Dendrology Woody Plant Collection

A collection of leaf samples representing 100 woody plant species (trees, shrubs, or woody vines) that you have personally collected constitutes 15% of your overall Dendrology grade. Samples may be collected during the summer before the semester in which you are registered for Dendrology. It is important to systematically collect and record sufficient information with each sample to facilitate later identification.

Leaf samples should consist of the twig, bud, and 2 or more attached leaves. The leaves should be representative of those on the plant. Dry the sample with 1 or more leaves or leaflets turned to expose the under surface of the leaf, so that any differences in color or texture will be apparent. Separate the leaves sufficiently to reveal the leaf attachment to the twig, leaf size, and bud size and shape. Large leaves may be folded over on the page, if necessary. (See the next page for further options with large leaves or very thick twigs.)

Acorns, cones, hickory nuts (in the husk) or other woody fruiting structures may be substituted for up to 15 of the samples. (Fleshy fruit may not be submitted as separate fruit samples, but may be dried as part of the leaf specimen.) The fruiting structures may duplicate species for which you have collected leaf samples, such that a total of only 85 different species (100 samples - 85 leaf, 15 fruit) are included in the collection. At least two fruit for a given species must be included to ensure that the sample fruit is representative of the species. Note: Only 5 specimens may be exotic ornamental species (This does not include exotics that have become naturalized.) All other samples must represent native or naturalized woody plants of North America. If you are not certain, check with me.

Specimen Information:

Record key information about each specimen as you collect it. This information will be turned in with the leaf collection. You may make copies of the form at the end of this handout, place them in a folder, and record specimen information on them. Each time you collect a specimen give it a collection number. The number consists of your initials and a number. (KK1, KK2, KK3, etc.) Number the samples sequentially as you collect them, even if the specimen doesn’t ultimately end up in the final collection.

Record the following information for each specimen as you collect it:

Sample Number:

Collection Date:

Location: County, State.

Specimen Form: tree, shrub, woody vine, seedling, sprout, etc..

Habitat: (roadside, forest interior (specific forest type if you know it) ,

bottom land, ridgetop etc... (include aspect if you know it), lawn

Abundance: Few: Few individuals,

Many-clumped: Many individuals but in a few dense clumps

Many - Scattered: Many individuals scattered throughout

Flower/Fruit: Color, description, if present

Notes: Write more specific directions as to the specimens location.

Highway number or county road; City; Street; Address

Add anything else that might aid in the specimen’s ID.

Once you have identified the specimen you should add to the notebook:

Common name

Scientific Name (genus, species, family)

Download and print multiple copies of the attached specimen information sheet. Place the sheets in a folder (with brads to hold the pages together). Fill in the appropriate information as you collect each sample.

Places you may not Collect: (It is OK to collect samples from the ground.)

Sewanee Central Campus (Any trees in the area around the Dining Hall or bounded by Georgia, Alabama, University Ave. and St. Augustine’s)

The Ginkgo behind Snowden (It is having trouble)

Individual trees listed by specific location in Comparative Description of the Native Trees of the

Sewanee Area

Any of the newly planted trees across campus in mowed areas.

National Parks (unless the class has a collecting permit)

Formal Arboreta and Gardens

Do not collect a leaf specimen if:

a) The health of the plant will be negatively affected (unless it is a very common species or an invasive exotic.)

b) The aesthetic appeal of the site will be negatively impacted

c) It is on a highly visible portion of the plant in an extensively traveled

area.....take leaves from the side of a tree away from a trail or choose

another plant off of the trail.

d) The plant has an insect or disease problem that may be transmitted to other regions.

Collection techniques:

Use a knife or pruning shears to cleanly cut the sample from the plant. Cut the twig where it attached to a larger branch. A clean cut is more easily sealed over by the plant.

