GLOSSARY
axil: the angle where a leaf stem joins a twig.
deciduous: losing its leaves in winter, not evergreen.
dioecious: bearing staminate, or male, flowers on separate plants from the pistillate, or fruit-bearing flowers; hence some plants of certain species never bear fruits or seeds.
fruit: that part of any plant which contains the seeds.
lenticel: air pore in the bark.
monoecious: bearing the two kinds of flowers on the same plant.
opaque: not admitting or transmitting light.
perfect: having both stamens and pistils in one flower, as most showy flowers have.
pistillate: possessing a pistil or pistils and lacking stamens; female, or fruit-bearing.
staminate: possessing stamens and lacking a pistil; male, or pollen-bearing.
translucent: admitting some light but not clear or transparent.
FLOWERS and TWIGS
Spike Cyme Umbel Panicle Catkin Twigs Opposite winter bud leaf scar Alternate Flower Parts anther pistil stamen sepal petal Pea Shaped Flower
TYPES OF SIMPLE LEAVES
Elliptical Acute Tip Coarsely Serrate (toothed) Margin Lobed Rounded Pointed Oblong Crenate Margin Midrib Ovate Acuminate Tip Notched Margin Truncate Base Linear Heart Serrate Margin More than one main vein at the base Sickle Obovate Doubly Serrate Margin veins united near margin
COMPOUND LEAVES
Pinnate odd leaflet Palmate Twice Pinnate leaflet
KEY TO NATIVE WOODY PLANTS OF DALLAS COUNTY
Based Principally On Leaves
Numbers below 200 refer to the key,
above 200 to the guide ([p. 20]).
1. Leaves evergreen [2] 1. Leaves deciduous [7]
2. Leaves pinnately compound [71] 2. Leaves not pinnately compound [3]
3. Plants with very thick, fleshy, flattened, leaf-like stems, usually covered with many prickles prickly-pear cactus [269] 3. Leaves not very thick and fleshy and not prickly except at tips [4]
4. Leaves in large rosette close to ground [5] 4. Leaves needle-like, not in rosettes [6]
5. Leaves sword-shaped yucca [205] 5. Leaves fan-shaped palmetto (rare) [203]
6. Inner bark yellowish brown, berries light blue red cedar [201] 6. Inner bark darker brown, berries larger and darker, purplish mountain cedar (rare) [202]
7. Leaves simple [8] 7. Leaves compound [67]
8. Leaves and twigs alternate [9] 8. Leaves and twigs opposite [54]
Leaves Simple and Alternate
9. Leaves linear (long and narrow) [11] 9. Leaves not linear [10]
10. Leaves smooth and very glossy on both sides, broadly truncate at base, stems flattened cottonwood [207] 10. Leaves not possessing all three characteristics as given in 10 above [12]
11. Leaves usually less than ¾ inch wide, midrib yellowish and prominent on both sides willow [206] 11. Leaves usually more than ¾ inch wide, midrib not yellowish nor prominent on both sides peach [239]
12. Trunks or twigs with thorns or spines [13] 12. Trunks and twigs without thorns or spines [18]
13. Thorny vines greenbrier [204] 13. Thorny trees or shrubs [14]
14. Leaf margins entire (smooth) [17] 14. Leaf margins not entire, variously serrate or toothed [15]
15. Leaves either blunt at tip or shallowly lobed or cut, primary veins usually straight to margins, often doubly serrate red haws [232] 15. Leaves pointed at tip, serrate, not cut or lobed, veins united or curving near margins [16]
16. Leaf width more than half the length, leaf flat, glands, if present on leaf-stem near leaf, dark wild plum (tree) [237] 16. Leaf width less than half the length, tending to fold lengthwise, usually two bright red glands on leaf-stem near leaf dwarf plum [238]
17. Leaf smooth or glossy, tip pointed, juice of stem milky bois d’arc or Osage orange [226] 17. Leaf wooly on under side, especially when young, usually rather blunt at tip, juice of stem not milky wooly bumelia, chittam wood or gum elastic [272]
18. Leaves either lobed or coarsely toothed [33] 18. Leaves neither lobed nor coarsely toothed, sometimes doubly toothed [19]
