Plants - TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST Birch, Silver Birch, Paper Birch Genus: * The White Birch is a small to medium sized deciduous tree which grows to 70 or 80 feet in height. As far as trees go it doesn't live very long, only about 140 years. Small hear-shaped leaves are found at the ends of drooping twigs and branches. The paper birch has both male and female flowers called catkins. These turn into little winged nutkins, which ripen in early August to mid September. The wings help the seeds to fly away from the parent tree so there won't be competition for food and water. You can identify this tree by its white bark which peels easily and is marked by narrow horizontal stripes. White birch trees can either have one slender stem or several stems. Moose like to browse on the young trees and will eat off the tops. This forces the tree to send up more stems. The paper birch doesn't like shade and is the first tree to grow back in places that have had a fire or where trees have been cut.

Although moose and white-tailed deer will eat the leaves and tender shoots of the paper birch, it isn't their favorite food. Porcupines like to eat the bark and rabbits will eat the seedlings and young saplings. Yellow-bellied sapsuckers will peck little holes in the bark and feed on the sap. Hummingbirds and squirrels also drink the sap from the sap wells the sapsuckers made. The bark is often used as a fire starter because it burns even when its wet. Native Americans also used the bark to cover their canoes. They also used it to make baskets, baby carriers, mats, torches and moose calls. Because the wood was strong and flexible it was made into spears, bows and arrows, snowshoes and sleds. The wood is now used for building lumber to make veneer, pulpwood and ply white birch is found in Newfoundland, Labrador, Canada, and from New England to North Carolina in the United States. It prefers colder climates, however. Syrup, wine, beer, and medicinal tonics are made from the sap.

White * The White Oak tree can grow from 80 to 100 feet tall ,3 to 4 feet in diameter around the trunk and can spread from 50 to 80 feet. The Oak tree grows upright and its bark is whitish gray . The life span of the Oak tree, if undisturbed is 500 to 600 years old. The Oak tree's leaves have 7 to 9 rounded points which resemble finger like lobes. In May and early June male flowers appear in slender catkins. Female flowers are not noticeable to the naked eye. The Oak tree's seeds are commonly known as they are small oval shaped nuts with a cap and they are mostly eaten by squirrels ,chipmunks and deer. Oak tree grows in many different habitats. It can grow from seacoasts to high mountain slopes. It also can grow from wet lowlands to dry mesas. When the White oak is only a seedling it produces a taproot. The taproot plunges into the ground during a drought to bring the tree water. This taproot disappears with age and then a fibrous root system with tapered laterals grows.

The white Oak tree is valued for its timber products such as furniture, flooring and pallets, cabinet making, barrel making, interior finishes, and for heavy construction. The Oak tree also produces acorns which are a food source for wildlife. white Oak is the most common tree species of the Eastern United States and is definitely not endangered. the Tawny Milkcap mushroom is edible * Tawny Milkcap Mushroom can be found in most deciduous forests. On the North American continent it can be found in southern Canada and the eastern United States. It is also common in Europe. In Japan it is known as chichitake and is used to make a flavorful broth. If you are a mushroom hunter, you may like to eat the Twany Milkcap. This species is edible and is a favorite of collectors. It is best fresh because a white "milk", or sticky latex, seeps out and turns brown when the gills are cut, giving it the name TwanyMilkcap. It has a strong fish-like odor, especially when dry. Their flavor is mild, however. The Twany Milkcap's cap is 2 to 5 inches wide, and smooth with a dry, velvety feel to it.

The upper part is orange-brown in color. The edges of the mushroom cap turn up and becomes bowl shaped, making it look like and inside out umbrella. When they are young they have a darker, russet color, and turn almost pale yellow as they get older. The gills are close together and are almost white. They bruise easily and turn brown where you touch them. The stalk can be up to four inches tall and is also orange but it has darker streaks in it. Tawny Milkcap Mushrooms are neither plants nor animals. They belong to the Fungi Kingdom, and like most fungi they are decomposers. This means they break down dead organisms, and get all their food from other organisms.The mushroom we see growing above the ground is the fruiting and reproductive part of the fungus that lives mainly underground, called the mycelia. The mycelia are long, white, branching hairlike filaments that grow very quickly through the leaf litter. The mycelia send out a chemical that helps break wood down into nutrients. The decomposing mushroom keeps leaf litter from accumulating. Without decomposers the world would be buried under a mountain of waste.

