Forestry and Woodland Ecosystems

Species of Trees

Cypress (Taxodium distichum)

Deciduous

Found in East and Central Texas

Grow on riverbanks, bottomlands, and in swamps

Commonly used as a landscape tree

CypressA large tree that can grow over 100 feet tall

Straight trunk that can grow up to 8 feet in diameter

Numerous ascending branches

Young trees are narrow with a tapering outline

Old trees are swollen with a broad, open, flat top

Cypress Leaf: slender, light

green, flat, less than 1 inch long, very narrow, arranged in a feather-like fashion

Bark: Silver to cinnamon red, papery scales on branches

Wood: light, soft, easily worked, light colored sapwood, dark colored heartwood

Boxelder (Maple) (Acer negundo)

Deciduous

Found in the Eastern half of Texas

Grows on the banks of streams, in river flat forests, and the borders of swamps

Sometimes used for low grade furniture

Boxelder (Maple)The only maple with compound leaves

Grows anywhere from 50 to 75 feet tall

Trunk can grow to 2 to 3 feet in diameter but is usually smaller

Generally a short-lived tree

Brittle branches that break easily

Boxelder (Maple) Leaf: 6 to 12 inches

long, compound, oppositely attached to twig, usually 5 leaflets

Bark: Twigs are green, gray, or brown, trunk is gray to tan with ridges

Wood: light, soft, creamy-white, and weak

Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Deciduous

Found in East Texas forests and woodlands

Usually grows in well drained soil under larger trees

Commonly used as a landscape tree

DogwoodSmall to medium size tree that grows up to 35

feet tall

Often crooked trunk that can grow up to 12 inches in diameter

Has a horizontal branching habit that forms a flat, spread out crown

Dogwood Leaf: simple, opposite, 3

to 5 inches long, 1 to 3 inches wide, oval/round shape with a long, pointed leaf edge, prominent veins

Bark: gray to black, smooth at first but breaks into small, square blocks

Wood: heavy, hard, and strong, close-grained, brown to red in color

Persimmon (Diospyros texana)

Semi-evergreen

Found in Central and South Texas

Grows in rocky, dry sites

Requires well drained soils

Gained popularity as a landscape tree from Austin to Houston

PersimmonSmall tree that only grows up to 40 feet tall

Often low-forking or multi-trunked

Has an open, oval crown

Often used for making salt shakers because it absorbs moisture so well

Persimmon Leaf: simple, alternate,

almost no petiole, 1 to 2 inches long, thick and leathery, sometimes rolls under during drought

Bark: smooth, gray, and tight, olive or light brown that peel away and show lighter bark underneath

Wood: heavy and very dark, pale sapwood

Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)

Deciduous

Native to China and Korea but can be found all over Texas

Grows in almost any conditions including drought or alkaline soils

Commonly used as a landscape tree

CrapemyrtleMost common small landscape tree that can

grow to 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide

Usually multi-trunked with smooth, muscular limbs

Mature trunks can be anywhere from 4 to 12 inches in diameter

Crapemyrtle Leaf: simple, alternate, 1

to 3 inches long, oval to oblong shaped, thin, blunt-tipped, some turn red or orange in the fall

Bark: smooth, muscular, irregular patches ranging from tan to chocolate colored, peel into long strips during the growing season and reveal new bark

Wood: hard, dense, light-colored

Elm (Ulmus americana)

Deciduous

Found across Eastern and Central Texas

Grow naturally in well-drained soils along streams and rivers

Commonly planted as shade trees

ElmLarge tree that grows up to 90 feet tall

Trunk grows up to a diameter of 3 feet

Reinforced base and upright branches that form a spreading, vase-shaped crown

Elm Leaf: simple, alternate, 4

to 6 inches long, 2 to 3 inches wide, oval in shape, tip comes to a point

Bark: dark gray, divided into irregular flat-topped, thick ridges

Wood: heavy, hard, strong, tough, difficult to split, often used for saddle trees and furniture parts

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

Deciduous

Found in East Texas

Grow in rich river bottom soils, swamps subject to frequent flooding, and dry uplands

Used for flooring, railroad ties, and veneers for baskets

SweetgumLarge forest tree that grows taller than 100

feet

Straight trunk that is 3 or more feet in diameter

Young Sweetgums are narrow

Older Sweetgums are upright and have a broad crown

Sweetgum Leaf: simple, alternate,

star-shaped, 4 to 7 inches long and wide, with 5 to 7 pointed lobes

Bark: twigs are reddish-brown, bark is gray, rough with corky ridges

Wood: Moderately hard, close-grained, not durable to exposure

Hickory (Carya texana)

