Cyber Arboretum Galleries

Rhododendrons, Azaleas, and other heath family shrubs : Rhododendron as a genus comprises more than 1000 species. They belong to the family Ericaceae, the heath family. Native species are found worldwide except on the continents of Africa and South America. Azaleas constitute two sub-genera of the genus. Numerous hybrids have been developed. I won't always be able to identify species, hybrid, or cultivar, but wherever readable tags are found, I'll include that information. Caveat: tags aren't always correct, and often are taxonomically out of date. Other members of the family are, confusingly, called laurels. The confusion is that the term laurel is really most appropriately reserved for members of the Lauraceae family. While rhododendrons are grown primarily for their brilliant spring displays of blooms, their glossy dark green leaves add landscape interest throughout the summer and early autumn in climates where they're deciduous, and year-round where they're evergreen. Occasionally they'll even turn interesting colors in fall and winter. I've included a few pictures of them in the landscape, and of details of their foliage.

Rhododendrons, Azaleas, and other heath family shrubs

Rhododendron as a genus comprises more than 1000 species. They belong ...

Updated: May 22, 2013 9:52am PST

Deciduous Trees of North America : A catch-all gallery for all of the trees whose families or genera don't have separate galleries in my cyber-arboretum. Until the gallery becomes more populated, It's sorted by reverse order of date taken. For now, I'm including shots of trees in the landscape where particular species of trees are immediately recognizable and where those trees are essential parts of the composition of the shot.

Deciduous Trees of North America

A catch-all gallery for all of the trees whose families or genera don' ...

Updated: May 20, 2013 11:42am PST

Shrubs and Small Trees : Shrubs as a group have always been difficult for me to identify unless they have highly individual blooms, fruits, or leaves. You'd be surprised how many understory plants in local woodlands that excludes. Certain species grow either as shrubs (multi-stem relatively short woody plants) or small trees (relatively tall woody plants with a single trunk or a small number of main trunks), depending on climate, care and training or pruning, and terrain. It then becomes somewhat arbitrary whether I display pictures of them here, in various tree galleries, or I wimp out and include them both places. Many of my older pictures of shrubs have concentrated on just the fruit or the flowers, and I don't yet have 'full body' shots that illustrate typical growth habits of the plant as a whole. Over time I hope to correct that deficiency. For now, I won't differentiate between native North American shrubs and imports, or ones I've photographed on various trips. Rhododendrons, azaleas, and other laurels, if any, occupy a separate gallery in the cyber arboretum, here: http://arctangent.smugmug.com/Nature/Cyber-Arboretum/Rhododendrons-Azaleas-Heath/22917330_PjkgNK Note that the shrubby varieties of the dogwood family are in the Genus Cornus gallery, here: http://arctangent.smugmug.com/Nature/Cyber-Arboretum/Genus-Cornus-Dogwood-Trees-etc/20145867_VcBNw9, with the occasional picture collected here as a reminder.

Shrubs and Small Trees

Shrubs as a group have always been difficult for me to identify unless ...

Updated: May 17, 2013 1:54am PST

Ornamental Fruit Trees : This is a gallery for fruit trees of all varieties that are grown primarily for their landscape interest, and not their fruit. The usual types such as cherry, pear, plum, and crab apple will eventually all be represented. More exotic (to North America) varieties such as banana will be included, as long as they are growing outdoors rather than in conservatories. The boundary between what is grown for its fruit, and what for its visual appeal can get blurred, so inclusion to this gallery can be a subjective choice.

Ornamental Fruit Trees

This is a gallery for fruit trees of all varieties that are grown prim ...

Updated: May 13, 2013 1:34am PST

Genus Cornus - Dogwood Trees etc : The dogwood genus, Cornus, includes small trees, shrubs, and even low-growing wildflowers. They'll all be represented here eventually, but the initial entries will be trees.

Genus Cornus - Dogwood Trees etc

The dogwood genus, Cornus, includes small trees, shrubs, and even low- ...

Updated: Apr 28, 2013 4:06am PST

Genus Acer 1 - Maple Trees Non-Asian : Maple trees are some of the most beloved landscape trees throughout the world. As with many plant types, classification and taxonomy are in a state of flux for maples. Quoting Wikipedia: "Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in Sapindaceae. The type species of the genus is Acer pseudoplatanus (Sycamore maple)" Also according to Wikipedia, all but one species of maple are native to the northern hemisphere, with most being native to Asia. Maples vary in growth habit and include shrubs as well as large trees. Leaves are characteristically broad with palmate veining and lobes which are often sharply pointed, hence the name 'acer' from the Latin word for sharp. A few maples have pinnate or trifoliate leaves. The box elder is an example of the former. Wikipedia describes the winged fruit of maples thusly: The distinctive fruit are called samaras or "maple keys". These seeds, or 'whirlybirds,' occur in distinctive pairs each containing one seed enclosed in a "nutlet" attached to a flattened wing of fibrous, papery tissue. They are shaped to spin as they fall and to carry the seeds a considerable distance on the wind."

Genus Acer 1 - Maple Trees Non-Asian

Maple trees are some of the most beloved landscape trees throughout th ...

