35 



Trees of New York State* 



This bulletin on the trees of New York, though dated 192 1, 

 was not ready for distribution till the fall of 1922. After an 

 introduction giving in simple language some idea of classification 

 and nomenclature, descriptions of leaf forms, flowers, fruits, 

 twig characters, etc., there follow three keys to the trees, one 

 based on leaves, one on fruits and one on winter twigs. These 

 keys are simple and with the aid of the glossary at the end of 

 the bulletin should be easily followed by the novice. The twig 

 key will present a few difficulties, especially if lower branches 

 with small buds be used. The elms can only be reached by 

 admitting that the leaf scars are not in 3^ phyllotaxy, the maples 

 when four or more pairs of bud scales are found on the axillary 

 buds. There follow descriptions of 133 trees, of which 109 are 

 native, the others naturalized. Ordinary ornamental and fruit 

 trees commonly cultivated are not given. In each case the 

 description gives the habit, leaf, flower and fruit characters, 

 winter characters, habitat, range in North America, distri- 

 bution in New York and uses. For each tree described there is a 

 full page plate showing in outline drawings details of the leaves, 

 twigs, flowers and fruits. It is to be regretted that the twig 

 drawings are in most cases too small and indefinitely drawn 

 to be of use in identification. The descriptions are brief but 

 concise and should make the determination of the various trees 

 as certain as can be done. Next there is a conspectus of the 

 families and genera with keys to the species. Then an account 

 of tree zones and tree distribution in New York, the zones being 

 the same as those given by Bray in the Development of the 

 Vegetation of New York. The final chapter is an especially 

 interesting one on the derivation of the names of trees, giving 

 the derivations of both common and scientific names. 



The bulletin makes no attempt to describe shrubs but in- 

 cludes many forms that only occasionally become trees, such 

 as mountain laurel, rhododendron, dwarf sumach and nanny- 

 berry. The genus Crataegus is omitted except for the one species 

 C. pedicellata. 



*Trees of New York State, Native and Naturalized. H. P. Brown. 

 Technical Publication No. 15, The New York State College of Forestry, 

 Syracuse University, February 192 1, 401 pages, 133 plates. 