19. Leaf margin serrate or crenate or doubly toothed [20] 19. Leaf margin smooth or wavy [47]
20. Vines rattan [261] 20. Not vines [21]
21. Leaf margins doubly toothed (large and small teeth) [22] 21. Leaf margins not doubly toothed [25]
22. Leaves 3 to 7 inches long, twigs not corky winged [23] 22. Leaves 1 to 3 inches long, twigs sometimes corky winged [24]
23. Inner bark mucilaginous (“slippery” when chewed), leaves rough above, downy below red or slippery elm [220] 23. Inner bark not mucilaginous, leaves rather smooth above and downy below white or American elm [221]
24. Leaves 1 to 2½ inches long, rather blunt tips, flowers in fall cedar elm [222] 24. Leaves 1½ to 3 inches long, tapering point, flowers in spring winged elm (rare) [223]
25. Bark of trunk with warty or knotty projections rough-leaved hackberry [224] 25. Bark of trunk without warty projections [26]
26. Leaf length more than 4 times width peach [239] 26. Leaf length less than 3 times width [27]
27. Larger twigs with whitish cross-streaks, flowers and fruit in catkin-like racemes wild cherry (rare) [236] 27. Twigs without whitish cross-streaks, flowers and fruits not in racemes [28]
28. Lowest pair of primary leaf veins much longer than others New Jersey tea [260] 28. Lowest pair of primary leaf veins not much, if any, longer than others [29]
29. Leaf veins and midrib yellowish and prominent on under side, primary veins closely and evenly spaced Indian cherry [259] 29. Leaf veins and midrib not yellowish, if prominent on under side not closely and evenly spaced [30]
30. Leaves 3 to 5 inches long (rarely much larger), sometimes mitten-shaped or, on young shoots, intricately lobed, margins rather coarsely serrate or toothed red mulberry [227] 30. Leaves 1 to 3½ inches long, margins finely serrate or crenate, not lobed [31]
31. Leaves 1 to 2 inches long, margins crenate, veinlets not conspicuous, twigs pale gray swamp holly [253] 31. Leaves 2 to 3½ inches long, margins serrate, veinlets netted and conspicuous below, twigs purplish or reddish [32]
32. Width of leaves more than half their length, flat, glands on leaf-stem dark wild plum (tree) [237] 32. Width of leaves less than half their length, tending to fold lengthwise, usually 2 bright red glands on leaf-stem near leaf dwarf plum [238]
33. Lobed or coarsely toothed leaves on vines [34] 33. Lobed or coarsely toothed leaves not on vines [38]
34. Leaf margins smooth, though sometimes slightly lobed [35] 34. Leaf margins deeply lobed or coarsely toothed or both [36]
35. Leaves 2 to 4 inches long Carolina moonseed (sarsaparilla) [229] 35. Leaves 4 to 10 inches long Canada moonseed (very rare) [230]
36. Leaf surfaces not downy or wooly [37] 36. At least lower leaf surfaces somewhat wooly grapes [266] and [267]
37. Leaves mostly 3-divided or deeply lobed or cut, fleshy cow-itch vine [264] 37. Leaves coarsely toothed, not divided or deeply lobed, grapelike except thin and smooth, or nearly smooth Cissus ampelopsis [265]
38. Leaves as broad as long sycamore [231] 38. Leaves not as broad as long [39]
39. Leaves toothed, not tough, rough above, not broader toward tip, often lobed on young trees red mulberry [227] 39. Leaves tough, not rough above, lobed or notched [40]
40. Leaves regularly notched but not deeply lobed [44] 40. Leaves deeply lobed or else broader toward tip, not regularly notched [41]
41. Lobes few and shallow or sharp-pointed at tips [42] 41. Lobes not sharp-pointed at tips [45]
42. Lobes, if any, few and shallow and near tip, leaves decidedly broader toward tip [43] 42. Leaves with several to many sharp-pointed lobes, some of them always fairly deep, variously shaped, (more than one species) red oaks [219]
43. Leaves 4 to 10 inches long black jack oak [218] 43. Leaves 2 to 3 inches long water oak, duck oak or pin oak [217]
44. Leaf notches pointed chinquapin oak [216] 44. Leaf notches rounded swamp chestnut oak [215]
