{"id":319,"date":"2014-10-29T15:16:46","date_gmt":"2014-10-29T15:16:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/orbisec.com\/?page_id=319"},"modified":"2014-10-29T15:16:46","modified_gmt":"2014-10-29T15:16:46","slug":"tree-and-shrub-leaf-arrangement","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/orbisec.com\/index.php\/tree-and-shrub-leaf-arrangement\/","title":{"rendered":"Tree and Shrub Leaf Arrangement"},"content":{"rendered":"

YOUR DAILY DOSE OF BOTANY \u2013 JANUARY 2013<\/strong><\/h1>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tree and Shrub Leaf Arrangement<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Scott Namestnik, snamestnik@orbisec.com<\/a><\/h2>\n

Identifying deciduous trees and shrubs in winter can be a difficult task.\u00a0 After the leaves have fallen, what is left to help you determine what species you are observing?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Leaf<\/a>
Image from www.horton.ednet.ns.ca\/staff\/Richards<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Believe it or not, there are several parts of the tree or shrub that can be used to help you identify your unknown.\u00a0 The buds, leaf scars, and bark are all useful to get to genus or species, but before you look at these parts, check out the leaf and branch orientation.\u00a0 Leaves and branching can generally be arranged in one of three ways: opposite, alternate, or whorled.\u00a0 I use the word \u201cgenerally\u201d because occasionally a tree or shrub can have subopposite leaves or branching, which means that the leaves or branches are slightly offset from being truly opposite.
\nWhen two leaves or branches originate from the same location on the stem, and as a result are located opposite of each other, they are considered opposite.\u00a0 If each leaf or branch originates from a point on the stem without another leaf or branch mirroring it, such that the leaves or branches are staggered along the stem, they are said to be alternate.\u00a0 If three or more leaves or branches originate from the same location on the stem, they are said to be whorled.<\/p>\n

If you are looking at an unknown tree or shrub and can determine the arrangement of the leaves or branches, you\u2019ve already narrowed down the possibilities.\u00a0 How is this possible?\u00a0 Just remember \u201ca madcap bucking horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The first rule in botany is that there are exceptions to nearly every rule in botany.\u00a0 That said, applying \u201ca madcap bucking horse\u201d to a leafless tree or shrub should help you identify it.\u00a0 Often, a tree or shrub that has opposite leaves and branches will be one of the following: a plant in the family Adoxaceae (including elderberry [Sambucus<\/em> spp.] and viburnum [Viburnum<\/em> spp.]), maple (Acer<\/em> spp.), ash (Fraxinus<\/em> spp.), dogwood (Cornus<\/em> spp.), a plant in the family Caprifoliaceae (including honeysuckle [Lonicera<\/em> spp.] and bush honeysuckle [Diervilla<\/em> spp.]), buckeye (Aesculus<\/em> spp.), or the non-native horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum<\/em>).\u00a0 Trees or shrubs in this geographical area that have whorled leaves will likely be catalpa (Catalpa<\/em> spp.) if a tree or buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis<\/em>) if a shrub.\u00a0 If you have alternate leaves or branches, your task is a bit more difficult. \u00a0Most of our trees and shrubs have alternate leaves and branches, but you can be assured that the tree or shrub is not one of those listed above as having opposite or whorled leaves and branches.\u00a0 Considering the rough guidelines above may help to narrow down the identity of the unknown tree or shrub, even in winter.<\/p>\n

If you have a question about plants that you would like answered in a future edition of this column, send me an email at snamestnik@orbisec.com<\/a>.\u00a0 I may not be able to address all requests given the space allotted for this column, but I will answer those that I can.<\/p>\n