JUGLANDACEAE
Mocker Nut Hickory
Carya alba (L.) K. Koch [Hicoria alba (L.) Britt.] [Carya tomentosa Nutt.]
HABIT.—A tree 50-70 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2-1/2 feet; forming a wide crown of strong, upright branches and stout branchlets.
LEAVES.—Alternate, compound, 8-12 inches long. Leaflets usually 5-7, sometimes 9, the upper 5-8 inches long, 3-4 inches broad; sessile, except the terminal; oblong- to obovate-lanceolate; minutely or sometimes coarsely serrate; thick and firm; lustrous, dark yellow-green above, paler and more or less pubescent beneath. Petioles pubescent. Foliage fragrant when crushed.
FLOWERS.—May, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in pendulous, ternate catkins 4-5 inches long, slender, green, hairy; scales 3-lobed, hairy; stamens 4-5, with red anthers; the pistillate in crowded, 2-5-flowered, tomentose spikes; calyx toothed, hairy; corolla 0; stigmas 2, hairy.
FRUIT.—October; globose to globose-oblong, 1-1/2-2 inches long, with thick husk splitting nearly to the base; nut 4-ridged, red-brown, with very thick, hard shell and small, sweet kernel.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/2-3/4 inch long, broadly ovoid, red-brown, pilose; outermost scales fall in early autumn.
BARK.—Twigs at first brown-tomentose, becoming smooth and grayish; on the trunk thick, hard, grayish, slightly ridged by shallow, irregular fissures, becoming rugged on very old trunks.
WOOD.—Very heavy, hard, strong, tough, close-grained, elastic, dark brown, with thick, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Southern Peninsula as far north as Grand Rapids and Flint. Infrequent.
HABITAT.—Prefers rich, well-drained soil, but grows well in various situations, if they are not too wet.
NOTES.—Hardy throughout its range. Difficult to transplant.
Small Pignut Hickory
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/3.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1.
JUGLANDACEAE
Small Pignut Hickory
Carya microcarpa Nutt. [Hicoria odorata (Marsh.) Sarg.] [Hicoria microcarpa (Nutt.) Britt.] [Hicoria glabra, v. odorata Sarg.]
HABIT.—A tree usually 50-70 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-3 feet; forming an oblong or sometimes rounded crown of slender, spreading branches.
LEAVES.—Alternate, compound, 8-12 inches long. Leaflets usually 5-7, the upper 3-6 inches long, 2-2-1/2 inches broad; sessile, except the terminal; oblong to ovate-lanceolate, long-pointed; sharply serrate; thick and firm; glabrous, dark yellow-green above, lighter beneath. Petioles long, glabrous. Foliage fragrant when crushed.
FLOWERS.—May, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in pendulous, ternate catkins 3-7 inches long, slender, greenish, glabrous; stamens 4, with orange anthers; the pistillate in 2-5-flowered spikes, 1/4 inch long; calyx 4-toothed, hairy; corolla 0; stigmas 2, yellow.
FRUIT.—September; subglobose or globose-oblong, less than 1 inch long, with thin husk splitting nearly to the base; nut obscurely 4-ridged, with thin shell and small, sweet kernel.
WINTER-BUDS.—1/4-1/2 inch long, dome-shaped, red-brown, smooth.
BARK.—Twigs greenish, long-hairy, becoming reddish and finally gray; thick, hard and grayish on the trunk, divided by shallow fissures into narrow plates, and more or less shaggy.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, strong, tough, close-grained, elastic, dark brown, with thick, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Confined to the most southern portions of the Lower Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Prefers well-drained slopes and hillsides.
NOTES.—Resembles C. glabra, but the nut is much smaller.
Pignut Hickory
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/4.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 2/3.
JUGLANDACEAE
Pignut Hickory
Carya glabra (Mill.) Spach. [Hicoria glabra (Mill.) Britt.] [Carya porcina Nutt.]
HABIT.—A tree usually 50-65 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-3 feet; forming a low, rather narrow, open crown of slender, often contorted branches.
LEAVES.—Alternate, compound, 8-12 inches long. Leaflets usually 5-7, the upper 3-6 inches long, 2-2-1/2 inches broad; subsessile, except the terminal; oblong to obovate-lanceolate, taper-pointed; sharply serrate; thick and firm; glabrous, dark yellow-green above, paler beneath. Petioles long, slender, glabrous or pubescent. Foliage fragrant when crushed.
FLOWERS.—May, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in pendulous, ternate catkins 3-7 inches long, slender, yellow-green, tomentose; scales 3-lobed, nearly glabrous; stamens 4, with orange anthers; the pistillate in crowded, 2-5-flowered spikes, 1/4 inch long; calyx 4-toothed, hairy; corolla 0; stigmas 2, yellow.
FRUIT.—October; variable in size and shape, 1-1/2-2 inches long, with thin husk splitting half-way and sometimes nearly to the base; nut obscurely 4-ridged, with thin or thick, hard shell and small, sweet or slightly bitter kernel which is hard to remove.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/4-1/2 inch long, dome-shaped, greenish or grayish, smooth or finely downy.
BARK.—Twigs greenish, nearly glabrous, becoming reddish, and finally grayish; thick, hard and grayish on the trunk, with a firm, close surface divided by small fissures and sometimes broken into plates.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, very strong, tough, close-grained, elastic, dark brown, with thick, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Occurs only in the extreme southern portion of the Lower Peninsula. Common within its range.
HABITAT.—Prefers deep, rich loam, but grows in any well-drained soil; dry ridges and hillsides.
NOTES.—Hardy and desirable for ornamental purposes. Difficult to transplant. Not adapted to street use.
Bitternut Hickory
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/3.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1.
JUGLANDACEAE
Bitternut Hickory
Carya cordiformis (Wang.) K. Koch [Hicoria minima (Marsh.) Britt.] [Carya amara Nutt.]
HABIT.—A tall, slender tree 50-75 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2-1/2 feet; forming a broad crown of slender, stiff, upright branches, widest near the top.
LEAVES.—Alternate, compound, 6-10 inches long. Leaflets 5-11, the upper 4-6 inches long and one-fourth as broad; sessile, except the terminal; lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, long-pointed; coarsely serrate; thin and firm; glabrous, bright green above, paler and more or less downy beneath. Petioles slender, hairy. Foliage fragrant when crushed.
FLOWERS.—May, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate slightly pubescent, in pendulous, ternate catkins 3-4 inches long, on a common peduncle about 1 inch long; scales 3-lobed, hairy; stamens 4, with bearded, yellow anthers; the pistillate in 2-5-flowered spikes 1/2 inch long, scurfy-tomentose; calyx 4-lobed, pubescent; corolla 0; stigmas 2, greenish.
FRUIT.—October; obovate to globular, about 1 inch long, coated with yellow, scurfy pubescence, with very thin husk splitting half-way to the base, with sutures winged at the top; nut quite smooth, with thin shell and small, bitter kernel.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud about 3/4 inch long, long-pointed, flattish, granular-yellow; lateral buds more or less 4-angled.
BARK.—Twigs greenish and more or less downy, becoming brownish, and finally grayish; gray, close, smooth on the trunk, often reticulately ridged, but rarely broken into plates.
WOOD.—Heavy, very hard, strong, tough, close-grained, dark brown, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Of common occurrence in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Prefers a rich, loamy or gravelly soil; low, wet woods; along the borders of streams; but also found on high, dry uplands.
NOTES.—Grows most rapidly of all the hickories, but is apt to show dead branches. Should be propagated from the seed, as it is not easily transplanted.
BETULACEAE
Hornbeam. Ironwood
1. Winter twig, × 1/2.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1/2.
BETULACEAE
Hornbeam. Ironwood
Ostrya virginiana (Mill.) K. Koch
HABIT.—A small tree usually 20-30 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 8-12 inches; forming a broad, rounded crown of many long, slender branches and a slender, stiff spray.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 3-5 inches long, about one-half as broad; oblong-ovate; sharply doubly serrate; thin and very tough; dull, dark green above, paler and more or less pubescent beneath; petioles short, slender, pubescent.
FLOWERS.—April-May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in drooping, cylindrical catkins from wood of the previous season, usually in threes; stamens 3-14, crowded on a hairy torus; the pistillate in erect, lax catkins on the season’s shoots, usually in pairs, each flower inclosed in a hairy, sac-like involucre.
FRUIT.—September; strobiles, resembling clusters of hops, 1-2 inches long, borne on slender, hairy stems; nuts small and flat, inclosed by sac-like involucres.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds 1/8-1/4 inch long, ovoid, acute, red-brown.
BARK.—Twigs at first light green, becoming lustrous, red-brown, and finally dull dark brown; thin, gray-brown on the trunk, very narrowly and longitudinally ridged.
WOOD.—Heavy, very strong and hard, tough, close-grained, durable, light red-brown, with thick, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Common throughout the entire state.
HABITAT.—Prefers dry, gravelly slopes and ridges.
NOTES.—Often grows in shade of other trees. Not easily transplanted. Rather slow of growth. Too small for street use.
Blue Beech. Water Beech
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1/2.
BETULACEAE
Blue Beech. Water Beech
Carpinus caroliniana Walt.
HABIT.—Usually a low, bushy tree or large shrub, 10-30 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 6-12 inches; trunk short, usually fluted; slender zigzag branches and a fine spray form a close, flat-topped crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 2-4 inches long and one-half as broad; ovate to oval, long-pointed; sharply doubly serrate; thin and firm; dull green above, lighter beneath, turning scarlet and orange in autumn; petioles short, slender, hairy.
FLOWERS.—May, after the leaves; monoecious; apetalous; the staminate catkins 1-1-1/2 inches long, their scales greenish, boat-shaped, each bearing 3-20 stamens; the pistillate catkins 1/2-3/4 inch long, their scales hairy, greenish, each bearing 2 pistils with long, scarlet styles.
FRUIT.—Ripens in midsummer, but often remains on the tree long after the leaves have fallen; in loose, terminal strobiles; involucre halberd-shaped, inclosing a small, ovate, brownish nut.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds 1/8 inch long, narrow-ovoid, acute, puberulous, brownish.
BARK.—Twigs pale green, hairy, becoming lustrous, dark red the first winter; trunk and large limbs thin, smooth, close, dark bluish gray, often mottled with lighter or darker patches.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, tough, very strong, close-grained, light brown, with thick, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Common throughout the state.
HABITAT.—Prefers a deep, rich, moist soil along the borders of streams and swamps. Often found in drier situations in the shade of other trees.
NOTES.—Propagated from seed. Not easily transplanted. Slow of growth. Seldom found in masses.
SUMMER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF BETULA
| a. | Bark of trunk white, separating freely into thin, paperylayers; twigs without wintergreen taste; leaves usually solitary,not aromatic. | B. alba papyrifera, p. [91]. | |
| aa. | Bark of trunk not white, usually dark colored, not separatingfreely into papery layers; twigs with more or less wintergreentaste; leaves solitary or in pairs, aromatic. | ||
| b. | Bark dirty-yellow, breaking into strips more or less curledat the edges; leaves solitary or in pairs, slightly aromatic;twigs with slight wintergreen taste | B. lutea, p. [89]. | |
| bb. | Bark dark red-brown, cleaving off in thick, irregular plates(resembles bark of Black Cherry); leaves in pairs,strongly aromatic; twigs with strong wintergreen taste. | B. lenta, p. [87]. | |
WINTER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF BETULA
| a. | Bark of trunk white, separating freely into thin, papery layers;twigs without wintergreen taste. | B. alba papyrifera, p. [91]. | |
| aa. | Bark of trunk not white, usually dark colored, not separatinginto papery layers; twigs with more or less wintergreentaste. | ||
| b. | Bark dirty-yellow, breaking into strips more or less curledat the edges; twigs with slight wintergreen taste. | B. lutea, p. [89]. | |
| bb. | Bark dark red-brown, cleaving off in thick, irregular plates(resembles bark of Black Cherry); twigs with strongwintergreen taste. | B. lenta, p. [87]. | |
Sweet Birch. Black Birch. Cherry Birch
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.
8. Fruit, enlarged.
BETULACEAE
Sweet Birch. Black Birch. Cherry Birch
Betula lenta L.[F]
HABIT.—A medium-sized tree 70-80 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-3 feet; slender, wide-spreading, pendulous branches, forming a narrow, rounded, open crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate in pairs, simple, 3-4 inches long and one-half as broad; outline variable, ovate to oblong-ovate; sharply doubly serrate, with slender, incurved teeth; dull, dark green above, light yellow-green beneath; petioles short, stout, hairy, deeply grooved above; aromatic.
FLOWERS.—April, before the leaves; monoecious; the staminate catkins 3-4 inches long, slender, pendent, yellowish; the pistillate catkins 1/2-3/4 inch long, erect or suberect, greenish.
FRUIT.—Ripens in autumn; sessile, glabrous, erect strobiles, 1-1-1/2 inches long and half as thick; scales glabrous; nuts slightly broader than their wings.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds about 1/4 inch long, conical, sharp-pointed, red-brown, divergent.
BARK.—Twigs light green, becoming lustrous, red-brown in their first winter; very dark on old trunks, cleaving off in thick, irregular plates. Resembles bark of Black Cherry. Inner bark aromatic, spicy.
WOOD.—Heavy, very hard and strong, close-grained, dark red-brown, with thin, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Scattered throughout the state; rare in the south, more abundant and of larger size in the north.
HABITAT.—Grows in any situation, but prefers moist, rocky slopes and rich uplands.
NOTES.—Hardy throughout its range. Easily transplanted.
Yellow Birch. Gray Birch
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.
8. Fruit, × 10.
BETULACEAE
Yellow Birch. Gray Birch
Betula lutea Michx. f.
HABIT.—A tree 60-80 feet high and 2-4 feet in trunk diameter; numerous slender, pendulous branches form a broad, open, rounded crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, solitary or in pairs, simple, 3-5 inches long and one-half as broad; ovate to oblong-ovate; sharply doubly serrate; dull dark green above, yellow-green beneath; petioles short, slender, grooved, hairy; slightly aromatic.
FLOWERS.—April, before the leaves; monoecious; the staminate catkins 3-4 inches long, slender, pendent, purplish yellow; the pistillate catkins sessile or nearly so, erect, almost 1 inch long, greenish.
FRUIT.—Ripens in autumn; sessile or short-stalked, erect, glabrous strobiles, about 1 inch long and half as thick; scales downy on the back and edges; nut about as broad as the wing.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds about 1/4 inch long, conical, acute, chestnut-brown, more or less appressed; bud-scales more or less pubescent.
BARK.—Twigs, branches and young stems smooth, very lustrous, silvery gray or light orange; becoming silvery yellow-gray as the trunk expands and breaking into strips more or less curled at the edges; old trunks becoming gray or blackish, dull, deeply and irregularly fissured into large, thin plates; somewhat aromatic, slightly bitter.
WOOD.—Heavy, very strong and hard, close-grained, light brown tinged with red, with thin, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Throughout the state, but more abundant and of larger size northward.
HABITAT.—Prefers rich, moist uplands, but grows in wet or dry situations.
NOTES.—One of the largest deciduous-leaved trees of Michigan. Easily transplanted, but not desirable as a street tree.
Paper Birch. Canoe Birch. White Birch
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.
8. Fruit, × 3-1/2.
BETULACEAE
Paper Birch. Canoe Birch. White Birch
Betula alba papyrifera (Marsh.) Spach. [Betula papyrifera Marsh.]
HABIT.—A tree 50-75 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-3 feet, forming in youth a compact, pyramidal crown of many slender branches, becoming in old age a long, branchless trunk with a broad, open crown, composed of a few large limbs ascending at an acute angle, with almost horizontal branches and a slender, flexible spray.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 2-3 inches long, 1-1/2-2 inches broad; ovate; coarsely, more or less doubly serrate; thick and firm; glabrous, dark green above, lighter beneath, covered with minute black glands; petioles stout, yellow, glandular, glabrous or pubescent.
FLOWERS.—April, before the leaves; monoecious; the staminate catkins clustered or in pairs, 3-4 inches long, slender, pendent, brownish; the pistillate catkins about 1-1/2 inches long, slender, erect or spreading, greenish; styles bright red.
FRUIT.—Ripens in autumn; long-stalked, cylindrical, glabrous, drooping strobiles, about 1-1/2 inches long; scales hairy on the margin; nut narrower than its wing.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds 1/4 inch long, narrow-ovoid, acute, flattish, slightly resinous, usually divergent.
BARK.—Twigs dull red, becoming lustrous orange-brown; bark of trunk and large limbs cream-white and lustrous on the outer surface, bright orange on the inner, separating freely into thin, papery layers, becoming furrowed and almost black near the ground.
WOOD.—Light, hard, strong, tough, very close-grained, light brown tinged with red, with thick, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Lansing and northward. Common in central Michigan as a small tree. Of larger size in the Upper Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Prefers rich, moist hillsides; borders of streams, lakes and swamps; but is also found in drier situations.