Because mushrooms don't have chlorophyll, and get their nutrients in other ways, they don't need light to grow. above ground mushroom part produces spores between the gills which, when released, Shagbark Hickory tree has an ashy gray bark similar to birch trees except its bark separates into long strips, which give the trunk it's shaggy look. The Shagbark Hickory tree is tall and straight and can grow to about 100 feet tall. The Shagbark Hickories branches can spread to 25 feet, the lower branches somewhat droop while the upper branches are upright. The branches in the middle are just about horizontal. The wood of this tree is strong and tough. The Shagbark has both male and female flowers. Male flowers grow in bundles called catkins and female flowers are in clusters called petallets. The Shagbarks leaves are compound and alternate, with five or seven broad, toothed leaflets. The leaflets can be smooth or hairy and can be up to 10 inches long and 5 inches broad. The twigs bear brown buds. The nuts have thick husks, but the shell inside is thin and is edible with a sweet taste.

The Shagbark hickory tree usually grows among oak trees. It grows in wet and dry areas, but grows better in well-drained soils. The Shagbark Hickory tree has long taprooms which grow straight down into the ground to help the tree get extra water if there is a drought. These roots will be helpful to the life of the tree. The Shagbark Hickory tree has many uses, some of them include: sports equipment, furniture, or as a smoke wood for meats. The nuts of the Shagbark tree are also edible and humans and squirrels both compete for these nuts. But if I were you I wouldn't eat one! The Shagbark Hickory tree is very common in the wild especially in the Eastern forests of the United States. Pecan pecan tree can grow to enormous heights, sometimes to heights of 180 feet, and has an upright growing pattern. The bark is pale gray or whitish brown, scaly, and deeply furrowed. The bark on the pecan tree is rough and scaly, and is pale grey or brown. The heartwood is solid brown and black. The leaves grow in groups of 11-17.

Each leaf is slightly pointed at the tip. The width of the leaves are approximately 3 inches. Each full grown leaf is about 5 inches top to bottom. This tree is a perennial. The Pecan tree has a shallow root system. The flowers are tiny and hang down in tassels. The pecan uses wind to The pecan nut is long and pointed with a thin shell. The pecan tree grows in North America. The tree is found in deciduous forests. Most pecan trees like humid climates. The tree is a member of the walnut family. The Pecan tree is the State tree of Texas. Pecan nuts were a major food source to the Native Americans. They would eat these nuts, and store them to survive through the winter. The tree is used for its wood to make furniture like cabinets, benches, stools, chairs, and other useful supplies. The pecan industry produces 250,000,000 lbs. of pecans a year. Farmers harvest the nuts that have fallen off the tree. The nuts are not directly picked off the tree, because only the nuts on the ground are edible, and the ones on the trees are still growing.

The nuts are put in boxes, and sold in stores and marketplaces. The pecan tree is not on an endangered tree list because there are so many of them still growing. Northern plants have dark green, oval deciduous leaves which grow opposite each other on the stem. The tips of the leaves are pointed and the bottoms are rounded or heartshaped. The leaves are about 4 inches long and 3 inches across. Northern Arrowwood is different from other viburnums because its leaves have big spiky edges, but its surface is smooth. It has small white to pink flowers in flat-topped clusters about 4 inches across. The plant blooms from May to June. The leaves and flowers grow on the top of long shoots. fruits of the arrowwood are fleshy and blue-black in color about 1/2 inch across. They are a favorite food of Ruffed Grouse and chipmunks. Deer love to eat the leaves and stems. The shoots were once used by Native Americans for arrow shafts. bark of Northern Arrowwood is grey and smooth. This shrub can sometimes grow to fifteen feet in height. Northern Arrowwood is usually found in the decidouos biome.

