Introduction 11 



of the page is given the accepted common name adopted by the Forestry Branch 

 in all its publications. Following this is a list of the common or vernacular names 

 used in Canada and the northern United States. Where the name has only local 

 use confined to a certain region, this region is indicated in brackets after the name. 

 Where a common name is marked by an asterisk the fact is indicated that the name 

 is also used to describe one or more entirely different trees, or chat its use is to be 

 avoided because of some other inconsistency. 



The importance of having a standardized list of common names of trees, if 

 only for purposes of reference, is evident from the difficulties that frequently arise 

 out of this confusion of common names. 



A purchaser of lumber, structural timber, pulpwood, ties, cooperage stock, or 

 other forest products should be able to specify the wood of a certain species with- 

 out the possibility of misunderstanding. He can only do this by resorting to the 

 botanical name or to a standardized common name. The average layman has 

 neither the time nor the inclination to memorize botanical names, although he is 

 able to recognize the different species and to give them the common name used 

 in his neighbourhood. If, however, this common name does not correspond to 

 the name used elsewhere he is sure to be misunderstood. 



While the universal adoption of a standard list of common names is only an 

 ideal it is hoped that the list given in this book will at least be a step in the direction 

 of uniformity of nomenclature. 



