Title: Unit IV Kansas Plants: Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines Information
1Unit IV Kansas PlantsTrees, Shrubs and Woody
Vines Information
2Trees, Shrubs and Vines
- Eastern Kansas is the boundary between eastern
deciduous forest and the tallgrass prairie. - There are many different types of forest
ecosystems, just as there are many different
types of prairie ecosystems. - The main forest community in eastern Kansas is
the oak-hickory forest. These are the largest
and most predominant trees here. - We will focus here on trees that are very common
in eastern Kansas, and that can also be found in
riparian areas of western Kansas. - Riparian is the forested area along streams and
rivers. - Western Kansas does not have many trees, but
there is good riparian habitat along the
waterways, and many of these trees can be found
along the streams and rivers as you move west.
3Trees, cont.
- Tree identification the easiest way is to look
at the leaf. (the bark and overall height and
shape are also valuable for identification) - Leaf shape
- Oval, heart-shaped, oblong, lance-shaped, etc.
- Leaf margin (edge)
- Smooth, serrated (toothed), lobed, etc.
- Whether it is simple or compound
- Simple, pinnately compound or palmately compound.
- Where the leaf attaches to the branch you will
find a fatter part of the leaf stem called the
petiole. Look for this petiole, and you will
be able to tell where the actual leaf begins. On
compound leaves, the entire structure from the
petiole to the tip is one leaf, and each blade is
called a leaflet. Leaflets do not have a
petiole.
4Trees with simple leaves
Simple leaf with serrated margin
Simple leaf with lobes
Simple leaf with smooth margin (edge)
5Trees with compound leaves
Pinnately compound leafall leaflets are attached
to a central shaft. (The leaf begins where my
index finger is. This is the petiole attached to
the branch).
Palmately compound leafall leaflets are joined
in center.
Bi-pinnately (or double-pinnately) compound
leafleaflets are pinnately compound and attached
to a central shaft.
6Trees with Simple Leaves
7Black Willow
8Black Willow
- Long narrow serrated leaves
- Trunk usually leans instead of growing erect.
- Lives at edges of ponds and streams in Kansas
- Inner bark layer of willow trees contains
salicylic acid, the original active ingredient in
aspirin and where aspirin as a medication was
derived from. - Native Americans used to make a tea out of willow
bark which they used for the same purposes that
we use aspirin.
9Osage Orange (Hedge Apple)
10Osage Orange (Hedge Apple)
11Osage Orange
- Locally called the hedge-apple tree
- Produces the large, green hedge apples
- Has small thorns all over the branches
- Planted by people and bird/animal droppings along
fences as a windbreak. People have planted this
tree as a windbreak (hence the term hedge row)
since the Dust Bowl era in order to help prevent
wind erosion.
12Mulberry
13Mulberry
14Mulberry
- Note the variation in leaf shapesome leaves are
heart-shaped with serrated edges, and many leaves
have one to several deep lobes. All leaves have
a serrated edge. - Flowers in May when the leaves emerge.
- Fruits in May and June, with a blackberry-type
fruit that is red when immature and blackish
purple when mature. They are very good to eat! - Many animals eat the fruits of Mulberries.
15Elm sp.
16Elm sp.
- Several species of Elm trees occur in Kansas, and
the American elm used to be the most common. - Many American Elm trees died in this country in
the last 50 years due to Dutch Elm disease, a
fungal disease which was spread by elm bark
beetles. American Elm trees are still getting
sick and dying from this disease, and resistant
hybrids are trying to be cultivated. - Various species of Elm trees, along with
remaining American Elms, can still be found
throughout Kansas.
17Dogwood
18Dogwood
19Dogwood
20Dogwood
- Smaller, under-story tree
- Grows in dense thickets along roadsides, streams,
fences, woodland edge - Excellent for controlling erosion
- Slowly and carefully, split a leaf horizontally
and you can slowly pull the two halves apart and
you will see cottony fibers where the veins are.