45. Leaves 6 to 12 inches long bur oak [214] 45. Leaves less than 6 inches long [46]
46. Leaves 3 to 5 inches long post oak [212] 46. Leaves less than 3 inches long scrub oak [213]
Leaf Margins Smooth or Wavy, Not Lobed or Toothed
47. Vines [48] 47. Not vines [50]
48. Leaves 2 to 4 inches long Carolina moonseed [229] 48. Leaves 4 to 10 inches long [49]
49. Leaves deeply heart-shaped at base, wooly, leaf margin not extending beyond base of stem, not angled or lobed wooly pipevine [228] 49. Leaves not always deeply heart-shaped at base, not wooly, leaf margin extending slightly beyond base of stem, leaves often angled or shallowly lobed Canada moonseed (very rare) [230]
50. Leaves broad, at least nearly as broad as long, more than one main vein at base redbuds [240] and [241] 50. Leaves decidedly longer than wide, one main vein at base [51]
51. Leaves smooth or shiny above [52] 51. Leaves not smooth, or shiny above southern hackberry [225]
52. Leaf midrib and veins yellow and very prominent beneath, primary veins closely and evenly spaced, not branched Indian cherry [259] 52. Leaf veins not very prominent beneath, not yellow, not evenly spaced [53]
53. Leaves broader toward tip, sometimes lobed [43] 53. Leaves not broader toward tip, not lobed persimmon [273]
Leaves Simple and Opposite
54. Upper pairs of leaves often united around stem [55] 54. Upper pairs of leaves not united around stem [56]
55. A vine, leaves evergreen coral honeysuckle (rare) [282] 55. A shrub, though some of stems long and straggling bush honeysuckle [283]
56. Leaf margins entire or wavy [57] 56. Leaf margins serrate or coarsely toothed [63]
57. Leaves ½ to 1½ inches long [58] 57. Leaves 1½ to 10 inches long [59]
58. Leaves light yellowish green, glossy, narrowly oblong-obovate St. Andrew’s cross (sandy land) [268] 58. Leaves dark green above, lighter and downy beneath, not glossy, ovate Indian currant [284]
59. Leaves glossy above, often in whorls of three or sometimes more, midrib broad and yellow button bush [281] 59. Leaves not glossy above, not in whorls, midrib not yellow [60]
60. Leaves 7 to 10 inches long catalpa or cigar tree (rare) [279] 60. Leaves less than 6 inches long [61]
61. Twigs dark, with conspicuous light dots, primary veins not prominent below nor indented above, usually less than 2½ inches long swamp privet [277] 61. Twigs without conspicuous light dots, primary veins prominent below and indented above, usually over 2½ inches long [62]
62. Leaves smooth but not glossy above, tending to cluster towards ends of twigs flowering dogwood (rare) [270] 62. Leaves rough above, distributed along branchlets dwarf or rough-leaved dogwood [271]
63. Twigs bright green, often 4-sided or ridged, leaves smooth but not glossy, acuminate tips waahoo [254] 63. Twigs neither green nor 4-sided [64]
64. Leaves very glossy above black haw [285] 64. Leaves not glossy above [65]
65. Leaves 3 to 5 inches long, rather coarsely toothed French mulberry [278] 65. Leaves ¾ to 3 inches long, finely serrate or crenate [66]
66. Leaves blunt at tip spring herald [276] 66. Leaves tapering at both ends swamp privet [277]
67. Compound leaves alternate [68] 67. Compound leaves opposite [91]
Leaves Compound and Alternate
68. Trunks or twigs with spines or thorns [69] 68. Trunks and twigs without spines or thorns [74]
69. Low shrubs, 6 inches to 2 feet high pasture rose [234] 69. Not low shrubs [70]
70. Leaves with 3 to 5 leaflets [71] 70. Leaves with more than 5 leaflets [72]
71. Stems trailing, usually on the ground dewberries [235] 71. Stems climbing prairie rose (rare) [233]
72. Thorns long, often branched honey locust [243] 72. Thorns or prickles short [73]
73. Leaflets ovate and with odd leaflet at tip prickly ash [246] 73. Leaflets oblong and without odd leaflet at tip mesquite [240]
74. Vines [75] 74. Not vines [78]
75. Leaves twice-pinnately compound pepper vine [263] 75. Leaves palmately compound or with 3 leaflets [76]
