Tree Quiz, Missouri, USA (2 Viewers)

[Larry Lade]

Sometimes when you go out birding with others. Someone will see a bird. You say, "Where is it?" They might respond, "Right over there in that oak tree!"

Can you tell an oak from a weeping willow from a crabapple tree?

I know it is winter and there are not leaves on most trees right now, but you can identify some trees by their structure.

Below are some photos (I got a digital camera for Christmas) I just took. These trees are growing in our yard in Saint Joseph, Missouri, USA.

I took photos of the main trunk of the tree.

See if you can identify what kind of trees these are.

 

[Larry Lade]

Here are a couple more, I have reduced the photos in size in order to fit the screen a little better.

 

[steve_nova]

How hard is this?!

The only one that I think I can identify is the fourth image. It looks like a Plane tree (You call it a Sycamore) and as it's "over there", I suppose it must be Platanus occidentalus?

 

[steve_nova]

No. 2 looks a little like Black Acacia (Robinia pseudocacia)?

 

[steve_nova]

No. 3 Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) by any chance or a near relative like a Hickory (Carya)?

 

[Larry Lade]

Three more and then I will quit for awhile. Maybe for Good!

 

[steve_nova]

No 1 could be one of your Oaks (Quercus species) but really don't know. The last one is very distinctive with those warm tones where the older bark has flaked away but really don't know.

 

[Larry Lade]

I am not certain if any of these trees occur in the UK (or other parts of the world). So it may be difficult for a lot of you. These are all commonly occuring trees in North American and especially in Missouri.

The photos are show in order of 001 through 008.

Steve, I believe you did very well. Congrats!

003 Is a Black Walnut Tree Juglans nigra
004 Is a Sycamore Platonus occidentalis

1,2,5,6,7 and 8 still need to be identified.

 

[Nutcracker]

004 I think is London Plane (Platanus x hispanica, = P. occidentalis x P. orientalis), the bark is too non-shedding for pure P. occidentalis

007 I'll guess Silver Maple

 

[cavan wood]

I'll give a try, but you have some trees down there that are foreign to me.

#2 some type of willow
#6 some type of ash
#7 black cherry
#8 silver maple

 

[TorchBCT]

No. 6 Ash
No. 7 Pine
No. 8 Willow Oak

 

[Larry Lade]

Steve correct on #3 (Black Walnut), #4 (Sycamore or Plane)
Peter correct on #4
Cavan Wood correct on #6 (Green Ash), #7 (Wild Black Cherry) and #8 (Silver Maple)
Brandon correct on #6 (Green Ash)

Which leaves #1, #2 and #5 yet to be identified.

 

[Nutcracker]

Trying these:

2 - Liquidambar styraciflua

5 - Celtis occidentalis

 

[Larry Lade]

The shape of the leaf of the #1 tree (001) is related to the scientific name for this tree. I am certain the birders on the Forum who live in Indiana would know this tree!

 

[Larry Lade]

Peter, you have the correct name of ONE of the trees (#2 and #5) but referring to the wrong number!

 

[Nutcracker]

2 - Celtis occidentalis

 

[Larry Lade]

Yes, Peter, #2 is a Hackberry (Common Hackberry or American Hackberry) Celtis occidentalis.

It really has a distinctive bark, very pronounced ridges. It produces small berries with a rather large pit. They taste very much likes dates (from the date palm). A lot of birds relish them, especially American Robins!

Trees #1 and #5 left to be identified.

 

[WMcLean]

I think No. 5 is a conifer. Since you have hinted that it is deciduous, I am going to guess that it is Dawn Redwood, aka Metasequoia glyptostroboides.

 

[WMcLean]

No. 1 looks like Tulip Poplar, aka Magnolia tulipifera.

 

[Larry Lade]

Yes, WMcLean, #1 is a Yellow Poplar Liroiodendron tulipfera (is the scientific name I have for it).

It is the state tree of Indiana where it is often referred to as a Tulip Tree. The leaves on this tree are in the shape of a tulip.

I probably should have stated at the outset that these are all deciduous trees. #5 is not a Dawn Redwood.

All the trees have been correctly identified except for tree #5.