Only dogwoods do this. - There are ornamental varieties of dogwoods
because they have very pretty flowers and leaves
turn nice colors in fall. Very hardy.
21Cottonwood
22Cottonwood
- Kansas State Tree
- Fast-growing tree and becomes massive
- Leaf is triangle-shaped and has a flat stem, and
makes a lot of noise in the windsounds like
rain. - In June, the females of this tree produce the
huge clouds of cotton fluff that you can see
floating around in the wind. There are very
small seeds attached to the fluff and this is how
cottonwoods are dispersed. - Turns a beautiful golden yellow in fall.
23Sycamore
24Sycamore
25Sycamore
- The sycamore has large, broad leaves with pointed
lobes. - Bark peels away to reveal the white trunk and
branches. - Has pendant fruit balls hanging off by October.
- One of the largest trees in Kansas, and it grows
usually along streams and rivers in the eastern
half of the state.
26Red Oak
27Red Oak
- Tapered lobes ending in a point on the leaves
- Acorns about size of penny
- Wood is good quality and often used in
woodworking furniture or finish work in homes. - This is also a popular landscaping tree and is
found in many suburban yards.
28Hackberry
Leafnotice the base of the leaf is uneven. This
makes ID easy.
29Hackberry
Barknotice how deep the bark appears.
30Hackberry
- Narrow leaves with long, tapered tips and teeth
all around dark purple berries and warty bark. - Very common tree in Kansas, often near water but
can be found anywhere.
31Maple sp.
32Maple sp.
33Maple sp.
- Acer is the genus, and there are several Maple
species found in Kansas such as silver maple and
sugar maple (eastern border). - All species have a simple leaf with deep lobes,
usually with five points. - Popular landscaping tree genus because the leaves
turn such beautiful colors in the fall, ranging
from bright reds to oranges and yellows. - Economically important because maple is a wood
used for furniture and cabinetry. Sugar maples
are the trees that provide the sap for maple
syrup.
34Eastern Red Cedar
35Eastern Red Cedar
With berries
36Eastern Red Cedar
- The only native evergreen in Kansas
- Planted as a wind barrier and is very effective
- Spreads rapidly on prairie and is difficult to
control. - Highly flammable. NOT for use as a Christmas
treehas volatile oils that ignite and burn hot
and fast. - Wood used for fence posts, chests, closet
linings, and pencils. The oil from the tree is
distilled for use in soaps, perfumes and
cleaners.
37Redbud
38Redbud
39Redbud
- Unmistakable in spring, with bright purple
flowers like a pea flower, heart-shaped leaves. - Common in eastern Kansas
- Ornamental tree for landscaping because if its
smaller size and very pretty pink flowers that
cover the branches in spring. - Beautiful, but somewhat delicate. Breaks easily
if people climb or swing on it.
40Trees with Compound Leaves
41Black Walnut
42Black Walnut
- Long, pinnately-compound leaves
- Fruit is about the size of a golf ball, green
then turns black, with a thick husk. The nuts
inside are edible. Drop from trees in October. - Common in eastern Kansas. Most large trees have
been harvested for lumber. - Wood is dark brown, used for furniture and
musical instruments, and is very beautiful.
43Smooth Sumac
44Smooth Sumac
45Smooth Sumac
- Small tree, generally found about 6 feet tall, in
large clumps of sumac trees. - The large clumps of sumac trees are actually all
the same individual that has put up many little
trees. - Leaves have a local anesthetic in them. You can
chew them up and spit them out (they taste
terribledont eat!) and your mouth will be numb
for awhile. - Berries in the fall, when red, are very tasty to
suck on and then spit out (bitter if chewed up).
You can also steep the berries in hot water and
make a tea that tastes like the fruit. Can add
sugar.
46Honey Locust
Notice the extremely long thorns that cover the
branches and trunk. Most of these in the picture
are about 4 long.