NOTES.—A rapid grower in youth. The bark is used by the Indians and woodsmen for canoes, wigwams, baskets, torches, etc.
FAGACEAE
Beech. White Beech
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 3/4.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Bur, opened, × 1.
8. Nut, × 1.
FAGACEAE
Beech. White Beech
Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. [Fagus atropunicea (Marsh.) Sudw.] [Fagus ferruginea Ait.] [Fagus americana Sweet]
HABIT.—A beautiful tree, rising commonly to a height of 50-75 feet, with a trunk diameter of 2-4 feet; in the forest, tall and slender, with short branches forming a narrow crown, in the open with a short, thick trunk and numerous slender, spreading branches, forming a broad, compact, rounded crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 3-5 inches long, one-half as broad; oblong-ovate, acuminate; coarsely serrate, a vein terminating in each tooth; thin; dark blue-green above, light yellow-green and very lustrous beneath; petioles short, hairy.
FLOWERS.—April-May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in globose heads 1 inch in diameter, on long, slender, hairy peduncles, yellow-green; calyx campanulate, 4-7-lobed, hairy; corolla 0; stamens 8-10; the pistillate on short, hairy peduncles in 2-flowered clusters surrounded by numerous awl-shaped, hairy bracts; calyx urn-shaped, 4-5-lobed; corolla 0; ovary 3-celled; styles 3.
FRUIT.—Ripens in autumn; a prickly bur borne on stout, hairy peduncles, persistent on the branch after the nuts have fallen; nuts usually 3, 3/4 inch long, sharply tetrahedral, brownish; sweet and edible.
WINTER-BUDS.—Nearly 1 inch long, very slender, cylindrical, gradually taper-pointed, brownish, puberulous.
BARK.—Twigs lustrous, olive-green, finally changing through brown to ashy gray; close, smooth, steel-gray on the trunk, often mottled by darker blotches and bands.
WOOD.—Hard, tough, strong, very close-grained, not durable, difficult to season, light or dark red, with thin, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Common in the Lower Peninsula, especially in the northern portions; rare in the Upper Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Prefers deep, rich, well-drained loam, but is found and does well on a great variety of soils.
NOTES.—Hardy throughout its range. Desirable for landscape work because of its clean trunk and limbs, deep shade, and freedom from insect pests. Often suckers from the roots.
Chestnut
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Prickly bur, opened, × 1/2.
7. Nut, × 1/2.
FAGACEAE
Chestnut
Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh. [Castanea vesca, v. americana Michx.] [Castanea sativa, v. americana Sarg.]
HABIT.—A tree 60-80 feet high, forming a short, straight trunk 2-4 feet in diameter, divided not far above the ground into several stout, horizontal limbs and forming a broad, open, rounded crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 6-8 inches long, 2-3 inches broad; oblong-lanceolate, long-pointed at the apex; coarsely serrate with stout, incurved, glandular teeth; thin; dull yellow-green above, lighter beneath, glabrous; petioles short, stout, puberulous.
FLOWERS.—June-July, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate catkins 6-8 inches long, slender, puberulous, bearing 3-7-flowered cymes of yellow-green flowers; calyx 6-cleft, pubescent; stamens 10-20; the androgynous catkins 2-1/2-5 inches long, puberulous, bearing 2-3 prickly involucres of pistillate flowers near their base; calyx campanulate, 6-lobed; styles 6.
FRUIT.—Ripens in autumn; round, thick, prickly burs, about 2 inches in diameter, containing 1-3 nuts; nuts compressed, brownish, coated with whitish down at the apex; sweet and edible.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds 1/4 inch long, ovoid, acute, brownish.
BARK.—Twigs lustrous, yellow-green, becoming olive-green and finally dark brown; old trunks gray-brown, with shallow fissures and broad, flat ridges.
WOOD.—Light, soft, coarse-grained, weak, easily split, very durable in contact with the soil, red-brown, with very thin, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—South-eastern Michigan, as far north as St. Clair County. Abundant in eastern Monroe County and Wayne County.
HABITAT.—Pastures; hillsides; glacial drift; well-drained, gravelly or rocky soil.
NOTES.—A rapid grower and living to a great age. Difficult to transplant. Subject to a disease which threatens extermination in this country.
SUMMER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF QUERCUS
| a. | Leaves deeply cut or lobed. | |||||
| b. | Leaf-lobes acute, bristle-tipped; fruit maturing in thesecond season. | |||||
| c. | Lower surface of leaves more or less pubescent, | |||||
| d. | Leaf-lobes usually 7; buds hoary-tomentose; bark oftrunk deeply furrowed and scaly; inner bark yellow;cup-scales of acorn hoary-pubescent; nut ovoid;large tree, common in Michigan | Q. velutina, p. [117]. | ||||
| dd. | Leaf-lobes usually 3 (at apex of the leaf only); budsrusty-hairy; bark of trunk divided into nearly squareplates; inner bark not yellow; cup-scales of acornrusty-tomentose; nut subglobose; shrubby tree, rarein Michigan | Q. marilandica, p. [119]. | ||||
| cc. | Lower surface of leaves glabrous or nearly so. | |||||
| d. | Cup of acorn top-shaped or cup-shaped, inclosing one-thirdto one-half of the nut. | |||||
| e. | Kernel of nut yellow; buds glabrous, lustrous,slightly angular; inner bark of trunk yellow; trunkprovided with pins or stubs of dead branches nearthe ground | Q. ellipsoidalis, p. [115]. | ||||
| ee. | Kernel of nut whitish; buds pubescent above themiddle, not angular; inner bark of trunk red; trunknot provided with pins or stubs of branches nearthe ground | Q. coccinea, p. [113]. | ||||
| dd. | Cup of acorn saucer-shaped, inclosing only the baseof the nut. | |||||
| e. | Upper surface of leaves usually lustrous, especiallyon the lower branches; lowermost branches of treesgrowing in the open drooping nearly to the ground;nut about 1/2 inch long. | Q. palustris, p. [111]. | ||||
| ee. | Upper surface of leaves usually dull; lowermostbranches of trees growing in the open not drooping;nut about 1 inch long | Q. rubra, p. [109]. | ||||
| bb. | Leaf-lobes rounded, not bristle-tipped; fruit maturingin the first season. | |||||
| c. | Leaves cut nearly to the midrib by a pair of deep sinusesnear the middle of the leaf; branches corky-ridged; nut1/2-1-1/2 inches long, deeply seated in a large, conspicuouslyfringed | Q. macrocarpa, p. [103]. | ||||
| cc. | Leaves not cut by a pair of deep sinuses; branches notcorky-ridged; nut about 3/4 inch long, about one-fourthcovered by a thin, tomentose, warty cup | Q. alba, p. [101]. | ||||
| aa. | Leaves not deeply cut nor lobed. | |||||
| b. | Margin of leaf entire to sinuate-crenate, but not toothed;acorns on stalks 1/2-4 inches long. | |||||
| c. | Margin of leaf entire, or only slightly undulate; acornson peduncles 1/2 inch long, the nut about 1/2 inch long;bark on branches not breaking into large, papery scales | Q. imbricaria, p. [121]. | ||||
| cc. | Margin of leaf sinuate-crenate, rarely lobed; acorns onstems 1-4 inches long, the nut about 1 inch long; barkon branches breaking into large, papery scales whichcurl back | Q. bicolor, p. [105]. | ||||
| bb. | Margin of leaf coarsely toothed; acorns sessile or onstalks less than 1/2 inch long | Q. muhlenbergii, p. [107]. | ||||
WINTER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF QUERCUS
| a. | Terminal buds usually about 1/8 inch long. | |||||
| b. | Twigs thick-tomentose; entire bud pale-pubescent;branches corky-ridged; cup of acorn conspicuously fringedat the rim. | [1][G] Q. macrocarpa, p. [103]. | ||||
| bb. | Twigs glabrous; buds glabrous, or only slightly or partiallypubescent; branches without corky ridges; cup ofacorn not conspicuously fringed at the rim. | |||||
| c. | Bark on branches breaking into large, papery scaleswhich curl back; buds pilose above the middle; acornson pubescent stems 1-4 inches long. | [1] Q. bicolor, p. [105]. | ||||
| cc. | Bark on branches not breaking into large, papery scales;buds glabrous; acorns sessile or very short-stalked. | |||||
| d. | Bark of trunk ash-gray or nearly white, flaky; acornsmaturing in autumn of first season; kernel of nutsweet. | |||||
| e. | Buds conical, acute; bud-scales scarious on the margins;nut white-downy at the apex. | [1] Q. muhlenbergii, p. [107]. | ||||
| ee. | Buds broadly ovoid, obtuse; bud-scales not scariouson the margins; nut not white-downy at the apex. | [1] Q. alba, p. [101]. | ||||
| dd. | Bark of trunk light to dark brown, smoothish or onlyslightly fissured; acorns maturing in autumn of secondseason; kernel of nut bitter. | |||||
| e. | Lateral buds widely divergent; bud-scales scariouson the margins; lowermost branches of trees growingin the open not drooping nearly to the ground. | [2] Q. imbricaria, p. [121]. | ||||
| ee. | Lateral buds more or less appressed; bud-scales notscarious on the margins; lowermost branches oftrees growing in the open drooping nearly to theground. | [2] Q. palustris, p. [111]. | ||||
| aa. | Terminal buds usually about 1/4 inch long (slightly smallerin Q. ellipsoidalis). | |||||
| b. | Buds conspicuously hairy or tomentose. | |||||
| c. | Buds rusty-hairy, acute at the apex; cup-scales of acornrusty-tomentose; inner bark of trunk not yellow; shrubbytree, rare in Michigan. | [2] Q. marilandica, p. [119]. | ||||
| cc. | Buds hoary-tomentose, obtuse at the apex; cup-scales ofacorn hoary-pubescent; inner bark of trunk yellow;large tree, common in Michigan. | [2] Q. velutina, p. [117]. | ||||
| bb. | Buds glabrous, or pubescent only above the middle. | |||||
| c. | Buds strictly glabrous throughout, lustrous; inner barkof trunk yellow or whitish. | |||||
| d. | Buds obtuse at the apex; trunk provided with pins orstubs of dead branches near the ground; inner barkof trunk yellow; nut 1/2-3/4 inch long, inclosed forone-third to one-half of its length in a top-shapedcup; kernel of nut yellow. | [2] Q. ellipsoidalis, p. [115]. | ||||
| dd. | Buds acute at the apex; trunk not provided with pinsor stubs of branches near the ground; inner bark oftrunk whitish; nut about 1 inch long, inclosed onlyat the base by a shallow, saucer-shaped cup; kernelof nut white. | [2] Q. rubra, p. [109]. | ||||
| cc. | Buds pale-pubescent above the middle, but usually glabrousbelow, not lustrous; inner bark of trunk red. | [2] Q. coccinea, p. [113]. | ||||
White Oak
1. Winter twig, × 2.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1.
FAGACEAE
White Oak
Quercus alba L.
HABIT.—A large tree 60-80 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 2-4 feet; forming a short, thick trunk with stout, horizontal, far-reaching limbs, more or less gnarled and twisted in old age, and a broad, open crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 5-9 inches long, about one-half as broad; obovate to oblong; 5-9-lobed, some with broad lobes and shallow sinuses, others with narrow lobes and deep, narrow sinuses, the lobes usually entire; thin and firm; glabrous, bright green above, pale or glaucous beneath; often persistent on the tree through the winter.
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in hairy catkins 2-3 inches long; the pistillate sessile or short-peduncled, reddish, tomentose; calyx campanulate, 6-8-lobed, yellow, hairy; corolla 0; stamens 6-8, with yellow anthers; stigmas red.
FRUIT.—Autumn of first season; sessile or short-stalked acorns; cup with small, brown-tomentose scales, inclosing one-fourth of the nut; nut oblong-ovoid, rounded at the apex, about 3/4 inch long, light brown; kernel sweet and edible.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/8 inch long, broadly ovoid, obtuse; scales smooth, dark red-brown.
BARK.—Twigs at first bright green, tomentose, later reddish, and finally ashy gray; thick, light gray or whitish on old trunks, shallowly fissured into broad, flat ridges.
WOOD.—Very heavy, strong, hard, tough, close-grained, durable, light brown, with thin, light brown sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Rare in the Upper Peninsula, common in the Lower Peninsula, especially in the lower half.
HABITAT.—Grows well in all but very wet soils, in all open exposures.
NOTES.—Slow and even of growth. Difficult to transplant.
Bur Oak
1. Winter twig, × 2.
2. Leaf, × 1/3.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1.
FAGACEAE
Bur Oak
Quercus macrocarpa Michx.
HABIT.—A large tree 60-80 feet high, with a trunk 2-4 feet in diameter; great, spreading branches form a broad, rugged crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 6-10 inches long and one-half as broad; obovate to oblong, wedge-shaped at the base; crenately lobed, usually cut nearly to the midrib by two opposite sinuses near the middle; thick and firm; dark green and shining above, pale-pubescent beneath; petioles short, stout.
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in slender, hairy catkins 4-6 inches long; the pistillate sessile or short-stalked, reddish, tomentose; calyx 4-6-lobed, yellow-green, downy; corolla 0; stamens 4-6, with yellow anthers; stigmas bright red.
FRUIT.—Autumn of first season; sessile or short-stalked acorns; very variable in size and shape; cup typically deep, cup-shaped, tomentose, fringed at the rim, inclosing one-third or all of the nut; nut broad-ovoid, 1/2-1-1/2 inches long, brownish, pubescent; kernel white, sweet and edible.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/8 inch long, broadly ovoid or conical, red-brown, pale-pubescent.
BARK.—Twigs yellow-brown, thick-tomentose, becoming ash-gray or brownish; branches with corky ridges; thick and gray-brown on the trunk, deeply furrowed.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, strong, tough, close-grained, very durable, brownish, with thin, pale sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Common throughout both peninsulas.
HABITAT.—Prefers rich, moist soil; bottom-lands; but is tolerant of many soils.
NOTES.—Rather slow of growth. Difficult to transplant.
Swamp White Oak. Swamp Oak
1. Winter twig, × 2.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1.
FAGACEAE
Swamp White Oak. Swamp Oak
Quercus bicolor Willd. [Quercus platanoides (Lam.) Sudw.]
HABIT.—A large tree 50-70 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 2-3 feet; forming a rather open, rugged crown of tortuous, pendulous branches and short, stiff, bushy spray.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 5-7 inches long, 3-5 inches broad; obovate to oblong-obovate; coarsely sinuate-crenate or shallow-lobed; thick and firm; dark green and shining above, whitish and more or less tomentose beneath; petioles stout, about 1/2 inch long.
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in hairy catkins 3-4 inches long; the pistillate tomentose, on long, tomentose peduncles, in few-flowered spikes; calyx deeply 5-9-lobed, yellow-green, hairy; corolla 0; stamens 5-8, with yellow anthers; stigmas bright red.
FRUIT.—Autumn of first season; acorns on pubescent stems 1-4 inches long, usually in pairs; cup cup-shaped, with scales somewhat loose (rim often fringed), inclosing one-third of the nut; nut ovoid, light brown, pubescent at the apex, about 1 inch long; kernel white, sweet, edible.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/8 inch long, broadly ovoid to globose, obtuse; scales light brown, pilose above the middle.
BARK.—Twigs at first lustrous, green, becoming red-brown, finally dark brown and separating into large, papery scales which curl back; thick, gray-brown on the trunk, deeply fissured into broad, flat, scaly ridges.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, strong, tough, coarse-grained, light brown, with thin, indistinguishable sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Southern half of Lower Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Prefers moist, rich soil bordering swamps and along streams.
NOTES.—Fairly rapid in growth and reasonably easy to transplant.
Chinquapin Oak. Chestnut Oak. Yellow Oak
1. Winter twig, × 2.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1.
FAGACEAE
Chinquapin Oak. Chestnut Oak. Yellow Oak
Quercus muhlenbergii Engelm. [Quercus acuminata (Michx.) Houba]
HABIT.—A medium-sized tree 40-50 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-3 feet; erect, somewhat short branches form a narrow, rounded crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 4-7 inches long, 1-4 inches broad; oblong-lanceolate to obovate; coarsely toothed; thick and firm; lustrous, yellow-green above, pale-pubescent beneath; petioles slender, about 1 inch long.
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in hairy catkins 3-4 inches long; the pistillate sessile or in short spikes, hoary-tomentose; calyx campanulate, 5-8-lobed, yellow, hairy; corolla 0; stamens 5-8, with yellow anthers; stigmas red.
FRUIT.—Autumn of first season; sessile or short-stalked acorns; cup with small scales, hoary-tomentose, inclosing one-half of the nut; nut ovoid, about 3/4 inch long, light brown; kernel sweet, sometimes edible.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/8 inch long, conical, acute; scales chestnut-brown, scarious on the margin.
BARK.—Twigs greenish at first, becoming gray-brown, finally gray or brown; thin, silvery gray or ash colored and flaky on the trunk.
