March 24, 2005

Curious George: Tree identification. I'm looking for some good resources for tree identification (websites or books) so I can identify some specimens on our property. I haven't found anything really useful or complete, besides the Audubon book series. Anyone here done tree IDing? What do you recommend?
posted by rolypolyman 19 years ago
  • Number 1, the Larch, /had to...
  • First test: Got bark? Check. Got leaves? Check. Got birds? Check. It's a tree. Second Test: Is it poking through the roof of the house? Check. Is it an airplane? Uh ... no. Probably a tree. Third test: Does it stand there, daring you to cut it with a chainsaw, too stoic to move and yet inwardly quaking with fear, but very slowly? It's a tree. Or possibly a neighbor. Better use the first test.
  • Try this.
  • Assuming you're in North America, this looks good for twenty and a bit bucks.
  • I should add that many years ago I saw a Tree Identification Kit that looked like a deck of cards. You put pins through certain holes to indicate certain qualities of the tree, and let the cards fall out. The ones that were left were the possible candidates. Can't seem to Google up anything like it though.
  • Thanks for the link, Testy Cod -- I've been meaning to try to learn more about the trees in my area for a while now, and that site is a nifty resource to get me started.
  • ha, so funny to see this tonight. I just got a bundle of bare root trees in the mail, and none of them were identified. unfortunately, they are all 2" long and dormant--so no ID for me!
  • I'm crazy about my Eyewitness Handbook on trees. They make those nice picture books for kids, and came out with an excellent field guide. 500+ species with full-colour photos. Ran me $25.95 (cdn). ISBN 0-7737-2586-5, edited by Allen J. Coombes.
  • This thread reminds me of the annual science project we had to do when I was a little 'un, where the teacher sent us out to collect leaves from neighbors' trees and tried to identify them. My favorite part was doing the crayon rubbings of the leaves.
  • Ah, yes, MCT, innocent children collecting leaves and doing crayon rubbings. Those were the days. YOU DAMN KIDS GEDDOUTTA MY YARD!
  • GramMa has spoken
  • oh and don't forget the moon trees
  • And now...  The Horse Chestnut.