47Honey Locust
48Honey Locust
- Large pinnately compound leaves
- Long twisted brown bean pods, flat, about 1 inch
wide and 10 inches long. Can vary in lengths. - VERY thorny barkcannot miss the thorns that can
exceed 6 inches in length! Thorns are found in
clumps all over the tree. - First tree to grow on prairie near
forestinitiates the invasion of prairie by
forest. - Some birds, like the Loggerhead Shrike, will use
the thorns to save prey items. Once in a while
you can find small lizards, mice, birds or frogs
impaled on thorns.
49Shrubs with Simple Leaves
50Yucca
51Yucca (a.k.a. Soapweed)
- Liliaceae, the Lily family.
- 2-10 tall.
- Stout stem rises from rigid, sword-like leaves.
- Flowers are 1.5 across, white.
- Typical of southwestern deserts, but they are
also found across Kansas. - Large petals are edible and are sometimes added
to salads.
52Buckbrush (Coralberry)
53Buckbrush (Coralberry)
54Buckbrush (Coralberry)
- Also called Coralberry
- Grows in low (3 feet high) patches in open
pastures or open woods. - Has clusters of purple-red fruits that remain on
plant all winter (too waxy for most birds, except
Yellow-rumped warbler) - Very common and spreads quickly
55Shrubs with Compound Leaves
56Poison Ivy
57Poison Ivy
58Poison Ivy rash after two days
59Poison Ivy
- Can grow as a shrub (with compound leaves) or as
a vine!!! - Three, mitten-shaped leaves sometimes with a red
center where leaves all meet. - Vines are hairy and can contain the oils even
when dead. Dont ever burn firewood that has the
hairy vinesoils can get in smoke, and then your
eyes and lungs. - Most people will react to the oils on leaves.
- Leaves have different amounts of oils at
different times, so it is possible not to get
poison ivy sometimes, and get it others. - Peppermint soap and oatmeal soap both help dry
and soothe the itch from poison ivy. - If you know you touch it, you have about 20
minutes to wash the affected area of your skin to
wash off oils.
60Vines
61Bittersweet
62Bittersweet
63Bittersweet
64Bittersweet
- Climbing vine, often along roadsides and near
woodland edges - Simple, alternate, deciduous leaves
- Fruits covered by an orange coat which splits
into three sections - Fruits open in late September, exposing brilliant
red seed cover - Often taken by humans for decoration- but only
take short side branches instead of main stem,
which will kill the plant
65Bristly Greenbriar
Stem is covered with very sharp thorns.
66Bristly Greenbriar
Stem is covered with very sharp thorns.
67Bristly Greenbriar
- Simple, broadly egg-shaped leaves with 5 main
veins that are obvious to the observer. - Vine that grows in the woods and along fence rows
in the eastern part of statevery common. - Note the extremely thorny, black prickles that
cover the main stem. - Doesnt form dense masses, but grows long.
68Riverbank Grape
69Riverbank Grape
- Very common grape vine in Kansas
- Grows as name suggestsalong rivers and streams.
- Smooth vine, unlike poison ivy.
- Grapes are small and an important food source for
fruit-eating birds.
70Virginia Creeper
71Virginia Creeper
72Virginia Creeper
- High climbing vine
- 5 palmately compound leaflets
- Bright red fall foliagecant miss it in the
fall. Often seen growing on tree trunks or
utility poles, and keeps its red leaves longer
than the trees around it, so you can see it very
easily in fall when other trees are bare. - Many people think this is poison oakwe dont
have poison oak in Kansas. - Not poisonous at all.
73Trumpet Creeper
74Trumpet Creeper
75Trumpet Creeper
- High climbing vine.
- Can grow to the top of a 20 meter tree, or sprawl
over rocks and dirt banks. - Excellent for erosion control.
- Provides great cover for animals and hummingbirds
visit it. - Spreads aggressively and will dominate an area.
76References
- Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines in Kansas by H.A.
Stepehns, 1969, University of Kansas Press