1. Ryan Russell

2.  Taxonomy
 Nomenclature
 Common names
 Scientific naming

3.  Classification
 Kingdom
 Phylum
 Class
 Order
 Family
 Genus
 Species and variants

4.  Classification
 Kingdom - Plantae
 Phylum
 Class
 Order
 Family
 Genus
 Species and variants

5.  Classification
 Kingdom - Plantae
 Phylum – Division (angiosperms/gymnosperms)
 Class
 Order
 Family
 Genus
 Species

6.  Classification
 Kingdom - Plantae
 Phylum – Division (angiosperms/gymnosperms)
 Class – Dicots/Monocots
 Order
 Family
 Genus
 Species

7.  Classification
 Kingdom - Plantae
 Phylum – Division (angiosperms/gymnosperms)
 Class – Dicots/Monocots
 Order – Sapindales etc.
 Family
 Genus
 Species

8.  Classification
 Kingdom - Plantae
 Phylum – Division (angiosperms/gymnosperms)
 Class – Dicots/Monocots
 Order – Sapindales etc.
 Family – Aceraceae, Fagaceae etc.
 Genus
 Species

9.  Classification
 Kingdom - Plantae
 Phylum – Division (angiosperms/gymnosperms)
 Class – Dicots/Monocots
 Order – Sapindales etc.
 Family – Aceraceae, Fagaceae etc.
 Genus – Acer, Fagus, Quercus etc.
 Species

10.  Classification
 Kingdom - Plantae
 Phylum – Division (angiosperms/gymnosperms)
 Class – Dicots/Monocots
 Order – Sapindales etc.
 Family – Aceraceae, Fagaceae etc.
 Genus – Acer, Fagus, Quercus etc.
 Species – saccharum, sylvatica, cerris etc.

11. Divisions
 Gymnosperms : non-flowering plants;
Evergreen and deciduous conifers and
Ginkgo
 Angiosperms: flowering plants;
monocots / dicots includes most trees
and shrubs

12. Families
 Plants with similar and common
characteristics
 Includes; fabaceae, fagaceae,
hammamelidaceae etc
 Examples include; Cercis (Redbud)
and Gleditsia (Honeylocust) or Corylus
(Filbert) and Betula (Birch)

13. Genus
 Plants which are very closely related
 Will have very similar flowering and
fruiting and can usually interbreed.
 Examples; Quercus (Oak), Acer
(Maple), Juglans (Walnut) etc.

14. Species
 Species indicates an individual within
a genus
 Will breed true
 Examples; Quercus alba, Acer rubrum,
Cercis canandensis etc.

15. Hybrids
 Hybrids are the offspring of at least two differing
species within a genus (sometimes family)
 Examples: Quercus x humidicola is the accepted name
for the cross of Q. bicolor x lyrata.
Acer x freemanii is the accepted name for the cross of
A. rubrum x saccharinum

16. Subspecies and Varieties
 Subspecies: (ssp.) are a natural closely related subset
within a species that maintain a unique characteristic
which differs from original species. Ex. Acer
saccharum ssp. nigra
 Varieties: Similar to ssp.
Example: Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis

17. Cultivars and Trademarks
 Cultivars: asexually propagated clones of a species
or subspecies that exhibit consistently desirable
traits Viewed as Q. macrocarpa ‘Rough Rider’
 Trademarked names: cultivar names must be
different than trademarked names.
Example: Q. x wareii ‘Long’ is the trademarked
name for the cultivar Q. x wareii ‘Regal Prince’

18. Morphology
 Size, shape and form of plant parts
 Laymen ID
 Taxonomists ID
 Arborist use all

19. Leaf Arrangements
 Opposite
 MAD Buck

20. Leaf Arrangements
 Alternate and Whorled

21. Conifers
 Leaves (needles) in bundles
 Evergreen and Deciduous
 Scale and awl-like foliage
 ID characteristics

22. Deciduous plants
 Simple Leaves

23.  Compound leaves

24. Leaf Shapes
 Margins
Serrate
Entire
Lobed

25.  Margins
Undulate Doubly serrate

26.  Margins
Crenate Dentate

27.  Bases

28.  Leaf tips / Apices

29. Other ID Features
 Bark
 Twigs
 Flowers
 Branching
 Smell
 Taste
 Physical

30. Dichotomous keys
 Use leaves and flowers, shapes and
colors
 Guides through a yes/no system
 Available on-line
http://www.dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/idit.htm

31. Questions?