It grows from New Brunswick and southern Ontario, to south-east New York, northern Ohio and Michigan. It prefers wetland areas along rivers, streams and lakes. of North America and Eurasia. Lady Fern is a deciduous, perennial fern about 24 to 36 inches tall. Its light green, lacy leaves are about 24 to 30" long and 6 to 9" wide and tapered at both ends. The fronds are cut twice and grow from a central base. The J-shaped spore casings, or sori, grow on the underside of the leaf. the wild, Lady ferns can be found growing in meadows, open thickets, moist woods, and along stream beds. They also grow in the cracks of rocks. In the taiga it usually grows in the understory of white and western hemlock. Lady ferns prefer shaded areas. Many Lady ferns will grow in a group in the shape of a circle. As they grow farther and farther outwards, the centers die away, leaving a ring of Lady Ferns. Lady ferns reproduce by thick, scaly rhizomes and spores. They grow in most semi-shaded areas.

Grizzly bears like to eat Lady ferns as a major food source. Elk will also eat it also. Native Americans had many uses for Lady ferns. They used lady ferns for drying berries on, and covering food. The young shoots, or fiddleheads, were cooked, baked or eaten raw. Tea was made from the leaves to help urination and to stop breast pain caused by childbirth. The tea was also used to ease labour pains. Roots were dried and ground into a dust to help heal wounds. Oil from the roots of Lady ferns has been used since the 1st century AD to get rid of worms. An overdose could cause weakness, coma, and often blindness. Lady ferns are a dominant plant in the understory of the taiga, and will cover the forest floor. It is not an endangered plant. Guelder Guelder Rose prefers to grow at low altitudes and in semi-shade in Scotland and England. It is native to the woodlands of the European deciduous forest. It is found at the edges of woods, hedgerows and marshes. In the United States it is found in agricultural zones 3 to 8, which is a relatively cool climate.

It grows in both heavy clay and acidic soil. It was first cultivated in Gelderland, a Dutch province, then introduced to England. Guelder Rose is a deciduous shrub and a member of the honey-suckle family. This shrub is also like the Common Elder. The Guelder Rose's flower is snowy white with flat heads which are 3 to 5 inches across. The flower is wheel shaped and the outer flowers have five petals and are sterile. The inner flowers are fertile and very small. They provide nectar for the insects that pollinate them. The flowers turn into red berries. The Guelder Rose is beautiful in August when the berries are ripe, and the leaves turn to a bright red or rich purple before falling. It has maple-like leaves. This shrub can grow to 5 to 10 feet high. berries are bright red and attract birds that spread the seeds. The very large white outer layer of flowers also attracts pollinating insects to the inner part of the flower. Some can self-pollinate. Some species are sterile and don't have berries. It is an invasive shrub and will take over another plant's area and is able to spread out for more sunlight.

Its bark is used as an herbal medicine for cramps and asthma. The berries can be used for ink. It is also used as a decorative shrub. In Canada it is used instead of cranberries. It is an importan food source for insects and birds who eat the nectar and the berries. The Guelder Rose can be an invasive shrub and therefore is definitely not threatened. It is definitely not an endangered species. Common The common lime is a tall, stately tree, which grows in the deciduous forests of Europe, the British Isles, and the USA. In the USA it is known as a linden tree. It is the tallest broad-leaved tree in Britain. In the past it was found growing throughout the old growth forests of Europe. Today there are no original forests left there, but the common lime is still widespread because it is frequently planted along avenues and in gardens. The common lime can live up to 500 years. The tree can grow to a height of 120-130 ft (25 m). Bushy side shoots grow along the trunk from near the ground. The lower branches arch out, giving the tree an upside-down pyramid look.

leaves of the common lime grow singly along a stem but not opposite each other, and about 4-7 inches (5-10 cm) wide. They are roundish and slightly heart shaped with small, fine-toothed edges. Their color is a dull, dark green color above and lighter green underneath. The tops of the leaves are hairless but have tufts of white hairs at the junction of the veins underneath. The leaves often have small blisters caused by aphids and other sap-sucking insects. of the common lime are yellowish to dull white in color and are sweetly scented. They hang from slender stalks in flattened clusters of 4-10 on a stalk. They have five petals and are about 1/2 inch (15 mm) wide. Insects attracted by the abundant nectar pollinate them. The common lime blooms in June and July. The common lime fruit is a small round nutlet about the size and shape of a pea. Hairy and faintlyribbed, they hang together on green bracts. In October they float away from the parent tree on the wind. * The bark is smooth and a dull grey color when young.

