Family Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle, Viburnum, Elderberry
Caprifoliaceae are perennial and mostly woody plants that include vines, shrubs, and small trees. 15 genera and 400 species. This family is in taxonomic flux; with genus Viburnum now being placed in Family Adoxaceae as genetic DNA sequencing information becomes available. [Cirrus Home] [Trees Table of Contents] |   |
The celebration of Arbor Day had its beginnings in an area not associated with trees or forests—the Great Plains. J. Sterling Morton, father of Joy, moved to Nebraska in 1854 with his wife Caroline. Nebraska, a Great Plains state, was a newly formed territory at that time. Being devoid of trees, J. Sterling endeavored to encourage tree planting in order to attract people to the state. He did that first as Editor of Nebraska City News, and then as President of the Agricultural Board. In 1872, he proposed that the state declare April 10 as Arbor Day, and his proposal was accepted. On that day in 1872, it is said that Nebraskans planted one million trees. In 1885, Nebraska declared J. Sterling Morton's birthday, April 22, as Arbor Day and made it a legal holiday. Today, all 50 states, as well as many countries around the world, recognize Arbor Day in some manner. The day on which it is observed varies by region, depending on the best time of year to plant trees. Arbor Day is not like other holidays. Each of those reposes on the past, while Arbor Day proposes for the future. - J. Sterling Morton -- Morton Arboretum's History of Arbor Day | |
Tree Family Cupressaceae – Redwoods, Cypress, Arborvitae, and Juniper
There are thirty (many monotypic) genera and 142 species in the family Cupressaceae, now widely regarded as including the Taxodiaceae, previously treated as a distinct family. The Cupressaceae are found in the fossil record as far back as the Jurassic Period, about 210 million years ago. |
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Tree Family Fabaceae (Leguminosae) The Fabaceae, or Legumes, are mostly herbs but include also shrubs and trees found in both temperate and tropical areas. They comprise one of the largest families of flowering plants, numbering some 400 genera and 10,000 species. Peanuts, beans, peas, wisteria and locust trees are among the family.
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Family Fagaceae - Beeches, Chinkapins and Oaks
There are about 900 species in this family worldwide, about 65 trees and 10 shrubs of which are native to North America. The Oak genus, Quercus, includes some of our most important native hardwoods, and are some of the most-recognized trees in our nature-starved populace. The beech genus, Fagus, contains 10 species native to temperate Europe and North America. |
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| Family Hippocastanaceae - Horse-chestnuts, Buckeyes
Three genera and 15 species: Asia (Himalayas to Japan), SE Europe, North America, also Central and South America (Billia); two genera (one endemic) and five species (two endemic, two introduced) in China. |
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Family Juglandaceae - Walnuts, Hickories, Butternut and Pecan
The Walnut family is a large group of deciduous, aromatic trees including hickories, pecan, butternut and walnuts. There are about 50 species worldwide, 17 in North America.
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Family Magnoliaceae -- Magnolias
The magnolia genus is one of the most ancient among flowering trees. Growing to 30 meters, cucumber tree is the most widespread and hardy of the eight magnolia species native to the United States, and the only magnolia native to Canada. |
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Family Pinaceae: Pines, Cedars, Spruce, and Firs
The Pine family is the most varied of all the groups of trees that bear cones. Pinaceae contains more than 250 species which are native to, and which form the dominant forest cover over much of the northern hemisphere. |
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Family Rosaceae - Hawthorn, Apple, Pear, Cherry, Plum, Peach, Almond, Mountain-Ash and Whitebeams. The Rose family is a large assemblage of trees, shrubs and herbs encompassing many of our most familiar and valued fruits, the drupes and pomes. The family is characterized by the flowers, which have the sepals, petals and stamens attached to the receptacle margin.
[Family
Rosaceae Table of Contents] |
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Family Rutaceae - Cork trees, Citrus trees
The Rutaceae are herbs, shrubs, and trees with glandular punctate, commonly strongly smelling herbage comprising about 150 genera and 1,500 species that are further characterized by the common occurrence of spines and winged petioles. The Citrus genus includes the edible fruit trees: orange, lime, grapefruit, kumquat, and mandarine. |
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Amur Cork Tree
Phellodendron amurense
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Chinese Cork Tree
Phellodendron chinense
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Family Salicaceae -- Willows, Cottonwood and Poplars
There are only two genera in this family, Salix (willows), with about 300 species, and Populus (poplars), with barely 40 species. Salicaceae are found throughout the temperate parts of the world, with the majority of species occurring in the north. Both willows and poplars have a strong affinity for water, and are commonly found near ponds and along watercourses. |
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Family Taxaceae - Yews
There are 17 species in five genera 5 in this small family. The Yews are evergreen trees or shrubs, usually not resinous or aromatic. The Taxaceae are now generally included with all other conifers in the order Pinales. |  |  |
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Family Tiliaceae - Basswoods, Lindens
50 genera and 400 species; widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, with relatively few species in temperate regions. Especially abundant in Southeast Asia and Brazil.
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Family Ulmaceae - Zelkovas, Hackberries and Elms
There are about 200 species of trees and shrubs in Ulmaceae. 14 trees and 2 shrubs are native to North America. The Elms fell victim to Dutch Elm disease during the 1950's; until that time, they were the premiere shade tree along the streets of our towns and cities. |
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Temporarily Orphaned Species
~Reticulating splines~
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Moral certainty is always a sign
of cultural inferiority. The more uncivilized the
man, the surer he is that he knows precisely what is
right and what is wrong. All human progress, even in
morals, has been the work of men who have doubted
the current moral values, not of men who have
whooped them up and tried to enforce them. The truly
civilized man is always skeptical and tolerant, in
this field as in all others. His culture is
based on "I am not too sure." -- H.L.
Mencken | References - John White and David F. More, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Trees, 2nd ed. (Timber Press, Incorporated, 2005).
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