WOOD.—Heavy, very hard, strong, close-grained, durable, dark brown, with thin, pale brown sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Confined to the southern half of the Lower Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Prefers a limestone soil; dry hillsides; rich bottom-lands; rocky river-banks.
NOTES.—Grows uniformly until maturity. Leaves resemble those of the Chestnut. A form which differs from the type in having broader, obovate leaves broadest above the middle and a flaky bark has been described and named Quercus Alexanderi Britton.
Red Oak
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1.
FAGACEAE
Red Oak
Quercus rubra L.
HABIT.—A large tree 70-80 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 2-4 feet; forming a broad, rounded crown of a few large, wide-spreading branches and slender branchlets.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 5-9 inches long, 4-6 inches broad; oval to obovate; 5-11-lobed with coarse-toothed, bristle-tipped lobes tapering from broad bases and wide, oblique, rounded sinuses; thin and firm; dull dark green above, paler beneath; petioles stout, 1-2 inches long.
FLOWERS.—April-May, when the leaves are half grown; monoecious; the staminate in hairy catkins 4-5 inches long; the pistillate on short, glabrous peduncles; calyx 4-5-lobed, greenish; corolla 0; stamens 4-5, with yellow anthers; stigmas long, spreading, bright green.
FRUIT.—Autumn of second season; sessile or short-stalked acorns; cup shallow, saucer-shaped, inclosing only the base of the nut; scales closely appressed, more or less glossy, puberulous, bright red-brown; nut oblong-ovoid with a broad base, about 1 inch long, red-brown; kernel white, very bitter.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/4 inch long, ovoid, acute, light brown, smooth.
BARK.—Twigs lustrous, green, becoming reddish, finally dark brown; young trunks smooth, gray-brown; old trunks darker, shallowly fissured into thin, firm, broad ridges; inner bark light red, not bitter.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, strong, coarse-grained, light red-brown, with thin, darker colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Southern portion of Lower Peninsula as far north as Roscommon County.
HABITAT.—Prefers rich, moist loam; glacial drift; stream-banks. Grows well in all well-drained soils.
NOTES.—Grows rapidly. A good street tree.
Pin Oak
1. Winter twig, × 3.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1.
FAGACEAE
Pin Oak
Quercus palustris Muench.
HABIT.—A medium-sized tree 40-50 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2 feet; forming an oblong or pyramidal crown of many upright, spreading branches, the lowermost drooping nearly to the ground.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 4-6 inches long, 2-4 inches broad; obovate to ovate; 5-7-lobed by deep, wide, rounded sinuses, the lobes few-toothed, bristle-tipped; thin and firm; very lustrous, dark green above, paler beneath; petioles slender.
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in hairy catkins 2-4 inches long; the pistillate tomentose, borne on short, tomentose peduncles; calyx 4-5-lobed, hairy; corolla 0; stamens 4-5, with yellow anthers; stigmas recurved, bright red.
FRUIT.—Autumn of second season; sessile or short-stalked acorns; cup saucer-shaped with scales closely appressed, dark red-brown, inclosing only the base of the nut; nut nearly hemi-spherical, about 1/2 inch in diameter, light brown; kernel bitter.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/8 inch long, ovoid or conical, acute, light brown, smooth.
BARK.—Twigs dark red and tomentose at first, becoming lustrous, green, finally gray-brown; thick, gray-brown and smoothish on the trunk.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, strong, coarse-grained, light brown, with thin, darker colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Confined to the most southern portions of the Lower Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Prefers moist, rich soil; river-bottoms; borders of swamps.
NOTES.—Grows rapidly and uniformly. Easily transplanted. The tiny branchlets at a distance give the impression of the tree being full of pins.
Scarlet Oak
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1.
FAGACEAE
Scarlet Oak
Quercus coccinea Muench.
HABIT.—A tree 40-50 feet high and 12-15 inches in trunk diameter; long, slender branches form a rather open, rounded crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 3-6 inches long and nearly as broad; broadly obovate to oval; 5-9-lobed by deep, wide, rounded sinuses, the lobes toothed and bristle-tipped; thin and firm; shining, bright green above, paler beneath, both sides glabrous; turning brilliant scarlet in autumn; petioles slender, 1-2 inches long.
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in glabrous catkins 3-4 inches long; the pistillate on pubescent peduncles 1/2 inch long, bright red, pubescent; calyx 4-5-lobed, reddish, pubescent; corolla 0; stamens usually 4, with yellow anthers; stigmas long, spreading, bright red.
FRUIT.—Autumn of second season; sessile or short-stalked acorns; cup top-shaped to cup-shaped, with closely imbricated, slightly puberulous, red-brown scales, inclosing about one-half of the nut; nut usually short-ovoid, 1/2-3/4 inch long, light red-brown; kernel whitish, bitter.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud about 1/4 inch long, broadly ovoid, acute, dark red-brown, pale-pubescent above the middle.
BARK.—Twigs at first scurfy-pubescent, later lustrous, green, finally smooth, light brown; thick, dark gray or brown on old trunks, shallowly fissured, scaly; inner bark red, not bitter.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, strong, coarse-grained, light red-brown, with thick, darker brown sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Lower Peninsula, southern half.
HABITAT.—Prefers a light, dry, sandy soil.
NOTES.—Rapid of growth. Desirable for ornamental planting.
Hill’s Oak. Northern Pin Oak. Black Oak
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1.
FAGACEAE
Hill’s Oak. Northern Pin Oak. Black Oak
Quercus ellipsoidalis E. J. Hill
HABIT.—A tree 50-60 feet high, with a short trunk 2-3 feet in diameter; forming a rather narrow, oblong crown of upright and horizontal branches. Many small, drooping branches are sent out near the ground, which eventually die; and it is to the stubs or pins which persist about the trunk that the appelation Pin Oak is due.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 3-7 inches long and about as broad; oval to nearly orbicular; narrowly 5-7-lobed by deep, wide, rounded sinuses, the lobes few-toothed, bristle-tipped; thin and firm; lustrous, bright green above, paler beneath, both sides glabrous except for the tufts of hairs in the axils of the veins beneath; petioles slender, glabrous.
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in puberulous catkins 2-3 inches long; the pistillate red, tomentose, borne on stout, tomentose, 1-3-flowered peduncles; calyx 2-5-lobed or-parted, glabrous except at the apex, which is fringed with long, twisted hairs; corolla 0; stamens 2-5, with short filaments; stigmas 3, recurved, dark red.
FRUIT.—Autumn of second season; short-stalked or nearly sessile acorns; cup top-shaped, with scales thin, puberulous, inclosing one-third to one-half of the nut; nut ellipsoid, 1/2-3/4 inch long, light brown, puberulous; kernel yellow, bitter.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/8-1/4 inch long, ovoid, rather obtuse, slightly angular, lustrous, red-brown.
BARK.—Twigs bright red-brown, covered with matted, pale hairs, becoming glabrous, dark gray or brown; thin, dull gray to dark brown, rather smooth or closely ribbed on the trunk; inner bark yellow.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, strong, coarse-grained, red-brown, with thin, paler sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—South-western part of the Lower Peninsula, but limits not definitely known.
HABITAT.—Well-drained uplands, especially on clays; occasionally on the borders of ponds and in low woods.
NOTES.—A new and comparatively little known species.
Yellow Oak. Black Oak
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1.
FAGACEAE
Yellow Oak. Black Oak
Quercus velutina Lam.
HABIT.—A medium-sized tree 50-60 feet high and 1-3 feet in trunk diameter; slender branches and stout branchlets form a wide-spreading, rounded crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 5-10 inches long, 3-8 inches broad; ovate to oblong; usually 7-lobed, some with shallow sinuses and broad, rounded, mucronate lobes, others with wide, rounded sinuses extending half-way to the midrib or farther and narrow-oblong or triangular, bristle-tipped lobes, the lobes more or less coarse-toothed, each tooth bristle-tipped; thick and leathery; dark green and shining above, pale and more or less pubescent beneath; petioles stout, yellow, 3-6 inches long.
FLOWERS.—May, when the leaves are half grown; monoecious; the staminate in pubescent catkins 4-6 inches long; the pistillate reddish, on short, tomentose peduncles; calyx acutely 3-4-lobed, reddish, hairy; corolla 0; stamens usually 4-5, with acute, yellow anthers; stigmas 3, divergent, red.
FRUIT.—Autumn of second season; sessile or short-stalked acorns; cup cup-shaped or turbinate, inclosing about one-half of the nut; scales thin, light brown, hoary; nut ovoid, 1/2-3/4 inch long, red-brown, often pubescent; kernel yellow, bitter.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/4 inch long, ovoid to conical, obtuse, strongly angled, hoary-tomentose.
BARK.—Twigs at first scurfy-pubescent, later glabrous, red-brown, finally mottled gray; thick and nearly black on old trunks, deeply furrowed and scaly; inner bark thick, yellow, very bitter.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, strong, coarse-grained, bright red-brown, with thin, paler sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Southern half of the Lower Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Prefers glacial drift; dry or gravelly uplands; poor soils.
NOTES.—Rapid of growth. Undesirable for street use.
Black Jack
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1.
FAGACEAE
Black Jack
Quercus marilandica Muench.
HABIT.—A small, shrubby tree 20-30 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 6-14 inches; spreading, often contorted branches form a rounded or obovoid crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 5-7 inches long and broad; broad-obovate; more or less 3-lobed at the apex, the lobes entire or toothed, bristle-tipped, very variable in size and shape; thick and leathery; very lustrous and dark green above, yellowish and scurfy-pubescent beneath; petioles short, stout.
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in slender, hoary catkins 2-4 inches long; the pistillate rusty-tomentose, on short, rusty-tomentose peduncles; calyx 4-5-lobed, thin, scarious, tinged with red, pale-pubescent; corolla 0; stamens 4, with apiculate, red anthers; stigmas recurved, dark red.
FRUIT.—Autumn of second season; short-stalked acorns; cup turbinate, with large, red-brown, rusty-tomentose scales, inclosing about one-half of the nut; nut subglobose, about 3/4 inch long, yellow-brown, puberulous; kernel yellowish.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/4 inch long, ovoid, acute, prominently angled; scales light red-brown, rusty-hairy.
BARK.—Twigs at first light red and scurfy, later glabrous, red-brown, and finally brown or ashy gray; thick and almost black on the trunk, divided into nearly square plates.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, strong, dark brown, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Southern Michigan (Ann Arbor and Lansing).
HABITAT.—Dry, sandy or clay barrens.
NOTES.—Rare in Michigan.
Shingle Oak
1. Winter twig, × 2.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1.
FAGACEAE
Shingle Oak
Quercus imbricaria Michx.
HABIT.—A tree 40-50 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2 feet; forming a rather open, rounded crown of slender, horizontal branches.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 4-6 inches long, 1-2 inches broad; oblong-lanceolate to oblong-obovate; entire or somewhat undulate; thin, very lustrous, dark green above, paler and pubescent beneath; petioles stout, pubescent, 1/2 inch long.
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in slender, hoary-tomentose catkins 2-3 inches long; the pistillate on slender, tomentose peduncles; calyx 4-lobed, yellow, downy; corolla 0; stamens 4-5, with yellow anthers; stigmas short, recurved, greenish yellow.
FRUIT.—Autumn of second season; acorns on stout peduncles 1/2 inch long; cup cup-shaped, with red-brown, downy scales, inclosing one-third to one-half of the nut; nut subglobose, about 1/2 inch long, dark brown, often striate; kernel very bitter.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/8 inch long, ovoid, acute, lustrous, brown.
BARK.—Twigs lustrous, dark green, becoming brown; thick on old trunks, light brown and slightly fissured.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, coarse-grained, light red-brown, with thin, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Of rare occurrence in Michigan. Reported in Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Washtenaw Counties, Lower Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Rich uplands; fertile river-bottoms.
NOTES.—Desirable for ornamental uses. Hardy. Rapid of growth.
URTICACEAE
SUMMER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF ULMUS
| a. | Leaves essentially smooth on both sides; branches oftenwith corky, wing-like ridges; lowermost branches usuallyshort and strongly drooping; main trunk usually continuousinto the crown without dividing, giving to the tree a narrow-oblongoutline. | U. racemosa, p. [129]. | |
| aa. | Leaves usually rough on one or on both sides; brancheswithout corky ridges; lowermost branches not short, notstrongly drooping; main trunk usually dividing into severallarge limbs, giving to the tree a more or less vase-shapedoutline. | ||
| b. | Leaves usually rough above, but smooth beneath, withpetioles glabrous; bark of trunk gray, deeply fissured intobroad, scaly ridges; inner bark not mucilaginous. | U. americana, p. [127]. | |
| bb. | Leaves usually rough both sides, with petioles hairy; barkof trunk dark red-brown, shallowly fissured into large,loose plates; inner bark mucilaginous. | U. fulva, p. [125]. | |
WINTER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF ULMUS
| a. | Buds conspicuously rusty-tomentose; twigs more or lesspubescent; inner bark very mucilaginous when chewed. | U. fulva, p. [125]. | |
| aa. | Buds not conspicuously rusty-tomentose; twigs glabrous;inner bark not mucilaginous. | ||
| b. | Bundle-scars usually 3; buds 1/8 inch long, glabrous; twigswithout corky ridges; outline of tree vase-shaped. | U. americana, p. [127]. | |
| bb. | Bundle-scars usually 4-6 in a curved line; buds 1/4 inchlong, somewhat pilose; twigs often with corky ridges;outline of tree narrow-oblong. | U. racemosa, p. [129]. | |
Slippery Elm. Red Elm
1. Winter twig, × 2.
2. Leaf, × 1.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1.
4. Perfect flower, enlarged.
5. Fruit, × 1.
URTICACEAE
Slippery Elm. Red Elm
Ulmus fulva Michx. [Ulmus pubescens Walt.]
HABIT.—A medium-sized tree 40-60 feet high, with a short trunk 1-2 feet in diameter; spreading branches form a broad, open, flat-topped crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 4-7 inches long, about one-half as broad; ovate-oblong; coarsely doubly serrate; thick and firm; dark green and rough above, paler and somewhat rough beneath; petioles short, stout, hairy.
FLOWERS.—March-April, before the leaves; mostly perfect; borne on short pedicels in crowded fascicles; calyx campanulate, 5-9-lobed, green, hairy; corolla 0; stamens 5-9, with dark red anthers; stigmas 2, reddish purple.
FRUIT.—May; semi-orbicular, 1-seeded samaras, short-stalked in dense clusters; seed cavity brown-tomentose; wings smooth, nearly 3/4 inch long.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds ovoid, obtuse, dark brown, rusty-tomentose, 1/4 inch long.
BARK.—Twigs at first bright green and pubescent, becoming light to dark brown or grayish; thick on old trunks, dark red-brown, shallowly fissured into large, loose plates; inner bark mucilaginous.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, strong, very close-grained, durable, easy to split while green, dark red-brown, with thin, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Of frequent occurrence throughout the state.
HABITAT.—Prefers stream-banks and bottom-lands; rich, moist hillsides; rocky ridges and slopes.
NOTES.—Grows more rapidly than U. americana.
White Elm. American Elm. Water Elm
1. Winter twig, × 2.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Flower, enlarged.
5. Fruit, × 2.
URTICACEAE
White Elm. American Elm. Water Elm
Ulmus americana L.
HABIT.—A tree 75-100 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 2-6 feet; commonly dividing 20-30 feet above the ground into a few large branches which rise upward and outward to form a vase-shaped outline.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 4-6 inches long, one-half as broad; obovate-oblong to oval; coarsely doubly serrate; thick and firm; dark green and rough above, pale and pubescent or glabrous beneath; petioles short and stout.
FLOWERS.—March-April, before the leaves; mostly perfect; small, brown to red; borne on slender pedicels in loose fascicles; calyx campanulate, 5-9-lobed; corolla 0; stamens 4-9, with bright red anthers; ovary 2-celled; styles 2, green.
FRUIT.—May; ovate, 1-seeded samaras, smooth both sides, hairy on the margin, 1/2 inch long, long-stemmed in crowded clusters.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds ovoid, acute, flattened, glabrous, brown, 1/8 inch long.
BARK.—Twigs at first light green and downy, becoming glabrous, red-brown, finally ash-gray; on old trunks thick, ash-gray, deeply fissured into broad, scaly ridges.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, strong, tough, difficult to split, coarse-grained, light brown, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Common throughout the state.
HABITAT.—Prefers deep, rich, moist loam; bottom-lands; stream-banks.
NOTES.—Grows rapidly. Long-lived. The roots run along near the surface of the ground for a great distance. An ideal street tree.
Cork Elm. Rock Elm
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1.
5. Flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1.
URTICACEAE
Cork Elm. Rock Elm
Ulmus racemosa Thomas [Ulmus Thomasi Sarg.]
