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Flora
	Agroforest Flora Welcome to our agroforest flora page. This is a list of the natural flora in our agroforest. Picture - One of 4 proposed campsites. This campsite is well above the reservoir and has a beautiful 180 degree view of same. Tree Identification This list is for our use in identifying trees in our newly purchased forest. Use the following characteristics: Leaf Type There are three basic leaf types: needles, scales and broadleaf. Most evergreens have needles or scales, while most broadleaf trees are deciduous. Leaf Shape Common leaf identification shapes include ovate (egg shaped), lanceolate (long and narrow), deltoid (triangular), and obicular (round). There is also the palm-shaped maple leaf and the lobed oak leaf, two of our most recognizable leaf shapes. Bark Color While many tree species indeed have gray bark, some have bark that is cinnamon (mulberry), pure white (birch), silver (beech), greenish white (aspen) or copper (paperbark maple) in color. Bark Texture There are many variations in texture between different tree species, as well. Bark can be furrowed (cottonwood), scaly (sycamore), peeling (hickory), smooth (beech), shiny (cherry), papery (birch) or warty (hackberry). Bark Variations With Age Often the color and texture of the bark change as the tree matures. This is most noticeable on the trunk—the oldest part of the tree. Tree Shape Some trees have a distinctive shape. Tree Size and Location If you’re trying to identify trees species in a natural setting, you can study the site. Flower Type While there’s a whole class known as flowering trees (everything from crabapples to magnolias), other tree species have inconspicuous flowers. Either way, flowers can help with identification. First, consider the color. Consider when the flower appears and what it looks like. Flower types include single blooms, clustered blooms or catkins which are dense hanging spikes that look like tassels. Many trees bloom in spring, but some flower in summer or even early fall, helping you eliminate certain tree species as you investigate. Fruit Type When you think of fruit, you probably think of larger fleshy fruits with seeds inside (apples, pears). But fruit is just a seed dispersal mechanism, so there are other variations to consider. Think of the papery winged fruits of maple, the nuts of chestnut, the acorns of oak, the catkins of willow, the berries of hawthorn and the cones of alder. All can help you pinpoint a tree species. Seed Comparison The seeds themselves can help with more specific identification. Say you have an oak tree but you’re not sure what kind. Leaf shape is highly variable on oaks, even on the same specimen. A better indicator may be the acorns. Get your hands on a good guide such as The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees (a mainstay in bookstores for decades). Then compare the acorns to what’s pictured in the guide. You’ll find that acorns can be small (black oak), big (bur oak), oblong (English oak) or barrel shaped (red oak). Some are even striped (pin oak). The cap that partially encases an acorn is also unique in size, shape and texture. Leaf Bud Arrangement Buds can be helpful in identifying tree species in winter, when deciduous trees are without foliage. Those at the end of a twig are called terminal buds, while those growing along the twig are lateral buds. The arrangement of these lateral buds can help establish a tree’s identity. Alternate buds, found on elms, are arranged in alternating pairs on opposite sides of the stem. The opposite buds of maple are directly facing each other on the stem. And spiral buds whorl alternately around the stem, as seen on oaks. Leaf Bud Appearance Some trees have distinctive buds, such as the sharply pointed buds of beech and the small, clustered buds of oak, which are covered by protective scales. Bitternut hickory is hard to miss—just look for the sulfur-yellow buds when the tree is dormant. This modified list of tree characteristics for tree identification originally came from the following website. The page contained really useful information. Visit the following link for the full text. Family Handyman: How to Identify Different Types of Trees These site also contain a lot of good information about tree and leaf identification. Treehugger: How to Identify a Tree Using Leaf Shape, Margin, and Venation Woodland Trust: How to identify trees Wikipedia: Glossary of leaf morphology Trees to Keep The following trees we plan to keep unless termite infested, not living, etc.   Japanese Cypress Chamaecyparis obtusa (Japanese cypress, hinoki cypress or hinoki; Japanese: 檜 or 桧, hinoki) is a species of cypress native to central Japan in East Asia, and widely cultivated in the temperate northern hemisphere for its high quality timber and ornamental qualities, with many cultivars commercially available. Leaves Bark Wood Other         Additional Reading Japanese Cypress Wikipedia: Chamaecyparis obtusa Japanese Cedar Chamaecyparis obtusa (Japanese cypress, hinoki cypress or hinoki; Japanese: 檜 or 桧, hinoki) is a species of cypress native to central Japan in East Asia, and widely cultivated in the temperate northern hemisphere for its high quality timber and ornamental qualities, with many cultivars commercially available. Leaves Bark Wood Other         Additional Reading Japanese Cypress Wikipedia: Cryptomeria   Trees to Remove The following trees we plan to remove if growing as understory trees to allow more sunlight for our agroforest project. About agroforestry - general information about agroforestry and how it relates to our specific project. History of our forest - our forest has a very long and interesting history. Learn how this land transferred from famous Japanese clans of the past and eventually became the property of the Hayman clan. Agroforest fauna - the beginning of a list of fauna found in the forest. Our mission - the main goals we are trying to achieve through our agroforestry project. Agroforest plan - proposed plan for the agroforest including trails, campsite locations, and what we plan to grow. Project progress - an ongoing reverse chronological record of our progress from initial interest in the property up to the present. Agroforest agriculture - a continuously updated list of things we plan to grow. Agroforest camping - visit one of our 4 planned campsites and Lover's Point. Agroforest challenges - A few of the challenges which need to be met in order for our agroforestry project to succeed. Agroforest products - a collection of very unique products you can purchase from our agroforest. 100% organic from our forest....a land untouched for thousands of years. Agroforest equipment - a review of work and camping equipment which is contributing to the success of our project. Please consider becoming a sponsor - for those of you who believe in our mission, please consider sponsoring this very important project.