76. Three leaflets [77] 76. Five or more leaflets Virginia creeper [262]
77. Leaves succulent (thick and juicy), sometimes three-lobed instead of parted cow-itch vine (rare) [264] 77. Leaves not succulent, leaflets always fully parted, plant often shrubby when young poison oak or poison ivy [251]
78. Leaves twice-pinnately compound chinaberry [248] 78. Leaves not twice-pinnate [79]
79. Three leaflets (sometimes 5 on wafer ash) [80] 79. More than 3 leaflets [82]
80. Leaflets less than 2 inches long aromatic or ill-scented sumac [252] 80. Leaflets 2 to 5 inches long [81]
81. All leaflets stemless, twigs glossy wafer ash (rare) [247] 81. Terminal leaflet longer stemmed than other two, twigs not glossy poison oak or poison ivy [251]
82. Leaflets rounded toward tips [83] 82. Leaflets acute or acuminate [84]
83. Twigs dark green, leaflets not gland-dotted Eve’s necklace [244] 83. Twigs not green, leaflets dotted with tiny amber glands river locust [245]
84. Leaf margins smooth or nearly so [84A] 84. Leaf margins distinctly toothed or serrate [86]
84A. Leaves 1 to 3 feet long, 13 to 41 leaflets, twigs very stout tree of Heaven (rare) [248A] 84A. Leaves less than 1 foot long, 8 to 21 leaflets, twigs not very stout [85]
85. Leafy wings along stems between leaflets with odd leaflet at tip winged or dwarf sumac [250] 85. Leaf stem not or rarely winged between leaflets without odd leaflet at tip soapberry (wild chinaberry) [257]
86. Leaflets 5 to 7 [87] 86. Leaflets 9 to 31 [88]
87. Terminal leaflet usually broader toward tip and at least twice as large as lowest pair hickory [211] 87. Terminal leaflet not broader toward tip and not much larger than others Spanish or Texas buckeye [256]
88. Twigs reddish or purplish, a shrub smooth sumac [249] 88. Twigs neither reddish nor purplish, trees [89]
89. Pith of twigs dark and chambered black walnut [208] 89. Pith of twigs not dark, continuous [90]
90. Nut nearly cylindric, seed sweet pecan [209] 90. Nut 4-angled, seed bitter bitter pecan (rare) [210]
Leaves Compound and Opposite
91. Vines [92] 91. Not vines [94]
92. Leaves palmately compound (alternate) Virginia creeper [262] 92. Leaves not palmately compound [93]
93. Twice-pinnately compound (alternate) pepper vine [263] 93. Once-pinnate trumpet creeper [280]
94. Palmately compound fetid or Ohio buckeye [258] 94. Not palmately compound [95]
95. With terminal leaflet [96] 95. Without terminal leaflet mesquite [240]
96. Twice-pinnately compound (alternate) chinaberry [248] 96. Once-pinnate [97]
97. Leaflets 5 to 11, usually 7, twigs not bright green [98] 97. Leaflets 3 to 5 (rarely 7 or 9), twigs bright green box elder [255]
98. Twigs brownish gray, lenticels obscure, flowers and fruits in cymes, shrubs elderberry [286] 98. Twigs greenish gray or gray, whitish lenticels noticeable, flowers and fruits in panicles, trees [99]
99. Leaves bright or yellowish green on both sides, leaf-scar of twig straight or nearly so on upper edge green ash [275] 99. Leaves dark green above, paler below, leaf-scar of twig concave or notched on upper edge white ash [274]
about ½ natural size
260 New Jersey tea; fruit 276 spring herald 261 rattan vine 268 St. Andrew’s cross 252 aromatic sumac 264 cow-itch vine 284 Indian current 253 swamp holly
about ¼ natural size
254 waahoo 265 Cissus ampelopsis 285 black haw 278 French mulberry 271 dwarf dogwood 283 bush honeysuckle 282 coral honeysuckle 277 swamp privet
about ¼ natural size
280 trumpet creeper 244 Eve’s necklace 246 prickly ash 245 river locust 249 smooth sumac 256 Texas buckeye
about ¼ natural size
248 chinaberry 262 Virginia creeper 250 winged sumac 263 pepper vine 257 soapberry 258 Ohio buckeye
about ¼ natural size
247 wafer ash 251 poison ivy 230 Canada moonseed 259 Indian cherry 286 elderberry 255 box elder 229 Carolina moonseed 228 wooly pipevine