Tree Identification in the Woods

Introduction

• Host: James
• Locations: Woods, with son Arthur
• Purpose: Identifying trees and learning about them

Why This Time of Year is Ideal

• Leaves are still green, starting to change
• Fruits are on trees and ground

Identifying Tree Characteristics

Oak Trees

• Red Oak
  • Pointy leaves
  • Smooth acorn cap
• White Oak
  • Rounded leaves
  • Bumpy or hairy acorn cap

Ash and Boxelder

• Ash
  • Grouped leaves in clusters of 5 or 7
• Boxelder (Ash Leaf Maple)
  • Leaves look like ash but are different
  • Knotty, twisty tree branches

Softwoods

• Fir and Pine trees
  • Pine has long needles (white pine has 5 sprigs)

Cottonwood

• Characteristics
  • Heart-shaped leaves
  • Large, straight trunk
  • Seed tufts in early spring

Hickory

• Features
  • Shaggy bark
  • Large leaves with clusters of 3 or 5
  • Hickory nuts taste good, used for tools

Cherry

• Identification
  • Oval leaves with sawtooth edges
  • Red color wood

Poison Ivy

• Warning
  • Three leaves, looks like a mitten

Black Walnut

• Identification
  • Smaller nut than hickory
  • Hairy leaves and crisscross bark pattern

Elm Tree

• Characteristics
  • Sawtooth leaves
  • Often confused with other trees, like pine

Tree Identification Tools

Websites and Apps

• Arbor Day Foundation
  • For North American trees
• Wikipedia
  • Detailed tree information
• British Trees App
  • Focus on British and ornamental trees
• PlantNet
  • Photo-based tree identification

Tips for Learning Tree Identification

• Experimentation and exploration
• Use online resources
• Post on social media for community help

Conclusion

• Encouragement to explore and learn tree identification
• Acknowledgement to Patreon supporters
• Invitation to subscribe and support

These notes summarize the key points from the tree identification presentation by James, offering a guide to identifying various trees in the woods.