fairly strong, and
is in demand for boxes, crates, veneer, cheap furniture, woodenware, and
paper pulp; often used as a substitute for white pine.
Bark—on young stems smooth, dark gray in color; on older trunks
firm but easily cut, becoming furrowed into rather narrow flat-topped
ridges; on still older trunks furrows deeper, ridges more rounding and
broader, surface scaly.
Twigs—rather slender, smooth, bright red or greenish in color or cov-
ered by a gray skin, zigzag, slightly mucilaginous when chewed; fibers of
bark on twigs very tough, may be used as rope.
Winter buds—terminal bud absent; lateral buds large, smooth, some-
times lopsided, bending away from the twigs, dark red or sometimes
ereen in color.
Leaves—simple, alternate, heart-shaped, from 5 to 10 inches long,
sharp-pointed, coarsely serrate along margin.
Fruit—a nut, round, woody, about the size of a pea, borne singly or in
clusters, with a common stalk, attached midway to a leafy bract, ripen-
ing in late fall but sometimes remaining on the tree into the winter.
Bract—acts as a sail to scatter the seed.
60 CORNELL JUNIOR EXTENSION BULLETIN 26
49. WHITE ASH
(Fraxinus americana Linnaeus)
White ash shares with the basswood the distinction of being one of the
most valuable and rapid-growing trees in the woodlots of New York
State. It is common throughout New York, and is found up to an alti-
tude of 2000 feet in the
Adirondacks. It pre-
fers to grow in rich
moist woods near water.
The wood is heavy, hard,
strong, close-grained,
and tough. Large quan-
tities of it are used for
agricultural implements,
tool handles, oars, furni-
ture, and in the automo-
bile industry.
Bark—erayish brown
in color, deeply fur-
rowed with narrow flat-
<4 topped firm ridges which
Leaf and fruit, one-third natural size; twig, one- on older trunks are
half natural size somewhat scaly; ridges
in some instances tending to run together enclosing diamond-shaped hol-
lows.
Twigs—very stout, smooth, shining, grayish brown in color, brittle,
flattened at leaf bases (nodes).
Winter buds—plump, blunt-pointed, dark brown or nearly black in
color; terminal bud 1% inch long, larger than lateral buds; last pair of
lateral buds almost on level with terminal bud.
Leaves—opposite, compound, from 8 to 15 inches long, with from 5 to
9 leaflets; leaflets sharp-pointed, from 8 to 5 inches long, with shghtly
and sparsely serrate margins; borne on short stems, by this characteristice
may be told from black-ash leaflets which are stemless.
Frwit—a winged seed, from 1 to 2 inches long, broadly paddle-shaped
with the wing occupying the position of the blade; borne in long, open,
drooping clusters, ripening in September, often not dropping off until
early winter.
WHITE ASH
Firrty Common TREES oF NEw YORK 61
50. BLACK ASH
(Fraxinus mgra Marshall)
Black ash, like the spruce, the balsam fir, and the larch, is a tree of
cold, deep swamps. It is common in moist places over most of New
York State and in the central and southern parts it forms with swamp
white oak and hemlock the
main timber species of the
swamps. Its wood is heavy,
rather soft, tough, coarse-
erained, and durable. Be-
cause of its toughness, the
wood is used for hoops,
chair bottoms, and_ bas-
kets.
Bark—ashy gray in
color, somewhat furrowed
but generally without deep
ridges, forming thin
smoothish scales which are
easily rubbed off.
Twigs—very stout, simi-
a eo aise lar to those of white ash
Twig, natural size; leaf and fruit, one-third yt not shiny and usually
natural size
a lighter gray in color.
Winter buds—buds resembling those of white ash though usually de-
cidedly black; terminal bud as long or longer than broad, sharp-pointed ;
lateral buds much smaller, blunt-pointed; last pair of lateral buds at
some distance from the terminal bud instead of nearly on a level with it
as in the white ash.
Leaves—opposite, compound, from 10 to 14 inches long, with from 7 to
11 leaflets ; leaflets similar to those of white ash but much longer in pro-
portion to their width, without stems.
Frwt-—a winged seed, similar to that of white ash though the wing is
broader and distinctly notched at the tip; in clusters, ripening in the
early autumn.
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Bulletin 26 @aRgver December, 1927
Fifty Common Trees of New York
Forestry for 4-H Club Bore and Girls
Second Year—Forest Appreciation
J. A. Cope and Gardiner Bump
Vy
Cornell Junior Extension Bulletin
Published by the New York State College of Agriculture
at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
C. E. Ladd, Director of Extension Service
Published and distributed in furtherance of the purposes provided for
in the Act of Congress of May 8, 1914
SECOND YEAR—FOREST APPRECIATION
Forest appreciation may be elected by boys and girls who have completed the
tree-planting project and who have reached their thirteenth birthday but not
their nineteenth birthday at the time of enrollment.
Purposes
The purposes of this project are to give the boys and girls:
1. An appreciation of the importance of the forest to agriculture and in-
dustry.
2 A thorough knowledge of the forest trees of their locality.
3. A knowledge of the relative value of those trees in producing crops of
timber.
: Requirements
1. Identify at least fifteen forest trees found in your locality.
2. Learn the chief uses of these trees.
3. Make a collection of leaf, fruit, and winter twig of each of the trees iden-
tified. The twig, the leaf, and the fruit of each tree is to be mounted and la-
belled with the common name and the most important use of the tree. These
collections are to be sent to the Department of Forestry by June 15 for cor-
rection and grading.
4. Write a brief story of at least 250 words telling how the forest is of value
to your community. This should be sent in with the mounted specimens of
leaves and twigs.
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