As it grows older, the bark becomes brownish-grey with perpendicular, shallow cracks. The stringy inner bark is called bass or bast. It is used to make mats, ropes, and fancy baskets. wood is white, smooth and close-grained. It is a light wood and doesn't become worm-eaten. It is useful for small things that don't need much strength. It is often used for carvings and the sounding boards for pianos, and for artist's charcoal. common lime has been used as a home remedy for colds, flu, coughs, epilepsy and indigestion. The inner bark contains a gelatin-like material that was applied to soothe skin irritations. Tea made from leaves and flowers is used to treat cold symptoms. However, drinking too much flower tea may cause heart damage. the Middle Ages statues of the Virgin Mary were carved from lime wood. They called the wood lignum or sacred wood. In Germany the tree was thought to bring fertility and prosperity, and was considered the sacred tree for people in love.

Trees: Betula – Utilis versus Pendula – Peter Donegan Landscaping Dublin / 2 Comments /in All Posts , Plants /by Peter Donegan The Betula or more commonly known Birch are a genus of around 60 species of deciduous [their leaves fall off in winter, in short] trees that grow extremely well in our Irish climate. By its soft leaved foliage I find it quite feminine in feel and appearance which works really well in softening any landscape or building exterior. All of our photosynthetic friends have in them at least one outstanding trait for which we want to grow them. In this case, it is without question the birch’s bark. But, like all things great, you get what you pay for and there is always a reason why one is cheaper than the other as I will discuss shortly. Asking for a Birch, just like any plant, needs to be a lot more definitive. It’s got more than 60 relations of the same second name remember. To these two fellows: The difference between Betula utilis and Betula pendula – couldn’t be that much ? You might be surprised. Betula utilis The Himalayan birch is an absolute stunner.

As it matures from a young main stem to a tree like trunk its skin peels and develops from a rusty orange tinged brown to a soft pinkish white, then further maturing to a bright smooth as you like, white paper skin. Although it will do so anyway, I always love the fact that you can peel it off like a bad roll of sellotape. The utilis types are upright [ ie. go against gravity] by their appearance and habit and can grow to about 60′ tall. I have 5 in my garden – worth every single cent and centimetre . recommended: Betula utilis ‘Jacquemontii’ Betula pendula The main trait of the Betual Pendula types is that they are all [think about it… pendula, pendulum ~ ie. swing ~ ie. must hang ~ as versus upright] weeping trees by their nature. That said they can still grow up to 80′ tall. Far more important than that however is that they have a glitch, a flaw in their character.

Like the way I’ve never not met a Jack Russell without a dodgy back leg; as the tree matures it’s bark cracks and the newly maturing and indented creases of the bark then turn to black. In the not so pretty department, it’s not only the bark that’s a bit brutish in appearance and touch as you’ll find the stems of its foliage suffer a similar effect.In comparison, it can be a little scraggy, depending, and just doesn’t cut the mustard in the same way the Betula utilis ‘jacquemontii’ does. recommended: Betula pendula ‘youngii’ Notes: The key to developing that white bark all over is the crown raising. Strip the lower branches bare, like a telegraph pole and try as best as possible to retain only one leader. this I should add and double underline, is something that is so very important and really should be considered when first selecting and choosing the trees for purchase. The wounds will heal over and what may [possibly] seem a little unfair will pay its dividends.

More information and enquiries: Birch Trees | Betula Trees | Small Birch Trees | Ornamental Trees Ltd Department Info Birch trees or Betula trees, to use their Latin name are a hardwood deciduous (broadleaf) genus comprising approximately 60 species and numerous cultivars. Closely related to Beech and Oak. Birch is often referred to as The Watchful Tree due to the eye-like impressions on the bark. The well-known peeling bark of Birch trees is one of the reasons they are some of our most popular ornamental trees. The horizontal lines on the trunks of Betula trees are called 'lenticels' and are almost like a unique Morse code on each tree. The bark also produces a resin which make Birch trees resistant to decay. It takes time to develop the pale colour on Birch trees - often they start off when young quite brownish but as they mature they become bright cool white or pearlescent pale coral pink, depending on the variety. Mature Birch trees shed their bark in very thin layers like scraps of paper. They produce both male and female flowers, in the form of catkins as the tree's new leaves appear in the Spring.

