Arbor Day can best be celebrated by planting one or more suitable trees around a school or club area or by establishing a school plantation. In addition to paying tribute to the beauty of trees, one can call attention to the importance of trees to man’s welfare. The Texas Forest Service continues to assist clubs and schools in organizing Arbor Day programs.
STATE TREE
The pecan, Carya illinoensis, (Wangenh.) K. Koch, was officially designated as the state tree of Texas by an act of the legislature in June 1919.
By an amendment in 1927, certain state agencies were requested to give due consideration to the pecan tree when beautifying state parks and other public property belonging to the state.
STUDYING TREES
Trees, like people, become friends only when we have become well acquainted with them and have a knowledge of the characteristics that make them something special to us. This bulletin about the trees of Texas may be used as a handy reference for identifying trees you do not know, or it may be used as the basis for developing tree friends. The following is a guide or lesson plan that will help make a friend of each tree studied.
I. Object of Study Each kind of tree has certain identifying characteristics which mark it as being different from other kinds of species of trees. By careful observation and examination these identifying points may be learned and you can feel that you know the tree. II. Source of Study Material 1. The locality in which you live probably has some trees you know. Why do you know them? Start by studying these trees and make them fast friends. 2. You also will find some trees you are not sure about or do not know; next, study these one by one until you are sure you will always know them. 3. Wherever you may be or whenever you see a tree you do not know, observe it carefully, collect enough facts and sample material to study until you learn to know it. 4. Books, articles, pictures and references will help to learn some trees you cannot actually see but which are of interest to you. III. Approach to Tree Study 1. One tree should be studied at a time as a general rule although it may be an advantage to select somewhat similar trees and study them by comparisons. 2. Field study of the growing tree is the most satisfactory. Observe a number of the same kind of trees as there are individual variations in some characteristics. 3. If possible collect for reference and further study samples of leaves, twigs, [bark], wood, flowers and [fruit]. BE CAREFUL in collecting samples. It is better not to have samples than to deface or injure the tree. No one will object to your studying their trees if you do no damage. IV. Procedure 1. General (a) First observe the tree as a whole taking into consideration all the points that attract your attention. Very often there will be some one thing that either alone or in relation to other points attracts your attention. That feature when studied may be the key to your really learning to know the tree. (b) The suggestions that follow as to observations of various parts of the tree do not limit the study of those points for perhaps you will learn to know the tree from some feature not listed. 2. Form of tree Note the size, shape and branching habit; observe its location in relation to other trees that might affect its form. 3. Bark Observe thickness, roughness, type of [fissures] and color of bark. Studying the bark as a means of winter identification is particularly worthwhile. 4. Leaves Study type, size, shape and variations on the same tree; note arrangement on twigs; describe by the blade, stalk, margin, venation, base and tip; know their texture and color. 5. Twigs Note [lateral] arrangement on branches; observe whether flexible or stocky and whether rough or smooth; study differences between new growth and old; learn any distinctive color, smell, or taste; cut a cross-section and note size, shape, color and size of [pith]; note presence or absence of [lenticels]. 6. Buds Like bark, the buds are helpful in winter identification. Note size, [scale] coverings, and shape. Observe arrangement and position on twigs; compare [terminal] and lateral buds. 7. [Leaf-scars] Study scars left by falling leaves as to size, form, position and occurrence; note bundle-scars (appear as marks in scar) as to number, shape, size, and arrangement. 8. Flowers Study promptly at proper season; trees vary widely in flowering habits; observe as to size, form, shape of parts, color and arrangement; and learn whether the tree has one or two kinds of flowers—if two, whether male and female flowers are on same tree. 9. Fruit Study of fruit also is seasonal. When it is available, observe type, form, structure and method of distribution. 10. Wood Identification of trees by wood forms a separate study but often field identification of trees can be aided by observation of distinctive points about the wood such as color, taste and general structure. 11. [Habitat] An interesting and often useful help in tree identification is to note the growing habits of trees, whether in dry or moist places, what other species same type sites, whether it grows better in open places or in more sheltered locations and the like. V. Summary If you have followed through on your study of a tree, covering the eleven points listed, you will really know the tree for all time. However, even if you cannot or do not make your study as thoroughly as is suggested, you should at least select enough distinctive characteristics about the tree to study that you will be able to identify it both in the summer and the winter seasons. VI. References Your school and public library should have one or more books on trees. You will find books on southern trees most helpful. While it is impractical to provide a complete list of books on trees, the partial list below is furnished for your information, with the understanding that no discrimination is intended: Fernald, M. L. Gray’s Manual of Botany. Eighth edition. American Book Company, 1950. Green, C. H. Trees of the South. The University of North Carolina Press, 1939. Harrar, E. S., Harrar, J. G. Guide to Southern Trees. Whittlesey House, 1946. Kearney, T. H., Peebles, R. H. Arizona Flora. University of California Press, 1951. Sargent, C. S. [Manual of the Trees of North America.] Second Edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., 1922 (at [Project Gutenberg]). Vines, R. A. Native East Texas Trees. Houston Museum of Natural History, 1953. Vines, R. A. Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines of the Southwest. The University of Texas Press, 1960.
