Monthly Archives: January 2013

Opposite Budded Winter Trees

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Michigan Trees with Opposite Buds

MADHorse (l-r) Maple, Ash, Dogwood, Horsechestnut

If you find an opposite budded tree, growing wild in Michigan, it is either a Maple, Ash, Dogwood, or Horsechestnut (including the Ohio Buckeye). The mnemonic is MAD-Horse.

Maple Twigs

Maple Twigs

Maples have leaf scars that touch (or come close) and have three bundle scars. The buds are non-sticky and semi-pointed.

Ash Twigs

Ash Twigs

In Ashes, the leaf scars don’t touch and the buds are round. The bundle scars are in a “C” shaped pattern.

Flowering Dogwood Twigs

Flowering Dogwood Twigs

Two species of Dogwoods in Michigan are trees. The Flowering Dogwood is the one with opposite buds. It has greenish twigs (sometimes they turn red toward spring) with whitish hairs. The leaf buds are narrow and pointed. Most of the Flowering Dogwoods will show their characteristic rounded flower buds on short stalks called peduncles.

Horsechestnut Twigs

Horsechestnut Twigs

The Horsechestnut is a non-native tree that escapes into the woodlots of southern Michigan. Its native range is part of Europe and Asia. Look for the large, reddish, and sticky buds. The Ohio Buckeye is native in southern Michigan. Its buds are brown and more pointed than the Horsechestnut.

For more information, consult Michigan Trees by Burton V. Barnes and Warren H. Wagner, Jr. It is an excellent field guide including all of Michigan’s trees with descriptions of them in every season.

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Winter Tree Vocabulary

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It is easy to learn to recognize most trees in the winter. Some species are even easier to identify. Once you know some basic terms you can start to learn the names of the common trees.

Bud Arrangement

Alternate, Opposite, and Whorled Buds

The arrangement of the buds is the first thing I look at. Buds are either alternate, meaning grouped singly along the stem, opposite, meaning in pairs, or whorled, meaning three or more.

 

 

Bud, Bud Scale, Leaf Scar, and Bundle Scar

Bud, Bud Scale, Leaf Scar, and Bundle Scar

Leaf scars form where the leaves were attached. The marks within the leaf scars are bundle scars formed by the vascular bundle attachment points. Vascular bundles are the “arteries” of plants. The best example is the strings in a celery stalk. The shingle-like coverings of a bud are the bud scales.

True and False Terminal Buds

True and False Terminal Buds

A true terminal bud has no leaf scar. This is where the twig starts growing in the spring. Twigs with true terminal buds are straight. Twigs with false terminal buds are zigzagged. On twigs with false terminal buds, the end leaf bud is where the twig starts growing in the spring.

 

True and False Terminal Buds

True and False Terminal Buds

Stipules are leaf-like bracts that form at the base of the petiole (leaf stalk). The mark left when they fall off is a stipule scar.

Pith Types: Solid, Chambered, and Diaphragmed

Pith Types: Solid, Chambered, and Diaphragmed

Pith is the soft center of a twig. It is solid, chambered, or diaphragmed.

Future posts will explain how to identify specific groups of tree species.