Amongst the most hardy of trees available, birches are pretty easy to grow in any reasonably fertile, well drained soil (although Betula nigra is excellent in damp but not waterlogged soil). They need sun or dappled shade and ideally some protection from cold winds and it's sensible not to plant in a frost pocket. Some say that planting in full sun helps keep the bark colours bright (by producing botulin which gives the trees their chalky white bloom). You can gently wash down (cool water) the bark to remove accumulated grime Betula albosinsensis varieties are slower growing so they tend to be most suitable for smaller gardens/situations where a smaller tree is required. Whilst this genus is mostly known for it's white bark, there are newer varieties with blush, ginger, shades of red and even purple. Cultural uses of Birch Trees: In Celtic folklore they represent growth, renewal and initiation The Czech word for the month of March is Brezen (Birch) as Birch trees flower during March under the local conditions It is the national tree of both Finland and Russia Common uses of Birch Trees: Extracts from birch trees are used in flavourings and cosmetics, e.g.

shampoos and soaps Fragrant Birch twigs are used in saunas and spas to help relax the muscles The twigs of Betula trees, when bound into a bundle were historically used for 'birching' which is a form of punishment North American Indians regarded birch wood very highly and used it for making lightweight canoes Birch makes great firewood, it does not pop when burning and will ignite even when wet due to the oils in the bark Birch tree sap is used to make a traditional drink in parts of China, Russia and Northern Europe. It can also be made into a syrup which goes well with waffles and pancakes The wood contains an oil which makes it practically imperishable, and so it is commonly used to build waterproof roofs on houses in Scandinavia Not only do Betula trees have attractive exfoliating bark, they also boast many other features, such as: varying bark colour (cream, red, brown, gold and white); a dense canopy of foliage; screening and windbreak properties; and the ability to thrive in many situations. Birch Trees are good pioneer species and are popularly planted in the most difficult sites. Small birch trees are ideal for planting in small gardens or when space is at a premium.

Ornamental Trees have a huge choice of Birch Trees, many of which with more unusual characteristics. Why not plant a multi-stem variety for a great garden feature? Make sure to check out our range of Planting Essentials. We highly recommend planting with root grow and protecting your tree with a cane and rabbit guard kit. Sort by Tree Encyclopedia – North American Insects & Spiders Family Adoxaceae: Viburnum This family of woody plants consists of five genera: Adoxa, Sambucus, Sinadoxa, Tetradoxa, and, most notably, Viburnum. Many of these plants were formerly placed in Caprifoliaceae. Viburnums have long been cultivated by gardeners fond of flowering landscape shrubs. There are over 150 varieties readily available to suit practically any locale – wet or dry sites, partial shade or sun. Hardy in USDA zones 2 through 9. Viburnums were up until recently relatively pest and disease-free, which accounted for their popularity with home gardeners. However, the Viburnum leaf beetle is making inroads in North America, infesting highbush cranberry viburnum, arrowwood viburnum, and others.

-Trees Index- Family Anacardiaceae – Cashew, Sumac, Pistachio, Mangos, Poison Ivy Trees or shrubs each with small flowers, highly poisonous sometimes foul smelling resinous or milky sap. There are about 600 species in 70 genera. Important commercial crops in this family include the cashew and pistachio nuts and mangos. Resins, oils and lacquers are obtained from plants in genus Toxicodendron. Poison ivy is undergoing an explosive surge in range, prevalence, and toxicity worldwide, due to the particular effects of increased CO2 concentrations in Earth’s atmosphere. Family Betulaceae – Alder, Birch, Hornbeam The birches have long been popular ornamental trees in North America, chiefly in the northern United States and Canada. Several are native Americans, but many species have been introduced from Europe and Asia. Our specimens include river birch, Dahurian birch, paper birch, Arctic birch, Manchurian birch, Manchurian alder, downy birch, Japanese white birch, and 10 other species.

