TREE IDENTIFICATION

Many of us have been greeted by a soaring plant as we step outside for the day. Have you ever wondered, the name of the tree that is located in your front yard or even a peculiar tree that you came across. Not only do trees have a common name, but there is a rich history of human uses and the niche in which trees occupy. If you have ever come a across a sycamore tree then there is a abundant amount of water located just below the surface of the soil.

A tree is first identified by size, being 3'' at diameter at breast height (DBH) and must it be 13' or greater. If this requirement is not met then the species is considered a shrub. There are two main types of trees found in America and they are the hardwoods (or deciduous/broad-leaf trees) or softwoods (or evergreens/conifers). One would use a dichotomous key to help distinguish the species. The videos explain how to distinguish the types of trees and on how to use a dichotomous key.

LINKS

 About.com: Identifying America's 100 most Common Trees - Supplies ample information that goes into just enough detail to grab interest. Click on the links for most common hardwoods or soft woods to get a description of those trees.


Arbor Day: Tree Identification Field Guide - This a great site for students to explore before they go outside to identify trees. Students can preview the type of tree with color pictures to get a sense of what to expect in the wild. Have students select three trees off the Arbor site in which students must locate in the field study.


West Virginia Tree Identification (PDF) - Supplies a dichotomous key that can be printed out to help identify trees in the field. Download to a e-reader to conserve paper.


Tyler County FFA: Tree ID - Provides picture examples of common tree found in West Virginia. Also provides descriptions on the characteristics of the species. Download to a e-reader to conserve paper.


Arbor Day: What Tree is That? -  This site is an animation in which students can practice identifying different characteristics within a tree. Student will identify if the leaf arrangement, leaf shape, leaf structure, and so on.


TreeId is an iPhone app that can be used in the field to help identify trees. This app is free for any user. Click the picture to download the app from iTunes.