HABIT.—A large tree sometimes reaching a height of 100 feet and a trunk diameter of 5 feet, but usually somewhat smaller; strongly drooping lateral and lower branches form a narrow, oblong crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 3-6 inches long, one-half as broad; obovate to oblong-oval, more or less dished; coarsely doubly serrate; thick and firm; lustrous, dark green above, pale-pubescent beneath; petioles pubescent, 1/4 inch long.
FLOWERS.—March-April, before the leaves; mostly perfect; greenish; borne on slender, drooping pedicels in loose racemes; calyx campanulate, 7-8-lobed; corolla 0; stamens 7-8, with purple anthers; ovary hairy, 2-styled.
FRUIT.—May; ovate, 1-seeded samaras, pubescent all over, 1/2 inch long.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds ovoid, acute, brown, pilose, 1/4 inch long.
BARK.—Twigs at first light brown and pubescent, becoming lustrous, red-brown, finally gray-brown with corky, wing-like ridges; thick and grayish on the trunk, with wide fissures separating broad, flat, scaly ridges.
WOOD.—Heavy, very strong and tough, close-grained, light red-brown, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Frequent in the southern third of the Lower Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Dry, gravelly uplands; rocky ridges and slopes; heavy clay soils; river-banks.
NOTES.—A good street tree, but less graceful in habit than U. americana.
Hackberry. Nettle-tree
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 3/4.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1.
URTICACEAE
Hackberry. Nettle-tree
Celtis occidentalis L.
HABIT.—A medium-sized tree, 40-60 feet high, with a short, straight trunk 1-2 feet in diameter which branches a few feet from the ground into a few large limbs and many slender, horizontal, zigzag branches, forming a broad, rounded crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 2-4 inches long and one-half as broad; ovate to ovate-lanceolate, oblique at the base, usually long-pointed; coarsely serrate above the entire base; thin; glabrous, light green above, paler beneath, turning light yellow late in autumn; petioles short, slender, hairy.
FLOWERS.—May, with or soon after the leaves; polygamo-monoecious; greenish; inconspicuous; on slender pedicels; the staminate in clusters at the base of the shoot, the pistillate usually solitary in the axils of the upper leaves; calyx greenish, deeply 5-lobed; corolla 0; stamens 5; ovary 1-celled.
FRUIT.—September-October, remaining on the tree through the winter; slender-stalked, fleshy, globular drupes, 1/4 inch long, dark purple; edible.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds light brown, 1/4 inch long, ovoid, acute, flattened, the tip appressed.
BARK.—Twigs greenish, puberulous, becoming lustrous, red-brown in their first winter; on old trunks thick, light brown or silvery gray, broken into deep, short ridges or warty excrescences.
WOOD.—Heavy, soft, coarse-grained, weak, light yellow, with thick, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Common throughout the Lower Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Prefers rich, moist, well-drained soil, but will grow on gravelly or rocky hillsides. Common along river-banks.
NOTES.—Hardy throughout its range. Grows slowly and irregularly in youth. Easily transplanted. Not desirable as a street tree, but appears well in ornamental grounds. Very tolerant of shade.
Osage Orange
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
7. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
8. Fruit, × 1/4.
URTICACEAE
Osage Orange
Maclura pomifera (Raf.) Schneider [Toxylon pomiferum Raf.] [Maclura aurantiaca Nutt.]
HABIT.—A tree 20-30 feet high, with a short trunk 1-2 feet in diameter; divides into a few large limbs with curving branches, forming a symmetrical, rounded crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 3-5 inches long, 2-3 inches broad; ovate to oblong-lanceolate; entire; thick and firm; dark green and shining above, paler beneath; petioles slender, pubescent, 1-1/2-2 inches long.
FLOWERS.—June, after the leaves; dioecious; the staminate slender-pedicelled, borne in a dense raceme at the end of long, slender, drooping peduncles; the pistillate in dense, globose heads at the end of short, stout peduncles; calyx 4-lobed, hairy; corolla 0; stamens 4; style covered with white, stigmatic hairs.
FRUIT.—Autumn; pale green, orange-like, 4-5 inches in diameter, composed of numerous small drupes, crowded and grown together.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds depressed-globular, partly hidden in the bark, pale brown.
BARK.—Twigs at first bright green, pubescent, becoming orange-brown and armed with stout, straight, axillary spines; dark orange-brown on the trunk and deeply furrowed.
WOOD.—Heavy, very hard and strong, flexible, coarse-grained, very durable, bright orange, with thin, lemon colored sapwood.
NOTES.—A native of the South, but hardy throughout Michigan. A desirable ornamental tree. Extensively planted for hedges.
Red Mulberry
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1.
4. Spike of staminate flowers, × 1.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Spike of pistillate flowers, × 1.
7. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
8. Fruit, × 1.
URTICACEAE
Red Mulberry
Morus rubra L.
HABIT.—A small tree 20-30 feet high, with a short trunk 10-15 inches in diameter; forming a dense, round-topped crown of stout, spreading branches and more or less zigzag, slender branchlets.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 3-5 inches long, nearly as broad; outline variable, ovate to semi-orbicular, often 3-5-lobed; coarsely serrate; thin; dark blue-green and smooth or rough above, pale and more or less downy beneath; petioles 1-2 inches long, smooth, exuding a milky juice when cut.
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; monoecious or dioecious; the staminate in dense spikes 1-2 inches long, on short, hairy peduncles; the pistillate in dense spikes about 1 inch long, on short, hairy peduncles; calyx 4-lobed, hairy; corolla 0; stamens 4, with green anthers; stigmas 2, spreading.
FRUIT.—July; 1 inch long; consisting of drupes about 1/32 inch long, each inclosed in a thickened, fleshy calyx; berry-like; bright red at first, finally blackish; sweet, juicy, edible.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds ovoid, abruptly pointed, 1/4 inch long, lustrous, light brown.
BARK.—Twigs greenish and more or less downy, becoming smooth and brownish; trunk dark brown tinged with red and more or less furrowed.
WOOD.—Light, soft, weak, rather tough, coarse-grained, very durable, pale orange, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Southern portion of the Lower Peninsula, as far north as the Muskegon river.
HABITAT.—Prefers rich soil in river-bottoms.
NOTES.—Easily transplanted. Grows rapidly in good, moist soil.
MAGNOLIACEAE
Tulip Poplar. Tulip-tree. White-wood
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Fruit (opened and partly disseminated), × 1/2.
MAGNOLIACEAE
Tulip Poplar. Tulip-tree. White-wood
Liriodendron tulipifera L.
HABIT.—A large tree 70-100 feet high, with a columnar trunk 2-5 feet in diameter; forming a rather open, conical crown of slender branches.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 5-6 inches long and broad; 4-lobed; entire; lustrous, dark green above, pale or glaucous beneath, turning clear yellow in autumn; petioles slender, angled, 5-6 inches long.
FLOWERS.—May-June, after the leaves; perfect; terminal; solitary on stout peduncles; tulip-shaped, greenish yellow, 1-1/2-2 inches long; sepals 3, greenish, early deciduous; petals 6, in 2 rows, greenish yellow with an orange spot at the base, early deciduous; stamens numerous, somewhat shorter than the petals; pistils numerous, clinging together about a central axis; ovary 1-celled.
FRUIT.—September-October; a narrow, light brown cone 2-1/2-3 inches long, composed of numerous carpels; carpels long, flat, with a 1-2-seeded nutlet at the base, separating from the slender spindle at maturity.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/2-1 inch long, obtuse, flattish, dark red, covered with a glaucous bloom.
BARK.—Twigs smooth, lustrous, reddish, becoming brownish, and at length gray; ashy gray, thin and scaly on young trunks, becoming thick, brownish, and deeply furrowed with age.
WOOD.—Light, soft, brittle, weak, easily worked, light yellow or brown, with thin, cream-white sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Lower Peninsula south of the Grand River. Formerly common, but becoming rare.
HABITAT.—Prefers deep, rich, rather moist soil, but adapts itself readily to any good, light soil.
NOTES.—Difficult to transplant, but rapid of growth when once established. Not disfigured by insect enemies. Good for ornamental planting.
LAURACEAE
Sassafras
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaves, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
7. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
8. Fruit, × 1/2.
LAURACEAE
Sassafras
Sassafras variifolium (Salisb.) Ktse. [Sassafras sassafras (L.) Karst.] [Sassafras officinale Nees & Eberm.]
HABIT.—Usually a large shrub, but often a small tree 20-40 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 10-20 inches; stout, often contorted branches and a bushy spray form a flat, rather open crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 3-6 inches long, 2-4 inches broad; oval to oblong or obovate; entire or 1-3-lobed with deep, broad sinuses and finger-like lobes; thin; dull dark green above, paler beneath; petioles slender, about 1 inch long.
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; dioecious; greenish yellow; on slender pedicels, in loose, drooping, few-flowered racemes 2 inches long; calyx deeply 6-lobed, yellow-green; corolla 0; stamens of staminate flower 9, in 3 rows, of pistillate flower 6, in 1 row; ovary 1-celled.
FRUIT.—September-October; an oblong-globose, lustrous, dark blue berry, 3/8 inch long, surrounded at the base by the scarlet calyx, borne on club-shaped, bright red pedicels.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal buds 1/3 inch long, ovoid, acute, greenish, soft-pubescent, flower-bearing; lateral buds much smaller, sterile or leaf-bearing. Aromatic.
BARK.—Twigs glabrous, lustrous, yellow-green, spicy-aromatic, becoming red-brown and shallowly fissured when 2-3 years old; thick, dark red-brown and deeply and irregularly fissured into firm, flat ridges on old trunks.
WOOD.—Soft, weak, brittle, coarse-grained, very durable in the soil, aromatic, dull orange-brown, with thin, light yellow sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Southern portion of Lower Peninsula as far north as Grayling.
HABITAT.—Prefers well-drained, stony or sandy soil; woods; abandoned fields; peaty swamps.
NOTES.—Rapid of growth. Suckers freely. Difficult to transplant. Propagated easily from seed.
PLATANACEAE
Sycamore. Button-wood. Buttonball-tree
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, side view, × 1.
3. Vertical section of twig, summer bud and leaf petiole, enlarged.
4. Leaf, × 3/8.
5. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
6. Staminate flower, enlarged.
7. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
8. Fruit, × 3/8.
9. Achene, enlarged.
PLATANACEAE
Sycamore. Button-wood. Buttonball-tree
Platanus occidentalis L.
HABIT.—A large tree 70-100 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 3-8 feet; commonly dividing near the ground into several large secondary trunks, forming a broad, open, irregular crown of massive, spreading branches.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 5-10 inches long and broad; broadly ovate in outline; more or less 3-5-lobed by broad, shallow sinuses, the lobes sinuate-toothed; thin and firm; bright green above, paler beneath, glabrous both sides; petioles stout, puberulous, 1-2 inches long.
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; monoecious; borne in dense heads; the staminate dark red, on short, axillary peduncles; the pistillate greenish, on long, slender, terminal peduncles; sepals 3-6, minute; petals 3-6, minute; stamens 3-6, usually 4; styles long, incurved, red.
FRUIT.—October, persistent on the limbs through the winter; brown heads about 1 inch in diameter, on slender, glabrous stems 3-6 inches long.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds 1/4-3/8 inch long, conical, blunt, lustrous, pale brown; forming in summer within the petiole of the leaf.
BARK.—Twigs pale green and tomentose, becoming smooth, dark green, finally grayish; thick, red-brown on the trunk and broken into oblong, plate-like scales, separating higher up into thin plates which peel off, exposing the greenish or yellowish inner bark.
WOOD.—Heavy, tough, hard, rather weak, coarse-grained, difficult to split, light red-brown, with thick, darker colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Lower Peninsula as far north as Roscommon County.
HABITAT.—Prefers rich bottom-lands along the borders of rivers and lakes.
NOTES.—Rapid of growth. Bears transplanting well. Often planted as a shade tree. Fungous diseases disfigure it seriously.
ROSACEAE
SUMMER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF PYRUS
| a. | Leaves simple; fruit a light green pome an inch or more in diameter; branches contorted, bearing many short, spur-like branchlets. | P. coronaria, p. [145]. |
| aa. | Leaves compound; fruit berry-like, 1/4 inch in diameter, bright red; branches not contorted, not bearing many short, spur-like branchlets. | P. americana, p. [147]. |
WINTER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF PYRUS
| a. | Bundle-scars 3 or in 3 compound, but distinct groups; buds 1/8-1/4 inch long; branches contorted, bearing many short, spur-like branchlets; fruit a pome an inch or more in diameter, light green. | P. coronaria, p. [145]. |
| aa. | Bundle-scars 4-many in a single U-shaped line, not forming 3 distinct groups; buds about 1/2 inch long; branches not contorted, not bearing many short, spur-like branchlets; fruit berry-like, 1/4 inch in diameter, bright red. | P. americana, p. [147]. |
Sweet Crab. American Crab
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 3/4.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Vertical section of flower with petals removed, × 1/2.
6. Fruit, × 1/2.
ROSACEAE
Sweet Crab. American Crab
Pyrus coronaria L. [Malus coronaria Mill.]
HABIT.—Often a bushy shrub, but frequently a small tree 15-25 feet high, with a trunk 8-12 inches in diameter; forming a broad, rounded crown of rigid, contorted branches bearing many short, spur-like branchlets.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 3-4 inches long, almost as broad; ovate to nearly triangular; sharply and deeply serrate, sometimes lobed; membranaceous; bright green above, paler beneath, glabrous both sides; petioles long, slender, often with two dark glands near the middle.
FLOWERS.—May, after the leaves; perfect; 1-1/2-2 inches across; very fragrant; borne on slender pedicels in 5-6-flowered umbels; calyx urn-shaped, 5-lobed, tomentose; petals 5, rose colored to white; stamens 10-20; ovary hairy; styles 5.
FRUIT.—October; a depressed-globose pome, 1-1-1/2 inches in diameter, pale green, very fragrant, with a waxy surface.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/8-1/4 inch long, obtuse, bright red; lateral buds smaller.
BARK.—Twigs at first hoary-tomentose, becoming glabrous, red-brown; thin, red-brown, breaking into longitudinal fissures on the trunk.
WOOD.—Heavy, rather soft, close-grained, weak, red-brown, with thick, yellow sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Southern portion of the Lower Peninsula as far north as Roscommon County.
HABITAT.—Rich, moist, but well-drained soil in thickets and along streams.
NOTES.—An excellent ornamental tree or shrub for small gardens and shrubberies. The fruit is sometimes gathered for making preserves.
Mountain Ash
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/3.
4. Vertical section of flower, enlarged.
5. Portion of a fruiting cyme, × 1.
ROSACEAE
Mountain Ash
Pyrus americana (Marsh.) DC. [Sorbus americana Marsh.]
HABIT.—A small tree 15-20 feet high, with a trunk diameter of not over a foot; branches slender, spreading, forming a narrow, rounded crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, compound, 6-9 inches long. Leaflets 9-17, 2-3 inches long and 1/2-3/4 inch broad; sessile or nearly so, except the terminal; lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, taper-pointed; finely and sharply serrate above the entire base; membranaceous; glabrous, dark yellow-green above, paler beneath, turning clear yellow in autumn. Petioles slender, grooved, enlarged at the base.
FLOWERS.—May-June, after the leaves; perfect; 1/8 inch across; borne on short, stout pedicels in many-flowered, flat cymes 3-5 inches across; calyx urn-shaped, 5-lobed, puberulous; petals 5, white; stamens numerous; styles 2-3.
FRUIT.—October, but persistent on the tree throughout the winter; a berry-like pome, subglobose, 1/4 inch in diameter, bright red, with thin, acid flesh; eaten by birds in the absence of other food.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud about 1/2 inch long, ovoid, acute, with curved apex; lateral buds smaller, appressed; scales rounded on the back, purplish red, more or less pilose above, gummy.
BARK.—Twigs at first red-brown and hairy, becoming glabrous, dark brown; thin, light gray-brown on the trunk, smooth, or slightly roughened on old trees; inner bark fragrant.
WOOD.—Light, soft, close-grained, weak, pale brown, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Ludington and northward, principally along the shore of L. Michigan, but common throughout the Upper Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Prefers rich, moist soil on river-banks and on the borders of cold swamps; rocky hillsides and mountains.
NOTES.—More often a shrub. Easily transplanted, but slow of growth. One of the most beautiful trees of our northern forests.
Serviceberry
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Vertical section of flower, enlarged.
6. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.
ROSACEAE
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis (L.) Medic.
HABIT.—A small tree 25-40 feet in height, with a tall trunk 6-12 inches in diameter; forming a narrow, rounded crown of many small limbs and slender branchlets.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 3-4 inches long and about one-half as broad; ovate to obovate; finely and sharply serrate; glabrous, dark green above, paler beneath; petioles slender, about 1 inch long.
FLOWERS.—April, when the leaves are about one-third grown; perfect; large, white, borne in drooping racemes 3-5 inches long; calyx 5-cleft, campanulate, villous on the inner surface; petals 5, strap-shaped, white, about 1 inch in length; stamens numerous; styles 5, united below.
