FOREST FORMATIONS AND FOREST TREES 



The study of trees. — Anyone who wishes some acquaintance with 

 plants may well begin with a study of trees. For such study only a very 

 little technical knowledge is required, while to learn much about "wild 

 flowers" or grasses or ferns it is necessary to master a great many special 

 terms. The trees in Colorado are so few that it is possible in a single 

 season to become well acquainted with most of the different kinds in 

 any particular locality. Hence the student who is looking for rapid 

 results may well begin any outdoor botanical work with a study of 

 trees. 



Scientific names. — Every plant known to science, whether a tree, 

 shrub or herb, has what is known as a scientific name. Thus Populus 

 alba is the white poplar, Populus nigra the black poplar, etc. In each case 

 Populus is the generic name. The particular kind of poplar is indicated 

 by the specific name. So all oaks are known as Quercus, all elms as 

 Ulmus, etc. As a rule botanists agree on these scientific names which 

 are the same in all countries, of the world, but in some cases there is a 

 difference of opinion. This is well illustrated in the case of the maples 

 and box-elders. Acer, the ancient name for maple, is used for all of the 

 true maples but it is a question among botanists whether or not the box- 

 elder should be called Acer. Indeed, many people, disregarding the 

 similarity of fruits and seeds, say that box-elder is something entirely 

 apart and should have a different name. For this purpose the names 

 Negundo and Rulac have been employed. Another source of con- 

 fusion comes through the naming of the same species by two or more 

 different botanists working separately and not knowing of the work 

 of the others. A particular kind of tree or other, plant may thus receive 

 two or more names and each of these names may come into use among 

 certain people. It is a rule that the oldest published name is to be 

 followed if the plant has been named in the correct genus. So it often 

 happens that a much-used name has to be discarded when the true 

 history of the plant becomes fully known. In technical descriptions 



37 



