Part 29

TEXAS MADRONE (Arbutus texana Buckl.)

also called Texas Madroño is a small poorly shaped tree found on dry limestone hills, and in the valley of the Rio Blanco, and among the Eagle Mountains. The trunk is seldom over one foot in diameter and is usually divided into several branches near the ground. The leaves are oval to oblong and persistent until the new leaves are formed. The bark of young stems and branches is smooth, thin, and yellowish-green in color tinged with red. At the base of old trunks the bark, sometimes ¼ inch thick, is dark reddish-brown in color.

AUSTRIAN PINE (Pinus nigra Arnold)

is similar in appearance to red pine (P. resinosa Ait.) but needles are more rigid. Bark is black to dark brown and the cones are 1½ to 2 inches long. The tree is a native of central and southern Europe and Asia Minor. It has been planted extensively in the U. S. as an ornamental but is apparently not yet naturalized. It is planted in Texas in windbreak plantings.

RUSSIAN-OLIVE (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.)

is a small tree, not more than 25 feet tall, usually with thorny branches. Leaves are simple, alternate, narrow and 2 to 3 inches long, bright green on the upper surface and silvery underneath. It is a native of Europe and Asia and is used as an ornamental and in windbreak plantings in the United States.

BUFFALOBERRY (Silver Buffaloberry) (Shepherdia argentea [Pursh] Nutt.)

is a small silver gray-green tree with edible scarlet colored fruit which is useful for making jelly, which may reach 18 to 23 feet in height. It generally has narrow oblong leaves ¾ to 2 inches long and twigs are often thorny. Its native range is from the northern Great Plains to Kansas. Useful for windbreak plantings and erosion control.

SIBERIAN ELM (Chinese Elm) (Ulmus pumila L.)

is more commonly known in the Plains area as Chinese elm. It is drought-resistant and tolerant of a variety of sites but cannot stand too much water. A small tree with slender drooping branches. Clusters of short pedicelled winged fruit appear in April or May. The leaves are simple, alternate, oval to elliptical, 1 to 2 inches long and leaf edges are doubly serrate. Widely used for shade and windbreak plantings.

WINTERBERRY EUONYMUS (Euonymus bungeanus Maxim.)

was introduced from China and has adapted well to the southern Great Plains area centered around the Texas Panhandle. The small tree is very hardy and drought-resistant. Its very light green leaves are 2 to 4 inches long, pointed and borne on slender petioles. The heavy leaves cause the petioles to bend giving the foliage a limp or drooping appearance. Young stems and branches are green, older ones are gray. The fruit is a four-lobed capsule which, before ripening in the fall, has a pinkish cast. The ripened seeds are bright red.

Tree Identification Guide

The following guide has been included in the Eighth edition to assist school children and interested adults in the identification of Texas trees.

The guide is non-technical and should be treated as such. More detailed keys are available in most public libraries.

In the guide, trees are grouped according to their outstanding characteristics which include leaves, leaf arrangement, flowers, fruit and site.

THE SOFTWOODS

Needles Cones Shortleaf (page 21) 2 to 3 in a bundle (usually 1½″-2½″ long 2); 3″-5″ long Loblolly (page 20) 3 in a bundle; 6″-9″ long 3″-5″ long Longleaf (page 22) 3 in a bundle; 10″-15″ long 6″-10″ long Slash (page 23) 2 to 3 in a bundle (usually 4″-6″ long 2); 8″-12″ long

Note: Not included above but commonly found in the longleaf pine range is a cross between loblolly and longleaf pine. This hybrid tree has characteristics of both parents.

Only native pine in Texas that sprouts. Pitch pockets are usually present in bark of older trees.

THE HARDWOODS

TREES WITH SIMPLE LEAVES

Fruits: Page Drupe (or berry) Dogwood 107 Fringetree 117 Pod Catalpa 118 Desertwillow 119 Multiple Fruit Buttonbush 120

Fruits: Page Pod Corkwood 35 Pawpaw 72 Redbud 88 Acorn White oaks 48-50, 52-59 Drupe (or berry) Hackberry 66 Redbay 73 Sassafras 74 Blackgum 105 Farkleberry 108 Gum Elastic 109 Southern Buckthorn 109, 127 Persimmon 110, 127 Privet Swamp 116 Multiple Fruit Bios-d’arc 69 Magnolia 70 Sweetbay 71 Witch-hazel 77 Sycamore 77 Winged Silverbell 112

Fruits: Page Winged Silver Maple 98 Red Maple 99 Southern Sugar Maple 126 Sugar Maple 126 Big Tooth Maple 126 Mountain Maple 126 Pod Desertwillow 119 Wahoo 125 Drupe (or berry) Blackhaw 121

Fruits: Page Drupe (or berry) Hawthorn 78 Mayhaw 79 Mexican Plum 80 Black Sloe 81 Black Cherry 82 Laurelcherry 83 Holly 96 Yaupon 97 Basswood 103, 126 Tupelo Gum 106 Sweetleaf 111 Sweet Myrtle 123 Anaqua 128 Winged The Elms 61-64 Multiple Fruit Cottonwood 36, 123 Black Willow 37 Red Mulberry 68 Sweetgum 76 Alder (cone-like) 123 Nut Blue Beech (nut-like) 38 Ironwood (cone-like) 39 River Birch (cone-like) 40 American Beech 41 Chinkapin 42 Planer Tree 65 Acorns Red Oaks 43-47 White Oaks 51, 60

TREES WITH COMPOUND LEAVES

Fruits: Page Winged Baretta 124