FRUIT.—June-August; globular, berry-like pome, 1/3-1/2 inch long; turning from bright red to dark purple with slight bloom; sweet and edible when ripe.
WINTER-BUDS.—Yellow-brown, narrow-ovoid to conical, sharp-pointed, 1/4-1/2 inch long; bud-scales apiculate, slightly pubescent.
BARK.—Twigs smooth, light green, becoming red-brown; thin, pale red-brown on the trunk, smoothish or divided by shallow fissures into narrow, longitudinal, scaly ridges.
WOOD.—Heavy, very hard, strong, close-grained, dark red-brown, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Common throughout the state.
HABITAT.—Prefers rich soil of dry, upland woods and hillsides.
NOTES.—Hardy throughout the state. Grows in all soils and situations except in wet lands.
Dotted Haw
Crataegus punctata Jacq.
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Vertical section of flower, enlarged.
5. Fruit, × 1.
ROSACEAE
The Haws, Thorns, Hawthorns or Thorn-apples
Crataegus L.
Owing to the complexity of the various forms in this group, the present state of uncertainty as to the value of certain characters, and the questionable validity of many of the assigned names, it is thought to be beyond the scope of this bulletin to give more than a general description of the group as a whole, recommending the more ambitious student to the various manuals and botanical journals and papers for more detailed information.
The Crataegi are generally low, wide-spreading trees or shrubs, with strong, tortuous branches and more or less zigzag branchlets usually armed with stiff, sharp thorns. The bark varies from dark red to gray and is shallowly fissured or scaly. The leaves are alternate, simple, generally serrate, often lobed, with short or long petioles. The flowers appear in May or June, with or after the leaves, in simple or compound corymbs, whitish or pinkish, perfect. The fruit is a red to yellow, sometimes blue or black pome, subglobose to pear-shaped, with usually dry and mealy flesh and 1-5 seeds. The winter-buds are small, nearly globose, lustrous brown. Crataegus produces wood which is heavy, hard, tough, close-grained, red-brown, with thick, pale sapwood. The Haws are trees of the pasture-lands, the roadside, the open woods and the stream-banks, and are more common in the southern than in the northern portions of the state. Some of the species are desirable as ornaments in parks and gardens on account of their beautiful and abundant flowers and showy fruits.
SUMMER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF PRUNUS
| a. | Leaves oblong-ovate to obovate, abruptly acuminate at theapex; marginal teeth not incurved. | ||
| b. | Margin of leaves sharp-serrate with spreading teeth;leaves not rugose, the veins not prominent; fruit 1/4-1/2inch long, bright red, racemose, July-August; bark oftrunk brown, smooth or only slightly fissured; usually alarge shrub. | P. virginiana, p. [157]. | |
| bb. | Margin of leaves crenate-serrate; leaves more or lessrugose, the veins prominent; fruit about 1 inch longorange-red, clustered, August-September; bark of trunkgray-brown, early splitting off in large, thick plates;a small tree. | P. nigra, p. [161]. | |
| aa. | Leaves oval to oblong-lanceolate, taper-pointed at the apex;marginal teeth incurved. | ||
| b. | Fruit light red, clustered, July-August; twigs usually lessthan 1/16 inch thick; pith of twigs brown; tree northern. | P. pennsylvanica, p. [139]. | |
| bb. | Fruit black, racemose, August-September; twigs usuallymore than 1/16 inch thick; pith of twigs white; treesouthern. | P. serotina, p. [155]. | |
WINTER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF PRUNUS
| a. | Terminal bud present; bark of young trunks rather smooth. | |||
| b. | Buds clustered at the tips of all shoots; twigs usually lessthan 1/16 inch thick; pith of twigs brown. | P. pennsylvanica, p. [159]. | ||
| bb. | Buds not clustered, or clustered only on short, spur-likebranchlets; twigs usually more than 1/16 inch thick; pithof twigs white. | |||
| c. | Buds usually 1/4 inch or less in length; bud-scales uniformin color, apiculate at the apex; bark on old trunksblackish, rough-scaly; small to large tree. | P. serotina, p. [155]. | ||
| cc. | Buds usually 1/4-1/2 inch long; bud-scales grayish on themargins, rounded at the apex; bark on old trunks brown,smooth or only slightly fissured; usually a large shrub. | P. virginiana, p. [157]. | ||
| aa. | Terminal bud absent; bark of young trunks early splittingoff in large, thick plates. | P. nigra, p. [161]. | ||
Black Cherry
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 3/4.
4. Margin of leaf, enlarged.
5. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
6. Vertical section of flower, enlarged.
7. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.
ROSACEAE
Black Cherry
Prunus serotina Ehrh. [Padus serotina (Ehrh.) Agardh.]
HABIT.—A medium-sized tree 40-50 feet high and 8-36 inches in trunk diameter; branches few, large, tortuous, forming a rather spreading, oblong or rounded crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 2-5 inches long, about one-half as broad; oval or oblong to oblong-lanceolate; finely serrate, with teeth incurved; subcoriaceous; dark green and very lustrous above, paler beneath, glabrous both sides; petioles short, slender, usually bearing 2 red glands near the blade.
FLOWERS.—May-June, when the leaves are half grown; perfect; 1/4 inch across; borne on slender pedicels in many-flowered, loose racemes 4-5 inches long; calyx cup-shaped, 5-lobed; petals 5, white; stamens 15-20; stigma thick, club-shaped.
FRUIT.—August-September; a globular drupe, 1/3-1/2 inch in diameter, nearly black, with dark purple, juicy flesh; slightly bitter, edible.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud about 1/4 inch long, ovoid, blunt to acute; scales keeled on the back, apiculate, light brown.
BARK.—Twigs and branches red to red-brown; young trunks dark red-brown, smooth; blackish on old trunks and rough, broken into thick, irregular plates; bitter, aromatic.
WOOD.—Light, rather hard, strong, close- and straight-grained, light brown or red, with thin, yellow sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Frequent in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula, rare in the northern half and the Upper Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Prefers a rich, moist soil, but grows well on dry, gravelly or sandy soils.
NOTES.—Grows very rapidly in youth.
Choke Cherry
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1.
4. Margin of leaf, enlarged.
5. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
6. Vertical section of flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1/2.
ROSACEAE
Choke Cherry
Prunus virginiana L. [Padus virginiana (L.) Roemer]
HABIT.—Usually a large shrub, but sometimes a small tree 15-25 feet high, with a crooked, often leaning trunk 5-6 inches in diameter; forming a spreading, somewhat rounded crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 2-4 inches long, one-half as broad; obovate to oblong-obovate or oval, abruptly acuminate at the apex; finely and sharply serrate; dull dark green above, paler beneath, glabrous both sides; petioles short, slender, glandular at the apex.
FLOWERS.—May, when the leaves are half grown; perfect; about 1/2 inch across; borne on short, slender pedicels in many-flowered racemes 3-6 inches long; calyx cup-shaped, 5-lobed; petals 5, white; stamens 15-20; stigma broad, on a short style.
FRUIT.—July-August; a globular drupe, 1/4-1/2 inch in diameter, usually bright red, often yellow to almost black, with dark red flesh; astringent, but edible.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/4-1/2 inch long, conical, acute; scales rounded at the apex, light brown, smooth.
BARK.—Twigs at first light brown or greenish, becoming red-brown, finally dark brown; thin, dark brown on the trunk, slightly fissured.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, close-grained, weak, light brown, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Common throughout the entire state.
HABITAT.—Prefers a deep, rich, moist loam, but is common on less favorable sites.
NOTES.—The most widely distributed tree of North America, extending from the arctic circle to Mexico, from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean.
Wild Red Cherry. Pin Cherry
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1.
4. Margin of leaf, enlarged.
5. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
6. Flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1.
ROSACEAE
Wild Red Cherry. Pin Cherry
Prunus pennsylvanica L. f.
HABIT.—A slender tree, seldom over 30 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 8-10 inches; crown rather open, narrow, rounded, with slender, regular branches.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 3-5 inches long, 3/4-1-1/4 inches broad; oblong-lanceolate; finely and sharply serrate; bright green and shining above, paler beneath; petioles slender, 1/2-1 inch long, glandular near the blade.
FLOWERS.—May-June, with the leaves; perfect; about 1/2 inch across, borne on slender pedicels in 4-5-flowered umbels, generally clustered, 2-3 together; calyx 5-cleft, campanulate; petals 5, white, 1/4 inch long; stamens 15-20.
FRUIT.—July-August; a globular drupe, 1/4 inch in diameter, light red, with thick skin and sour flesh.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/8 inch long, broadly ovoid, rather blunt, brownish, smooth.
BARK.—Twigs at first lustrous, red, marked by orange colored lenticels, becoming brownish; red-brown and thin on the trunk, peeling off horizontally into broad, papery plates; bitter, aromatic.
WOOD.—Light, soft, close-grained, light brown, with thin, yellow sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Throughout the northern portion of the state, extending southward to Ionia County.
HABITAT.—Abundant on sand-lands; roadsides; burned-over lands; clearings; hillsides.
NOTES.—Rapid of growth. Short-lived.
Canada Plum. Red Plum
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Vertical section of flower, × 1.
6. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.
ROSACEAE
Canada Plum. Red Plum
Prunus nigra Ait. [Prunus americana, v. nigra Waugh]
HABIT.—A small tree 20-25 feet high and 5-8 inches in trunk diameter; usually divides 5-6 feet from the ground into a number of stout, upright branches, forming a narrow, rigid crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 3-5 inches long and one-half as broad; oblong-ovate to obovate, abruptly acuminate at the apex; doubly crenate-serrate; thick and firm; glabrous, light green above, paler beneath; petioles short, stout, bearing 2 large red glands near the blade.
FLOWERS.—May, before the leaves; perfect; slightly fragrant; about 1 inch across; borne on slender, glabrous, red pedicels in 2-3-flowered umbels; calyx 5-lobed, dark red; petals 5, white; stamens 15-20, with purple anthers; ovary 1-celled; style 1; stigma 1.
FRUIT.—August-September; a fleshy drupe, about 1 inch long, oblong-ovoid, with a tough, thick, orange-red skin nearly free from bloom, and yellow flesh adherent to the flat stone. Eaten raw or cooked.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds 1/8-1/4 inch long, ovate, acute, chestnut-brown.
BARK.—Twigs green, marked by numerous pale excrescences, later dark brown; thin, gray-brown and smooth on young trunks, but soon splitting off in large, thick plates, exposing the darker inner bark.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, strong, close-grained, light red-brown, with thin, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Upper Peninsula and the Lower Peninsula north of Lansing.
HABITAT.—Prefers rich, alluvial soil along streams.
NOTES.—Suckers freely, forming low, broad thickets.
LEGUMINOSAE
Coffeetree. Kentucky Coffeetree
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/4.
3. Leaflet, × 1/2.
4. Vertical section of staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Vertical section of pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1/4.
LEGUMINOSAE
Coffeetree. Kentucky Coffeetree
Gymnocladus dioica (L.) Koch [Gymnocladus canadensis Lam.]
HABIT.—A slender tree 50-75 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 2-3 feet; divides near the ground into several stems which spread slightly to form a narrow, pyramidal crown; branchlets stout, clumsy, blunt, with conspicuous leaf-scars.
LEAVES.—Alternate, bipinnately compound, 1-3 feet long. Leaflets 40 or more, 2-2-1/2 inches long and one-half as broad; short-stalked; ovate, acute; entire; thin and firm; dark green above, pale yellow-green and glabrous beneath. Petioles stout, terete, glabrous. Appear late in spring.
FLOWERS.—June, after the leaves; dioecious; greenish white; the staminate short-stalked, in racemose corymbs 3-4 inches long; the pistillate long-stalked, in racemes 10-12 inches long; calyx tubular, hairy; petals 5, keeled, nearly white; stamens 10; ovary hairy.
FRUIT.—Ripens in autumn, but remains closed until late in winter; short-stalked, red-brown legumes 6-10 inches long, 1-1/2-2 inches wide, containing 6-9 large, flat seeds.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds minute, depressed, 2 in the axil of each leaf, bronze-brown, silky-pubescent.
BARK.—Twigs coated with short, dense, reddish pubescence, becoming light brown; thick, deeply fissured and scaly on the trunk, dark gray.
WOOD.—Heavy, somewhat soft, strong, coarse-grained, very durable in contact with the soil, light red-brown, with thin, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Southern Michigan as far north as the Grand River. Infrequent.
HABITAT.—Prefers bottom-lands and rich soil.
NOTES.—The seeds in early days were used as a substitute for coffee.
Honey Locust. Three-thorned Acacia
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Vertical section through lateral buds, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/4.
4. Leaflet, × 1.
5. Staminate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
6. Staminate flower, enlarged.
7. Pistillate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
8. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
9. Fruit, × 1/3.
10. Spine from trunk, × 1/2.
LEGUMINOSAE
Honey Locust. Three-thorned Acacia
Gleditsia triacanthos L.
HABIT.—A tree usually 50-75 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 2-3 feet; dividing near the ground into several large, upright branches which divide again into long, slender, horizontal branchlets; both trunk and large branches armed with stout, rigid, simple or branched spines.
LEAVES.—Alternate, pinnately or bipinnately compound, 7-12 inches long. Leaflets 18 or more, 3/4-1-1/2 inches long, one-third as broad; lanceolate-oblong; remotely crenulate-serrate; thin; lustrous, dark green above, dull yellow-green beneath. Petioles and rachises pubescent.
FLOWERS.—May-June, when the leaves are nearly full grown; polygamo-dioecious; the staminate in short, many-flowered, pubescent racemes; the pistillate in slender, few-flowered racemes; on shoots of the preceding season; calyx campanulate, hairy 3-5-lobed; petals 3-5, greenish; stamens 3-10; ovary 1-celled, woolly.
FRUIT.—Autumn, falling in early winter; flat, pendent, twisted, brown legumes, 12-18 inches long, short-stalked in short racemes; seeds 12-14, oval, flattened.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds minute, 3 or more superposed, glabrous, brownish.
BARK.—Twigs lustrous, red-brown, becoming gray-brown; thick on the trunk, iron-gray to blackish and deeply fissured into long, narrow ridges roughened by small scales.
WOOD.—Hard, strong, coarse-grained, durable in contact with the ground, red-brown, with thin, pale sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Indigenous to the extreme southern portion of the state, but is planted as far north as Bay City.
HABITAT.—Prefers deep, rich loam, but grows on a variety of soils.
NOTES.—Grows rapidly and is long-lived and free from disease. Easily transplanted. The leaves appear late in spring and fall early in autumn. The stiff spines and long pods which litter the ground make the tree unsuitable for street or ornamental use.
Redbud. Judas-tree
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, front view, enlarged.
3. Portion of twig, side view, enlarged.
4. Leaf, × 1/2.
5. Flowering branchlet, × 1.
6. Vertical section of flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1/2.
LEGUMINOSAE
Redbud. Judas-tree
Cercis canadensis L.
HABIT.—A small tree 20-30 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 10-15 inches; divided near the ground into stout, straggling branches to form a broad, flat crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 3-5 inches long and broad; heart-shaped or rounded; entire; thick; glabrous, dark green above, paler beneath, turning bright yellow in autumn; petioles slender, terete, enlarged at the base.
FLOWERS.—April-May, before or with the leaves; perfect; 1/2 inch long; borne on short, jointed pedicels in fascicles of 4-8; calyx campanulate, 5-toothed, dark red; petals 5, rose color; stamens 10, in 2 rows.
FRUIT.—June-July, remaining on the tree until early winter; a short-stalked legume 2-1/2-3 inches long, pointed at both ends, rose color; seeds 10-12, brownish, 1/4 inch long.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds 1/8 inch long, obtuse, somewhat flattened and appressed, brownish.
BARK.—Twigs lustrous, brown, becoming dark or grayish brown; red-brown, deeply fissured, with a scaly surface on old trunks.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, coarse-grained, weak, dark red-brown, with thin, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Valleys of the Grand and Raisin Rivers and southward.
HABITAT.—Prefers the borders of streams and rich bottom-lands, often in the shade of other trees.
NOTES.—A rapid grower. Hardy within its range. Can be transplanted with success only when very young. Plants begin to produce flowers freely when 4-5 years old. Much used in landscape gardening.
Locust. Black Locust
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Vertical section through lateral buds, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Raceme of flowers, × 1/2.
5. Flower, with part of corolla removed, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1/2.
LEGUMINOSAE
Locust. Black Locust
Robinia pseudo-acacia L.
HABIT.—A tree 50-75 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 2-3 feet; forming a narrow, oblong crown of irregular, more or less contorted branches.
LEAVES.—Alternate, compound, 8-14 inches long. Leaflets 7-21, short-petiolate, 1-2 inches long, about one-half as broad; ovate to oblong-oval; entire; very thin; dull dark green above, paler beneath, glabrous both sides. Petioles slender, pubescent.