Family Cupressaceae Redwood, Cypress, Arborvitae, Juniper There are thirty (many monotypic) genera and 142 species in the family Cupressaceae, now widely regarded as including the Taxodiaceae, previously treated as a distinct family. The Cupressaceae are found in the fossil record as far back as the Jurassic Period, about 210 million years ago. The heartwood of many species of Cupressaceae is resistant to termite damage and fungal decay, and therefore it is widely used in contact with soil. Most prominent in the flora are redwood and baldcypress; the premier coffin wood of China. Other genera, usually called cedars, may have aromatic woods with a variety of specialty uses. Wood of Thuja is still used for roofing shingles. Family Fabaceae: Legumes are mostly herbs but include also shrubs and trees found in both temperate and tropical areas. They comprise one of the largest families of flowering plants, numbering some 400 genera and 10,000 species. Peanuts, beans, peas, clover, alfalfa, wisteria and locust trees are among the family.

Legumes harbor nitrogen-fixing bacteria in nodules in their root structures. Legumes comprise the vast majority of pioneer plant species because of their ability to survive in soil with few nutrients, e.g. the area around the 1980 explosion of Mount Saint Helens; lupines were the first plant life found in the superficially sterilized wasteland of volcanic ash downstream from the crater. Family Fagaceae – Beech, Chinkapin and Oak There are about 900 species in this family worldwide, about 65 trees and 10 shrubs of which are native to North America. The Oak genus,Quercus, includes some of our most important native hardwoods, and are some of the most-recognized trees. Since the early 1990s, oak and tanoak have been dying in the coastal counties of California [1]. Sudden oak death, caused by the pathogen Phytophthora ramorum is now expanding its range in coastal California and Humboldt County, killing millions of trees.

We’ve photographed over twenty species of Oaks, Chinkapins and Beeches at the Morton Arboretum, as well as the State of Illinois Millennium Tree , and another Bur Oak that is known to be still healthy and injury-free after more than three hundred years. Family Hippocastanaceae – Horse-Chestnut, Buckeye Members of this family are trees or shrubs, usually deciduous. Most widespread genus is Aesculus. One distinctive feature is the palmate compound leaves. Three genera and 15 species: Asia (Himalayas to Japan), SE Europe, North America, also Central and South America; two genera (one endemic) and five species (two endemic, two introduced) in China. Young shoots and seeds of yellow buckeye have been reported poisonous to livestock, and some landowners in Indiana have eradicated buckeye for this reason. Family Juglandaceae – Walnut, Hickory, Butternut, Bitternut, Pignut, Pecan Members of this family have large aromatic leaves. The trees are wind-pollinated, and the flowers usually arranged in catkins. Hickory nuts and Walnuts grow within an outer husk; these fruits are technically not nuts, but drupes.

There are eight genera in the family, including the commercially important nut-producing trees: walnut, pecan hickory, and hickory. The Persian walnut (Juglans regia) is one of the major nut crops of the world. Walnut and hickory are valuable timber trees. Family Laurelaceae – Laurel Family is comprised of 2000 – 4000 species in 55 genera of flowering plants in the Order Laurales. Most are aromatic evergreen trees or shrubs, but Sassafras and one or two other genera are deciduous, andCassytha is a genus of parasitic vines. Members of this family are generally aromatic shrubs and trees with insignificant flowers and fleshy fruit. Some of the better known members of the family are the avocado, camphor tree, cinnamon, sassafras, and spicebush. However, the “prime” member of this family is the Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis), famous as the provider of bay leaves for cooking, also a useful hedging plant, and the source of branches from which laurel wreaths were created.

“Don’t rest on your laurels.” -Trees Index- Family Magnoliaceae – Magnolia . The Magnolia genus is one of the most ancient among flowering trees. Growing to 30 meters, cucumber tree is the most widespread and hardy of the eight magnolia species native to the United States, and the only magnolia native to Canada. Several species in the family are grown for their dried flower buds, known as xinyi, which are used medicinally. Houpoea officinalis(Magnolia officinalis) is extensively grown for its medicinal bark. All species in the family are ornamental, and many are grown in public and private gardens throughout much of China and in other parts of the world. Family Moraceae: Figs and Mulberry . Trees, shrubs, herbs or vines, both evergreen and deciduous; mainly woody and tropical, they are most abundant in Asia. The largest genus is Ficus, with about 750 species of figs. Species bearing edible fruit include the mulberries, breadfruit and jackfruit.

