Terms and facts for you to know before the tree identification lab:
- What is a tree?
- A tree is a woody plant with a single trunk at least 3 inches in diameter.
- What is the difference between a shrub and a vine?
- A shrub is a small low growing wood like plant with
multiple stems. For example, a rosebush is a shrub. A vine is a small plant that depends on an erect
substrate to grow, meaning that they need another plant to attach to. For example, a grape is a vine,
and must be grown with an arbor to cling to.
Plant Types
- Deciduous plants have large, flat, broad leaves. In the winter they lose their leaves.
- Coniferous plants have sharp needles or scales.
Coniferous plants are evergreen, meaning they don't lose their leaves in the winter.
- Tropical plants have large, flat, broad leaves, but do not lose their leaves because
they live in the tropics and the winters are not severe. The southeastern U.S. has none of these naturally.
Tree Shapes
- Pyramidal (Wide Triangle)
- Columnar
- Conical (Narrow Triangle)
- Broad (Horizontal Oval)
- Upright Oval (Pointing Oval)
- Weeping
- Vase (The letter V shape)
- Rounded (Round Shape)
- Umbrella (Spreading)
Leaf Arrangement
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Whorled
Leaf Types
Flower Type
- Spike
- Raceme
- Cormyb
- Cyme
- Panicle
- Umbel
- Catkin
- Globose
- Flat-Head
Fruit Type
- Cone Fruit (Pine Cone)
- Winged Fruit
- Nuts with husk
- Samaras
- Berries
- Legumes
- Pume
- Drupes
- Achenes
Bark Types
(Click here for information on North Carolina's Trees, also find out where to locate the nearest Parks and Forests)
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