Deciduous

Found in East Texas (Hill Country area)

Grow in well-drained hillsides and sandy uplands

HickoryMedium to large size tree, usually between 60

to 75 feet tall

Dark trunk usually 2 feet in diameter

Short, twisted branches that give the tree a narrow, oval crown with dark green foliage

Hickory Leaf: once-compound,

alternate, 8 to 12 inches long, usually 5 to 7 leaflets, leaflets are 3 to 5 inches long and 2 inches wide

Bark: dark gray to black, tight, irregular, blocky ridges

Wood: used mainly for fuel wood, great for cooking fires

Pecan (Carya illinoinesis)

Deciduous

Found in East and Central Texas

Grows well in rich, fertile bottomlands

Used mainly as a landscape tree and in orchards for nut production

PecanLarge tree that reaches heights over 120 feet

Trunks grow as large as 4 feet in diameter

Broad, spreading crown when grown in the open

In wooded settings it grows tall and slender with a tight, flat-topped crown

Pecan Leaf: once-compound,

alternate, 12 to 20 inches long, 11 to 17 leaflets, leaflets are 4 to 8 inches long and 2 inches wide

Bark: gray-brown and smooth at first, later turning into thin scales that flake

Wood: heavy, hard, brittle, not strong, used for flooring and cooking wood

Holly (Ilex opaca)

Evergreen

Found in East Texas

Grows in rich, moist soils of bottomland forests

Commonly used as Christmas decorations such as wreaths

HollySmall tree that only reaches about 50 feet tall

Trunk is around 3 feet in diameter

Numerous slender branches that form a dense pyramidal or oval crown of dark green color

Holly Leaf: simple, alternate, 2

to 4 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide, oval, with several spiny teeth, leaves are dark green and glossy on top

Bark: light gray, tight, leathery

Wood: light, tough, not strong, white when first cut but turns brown when exposed to air

Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria)

Evergreen

Found in East Texas

Grow in fertile, moist soils of bottomlands

YauponSmall, multi-trunked tree that only grows to

about 25 feet tall

Trunks/stems are usually around 6 inches in diameter

Dense, rounded crown of dark green foliage

Yaupon Leaf: simple, alternate, 1

to 2 inches long, .5 to 1 inch wide, oval, leathery, glossy, dark green colored

Bark: light gray, smooth or leathery, sometimes with thin scales and blotches

Wood: of little commercial value except for fuel and landscaping specimen

Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

Evergreen

Found in Southeast Texas

Grows in rich, moist, well-drained soils on steam banks or borders of river swamps

Usually used as an ornamental tree

MagnoliaLarge forest/landscape tree that reaches

heights over 90 feet tall

Trunks grow as large as 4 feet in diameter

Dense, oval crown, branches reach the ground in open settings

Magnolia Leaf: simple, alternate, 6

to 8 inches long, 2 to 3 inches wide, elliptical or oval in shape, thick, leathery, dark green and glossy

Bark: gray-brown, smooth at first but develops scales on larger branches and trunk

Wood: moderately heavy, hard, cream-colored

Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)

Deciduous

Found in West Texas

Grow in openings and river valleys, especially the bottomlands of the Rio Grande

MesquiteSmall tree that only gets up to heights of 25

feet

Twisting trunk usually around 12 inches in diameter

Forms an open, irregular crown

Mesquite Leaf: bi-pinnately

compound, alternate, two pinnae attached to a petiole, each pinna is about 2 inches long with 5 to 8 pairs of oblong leaflets

Bark: twigs are armed with 1 to 2 sharp, white thorns, bark is gray to red-brown, turning darker and eventually peeling into strips

Wood: used for fuel, tool handles, and posts

Blackjack Oak (Quercus marilandica)

Deciduous

Found in East and Central Texas

Grows in dry or poorly drained clays or sandy upland soils

Commonly used for firewood, posts, and is made into charcoal

Blackjack OakMedium to large tree that reaches heights up

to 60 feet

Trunk is usually between 16 and 24 inches

Stiff, drooping branches that form an irregular, dense crown

Blackjack Oak Leaf: simple, alternate, 4

to 10 inches long, 3 to 5 inches wide, dark green and glossy on top

Bark: black or dark gray, very rough, thick, square-like blocks on older trunks

Wood: heavy, hard, and strong

Emory Oak (Quercus emoryi)