Although weeping figs and rubber plants are often sold as houseplants, economically the most important species are related to the silk trade; they serve as food plants for the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Olive Family: Oleaceae The olive family contains 25 genera and over 500 species of flowering plants. Most species are native to temperate and tropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The best known trees of this family are olive and ash, while the most familiar shrubs are privet, lilac, and golden bell (Forsythia), all popular ornamental plants. -Trees Index- Family Pinaceae – Pine, Cedar, Spruce, and Fir The Pine family is the most varied of all the groups of trees that bear cones. Pinaceae contains more than 250 species which are native and which form the dominant forest cover over much of the northern hemisphere. Family Rosaceae – Fruit Trees, Roses : Hawthorn, Apple, Pear, Cherry, Plum, Peach, Almond, Mountain-Ash and White- beam. The Rose family is a large assemblage of trees, shrubs and herbs including many of our most familiar and valued fruits, the drupes and pomes.

Of course, the family is named for the type genus, Rosa, which contains perhaps the best known and loved flowers on Earth, the roses. The fruits come in many varieties and were once considered the main characters for the definition of subfamilies. They can be follicles, capsules, nuts, achenes, drupes (cherries and apricots) or accessory fruits, like the pome of an apple. Family Rutaceae – Cork & Citrus Trees The Rutaceae are herbs, shrubs, and trees with commonly odoriferous herbage comprising about 150 genera and 1,500 species; further characterized by the common occurrence of spines and winged petioles. The Citrus genus includes the agriculturally important fruit trees: orange, lime, grapefruit, kumquat, and mandarine. Family Salicaceae – Aspen, Willow, Cottonwood, Poplar There are only two genera in this family, Salix (willows), with about 300 species, and Populus (aspens and poplars), with barely 40 species. Salicaceae are found throughout the temperate parts of the world, with the majority of species occurring in the north.

Both willows and poplars have a strong affinity for water, and are commonly found near ponds and along watercourses. Family Taxaceae – Yews There are 17 species in five genera 5 in this small family. The Yews are evergreen trees or shrubs, usually not resinous or aromatic. The Taxaceae are now generally included with all other conifers in the order Pinales. Family Tiliaceae – Basswood, Linden 50 genera and 400 species; widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, with relatively few species in temperate regions. Especially abundant in Southeast Asia and Brazil. Lindens are called Lime trees in Great Britain and The Commonwealth. The leaves of all the Tilias are heart-shaped and most are asymmetrical, and the tiny fruit, looking like peas, always hang attached to a ribbon-like, greenish bract, whose use seems to be to launch the ripened seed-clusters just a little beyond the parent tree. Lindens are some of the most popular shade and street trees in North America. Their pyramidal forms are eminently suitable for specimen plantings.

Family Ulmaceae – Zelkova, Hackberry and Elm There are about 200 species of trees and shrubs in Ulmaceae. 14 trees and 2 shrubs are native to North America. The Elms fell victim to Dutch Elm disease during the 1950s; until that time, they were the premiere shade tree along the streets of our towns and cities. The Morton Arboretum is one of the largest living Ulmus collections in the world (more than 30 species, in addition to numerous infraspecific taxa, hybrids, and cultivars) and has the source of numerous elm cultivars. We present here more than 20 different species from this outstanding collection. Orphan Species – Here are trees that represent only one or two species and do not merit their own family pages. Tree Encyclopedia / North American Insects & Spiders is dedicated to providing scientific and educational resources for our users through use of large images and macro photographs of flora and fauna. Custom Search Bean's Trees and Shrubs Common names Birch The birches are deciduous trees and shrubs with alternate leaves and unisexual flowers produced on catkins, both male and female catkins being borne on the same tree.

The male catkins are slender and pendulous, nearly always formed in autumn, but expanding in spring; the flower consists of a perianth and two stamens; they are produced in threes in the axil of a scale. Female catkins shorter, stiffer; the flowers consisting of an ovary with two styles, produced (also in threes) in the axil of a deciduous three-lobed scale. What is here (and commonly) called the seed, is really a tiny nut containing the true seed. It bears a transparent wing at each side, and usually the remains of the two styles at the top. The only other genus of trees with which the birches are likely to be confused are the alders, and they are readily distinguished by the persisting scales of the female catkin, which does not disintegrate like that of the birches, but falls away whole. Two of the best-known features of the birches are the peculiar bark and frequently white trunks. The bark can often be separated in thin, papery layers, and being impervious to water, is used in other countries for canoe-building and for roofing.