FLOWERS.—May-June, after the leaves; perfect; showy and abundant; very fragrant; borne on slender pedicels in loose, drooping racemes 4-5 inches long; about 1 inch long; calyx short, bell-shaped, 5-lobed, hairy; corolla papilionaceous, white, 5-petaled; stamens 10.
FRUIT.—Late autumn, but persistent on the tree through the winter; a smooth, dark brown, flat pod 3-4 inches long, containing 4-8 small, flattish, brown seeds.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds minute, 3-4 superposed, partially sunken within the leaf-scar, rusty-hairy.
BARK.—Twigs smooth, green, more or less rough-dotted at first, becoming red-brown and armed with prickles; dark red-brown and thick on old trunks, deeply furrowed into firm, sinuous ridges.
WOOD.—Heavy, very strong and hard, close-grained, very durable in contact with the soil, brown, with very thin, pale yellow sapwood.
NOTES.—Native to the Appalachian Mountains, but much planted in Michigan for ornamental and economic uses. Very rapid of growth in youth. Short-lived. Seriously attacked by borers. Spreads by underground shoots.
SIMARUBACEAE
Ailanthus. Tree of Heaven
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/8.
3. Leaflet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate inflorescence, × 1/4.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1.
SIMARUBACEAE
Ailanthus. Tree of Heaven
Ailanthus glandulosa Desf.
HABIT.—A handsome, rapid-growing, short-lived tree, attaining a height of 50-70 feet and a trunk diameter of 2-4 feet, with a spreading, rather loose and open crown and a coarse, blunt spray.
LEAVES.—Alternate, pinnately compound, 1-3 feet long. Leaflets 11-41 in number, 2-6 inches long and about one-third as broad; ovate-lanceolate; entire with the exception of two or more coarse, glandular teeth at the base; glabrous, dark green above, paler beneath, turning a clear yellow in autumn or falling without change; ill-scented. Petioles smooth, terete, swollen at the base.
FLOWERS.—June, when the leaves are full grown; polygamo-dioecious; small, yellow-green, borne in upright panicles 6-12 inches or more in length; calyx 5-lobed; petals 5, greenish, hairy; stamens 10. Staminate flowers ill-scented, pistillate almost free from odor.
FRUIT.—October; 1-celled, 1-seeded samaras, spirally twisted, reddish or yellow-green, borne in crowded clusters.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds about 1/8 inch long, subglobose, brownish, downy.
BARK.—Twigs yellowish to red-brown, velvety-downy; thin, grayish and shallowly fissured on old trunks.
WOOD.—Soft, weak, of coarse and open grain, pale yellow, satiny, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.
NOTES.—A native of China, but naturalized in the United States and planted frequently in southern Michigan as a foliage tree. Only the pistillate trees should be planted, as these are almost free from the objectionable odor of the staminate trees. The smoke and dust of our large cities have little effect on the foliage, and the trees are perfectly hardy in the southern part of the state.
ACERACEAE
SUMMER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF ACER
| a. | Leaves simple; twigs usually without whitish bloom. | |||||
| b. | Leaf-sinuses acute at the base. | |||||
| c. | Leaf-lobes long and narrow, the sides of the terminallobe diverging; leaves silvery white beneath; twigsrank-smelling when broken. | A. saccharinum, p. [185]. | ||||
| cc. | Leaf-lobes short and broad, the sides of the terminallobe converging; leaves not conspicuously white beneath;twigs not rank-smelling when broken. | |||||
| d. | Leaves 2-4 inches broad, thin, not pentagonally 5-lobed;wings of fruit 3/4-1 inch long. | |||||
| e. | Leaves distinctly white-downy beneath; twigs appressed-hairy,at least near the tip; fruit hanging inpendulous racemes, persistent on the tree untilautumn; seed portion with pit-like depression onone side; usually a shrub or bushy tree. | A. spicatum, p. [179]. | ||||
| ee. | Leaves not distinctly white-downy beneath; twigsglabrous; fruit hanging in clusters, falling in earlysummer; seed portion without pit-like depressionon one side; medium-sized tree. | A. rubrum, p. [187]. | ||||
| dd. | Leaves 4-7 inches broad, thick, pentagonally 5-lobed;wings of fruit 1-1/2 inches long. | A. pseudo-platanus, p. [191]. | ||||
| bb. | Leaf-sinuses rounded at the base. | |||||
| c. | Lower sides of leaves and petioles distinctly downy, thelobes undulate or entire; leaves very thick, drooping atthe sides. | A. saccharum nigrum, p. [183]. | ||||
| cc. | Lower sides of leaves and petioles essentially glabrous,the lobes serrate; leaves not thick, not drooping at thesides. | |||||
| d. | Leaves coarsely and sparsely toothed or notched;bark not longitudinally white-striped; large trees. | |||||
| e. | Twigs coarse; petioles exuding a milky juice whencut; wings of fruit diverging by nearly 180°; barkof the trunk closely fissured, not scaly. | A. platanoides, p. [189]. | ||||
| ee. | Twigs slender; petioles not exuding a milky juicewhen cut; wings of fruit diverging only slightly;bark of the trunk deeply furrowed, often cleavingin long, thick plates. | A. saccharum, p. [181]. | ||||
| dd. | Leaves finely and abundantly toothed; bark longitudinallywhite-striped; a bushy tree or shrub. | |||||
| aa. | Leaves compound; twigs usually with whitish bloom. | A. negundo, p. [193]. | ||||
WINTER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF ACER
| a. | Terminal buds usually under 1/4 inch in length. | |||||
| b. | Buds white-woolly; twigs usually with a whitish bloom;opposite leaf-scars meeting; fruit often persistent on thetree until spring. | A. negundo, p. [193]. | ||||
| bb. | Buds not white-woolly; twigs without whitish bloom;opposite leaf-scars not meeting; fruit not persistent onthe tree in winter. | |||||
| c. | Buds reddish or greenish; twigs bright red. | |||||
| d. | Twigs strictly glabrous; buds glabrous; sphericalflower buds clustered on the sides of the shoot; pithpink; large trees. | |||||
| e. | Twigs rank-smelling when broken; tip of outerbud-scales often apiculate; tips of branches curvingupwards; bark separating into long, thin flakesloose at the ends. | A. saccharinum, p. [185]. | ||||
| ee. | Twigs not rank-smelling when broken; tip of outerbud-scales rounded; tips of branches not conspicuouslycurving upwards; bark rough-ridged, butseldom forming loose flakes. | A. rubrum, p. [187]. | ||||
| dd. | Twigs appressed-hairy, at least near the tip; budssomewhat tomentose; spherical flower buds absent;pith brown; shrub or bushy tree. | A. spicatum, p. [179]. | ||||
| cc. | Buds brownish; twigs brownish or grayish. | |||||
| d. | Buds glabrous, or somewhat pubescent at the apexonly; bark dark gray on the trunk. | A. saccharum, p. [181]. | ||||
| dd. | Buds hoary-pubescent; bark sometimes almost blackon the trunk. | A. saccharum nigrum, p. [183]. | ||||
| aa. | Terminal buds usually 1/4-1/2 inch in length. | |||||
| b. | Buds reddish; opposite leaf-scars meeting. | |||||
| c. | Buds conspicuously stalked; bud-scales visible, 1 pair;bark longitudinally white-striped; small tree or largeshrub. | A. pennsylvanicum, p. [177]. | ||||
| cc. | Buds not conspicuously stalked; bud-scales visible, 2-3pairs; bark not white-striped; large tree. | A. platanoides, p. [189]. | ||||
| bb. | Buds bright green; opposite leaf-scars not meeting. | A. pseudo-platanus, p. [191]. | ||||
Striped Maple. Moosewood. Whistlewood
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Vertical section of staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
7. Vertical section of pistillate flower, enlarged.
8. Fruit, × 3/4.
ACERACEAE
Striped Maple. Moosewood. Whistlewood
Acer pennsylvanicum L.
HABIT.—A small tree at best, more often a large shrub, seldom attaining a height of more than 30 feet, with a short trunk 5-8 inches through. The striped, upright branches form a rather compact crown.
LEAVES.—Opposite, simple, 5-6 inches long and nearly as broad; 3-lobed above the middle with short, tapering lobes; palmately 3-nerved; sharply doubly serrate; rounded or heart-shaped at the base; glabrous, yellow-green above, paler beneath, turning pale yellow in autumn; petioles stout, grooved.
FLOWERS.—May-June, when the leaves are nearly full grown; usually monoecious; large, bright yellow, bell-shaped, in slender, drooping racemes 4-6 inches long; calyx 5-parted; petals 5; stamens 7-8; ovary downy.
FRUIT.—Ripens in autumn; glabrous, paired samaras in long, drooping, racemose clusters, the wings 3/4 inch long, widely divergent, and marked on one side of each nutlet by a small cavity.
WINTER-BUDS.—Bright red; terminal bud nearly 1/2 inch long, short-stalked, with bud-scales keeled; lateral buds smaller, appressed.
BARK.—Twigs light green, mottled with black, smooth; trunk and branches red-brown, marked longitudinally by broad, pale stripes.
WOOD.—Light, soft, close-grained, pinkish brown, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Abundant in the Upper Peninsula, extending southward as far as Roscommon County in the Lower Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Cool, rocky or sandy woods, usually in the shade of other trees.
NOTES.—In the Northwoods the green shoots are browsed by deer and moose. Valued mostly for its aesthetic qualities. Of little or no economic value.
Mountain Maple
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1.
ACERACEAE
Mountain Maple
Acer spicatum Lam.
HABIT.—A bushy tree sometimes 25-30 feet high, with a short trunk 6-8 inches in diameter; small, upright branches form a small, rounded crown. More often a straggling shrub.
LEAVES.—Opposite, simple, 4-5 inches long and two-thirds as broad; 3-lobed above the middle, the lobes coarsely crenate-serrate with pointed teeth, the sinuses usually wide-angled and acute at the base; thin; glabrous, dark green above, covered with a whitish down beneath, turning scarlet and orange in autumn; veining prominent; petioles long, slender, with enlarged base.
FLOWERS.—June, after the leaves are full grown; polygamo-monoecious; small, yellow-green; in erect, slightly compound, many-flowered, long-stemmed, terminal racemes; calyx downy, 5-lobed; petals 5; stamens 7-8; ovary tomentose.
FRUIT.—July; bright red, turning brown in late autumn; small, glabrous, paired samaras, in pendulous, racemose clusters.
WINTER-BUDS.—Small, flattish, acute, bright red, more or less tomentose; the terminal 1/8 inch long, containing the flowers.
BARK.—Twigs reddish, slightly hairy; very thin, red-brown, smooth or slightly furrowed on the trunk.
WOOD.—Light, soft, close-grained, light brown, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Common in the Upper Peninsula; extends as far south as Saginaw Bay.
HABITAT.—Damp forests; rocky woods; along streams; always in the shade of other trees.
NOTES.—Forms much of the undergrowth of our northern forests. Little used, except for fire-wood.
Sugar Maple. Hard Maple. Rock Maple
1. Winter twig, × 2.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
7. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
8. Fruit, × 1.
ACERACEAE
Sugar Maple. Hard Maple. Rock Maple
Acer saccharum Marsh. [Acer saccharinum Wang.]
HABIT.—A stately tree 60-100 feet in height, with a trunk diameter of 3-4 feet; in the open forming stout, upright branches near the ground, in forests making remarkably clean trunks to a good height; the crown is a broad, round-topped dome.
LEAVES.—Opposite, simple, 3-5 inches long and broad; usually 5-lobed (sometimes 3-lobed), the lobes sparingly wavy-toothed, the sinuses broad and rounded at the base; thin and firm; opaque, dark green above, lighter and glabrous beneath, turning yellow and red in autumn; petioles long, slender.
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; polygamo-monoecious or dioecious; on thread-like, hairy pedicels in nearly sessile corymbs; greenish yellow; calyx campanulate, 5-lobed; corolla 0; stamens 7-8; ovary hairy.
FRUIT.—September-October, germinating the following spring; paired samaras, glabrous, with wings about 1 inch long, diverging slightly.
WINTER-BUDS.—Small, acute, red-brown, glabrous or somewhat pubescent toward the apex, the terminal 1/4 inch long, the lateral smaller, appressed.
BARK.—Twigs smooth, pale brown, becoming gray and smooth on the branches; old trunks dark gray, deeply furrowed, often cleaving up at one edge in long, thick plates.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, strong, close-grained, tough, durable, light brown, with thin, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Found throughout the entire state.
HABITAT.—Prefers moist, rich soil in valleys and uplands and moist, rocky slopes.
NOTES.—The most important hardwood in Michigan. The tree which produces the bulk of the maple sugar of the market.
Black Maple. Black Sugar Maple
1. Winter twig, × 2.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1.
ACERACEAE
Black Maple. Black Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum nigrum (Michx. f.) Britt. [Acer nigrum Michx.]
HABIT.—A stately tree, sometimes reaching a height of 80 feet, with a trunk diameter of 2-3 feet; branches stout, forming a broad, rounded, symmetrical crown.
LEAVES.—Opposite, simple, concave, 5-7 inches across, the breadth usually exceeding the length; usually 5-lobed at maturity, the two lower lobes being small, often reduced to a mere curve in the outline, the pointed lobes undulate or entire and narrowed from the broad, shallow sinuses; thick and firm; glabrous above, downy beneath; petioles stout, usually pendent, tomentose. The sides of the larger leaves often droop giving to the tree an air of depression.
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; monoecious; in nearly sessile, umbel-like corymbs; about 1/4 inch long, yellow, on slender, hairy pedicels 2-3 inches long; calyx campanulate, pilose, 5-lobed; corolla 0; stamens 7-8; ovary hairy.
FRUIT.—Ripens in autumn; glabrous, paired samaras, clustered on drooping pedicels; wings set wide apart, but only slightly diverging.
WINTER-BUDS.—Small, ovoid, acute, with dark red-brown, acute scales, hoary-pubescent on the outer surface.
BARK.—Twigs smooth, pale gray; becoming thick, deeply furrowed and sometimes almost black on the trunk.
WOOD.—Hard, heavy, strong, close-grained, creamy white, with thin, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Lower Peninsula, south-eastern portion.
HABITAT.—Prefers low, moist, rich soil of river-bottoms, but does well on gravelly soils and uplands.
NOTES.—Very variable. A very good shade tree because of its dense foliage. It is claimed by some that the finest grades of maple sugar are made from the sap of this tree.
Silver Maple. Soft Maple
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flowering branchlet, × 1.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flowering branchlet, × 1.
7. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
8. Fruit, × 1/2.
ACERACEAE
Silver Maple. Soft Maple
Acer saccharinum L. [Acer dasycarpum Ehrh.]
HABIT.—A beautiful tree, growing to a height of 60-80 feet, with a trunk diameter of 2-4 feet, usually separating near the ground into 3-4 upright stems which are destitute of branches for a considerable distance. Usually the long, slender branches bend downwards, but with their tips ascending in a graceful curve. Crown broad, especially in its upper portion.
LEAVES.—Opposite, simple, 3-6 inches long and nearly as broad; usually 5-lobed by narrow, acute sinuses which extend nearly to the midrib, the lobes often sublobed, sharply toothed; light green above, silvery white beneath, turning pale yellow in autumn; petioles long, slender, drooping.
FLOWERS.—March-April, before the leaves; polygamo-monoecious or dioecious; small, yellow-green, in crowded, sessile umbels; calyx 5-lobed (sometimes each lobe again divided); corolla 0; stamens 3-7; ovary hairy.
FRUIT.—May, germinating as soon as it reaches the ground; paired samaras, large, glabrous, curving inwards, one samara often aborted.
WINTER-BUDS.—Dark red, blunt; the terminal about 1/4 inch long, with bud-scales often apiculate at the apex; flower-buds clustered on side spurs.
BARK.—Twigs smooth, red-gray, lustrous; young trunks gray, smooth; old trunks dark gray, more or less furrowed, separating into thin, loose scales.
WOOD.—Hard, strong, close-grained, rather brittle, perishable, pale brown, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Lower Peninsula south of Saginaw Bay.
HABITAT.—Prefers low, rich bottom-lands, subject to occasional inundation, but not in swamps.
NOTES.—A rapid grower, adapting itself to a variety of soils. Does not do well on dry, elevated ground. The first tree to blossom in early spring.
Red Maple. Soft Maple
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1.
4. Fascicle of staminate flowers, × 1.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Fascicle of pistillate flowers, × 1.
7. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
8. Fruit, × 3/4.
ACERACEAE
Red Maple. Soft Maple
Acer rubrum L.
HABIT.—A medium-sized tree 40-50 feet high, occasionally in swamps 60-75 feet; trunk 1-3 feet in diameter; upright branches, which form a low, rather narrow, rounded crown.
LEAVES.—Opposite, simple, 3-4 inches long and nearly as broad; 3-5-lobed by broad, acute sinuses, the lobes irregularly doubly serrate or toothed; glabrous, green above, whitish and generally glabrous beneath, turning bright scarlet in autumn; petioles long, slender.
FLOWERS.—March-April, before the leaves; polygamo-monoecious or dioecious; in few-flowered fascicles on shoots of the previous year, the pistillate red, the staminate orange; sepals 4-5; petals 4-5; stamens 5-8; ovary smooth.
FRUIT.—May-June, germinating immediately after reaching the ground; samaras small, on drooping pedicels 2-4 inches long; wings about 1 inch long, diverging at about a right angle.
WINTER-BUDS.—Dark red, blunt; terminal bud about 1/8 inch long, with bud-scales rounded at the apex; flower-buds clustered on side spurs.
BARK.—Twigs bright red, lustrous, becoming smooth and light gray on the branches; old trunks dark gray, ridged, separating into plate-like scales.
WOOD.—Heavy, close-grained, not strong, light brown, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Throughout the entire state.
HABITAT.—Prefers swamp-lands or banks of streams; rarely found on hillsides.
NOTES.—A valuable shade and ornamental tree. Sugar has been made in small quantities from the sap.
Norway Maple
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Raceme of staminate flowers, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Raceme of pistillate flowers, × 1/2.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1/2.
ACERACEAE
Norway Maple
Acer platanoides L.
HABIT.—A tall, handsome tree, with a height of 40-60 feet, and a trunk diameter of 1-2 feet, having a round, spreading crown of stout branches, resembling A. saccharum. Twigs coarse.
LEAVES.—Opposite, simple, 5-7 inches broad, and almost as long; thin; 5-7-lobed at maturity, lobes remotely coarse-toothed with the teeth drawn out into filamentous points, separated by rounded, scallop-like sinuses; glabrous, bright green both sides, turning pale yellow in autumn; petioles long, slender, exuding a milky juice when cut.
FLOWERS.—May-June, before or with the leaves; dioecious; large, yellow-green, in erect, short, flat racemes; sepals 5; petals 5; stamens 8.
FRUIT.—Ripens in autumn and germinates the following spring; pendent on long stalks; large, glabrous, paired samaras, with wings 2 inches long, diverging by nearly 180°.
WINTER-BUDS.—Yellow-green, red or dull red-brown; terminal bud about 1/4 inch long, broad, short-stalked, with bud-scales strongly keeled; lateral buds small, appressed; buds exuding a milky juice when cut.
BARK.—Twigs lustrous, light brown to greenish; trunk dark gray, becoming closely fissured, not scaly.
WOOD.—Moderately heavy, hard, close-grained, whitish or brownish, with white sapwood.
NOTES.—Exotic from Europe. Extensively planted in cities for its abundant shade. The roots strike deep and spread laterally, enabling the tree to hold its own in a city environment. It holds its leaves two weeks longer in autumn than do our native maples. A rapid grower.
Sycamore Maple
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Perfect flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1/2.
ACERACEAE
Sycamore Maple
Acer pseudo-platanus L.
HABIT.—A thrifty tree 50-60 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 2-3 feet; the crown roundish, spreading.
LEAVES.—Opposite, simple, 4-7 inches across, and as long as broad; thick; pentagonally 5-lobed, the lobes more or less ovate, separated by very narrow, acute sinuses extending about half-way to the midrib, the lobes coarsely and irregularly blunt-serrate, crenate-serrate, or slightly lobed; upper surface dark green and shining, somewhat wrinkled, but paler dull green and glaucous beneath; petioles long, stout.
FLOWERS.—April, before the leaves; polygamo-monoecious; large, greenish yellow, in pendent racemes of umbellate cymes of about three each; sepals 5; petals 5; stamens 8, hairy; ovary hairy.
FRUIT.—Ripens in autumn and germinates the following spring; pendent on long stalks; large, glabrous, paired samaras, with wings 1-1/2 inches long, diverging at about a right angle.
WINTER-BUDS.—Bright green; terminal bud 1/4-1/2 inch long, ovoid to subglobose, blunt, with bud-scales more or less keeled; lateral buds small, divergent.
BARK.—Twigs lustrous, brown or gray, becoming slate colored on the branches; trunk gray or brownish, smooth or flaking off in short scales.
WOOD.—Moderately heavy, hard, compact, brownish, with white sapwood.
NOTES.—Exotic from Europe. Much planted in our cities, where it is thrifty, but short-lived. The crown is rather too broad for planting anywhere except on our widest streets. The leaves last two weeks longer in autumn than do those of our native maples.
Boxelder. Ash-leaved Maple
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Staminate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1.
ACERACEAE
Boxelder. Ash-leaved Maple
Acer negundo L. [Negundo aceroides Muench.]
HABIT.—A sturdy little tree 30-50 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2 feet. Trunk often divides near the ground into several stout, wide-spreading branches, forming a broad, unsymmetrical, open crown.
LEAVES.—Opposite, pinnately compound. Leaflets 3-5 in number, 2-4 inches long, 1-1/2-2-1/2 inches broad; ovate or oval; nearly entire, irregularly and remotely coarse-toothed above the middle, or sometimes 3-lobed (often giving the leaflet a jagged outline); apex acute, base variable; glabrous or somewhat pubescent at maturity, with prominent veins. Petioles slender, 2-3 inches long, the enlarged base leaving prominent crescent-shaped scars partly surrounding the winter-buds.
FLOWERS.—April, before or with the leaves; dioecious; small, yellow-green; the staminate in clusters on long, thread-like, hairy pedicels; the pistillate in narrow, drooping racemes; calyx hairy, 5-lobed; corolla 0; stamens 4-6; ovary pubescent.
FRUIT.—Early summer, but hanging until late autumn or early spring; narrow, flat, winged samaras, in pairs, clustered in drooping, racemose clusters.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/8-1/4 inch long, acute, inclosed in two dull red scales, often hoary or minutely pubescent; lateral buds obtuse, appressed.
BARK.—Twigs greenish to purple, glaucous; trunk pale gray or light brown, deeply cleft into broad ridges.
WOOD.—Light, soft, close-grained, weak, creamy white, with thick, hardly distinguishable sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Lower Peninsula as far north as Saginaw Bay.
HABITAT.—Banks of streams and borders of swamps. Prefers deep, moist soil.
NOTES.—Accommodates itself to almost any situation. Easily transplanted. Much planted for shade and ornament. Fast-growing, but short-lived.
SAPINDACEAE
SUMMER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF AESCULUS
| a. | Leaflets usually 5; foliage ill-smelling when bruised; bark broken into thick plates; prickly bur about 1 inch in diameter. | A. glabra, p. [199]. |
| aa. | Leaflets usually 7; foliage not ill-smelling when bruised; bark broken into thin plates; prickly bur about 2 inches in | A. hippocastanum, p. [197]. |
WINTER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF AESCULUS
| a. | Terminal bud about 2/3 inch long; bud-scales covered with a glaucous bloom, not conspicuously resinous; bark broken into thick plates; prickly bur about 1 inch in diameter. | A. glabra, p. [199]. |
| aa. | Terminal bud 1-1-1/2 inches long; bud-scales conspicuously sticky-resinous, glistening; bark broken into thin plates; prickly bur about 2 inches in diameter. | A. hippocastanum, p. [197]. |
Horse-chestnut
1. Winter twig, × 3/4.
2. Leaf, × 1/6.
3. Leaflet, × 1/2.
4. Flower, × 1.
5. Fruit, × 1/2.
SAPINDACEAE
Horse-chestnut
Aesculus hippocastanum L.
HABIT.—A handsome tree, with a height of 40-60 feet and a trunk diameter of 1-2 feet, forming a broad, conical crown. The regularly occurring branches ascend from the trunk at first, gradually bend downwards as they lengthen, and end in a thick, upturning spray.
LEAVES.—Opposite, digitately compound. Leaflets usually 7, rarely 5, 5-7 inches long, 1-1/2-2-1/2 inches broad; obovate, wedge-shaped at the base; irregularly and bluntly serrate; thick; rough, dark green above, paler beneath, turning a rusty yellow in autumn. Petioles long, grooved, swollen at the base.
FLOWERS.—May-June, after the leaves; polygamo-monoecious; large, whitish, in showy, upright, terminal thyrses 8-12 inches long; pedicels jointed, 4-6-flowered; calyx campanulate, 5-lobed; petals 5, white, spotted with yellow and red, clawed; stamens 7, thread-like, longer than the petals.
FRUIT.—October; a leathery, globular capsule about 2 inches in diameter, roughened with short spines; containing 1-3 large, smooth, lustrous, brown nuts, marked by large, pale scars.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal buds 1-1-1/2 inches long, acute, brownish, covered with glistening, resinous gum; inner scales yellowish, becoming 1-1/2-2 inches long in spring, remaining until the leaves are nearly half grown.
BARK.—Twigs smooth, red-brown; trunk dark brown and broken into thin plates by shallow fissures; rich in tannin, bitter.
WOOD.—Light, soft, close-grained, weak, whitish, with thin, light brown sapwood.
NOTES.—A native of Greece, extensively cultivated throughout Europe and America, where it is a favorite shade tree. A double-flowered variety, Aesculus hippocastanum, v. flòre plèno, which bears no fruit is a common garden form.
Ohio Buckeye
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/6.
3. Leaflet, × 1/2.
4. Flower, × 2.
5. Fruit, × 1/2.
6. Nut, × 1/2.
SAPINDACEAE
Ohio Buckeye
Aesculus glabra Willd.
HABIT.—A medium-sized tree 30-50 feet in height, with a trunk not over 2 feet in diameter; usually much smaller; slender, spreading branches, forming a broad, rounded crown; twigs thick.
LEAVES.—Opposite, digitately compound. Leaflets usually 5, rarely 7, 3-6 inches long, 1-1/2-2-1/2 inches broad; ovate or oval, gradually narrowed to the entire base; irregularly and finely serrate; glabrous, yellow-green above, paler beneath, turning yellow in autumn. Petioles 4-6 inches long, slender, enlarged at the base. Foliage ill-smelling when bruised.
FLOWERS.—April-May, after the leaves; polygamo-monoecious; small, yellow-green, in terminal panicles 5-6 inches long and 2-3 inches broad, more or less downy; pedicels 4-6-flowered; calyx campanulate, 5-lobed; petals 4, pale yellow, hairy, clawed; stamens 7, with long, hairy filaments.
FRUIT.—October; a thick, leathery, prickly capsule, about 1 inch in diameter, containing a single large, smooth, lustrous, brown nut. A large pale scar gives the name “Buckeye.”
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal buds 2/3 inch long, acute, resinous, brownish; inner scales yellow-green, becoming 1-1/2-2 inches long in spring and remaining until the leaves are nearly half grown.
BARK.—Twigs smooth, red-brown, becoming ashy gray; old trunks densely furrowed and broken into thick plates; ill-smelling when bruised.
WOOD.—Light, soft, close-grained, weak, whitish, with thin, light brown sapwood.
NOTES.—A native of the Mississippi River Valley. Occasionally planted in southern Michigan for ornamental purposes, but is less popular than the Horse-chestnut.
TILIACEAE
Basswood
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Cyme of flowers, with its bract, × 1/2.
4. Flower, with two petals, petaloid scales and stamens removed, enlarged.
5. Stamen, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1/2.
TILIACEAE
Basswood
Tilia americana L.
HABIT.—A tree usually 60-70 feet high, with a tall, straight trunk 2-4 feet in diameter; numerous slender branches form a dense, ovoid or rounded crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 5-6 inches long, 3-4 inches broad; obliquely heart-shaped; coarsely serrate; thick and firm; glabrous, dull dark green above, paler beneath; petioles slender, 1-2 inches long.
FLOWERS.—June-July, after the leaves; perfect, regular; yellowish white, downy, fragrant; borne on slender pedicels in loose, drooping cymes, the peduncle attached for half its length to a narrow, oblong, yellowish bract; sepals 5, downy; petals 5, creamy white; stamens numerous, in 5 clusters; ovary 5-celled; stigma 5-lobed.
FRUIT.—October; globose, nut-like, woody, gray, tomentose, about the size of peas.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds ovoid, acute, often lopsided, smooth, dark red, 1/4 inch long.
BARK.—Twigs smooth, reddish gray, becoming dark gray or brown; dark gray and smooth on young stems, on old trunks thick, deeply furrowed into broad, scaly ridges.
WOOD.—Light, soft, close-grained, tough, light red-brown, with thick sapwood of nearly the same color.
DISTRIBUTION.—Common in most parts of the Lower Peninsula, frequent in the Upper Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Prefers rich, well-drained, loamy soils.
NOTES.—Rapid in growth. Easily transplanted. Recommended for street and ornamental planting.
CORNACEAE
SUMMER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF CORNUS
| a. | Leaves mostly alternate; branches usually greenish; flowers not surrounded by large petal-like bracts; fruit globular, blue, borne many in loose clusters. | C. alternifolia, p. [207]. |
| aa. | Leaves opposite; branches usually reddish or yellowish; flowers surrounded by large petal-like bracts; fruit ovoid, scarlet, borne in close clusters of 3-4. | C. florida, p. [205]. |
WINTER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF CORNUS
| a. | Leaf-scars mostly alternate; buds light brown; branches usually greenish. | C. alternifolia, p. [207]. |
| aa. | Leaf-scars opposite; buds greenish; branches usually reddish or yellowish. | C. florida, p. [205]. |
Flowering Dogwood. Dogwood. Boxwood
1. Winter twig, with leaf buds, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Winter twig, with flower bud, × 1.
4. Leaf, × 1/2.
5. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
6. Flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1.
CORNACEAE
Flowering Dogwood. Dogwood. Boxwood
Cornus florida L.
HABIT.—A bushy tree with a height of 15-30 feet and a short trunk 8-12 inches in diameter; slender, spreading branches form a flat-topped crown.
LEAVES.—Opposite, closely clustered at the ends of the branchlets, simple, 3-5 inches long, 2-3 inches broad; ovate to elliptical; obscurely wavy-toothed; thick and firm; bright green, covered with minute, appressed hairs above, pale and more or less pubescent beneath, turning bright scarlet in autumn; petioles short, grooved.
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; perfect; greenish; in dense clusters, surrounded by 4 large, white or pinkish, petal-like bracts (often mistaken for the corolla), borne on short, stout peduncles; calyx 4-lobed, light green; petals 4, yellow-green; stamens 4, alternate with the petals; ovary 2-celled.
FRUIT.—October; an ovoid, scarlet drupe, borne in close clusters of 3-4; flesh is bitter.
WINTER-BUDS.—Leaf-buds narrow-conical, acute, greenish; flower-buds spherical or vertically flattened, grayish.
BARK.—Twigs pale green, becoming red or yellow-green their first winter, later becoming light brown or red-gray; red-brown or blackish on the trunk, often separating into quadrangular, plate-like scales.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, strong, tough, close-grained, brownish, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Southern Michigan as far north as the Grand-Saginaw Valley.
HABITAT.—Prefers rich, well-drained soil, usually under the shade of other trees.
NOTES.—A valuable species for ornamental purposes. Rather slow of growth.
Blue Dogwood. Alternate-leaved Dogwood
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 3/4.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Flower, enlarged.
6. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.
CORNACEAE
Blue Dogwood. Alternate-leaved Dogwood
Cornus alternifolia L. f.
HABIT.—A small tree or large shrub reaching a height of 25-30 feet and a trunk diameter of 6-8 inches; more often smaller than this. The long, slender branches are arranged in irregular whorls, forming flat, horizontal tiers, giving the tree a storied effect.
LEAVES.—Mostly alternate and clustered at the ends of the branchlets; simple, 3-5 inches long, 2-1/2-3 inches broad; oval or ovate, long-pointed, wedge-shaped at the base; obscurely wavy-toothed; thin; dark green, nearly glabrous above, paler and covered with appressed hairs beneath, turning yellow and scarlet in autumn; petioles slender, grooved, hairy, with clasping bases.
FLOWERS.—May-June, after the leaves; perfect; borne on slender pedicels in many-flowered, irregular, open cymes from the season’s shoots; calyx cup-shaped, obscurely 4-toothed, covered with fine, silky, white hairs; petals 4, cream colored; stamens 4; ovary 2-celled.
FRUIT.—October; a globular, blue-black drupe, borne in loose, red-stemmed clusters; flesh bitter.
WINTER-BUDS.—Leaf-buds small, acute, light brown; flower-buds spherical or vertically flattened.
BARK.—Twigs greenish or reddish, becoming smooth, dark green; thin, dark red-brown and shallowly fissured on the trunk.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, close-grained, red-brown, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Scattered throughout both peninsulas.
HABITAT.—Prefers moist, well-drained soil on the borders of streams and swamps, often in the shade of other trees.
NOTES.—Hardy throughout the state. Easily transplanted. The only Cornus with alternate leaves and branches.
Black Gum. Pepperidge
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 3/4.
4. Staminate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
7. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
8. Fruit, × 1/2.
CORNACEAE
Black Gum. Pepperidge
Nyssa sylvatica Marsh. [Nyssa multiflora Wang.]