Evergreen

Found in West Texas

Grows in moist canyons and slopes

Used usually for fuel wood and posts

Emory OakSmall to medium size tree that is usually less

than 40 feet tall

Trunk is dark and grows up to 20 inches in diameter

Rounded crown with glossy foliage, its branches typically droop

Emory Oak Leaf: simple, alternate 1

to 4 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide, narrow, thick, and very glossy green

Bark: very dark gray, smooth when young, becomes rough and black as it matures, older bark is thick and rough

Wood: heavy, strong, somewhat brittle, close-grained, heartwood is dark brown and sapwood is light brown with red

Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)

Evergreen

Found in South Texas

Grows in well-drained soils in the southern coastal plain

Commonly used as a landscape tree

Live OakLarge tree that usually grows about 50 feet tall

Short, stout trunk that is 4 feet or more in diameter

Divides into several large twisting limbs that form a low, dense crown that can spread more than 100 feet, its limbs often touch the ground

Live Oak Leaf: simple, alternate,

thick, and leathery, oval, oblong, or elliptical in shape, 2 to 4 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide, smooth, glossy, and dark green

Bark: dark brown, rough, several thick, large branches

Wood: very heavy, hard, strong, and tough, dark brown with thin white sapwood

Post Oak (Quercus stellata)

Deciduous

Found in both East and Central Texas, one of the most widely spread oaks in Texas

Grows in upland soils, either deep sandy soils or gravelly clay with poor surface drainage

Post OakMedium to large tree that grows up to 50 feet

tall

Trunk is short and compact usually about 2 feet in diameter, some grow considerably larger

Commonly used for crossties, fence posts, and occasionally lumber

Post Oak Leaf: simple, alternate,

usually 4 to 6 inches long and equally as wide, typically 5 lobed, thick, somewhat leathery, dark green and shiny

Bark: thick, gray-brown, narrow, scaly ridges on older trunks

Wood: heavy, hard, close-grained, light to dark brown, durable

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)

Evergreen

Found in East Texas

Grows in dry, sandy hills

Used for flooring, fencing, bridges, ties, heavy construction timbers, fuel, and charcoals

Longleaf PineLarge tree that can grow up to 125 feet tall

Trunk is usually about 4 feet in diameter

It has thick, heavy branches and an open, rounded crown with glossy foliage

Longleaf Pine Leaf: long, glossy

needles in bundles of 3, 10 to 18 inches long, dark green, bunched towards the ends of thick, scaly twigs

Bark: large, red-brown plates on older trunks

Wood: heartwood is yellow to orange with lighter sapwood, heavy, hard, strong, tough, durable

Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata)

Evergreen

Found in East, Northeastern Texas

Grows in well-drained upland soils

Used for basic construction, exterior and interior finishing, crates, low grade furniture, posts, poles

Shortleaf PineTall, slender tree that reaches a general height

of 100 feet

Trunk is usually 2 feet or more in diameter

Has a rather short, oval crown

Shortleaf Pine Leaf: long, slender,

flexible needles in bundles of 2 or 3, dark blue-green

Bark: thick, brownish-red, broken into irregular, flattened plates

Wood: heavy, hard, yellow-brown or orange, fine-grained

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)

Deciduous

Found in East Texas

Grows in dry, sandy uplands, often sprouting from the roots and growing thickets

Used for fence posts and crossties

SassafrasMedium size tree that’s usually about 40 feet

tall

Trunk is generally around 16 inches in diameter, but occasionally larger

Has a narrow crown with horizontal branches with upturned twigs

Sassafras Leaf: simple, alternate, 4

to 6 inches long, 2 to 4 inches wide, textured and glossy green, turns orange, red or salmon in the fall

Bark: green at first, turns scaly and brown on the branches, older bark is red-brown with broad flat ridges

Wood: light, soft, weak, brittle, but durable in contact with soil

ReferencesSpecies facts from Georgia Agricultural

Education website found at http://aged.ces.uga.edu/Browseable_Folders/Power_Points/Forestry%20Natural%20Resources%20and%20Wildlife/

More species facts from Texas Forest Service found at http://texastreeid.tamu.edu/content/listOfTrees/

Species pictures from Google Images found at http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi