“ Every type of tree has its unique identification features. These visible identifiers include leaves/needles, cones/fruit, bark, and the arrangement of the branches.”

— Bartlett Docent and Master Gardener, Dawn Fiss

*Pinus strobus* Eastern White Pine plantdatabase.uconn.edu

Many people who love the outdoors are convinced that all conifer trees produce pinecones and that all deciduous trees produce acorns. That is a tribute to the abundance of pinecones and acorns in this area. What a wonderful surprise to learn that pinecones are only produced by pine trees and only oak trees produce acorns. Every type of tree has its unique identification features. These visible identifiers include leaves/needles, cones/fruit, bark, and the arrangement of the branches.

Trees are grouped by their characteristics as either Gymnosperm (reproduction by exposed/naked seeds) or Angiosperm (reproduction by flowering plants with enclosed seeds). The term Gymnosperm is derived from the ancient Greek words for gumnos “naked” and sperma “seed”. The name conifer means cone bearing and comes from the Latin words cornus (cone) and ferre (to bare). The word Angiosperm is also derived from ancient Greek words angeion “vessel” and sperma “seed”.

Most Gymnosperms are conifers, and most conifers are evergreen. However, there are a few conifers that are deciduous. The three groups of conifer trees that lose all their leaves/needles in the fall are Larch, Dawn Redwood and Bald Cypress. Each of these are at the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens. Other conifers periodically shed some of their needles each year. All conifers reproduce from their cones which differ in size and shape. There are over 600 species in 12 different families. The narrow leaves of conifers are referred to as needles or scales. Seeds of conifers are protected in cones. These seed cones are the female reproductive structures of conifers. Conifers also have pollen-bearing cones, which are the male reproductive structures. Male and female cones can occur on the same plant or on separate plants.

Quercus alba, White oak; plantdataase.uconn.edu

Acer saccharum, Sugar Maple; plantdatabase.uconn.edu

Larix decidua, European Larch; plantdatabase.uconn.edu

Types of conifers: Cypress (Cypressus), Cedar (Cedra), Junipers (Juniperus), Larch (Larix), Pine (Pinus), Hemlock (Tsuga), Spruce (Picea), Fir (Abies), Redwood (Sequoioideae)

Deciduous trees and shrubs shed their leaves when there is less sunshine and colder weather when preparing for winter dormancy, normally in the fall or winter. Deciduous plants are generally grouped based on their flower and fruit components. There are thousands of different deciduous trees.

Common trees of the Northeast: Maples (Aceraceae), Qak and Beech (Fagaceae), Holly (Aquifoliaceae), Birch (Betulaceae), Dogwood (Cornaceae), Heather/Sourwood (Ericaceae), Legume (Fabaceae), Witch-hazel (Hamamelidaceae), Buckeye and Chestnut (Hippocastanaceae), Walnut (Juglandaceae), Magnolia (Magnoliaceae), Olive (Oleaceae), Plane (Platanaceae), Rose (Rosaceae, Willow (Oxalidaceae), Tea (Theaceae), Basswood (Tilliaceae), Elm (Ulmaceae)

Our trees are very important to our lives in a variety of ways. They provide a significant source of oxygen for living creatures and capture carbon dioxide, food for humans and animals, shade from the hot sun, homes for many animals, root systems that help to prevent soil erosion, stately beauty, wood for building and furniture and sporting equipment. It is important that we keep our trees healthy with proper planting, watering and pruning.

Interesting Facts:

53 tons of carbon dioxide and 430 pounds of air pollutants are removed each year from the atmosphere by 100 mature trees
Properly planted trees can save up to 56 % on annual air conditioning
Evergreen trees planted strategically to block winter wind can help reduce the cost of heating by 3 %

My world of knowing and appreciating trees was wonderfully expanded when I took the UConn Master Gardener Program at the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens. I encourage everyone to visit the Bartlett Arboretum frequently to enjoy the diversity of trees, hiking trails, and functions.

Sources

http:// cmg.extension.colostate.edu (How to Identify Conifers)

http://www.hort.cornell.edu (How to Identify Deciduous Trees)

https://www.fs.usda.gov-trees

https://arboretum.harvard.edu

https://smallfarms.cornell.edu

https://extension.usu.edu

http://www.vaplantatlas.org

https://www.canr.msu.edu

https://www.newworldencyclodepia.org

https://plantdatabase.uconn.edu

https://duga.gov.12-days-conifers