Sample Drying

Dry all specimens carefully, especially fruit and seeds, as they will tend to rot, mildew, or even germinate if left in a warm moist location. Samples should be pressed within newspaper as soon as possible. Write the specimen number on the newspaper as you collect the specimen to prevent future mis-identification. The newspaper can then be sandwiched between layers of cardboard. (The bottom of a case of canned coke is about the right size.) Bind the layers together and either press beneath a stack of books or within two blocks of wood the same size as the cardboard. Place the pressed samples in a warm, dry location. It is possible to use a fan and a lamp to create a stream of dry air that will facilitate drying. Be careful not to let the specimens mildew. Space in drying ovens is available in the Soils Lab in Van Ness. See me for a key.

For very large leaves, or extremely thick twigs you may choose to:

1. use extra large paper

2. submit the twig separate from the leaf (although they count as a single sample, and each requires

a label)

3. Submit a clear photo of the twig and leaf that includes a reference scale that is clearly visible on

the photograph.

4. Cut the leaf in half and use two adjacent pages to display the leaf.

Fruit:

Two entire fruiting structures must be submitted for a given species for the specimen to receive full credit. Make certain that you know the difference between the fruit and the seed. No fleshy fruits may be submitted for separate credit, but they may be pressed and included as part of a leaf sample. Examples of fleshy fruit include: mulberry, osage-orange, china berry, cherry, dogwood, blackgum, and sassafras.

Specimen Labels

A standard label will be used by all students. Each student will enter specimen label information in Word file “species labelinfo”, and the program can then be imported into another Word file “Species label template” and used to print the labels. Labels may be printed on plain paper, cut apart, and placed with the sample beneath the magnetic photo pages. The file “Label Instructions” is located on Blackboard and contains the instructions for printing labels. Print a copy for yourself and follow the instructions carefully. The other two files are also on Blackboard, and all three files should be copied to a disk for use. Note: The instructions are specific to different versions of Microsoft WORD. Please follow the instructions for the version of WORD you will be using. Once you begin in one version do not switch to another.

Collection Album:

Magnetic photo pages can usually be purchased at discount stores. They generally contain 50 pages and can be purchased for approximately $10.00. Both sides of the page may be used, or some students may chose to use more than 1 notebook.

Collection Format:

Arrange the leaf specimens Alphabetically by Family, and genus within family, grouping the angiosperms first, followed by the gymnosperms.

Include a table of contents at the beginning of each of the albums that you submit. Place a list of fruit samples at the end of the Table of Content. The fruit list should be arranged in the same alphabetical sequence as the leaf samples. The table of contents should include for each specimen: Angiosperm or Gymnosperm, Family, full scientific name, and page number. Listing the common name is optional.

More than 1 sample may be placed on a page (although it is generally better to put each sample on a separate page).

Dried fruit and seed samples should be placed in either a box with dividers, or may be submitted in ziplock bags with labels. They should be organized in some manner.

Grading:

The collections will be graded in 2 parts. The first 50 specimens are due Friday, Nov. 5, 2004 by 9:00 p.m. The collections and the specimen information folder/notebook should be placed in the Silviculture lab in Van Ness. See me for the location of the key. On Friday, December 3, 2004 the entire collection of 100 samples and the completed specimen information folder/notebook is due by 9:00 p.m. Each student should also place a copy of his/her “species labelinfo” on Blackboard.

The overall collection grade will be an average of the two scores. Points will be deducted for incorrect names, missing information, incorrect spelling, lack of neatness, incomplete samples, incomplete collection notebook, missing samples, and incorrect organization of the collection. Students should correct mistakes made in first 50 samples so that points are not deducted again when the complete collection is submitted.

Most common reasons for point deductions:

- Misspelled words in the table of contents and/or on the specimen labels

- Missing authorities, sample numbers, or other label information

- Incomplete samples (less than 2 leaves, less than 2 fruit, lacking an end bud, etc.)

- Incompletely dried samples (leaf is molding, fruit is rotting, etc.)

- Incorrectly identified samples

- Failure to turn in the collection notebook

- Failure to include a table of contents with the correct information

- Failure to arrange the samples in the specified order

- Submitting fleshy fruits as separate specimens