Dendrology is the study of plants whose support systems, trunks and stems, are composed primarily of wood fibers.

You’ve seen trees all your life but have you ever tried to define a tree for a teacher, a parent or a friend? Trees are plants that have one thick stem composed of wood covered with bark called the trunk. This feature distinguishes trees from the other woody plants, shrubs and woody vines. The trunk has branches (also called limbs and boughs) reaching up and to the sides in all directions.

Trees in Black Rock Forest grow fairly close to each other. When you look closely, you will notice that there are many different characteristics that you could use to describe their overall appearance, the surface of the bark and leaf details such as their arrangement on the branch and their shape.

Trees with needle-like leaves are conifers. Conifers are cone-bearing trees and most are evergreen which means that, with few exceptions, their leaves do not change color and fall off in autumn, leaving the branches bare in winter. Deciduous trees are broad-leafed trees that lose their leaves in the autumn. The most dominant and the tallest trees found in Black Rock Forest are oaks and maples.

Forests are composed (made up) of layers. The tallest trees form the canopy, the uppermost layer of the forest. The canopy layer acts a sort of umbrella for the forest. Underneath the canopy you will find the "understory", home for younger trees while they grow and struggle to reach the canopy level, and also other tree species that never grow quite so tall as the canopy. Underneath the "understory" is the shrub layer and below the shrub layer is the ground layer where grasses and flowers grow when they have an opportunity. Under the ground layer is the home for all the root systems of the growing plants.

Plant survival in the forest is all about capturing the sunlight. That is why you’ll see grasses and flowers growing on the forest floor in the springtime before the trees get their new leaves and at the edges of the forest other times of the year. That is also when the understory trees get their chance at the sunlight. Bushes tend to grow along the edges of the forest or in areas where there is a break in the canopy, allowing sunlight to penetrate to the forest floor.

By using an identification key and doing careful observation, you should be able to identify the many types of trees in the forest.

• Distinguish woody plants from herbaceous plants
• Distinguish trees from shrubs and vines
• Use leaf characteristics to identify trees
• Use bark characteristics to identify trees
• Distinguish deciduous trees from evergreens
• Provide practice in observational skills
• Provide practice reading scientific literature (identification keys)
• Provide practice in gathering data from observations
• Create awareness of the interdependence of living things in the environment
• Highlight awareness of a forest community
• Highlight awareness of human dependence on plant life

 

For each participant:

• clipboard
• Black Rock Forest Dendrology Identification Trail [*teacher's answer key*]
• tree identification key
• leaf identification keys
• long pants
• white socks
• dendrology worksheets - Deciduous & Coniferous
• boots or hi-top sneakers
• pen/pencil
• bug spray
• sun screen
• cap/hat
• lots of drinking water
• lunch

1. Observe leaf samples on the trees in the immediate area.
2. Observe a few branches from different trees to show leaf type and arrangement.
3. Using the leaf identification keys, have students identify the tree's leaves' margins, venations, shape, size and color. (also see, Deciduous Tree Leaves).

1. Use trees that are not numbered;
2. Gather students around;
3. Describe the bark using: texture, pattern, color, cracks, as well as other features of the general appearance;
4. Repeat this process with three or four trees, and
5. Call on volunteers to reinforce concepts presented as the lesson progresses.

1. Review map reading skills;
2. Review procedure for completing worksheet, and
3. Clarify any misconceptions.

D. Tree Identification in Black Rock Forest

1. Follow a tree trail.
2. Using the Tree Identification Key, fill in the correct information for each tree that you have observed.
3. Using the Wild Plants Key, determine the usefulness of the trees you have identified.

Ask questions to provoke discussion. Examples:

1. What characteristics can be used in identifying tree species of a northeastern forest?
2. How might members of the same tree species differ from each other?
3. How might environmental conditions determine the types of trees found in an area?
4. What conditions govern the successful adaptations of trees in an area?
5. In what ways could the destruction of this forest affect the day-to-day existence of all of us who are here today? The citizens of NYC who don’t even know of this forest’s existence?
6. What might be the obvious consequences of a raging fire in this, or any, forest?
7. Can you think of any beneficial effects that destruction by fire could have on a forest?
8. What might be a logical connection between trees and math, besides counting the parts?
9. What feature of a tree’s leaves could you use to explain how blood travels through your body?

1. Encourage students to drink lots of water even if it is not a sunny day. Lack of liquids in their systems may result in headaches.
2. Much of the above information can be reproduced and shared with students if desired.
3. A more responsible, i.e., mature volunteer leader for every two-four students is ideal.
4. You might want to have a Field Guide to Trees though it is not really necessary.
5. Introduction to the material and familiarity using keys to identification prior to fieldwork would be helpful.
6. Students should be familiarized with the new vocabulary they’ll encounter in this experience.
7. Review all student activity work sheets provided for student activities.
8. Forest attire is strongly suggested for obvious reasons.
9. As you discuss appropriate clothing to wear, it is a good idea to wear the outfit yourself, demonstrating as you go the closing up of as many openings (i.e., pant legs in socks, shirts tucked in at the waist, etc) as possible, thereby preventing easy access for insects and bugs.
10. Creating alarm is not the goal here - rather dressing comfortably and appropriately for the forest is very important. Long pants tucked into white socks prevents any undesirable bugs, i.e., ticks, from landing on the flesh, attaching themselves and helping themselves to free meals and possibly inflicting diseases, an example being lime disease. Long sleeved shirts (but short sleeved acceptable), definitely all tucked into pants (no midriffs showing), are strongly suggested for the above noted reasons.
11. Tick checks are suggested for all hikers at the end of the day. This just means that skin should be checked for bumps and rashes not normal to the individual. A small demonstration of the process is advisable. Partners can check the body parts of each other that they cannot see for themselves. [Working with partners is part of the process here and you might want to determine which students would make mutually beneficial partners.]
12. If the forest is an unfamiliar place for the students or group, it is important to foster a sense of calm as well as adventure as the forest can be a frightening experience for a first time visitor.

RESOURCES

Leaf Identification Keys:

Type & Arrangement

Margin & Venation

Characteristics

Field Guide to Trees:

        Brockman, C. Frank. Trees of North America. New York: Golden Books, 1986.

        Greenway, Theresa. Trees. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1995.

        Petrides, George A. Peterson First Guide to Trees. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1993.

        Zim, Herbert S, Ph.D., Sc.D & Martin, Alexander C, Ph.D. Trees. New York: Golden Press, 1987.

Download/View this Dendrology lesson as a .pdf

To View/Download Worksheets, use links below:

• Black Rock Forest Dendrology Identification Trail & Answer Key
• Black Rock Forest Tree Identification Key
• Black Rock Forest Wild Plants Key
• Coniferous Tree Dendrology Worksheet
• Deciduous Tree Dendrology Worksheet
• Deciduous Tree Leaves
• Leaf Characteristics
• Leaf Margins & Venations
• Leaf Type & Arrangement

Remember, you must have to access pdfs

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