HABIT.—A medium-sized tree 40-50 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2 feet, forming a rounded to cylindrical crown of slender, spreading, pendulous branches and a stiff, flat spray.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 2-5 inches long, one-half as broad; oblong-obovate to oval; entire, or sometimes wavy-margined; thick and firm; very lustrous and dark green above, pale and often hairy beneath, turning bright scarlet, on the upper surface only, in autumn; petioles short.
FLOWERS.—May-June, with the leaves; polygamo-dioecious; greenish; borne on slender, downy peduncles; the staminate slender-pedicelled, in many-flowered heads; the pistillate sessile, in several-flowered clusters; calyx cup-shaped, 5-toothed; petals 5; stamens 5-10; stigma stout, terete, recurved.
FRUIT.—October; fleshy drupes, ovoid, blue-black, about 1/2 inch long, sour, in clusters of 1-3.
WINTER-BUDS.—1/8-1/4 inch long, ovoid, obtuse, dark red.
BARK.—Twigs greenish or light brown, smooth or often downy, becoming smooth, dark red-brown; thick, red-brown on old trunks, deeply furrowed.
WOOD.—Heavy, soft, strong, very tough, difficult to split, not durable in contact with the soil, pale yellow, with thick, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Frequent in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula. Has been reported as far north as Manistee.
HABITAT.—Prefers the borders of swamps and low, wet lands. Rarely flourishes in exposed situations.
NOTES.—Of great ornamental value. Not easily transplanted. Pith of twigs with thin, transverse partitions.
OLEACEAE
SUMMER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF FRAXINUS
| a. | Lateral leaflets sessile. | F. nigra, p. [221]. | |||
| aa. | Lateral leaflets petioluled. | ||||
| b. | Twigs, petioles and lower sides of leaves pubescent. | F. pennsylvanica, p. [215]. | |||
| bb. | Twigs, petioles and lower sides of leaves essentially glabrous. | ||||
| c. | Twigs prominently 4-angled. | F. quadrangulata, p. [219]. | |||
| cc. | Twigs terete. | ||||
| d. | Lower sides of leaves essentially of the same coloras the upper; leaflet-margins rather finely sharp-serrate. | F. pennsylvanica lanceolata, p. [217]. | |||
| dd. | Lower sides of leaves paler than the upper; leaflet-marginsentire or obscurely serrate. | F. americana, p. [213]. | |||
WINTER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF FRAXINUS
| a. | Twigs prominently 4-angled; fruit falling in early autumn. | F. quadrangulata, p. [219]. | |||
| aa. | Twigs terete; fruit often persistent on the tree until mid-winteror the following spring. | ||||
| b. | Buds rusty-tomentose; twigs more or less downy. | F. pennsylvanica, p. [215]. | |||
| bb. | Buds not tomentose; twigs not downy. | ||||
| c. | Terminal bud black or nearly so, showing 3 pairs ofscales in cross-section; bud-scales apiculate at the apex;samaras with broad wings, the seed portion flattish;bark flaky, rubbing off on the hand. | F. nigra, p. [221]. | |||
| cc. | Terminal bud brownish, showing 4 pairs of scales incross-section; bud-scales rounded at the apex; samaraswith narrow wings, the seed portion terete; bark ridged,not flaky and rubbing off on the hand. | ||||
| d. | Upper margin of leaf-scars deeply concave. | F. americana, p. [213]. | |||
| dd. | Upper margin of leaf-scars not concave, but straightacross or projecting upward. | F. pennsylvanica lanceolata, p. [217]. | |||
White Ash
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/4.
3. Staminate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1.
OLEACEAE
White Ash
Fraxinus americana L.
HABIT.—A large tree 50-75 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 2-3 feet; forming an open, pyramidal crown of long, slender, lateral branches and a stout, rather sparse spray.
LEAVES.—Opposite, pinnately compound, 8-12 inches long. Leaflets usually 7-9, 3-5 inches long, 1-2 inches broad; short-stalked; ovate to oblong-lanceolate; entire or obscurely serrate; thick and firm; glabrous, dark green above, paler beneath. Petioles glabrous, stout, grooved.
FLOWERS.—May, before the leaves; dioecious; borne in loose panicles on shoots of the previous season; calyx campanulate, 4-lobed; corolla 0; stamens 2, rarely 3; ovary 2-celled.
FRUIT.—August-September, persistent on the branches until mid-winter or the following spring; samaras 1-2 inches long, in crowded, drooping, paniculate clusters 6-8 inches long.
WINTER-BUDS.—Short, rather obtuse; bud-scales apiculate, keeled, 4 pairs, rusty-brown.
BARK.—Twigs at first dark green, becoming gray or light brown, often covered with a glaucous bloom; gray, deeply furrowed into firm, narrow, flattened ridges on the trunk.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, strong, close-grained, tough, brown, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Of common occurrence throughout the state.
HABITAT.—Prefers a rich, moist, loamy soil, but grows in any well-drained situation; common along stream-beds.
NOTES.—Grows rapidly. Easily transplanted. Fairly free from disease. Leaves appear late in spring.
Red Ash
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/3.
3. Staminate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1.
OLEACEAE
Red Ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh. [Fraxinus pubescens Lam.]
HABIT.—A medium-sized tree 30-50 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2 feet; stout, upright branches and slender branchlets form a compact, broad, irregular crown.
LEAVES.—Opposite, pinnately compound, 10-12 inches long. Leaflets 7-9, 3-5 inches long, 1-1-1/2 inches broad; short-stalked; oblong-lanceolate to ovate; slightly serrate or entire; thin and firm; glabrous, yellow-green above, pale and silky-downy beneath. Petioles stout, pubescent.
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; dioecious; borne in compact, downy panicles on shoots of the previous season; calyx cup-shaped, 4-toothed; corolla 0; stamens 2, rarely 3; ovary 2-celled.
FRUIT.—Early autumn, persistent on the branches throughout the winter; samaras 1-2 inches long, in open, paniculate clusters.
WINTER-BUDS.—Small, rounded; bud-scales rounded on the back, 3 pairs, rusty-brown, tomentose.
BARK.—Twigs pale-pubescent at first, lasting 2-3 years or often disappearing during the first summer, finally ashy gray or brownish and often covered with a glaucous bloom; brown or dark gray on the trunk, with many longitudinal, shallow furrows; somewhat scaly.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, strong, brittle, coarse-grained, light brown, with thick, yellow-streaked sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Not a common tree. Most frequent in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula, but has been reported further north, i.e., Drummond’s Island and Keweenaw County, Upper Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Prefers wet or moist, rich loam; river-banks; swampy lowlands.
NOTES.—A rapid grower in youth. Fairly immune from insect and fungous diseases.
Green Ash
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/3.
3. Staminate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1.
OLEACEAE
Green Ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica lanceolata (Borkh.) Sarg. [Fraxinus lanceolata Borkh.] [Fraxinus viridis Michx. f.]
Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, and by others a variety of F. pennsylvanica Marsh., which it resembles. The main points of difference are:
The usual absence of pubescence from the branchlets, the underside of the leaflets, and the petioles.
The rather narrower, shorter, and more sharply serrate leaflets.
The color of the leaves, which is bright green on both sides.
A very hardy tree, of rapid growth and desirable habit, making it useful for ornamental and street planting. Easily transplanted.
Of rare occurrence in Michigan, but has been reported from several localities.
Blue Ash
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1.
4. Flower, enlarged.
5. Fruit, × 1/2.
OLEACEAE
Blue Ash
Fraxinus quadrangulata Michx.
HABIT.—A large tree 50-80 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-3 feet; small, spreading branches and stout, 4-angled, more or less 4-winged branchlets form a narrow crown.
LEAVES.—Opposite, pinnately compound, 8-12 inches long. Leaflets 5-9, usually 7, 3-5 inches long, 1-2 inches broad; short-stalked; ovate-oblong to lanceolate, long-pointed; coarsely serrate; thick and firm; yellow-green above, paler beneath, glabrous. Petioles slender, glabrous.
FLOWERS.—April, before the leaves; perfect; borne in loose panicles on shoots of the previous season; calyx reduced to a ring; corolla 0; stamens 2; ovary 2-celled.
FRUIT.—September-October, falling soon after; samaras 1-2 inches long, in long, loose, paniculate clusters.
WINTER-BUDS.—Short, rather obtuse; bud-scales rounded on the back, 3 pairs, dark red-brown, somewhat pubescent.
BARK.—Twigs orange, rusty-pubescent, becoming brownish or grayish; on the trunk light gray tinged with red, irregularly divided into large, plate-like scales, often with the shaggy appearance of a Shagbark Hickory.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, close-grained, brittle, light yellow streaked with brown, with thick, light yellow sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Occasionally in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula. Nowhere abundant.
HABITAT.—Prefers rich, limestone hills, but grows well in fertile bottom-lands.
NOTES.—Hardy and grows rapidly. A blue dye is made by macerating the inner bark in water.
Black Ash
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/3.
3. Staminate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
6. Pistillate flowers, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1.
OLEACEAE
Black Ash
Fraxinus nigra Marsh. [Fraxinus sambucifolia Lam.]
HABIT.—A tall tree 60-80 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2 feet; slender, upright branches form in the forest a narrow crown, in the open a rounded, ovoid crown.
LEAVES.—Opposite, pinnately compound, 12-16 inches long. Leaflets 7-11, 3-5 inches long, 1-2 inches broad; sessile, except the terminal; oblong to oblong-lanceolate, long-pointed; remotely, but sharply serrate; thin and firm; dark green above, paler beneath, glabrous. Petioles stout, grooved, glabrous.
FLOWERS.—May, before the leaves; polygamo-dioecious; borne in loose panicles on shoots of the preceeding season; calyx 0; corolla 0; stamens 2; ovary 2-celled.
FRUIT.—August-September, falling early, or sometimes hanging on the tree until the following spring; samaras 1-1-1/2 inches long, in open, paniculate clusters 8-10 inches long.
WINTER-BUDS.—Ovoid, pointed; bud-scales rounded on the back, 3 pairs, almost black.
BARK.—Twigs at first dark green, becoming ashy gray or orange, finally dark gray and warted; thin, soft ash-gray and scaly on the trunk. Bark flakes off on rubbing with the hand.
WOOD.—Heavy, tough, coarse-grained, weak, rather soft, dark brown, with thin, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Common throughout most portions of Michigan.
HABITAT.—Prefers deep, cold swamps and low river-banks, but grows in any good soil.
NOTES.—Hardy throughout the state. Not easily transplanted. Foliage falls early in autumn.
BIGNONIACEAE
SUMMER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF CATALPA
| a. | Leaves 5-8 inches long, thick; flowers 1-1/2 inches across, prominently yellow-spotted; seeds with pointed, fringed wings at each end; branches rather crooked and straggling; bark thin, separating into thin scales on the trunk. | C. bignonioides, p. [227]. |
| aa. | Leaves 8-12 inches long, thin; flowers 2-1/2 inches across, not prominently spotted; seeds with rounded, wide-fringed wings at each end; branches not crooked and straggling; bark thick, separating into thick scales on the trunk. | C. speciosa, p. [225]. |
WINTER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF CATALPA
| a. | Fruiting capsules about 1/4 inch thick; seeds with pointed, fringed wings at each end; branches rather crooked and straggling; bark thin, separating into thin scales on the trunk. | C. bignonioides, p. [227]. |
| aa. | Fruiting capsules about 1/2 inch thick, seeds with rounded, wide-fringed wings at each end; branches not crooked and straggling; bark thick, separating into thick scales on the trunk. | C. speciosa, p. [225]. |
Hardy Catalpa
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/4.
3. Panicle of flowers, × 3/8.
4. Fruit, × 1/2.
5. Seed, × 1.
BIGNONIACEAE
Hardy Catalpa
Catalpa speciosa Warder.
HABIT.—A tree 50-75 feet high, with a short, often crooked trunk and a broad, rounded crown of slender, spreading branches and thick branchlets.
LEAVES.—Opposite or whorled, simple, 8-12 inches long, 6-8 inches broad; heart-shaped; entire or sometimes slightly lobed; thick and firm; glabrous, dark green above, downy beneath, with clusters of dark, nectariferous glands in the axils of the primary veins, turning black and falling with the first severe frost; petioles long, stout, terete.
FLOWERS.—June-July, after the leaves are full grown; perfect; borne on slender, purplish pedicels in open, few-flowered panicles 5-6 inches long; calyx 2-lobed, purple; corolla white with inconspicuous yellow spots, campanulate, 5-lobed, 2-1/2 inches broad; stamens 2, staminodia 3; ovary 2-celled.
FRUIT.—Ripens in early autumn; slender, 2-celled, cylindrical capsule 10-20 inches long and about 1/2 inch thick; hangs on tree all winter, opening in spring before falling; seeds light brown, 1 inch long, with rounded, wide-fringed wings at each end.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds brownish, globose, inconspicuous.
BARK.—Twigs greenish, often with purple tinge, becoming orange or red-brown and covered with a slight bloom the first winter, finally darker with age; thick, red-brown, broken into thick scales on the trunk,
WOOD.—Light, soft, weak, coarse-grained, light brown, with very thin, almost white sapwood; very durable in contact with the soil.
NOTES.—A native of Illinois, Indiana, and the states adjoining on the south, but much planted in Michigan as a shade and ornamental tree. Closely resembles C. bignonioides, but is a larger and hardier tree.
Catalpa
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 3/8.
3. Panicle of flowers, × 1/3.
4. Fruit, × 1/2.
5. Seed, × 1.
BIGNONIACEAE
Catalpa
Catalpa bignonioides Walt. [Catalpa catalpa (L.) Karst.]
HABIT.—A tree 40-30 feet high, with a short, thick trunk and a broad, irregular crown of long, crooked branches and coarse, upright branchlets.
LEAVES.—Opposite or whorled, simple, 5-8 inches long, 4-5 inches broad; heart-shaped; entire or sometimes slightly lobed; thin and firm; glabrous, light green above, downy beneath, with dark, nectariferous glands in the axils of the primary veins, turning black and falling with the first severe frost; petioles long, stout, terete.
FLOWERS.—June-July, after the leaves are full grown; perfect; borne on slender, hairy pedicels in compact, many-flowered panicles 8-10 inches long; calyx 2-lobed, green or purple; corolla white with yellow spots, campanulate, 5-lobed, 1-1/2 inches broad; stamens 2, staminodia 3; ovary 2-celled.
FRUIT.—Ripens in early autumn; slender, 2-celled, cylindrical capsule 8-20 inches long and about 1/4 inch thick; hangs on tree all winter, opening in spring before falling; seeds silvery gray, 1 inch long, with pointed, fringed wings at each end.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds, brownish, globose, inconspicuous.
BARK.—Twigs greenish purple, becoming red-brown and marked by a network of thin, flat ridges; thin, red-brown on the trunk, separating into large, thin, irregular scales.
WOOD.—Light, soft, weak, coarse-grained, light brown, with very thin, whitish sapwood; very durable in contact with the soil.
NOTES.—A native of the Lower Mississippi River Basin, but naturalized in southern Michigan, where it is a popular shade and ornamental tree. Foliage appears very tardily in spring.
CAPRIFOLIACEAE
Sheepberry. Nannyberry
1. Winter twig, with leaf buds, × 1.
2. Winter twig, with flower bud, × 1.
3. Leaf, × 3/4.
4. Flower, enlarged.
5. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.
CAPRIFOLIACEAE
Sheepberry. Nannyberry
Viburnum lentago L.
HABIT.—A low tree or shrub 15-25 feet high, with a short trunk 6-10 inches in diameter; numerous tortuous branches form a wide, compact, rounded crown.
LEAVES.—Opposite, simple, 2-4 inches long, one-half as broad; ovate to suborbicular; finely and sharply serrate; thick and firm; lustrous, bright green above, pale and marked with tiny black dots beneath; petioles broad, grooved, more or less winged, about 1 inch long.
FLOWERS.—May-June, after the leaves; perfect; small; cream-white, borne in stout-branched, scurfy, flat, terminal cymes 3-5 inches across; calyx tubular, 5-toothed; corolla 5-lobed, cream color or white, 1/4 inch across; stamens 5, with yellow anthers; ovary 1-celled, with short, thick, green style and broad stigma.
FRUIT.—September; a fleshy drupe, 1/2 inch long, ovoid, flattened, blue-black, borne in few-fruited, red-stemmed clusters; stone oval, flat, rough; flesh sweet, edible.
WINTER-BUDS.—Leaf-buds narrow, acute, red, scurfy-pubescent, 1/2 inch long; flower-buds swollen at the base, with spire-like apex, grayish with scurfy pubescence, 3/4 inch long.
BARK.—Twigs at first light green, rusty-pubescent, becoming dark red-brown; red-brown on old trunks and broken into small, thick plates.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, close-grained, ill-smelling, dark orange-brown, with thin, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Frequent throughout the state.
HABITAT.—Prefers rich, moist soil along the borders of forests; roadsides; river-banks.
NOTES.—Too small for street use. Propagated from seed or by cuttings.