Evergreen Tree Trimming and Removal Service
Identifying Trees
This is an excerpt from the Book called “Eyewitness Tree” by David Burnie. Continue reading to learn more about Identifying Trees, thanks to the author.
The first stage in identifying a tree is to figure out whether it is a conifer or a broadleaf. This section outlines the main differences between them and provides common examples from each group.
Conifers
If a tree is bearing cones, it is a conifer. The fruit of most conifers is a cone with woody scales, although in some, such as the juniper, the scales are fleshy so that the fruit appears more like a berry. Most conifers are evergreen (keep their leaves in winter), but a few are deciduous (lose their leaves in autumn). Conifer leaves are usually small, needle-or scale like, and often smell sweet.
The stone pine tree is an evergreen, has long, needle like leaves, and a round, brown cone.
The common yew bears a berrylike “fruit;” its evergreen leaves are on the sides of the shoot.
The European larch has needlelike leaves, but is deciduous. The green leaves turn yellow in autumn.
The Italian cypress is an evergreen; its scalelike leaves are dark green.
The monkey puzzle is an evergreen with prickly, toothlike leaves all around the shoot.
Broadleaved Trees
All broadleaved trees bear flowers, and produce their seeds inside fruits, not inside cones. The fruits of broadleaved trees are varied-rough, smooth, or spiny; edible or inedible; woody or fleshy; many different colors—depending on the way in which the seeds are dispersed. Most broadleaved trees have broad, flat leaves. Many are deciduous, but some are evergreen.
The sessile oak tree is deciduous. Its leaves are simple, which means that they are undivided. The flowers are green and inconspicuous. The flowers are green and inconspicuous. The fruit is an acorn, which is a type of nut.
The holly tree is an evergreen with simple leaves, many of which are spiny. It has small, white flowers and bright, red berries.
The silver gum eucalyptus is an evergreen with small, blue Cray leaves and white flowers.
The horse chestnut tree is deciduous. Each leaf is made up of five sharply toothed leaflets. Its white, pink, or red flowers are very conspicuous. Its fruit, the “conker,” is a type of nut.
The apple tree is deciduous. Its pink flowers are conspicuous and its fruit is fleshy.
The honey locust tree has divided leaves. It is deciduous. Its yellow-green flowers are conspicuous, and the fruit is a long, brown hanging pod.
Palms
Palms are broadleaved tree, but they have many special features. Their trunks hardly ever branch, and they do not have true bark. Palm leaves are often shaped like giant fans, and can last for many years. Palm flowers are often small and green, but the fruit can be large. Most palms need a warm climate and grow in the tropics.
The chusan palm has fan-shaped leaves up to ft. (120 cm) across. It has yellow flowers and its fruit is a blue-black berry. It copes well in cold weather.
The coconut palm is found in the warm tropics. It needs a lot of water. It has giant, featherlike leaves and its fruit is the coconut.
Find Out More
There are many ways of finding out more about trees. You could go on a visit to an arboretum, and see how many different trees you can identify. You could take care of wooded areas in your region by joining your local woodland group. Or you could support a charity that re-establishes woodland in areas where it has been lost.
Take Care Of Your Local Woodland
Join a local nature conservancy group and look after woods in your area to ensure that they remain healthy and provide a good habitat for the local wildlife. Old trees may need pollarding, or even felling, and young trees need planting and on-going care.
Visit An Arboretum
An arboretum is a garden that focuses on the cultivation of trees and shrubs. They are often grouped according to the climate in which they naturally grow. It is a great place to experience trees from many different parts of the world. Many arboreta were started in the 19th century, so they now contain large, mature trees.
Explore Eden’s Biomes
Visit the giant biomes at the Eden Project in Cornwall, England, to see trees and other plants from the warm temperate regions of the world. It is an exciting place to visit, and is also a place that aims to increase awareness of the effect people have on their environment.
Support A Charity
Find out more about charities, and support them, either with your time or by fundraising. The Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Trees campaign is working to reforest areas all over the world. Million Trees NYC helps to engage communities in New York City in tree-planting events.
How Much Wood Do You Use?
For many countries, timber is a major port. Britain, for example, produces only one-tenth of the wood it needs. See if you cut down on how much wood you use.
Native Trees
A good way of increasing your knowledge about trees is to start a collection. By collecting the leaves, making bark rubbings, and sketching the fruits and the tree shapes, you will learn to identify a number of trees. As you do so, work out which trees are from your country, and which are not.
USEFUL WEBSITES
- National Forest Foundation aims to improve people’s appreciation and knowledge of trees and forests. For information, go to
- To find out about the forest conservation efforts of The Nature conservancy, visit.
- For details on how to take care of trees, see
- For details on how to identify trees, visit
www.arborday.org/trees/whattree/
- For information on the Wildlife Conservation Society, go to
- To learn about the U.S. forest Service, which is responsible for the protection of America’s forests and woodlands, see
- For information on native North American trees, go to
www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics–manual/table-of-contents.htm
- The visitor’s center at the Arboretum National des Barres, Franc
PLACES TO VISIT
THE UNITED STATES BOTANIC GARDENS, WASHINGTON, D.C.
Explore the Jungle room and the rest of the extensive gardens.
THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL ARBORETUM, WASHINGTON, D.C.
This 446-acre arboretum is located right in Washington, D.C.
NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN, NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Visit America’s leading urban garden. Check out the 50 acres of old-growth forest, which is a remnant of the woodland that used to cover all of New York City.
REDWOOD NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
These four parks are home to the mighty California Redwood, which is one of the tallest and oldest living trees on Earth.
CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, CLENCOE, ILLINOIS
There is plenty to see at this botanic garden, from the Bonsai Collection to the Dwarf Conifer Garden, and much more.
FAIRCHILD TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA
This impressive botanic garden has a wonderful palm collection, or Palmetum. The Montgomery Palmetum is 13 acres and displays 1000 palms.
THE HOLDEN ARBORETUM, KIRTLAND, OHIO
The Holden Aboretum is one of the largest arboreta in the United States. There are guided tours and a range of special events.
