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Arborist Certification Study Guide: Tree Identification Basics

This study guide provides essential information on plant classification, morphology, and identification for the International Society of Arboriculture certification exam. Learn key characteristics, regions, and specific tree species for accurate identification.

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Arborist Certification Study Guide: Tree Identification Basics

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  1. Tree IdentificationISA Certified Arborist Study guide for the Arborist Certification exam of the International Society of Arboriculture. Courtney Blevins Texas A&M Forest Service, Ft. Worth cblevins@tfs.tamu.edu

  2. Why Does It Matter?

  3. Plant Classification Plant Classification (taxonomy) Kingdom (Plant) Phylum (Vascular plants or not) Class (Angiosperms; di or monocotyledons Gymnosperms have “naked seeds”) Order Family (Similar characteristics) Genus (Closely related, Quercus) Species (THE individual plant)

  4. Plant Nomenclature Plant Nomenclature (naming of plants) Common names vs. Latin names Genus and species…. Quercusstellata Varieties & cultivars… var. & ‘Little gem’ Plant Morphology (appearance of tree parts) Branching structure (alternate, opposite, whorled) Leaf type (simple or compound) Leaf margins, apices & bases

  5. Plant Morphology continued Bud type and arrangement Twig & pith characteristics Seed types (acorn, samara, legume, etc.) Bark characteristics (ex. hackberry “warts”) Form & habitat Flowers (ex. flowering dogwood)

  6. “Keys” are helpful

  7. Regionalized References

  8. Main ID Characteristics

  9. Flowers – Sometimes Easy

  10. Sometimes Not • Taxonomists first choice • Not present for long • Very difficult for non-botanists

  11. Fruit - Seed

  12. Very diagnostic • Often present longer than flowers • Dioeceous trees? • Sexual maturity

  13. Buds & Twigs • Leaf scars • Bud types • Bud scales • Linticles • Pith

  14. Buds & Twigs

  15. Stem Arrangement opposite alternate whorled Look on newest growth!

  16. Stem Arrangement – cont’d Alternate – Most trees have this type of arrangement. This is the most common form. Opposite – Very uncommon in Texas trees. Remember this acronym …. “MAD BUCK”. Maples, Ashes, Dogwoods and Buckeyes have this form of branching. Whorled – Even less common. The most notable landscape trees would be the Catalpas. Remember to look on newest growth for the branching arrangement! (branch tips)

  17. Leaves • Most common ID for non-professionals • Hundreds of variations in form & type • Present much of the year in our region

  18. Leaf Arrangement & “Parts”

  19. Leaf Types Simple Compound Needle

  20. Compound Leaf Types

  21. Compound Leaf Types – cont’d Pinnate (once) Bi-Pinnate (twice) Palmate

  22. Leaf Bases & Apices

  23. Leaf Margins & Other Types

  24. Leaf Margins Entire Serrated Lobed

  25. LEAF SHAPES

  26. Other ID Characteristics • Form • Habitat • Bark

  27. BARK

  28. When all else fails….

  29. White ash Fraxinusamericana Opposite branching To tell apart from Green Ash notice the shape of the leaf scar & the wing position on the seed

  30. Green ashFraxinuspennsylvanica Opposite branching To tell apart from Green Ash notice the shape of the leaf scar & the wing position on the seed

  31. Eastern cottonwoodPopulusdeltoides

  32. American elmUlmusamericana

  33. Cedar elm Ulmuscrassifolia

  34. Sugar hackberryCeltislaevigata Notice 3 veins join at petiole

  35. MulberryMorus spp. There are native Red & Texas mulberries and naturalized White and Paper mulberries

  36. Bur oakQuercusmacrocarpa

  37. Post oakQuercusstellata

  38. Chinquapin oakQuercusmuehlenbergii

  39. Live oakQuercusvirginiana (or fusiformis) For the most part: Q. fusiformis is native west of I-35 and Q. virginiana east of I-35

  40. Shumard & Texas red oaks Quercus shumardi & buckleyii These species hybridize readily where their ranges overlap producing many trees with combined characteristics Shumard acorns. Larger than TX and very flat cap

  41. Callery pearPyruscalleryana Remember this is a presentation on Tree ID, not Recommended Trees!

  42. Eastern redbudCerciscanadensis In Central Texas there are also the Texas & Mexican redbuds

  43. Eastern redcedarJuniperusvirginiana Usually has a single trunk

  44. Ashe JuniperJuniperusashei Usually multi-trunked

  45. Pinchot JuniperJuniperuspinchoti Usually multi-trunked and always with Red fruit

  46. SycamorePlatanusoccidentalis In South & West Texas look for Mexican & Arizona sycamores

  47. Tree of HeavenAilanthusaltissima Leaf may be over 2’ long!

  48. Black walnutJuglansnigra Has “Chambered” pith

  49. PecanCaryaillinoinensis

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