The timber, although not as a rule of the best, is put to various minor uses. Some of the Asiatic and American species, however, yield wood of considerable value. An aromatic principle pervades many of the birches, and a fragrant oil is obtained. As garden trees the birches are chiefly valued for their striking trunks and graceful branches. The silvery-white trunk of the native B. pendula, the creamy-white to pinkish trunks of such species as B. papyrifera, jacquemontii, and ermanii provide some of the most delightful of winter effects. Just as striking, but more rarely seen in gardens, are the rich mahogany or cinnamon hues of the stems of B. utilis and B. albo-sinensis. The rugged trunks of B. nigra and davurica always attract attention, and the darker-coloured ones of B. lutea and maximowiczii are not without their charm. On the whole, no birch exceeds our native B. pendula in beauty, not only for its trunk, but in the singular lightness and delicate grace of its branching also.

Most people will agree with the oft-quoted words of Coleridge, that it is ‘most beautiful Of forest trees, the Lady of the Woods.’ The young branches and twigs of many birches have a rich red-brown or orange-brown tint, which makes an admirable contrast in winter with such as have white trunks. So far as I have seen, the birches thrive best on a deep, well-drained loam, and I do not know of any that object to it. But some species, like B. pendula and populifolia, are amongst the best trees for poor, sandy soils. The river birch, B. nigra, thrives well with its roots within reach of water, and is perhaps the handsomest birch to plant where the water-table is high. Others that will grow in such situations are B. pubescens, nana, glandulosa, and pumila. Whenever possible the birches should be raised from seed, which most of them develop in plenty. It should be sown on the surface of fine soil, and not buried but simply pressed down.

An old and good plan when the seed is sown out-of-doors is to cover it until it germinates with a thin layer of brushwood, which gives shade and shelter and protects it from interference by birds, etc. The common birches are attacked by a gall-producing insect, Phytoptus rudis, which causes an abnormal swelling of the leaf-buds, and distorted, stunted growths. From the Supplement (Vol. V) A qualification should have been added to Mr Bean’s statement (page 415) that ‘whenever possible the birches should be raised from seed.’ This is true only of the species, and then only if the seed comes from a wild source. Trees raised from seed gathered in botanical gardens and arboreta often prove to be hybrids, mostly with the native birches predominating in their make-up if the source was a European collection. Mr Kenneth Ashburner has in recent years built up a notable collection of natural-source birches at Chagford in Devon, and another is being formed in the Kew annexe at Wakehurst Place, Sussex, which owes much to Mr Ashburner’s introductions. For his survey of the cultivated species see The Plantsman, Vol.

2, pp. 31-53 (1980); and his note on the bark of birches in Int. Dendr. Soc. Year Book 1979, pp. 47-57. The following are some recent contributions to the taxonomy of the American species of Betula: Brayshaw, T. C. – Catkin-bearing Plants of British Columbia. Occasional Paper No. 18 of the British Columbia Provincial Museum, Betula, pp. 136-52 (1976). Brittain, W. H., and Grant, W. F. – A series of eight papers under the general title ‘Observations on Canadian Birch Collections at the Morgan Arboretum’, published in Canadian Field-Naturalist, Vol. 79, pp. 189-97 and 253-7; Vol. 80, pp. 147-57; Vol. 81, pp. 116-27 and 251-62; Vol. 82, pp. 44-8 and 185-202; Vol. 83, pp.

361-83 (1965-9). Dugle, Janet R. – ‘A Taxonomic Study of Western Canadian Species in the Genus Betula’, Canad. Journ. Bot., Vol. 44, pp. 929-1007 (1966). The only comprehensive treatment of the east Asiatic birches is the now out-dated contribution by Camillo Schneider in Plantae Wilsonianae, Vol. II, pp. 455-88 (1916). See also the references under B. platyphylla and B. utilis below. Species articles

Question: A deciduous tree of the genus Betula is more commonly known as what?
Answer: BIRCH