Updated: Mar 25, 2013 1:38pm PST

Genus Aesculus - Buckeyes and horse chestnuts : Here in the upper Midwest, the most common species of this genus are the horse chestnut and the Ohio buckeye. Quoting from Wikipedia: "The genus Aesculus ... comprises 13-19 species of woody trees and shrubs native to the temperate northern hemisphere, with 6 species native to North America and 7-13 species native to Eurasia; there are also several hybrids. Species are deciduous or evergreen. This genus has traditionally been treated in the ditypic family Hippocastanaceae along with Billia,[2] but recent phylogenetic analysis of morphological[3] and molecular data[4] has led to this family, along with the Aceraceae (Maples and Dipteronia), being included in the soapberry family (Sapindaceae). Typically the leaves are large and palmately divided. The fruits form an outer capsule, inside of which are several seeds that are commonly but erroneously call nuts. Because only one of the shrubby species of the genus occurs commonly in our area, I have arbitrarily included it in the 'Shrubs and Small Trees' gallery (http://arctangent.smugmug.com/Nature/Cyber-Arboretum/Shrubs-and-Small-Trees/21970336_N5wzBw). That is the bottlebrush buckeye, Aesculus parviflora.

Genus Aesculus - Buckeyes and horse chestnuts

Here in the upper Midwest, the most common species of this genus are t ...

Updated: Mar 25, 2013 12:37pm PST

Genus Acer 2 - Asian Maple Trees : This gallery contains Chinese, Japanese and Korean maples, including ones which seem to fit this grouping but for which I have no definite ID. Also included are landscapes and close-ups that feature such specimens.

Genus Acer 2 - Asian Maple Trees

This gallery contains Chinese, Japanese and Korean maples, including o ...

Updated: Mar 25, 2013 3:38am PST

Family Magnoliaceae - Magnolia Trees Plus : In addition to all the varieties of ornamental magnolia trees, the family Magnoliaceae includes two large trees that are occasionally used in landscape plantings or in arboretums, but most commonly occur in the wild, in mixed deciduous forests of various regions of the united states, namely the tulip tree and the cucumber tree. At the end of the gallery I've collected landscapes or scene that feature magnolias in bloom. That section starts here: http://smu.gs/H5mzgC

Family Magnoliaceae - Magnolia Trees Plus

In addition to all the varieties of ornamental magnolia trees, the fam ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2013 9:03am PST

Vines and Canes : Any plant with a long narrow stem that sets leaves all along the stem, and is not strong enough to support its own weight. This includes vines, both ones that tend to remain earth-bound and ones that climb, cling, and twine. It also includes brambles such as raspberries and blackberries, whose canes droop over into arches. Because there are relatively few such plants, either wild or cultivated, in the temperate climate where I live, I'll probably include vines seen in conservatory settings in this gallery. Here you're likely to find primarily decorative ivies, Virginia Creeper, poison ivy, grapes, wild cucumbers, various food crops, but few vines that are grown for their floral displays. The pictures are chosen to illustrate features of the fruit, flowers, and foliage of individual plants, but also their growth habits.

Vines and Canes

Any plant with a long narrow stem that sets leaves all along the stem, ...

Updated: Mar 20, 2013 10:51am PST

Genus Platanus - Sycamore and Plane Trees : Unlike some of the galleries in my Cyber Arboretum, which emphasize varying characteristics of species within a genus, this gallery is more about the three features of greatest interest in sycamores (to my mind), namely the white limbs including contorted shapes, striking bark patterns, and the large leaves. Most if not all of the pictures in this gallery are of a single species, namely Platanus occidentalis, a species which most Americans refer to simply as the sycamore tree. Both of the names commonly applied to this species, namely sycamore and plane tree, are possible sources of confusion. Each name is also applied to different species, depending on what part of the world you're in. The name sycamore can also apply to Acer pseudoplatanus, the sycamore maple, and to Ficus sycomorus, the sycamore fig (aka fig-mulberry, hence more confusion). In Great Britain, a plane tree is commonly taken to mean the hybrid species (P. occidentalis × P. orientalis; syn. P. × hispanica, P. × hybrida), common name 'London Plane Tree'.

Genus Platanus - Sycamore and Plane Trees

Unlike some of the galleries in my Cyber Arboretum, which emphasize va ...

Updated: Mar 20, 2013 6:04am PST

Genus Quercus - Oak trees : Oak trees and shrubs occupy a wide range of habitats. They are native to the Northern Hemisphere, but range as far south as tropical Asia. Most are deciduous, with a few exceptions. Evergreen oaks are sometimes given the generic descriptive 'live oaks'. Oaks belong to the family Fagaceae, about which Wikipedia says (it) comprises about 900 species of both evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, which are characterized by alternate simple leaves with pinnate venation, unisexual flowers in the form of catkins, and fruit in the form of cup-like (cupule) nuts. Fagaceae is commonly referred to as the beech family. In addition to oaks and beeches, the family includes chestnuts and chinquapins. At least initially the emphasis in this gallery is not on cataloging the many different species of oak I've encountered, but in trying to portray all the various features that endear oaks to us...from acorns and leaves to distinctive bark, unique growth habits both in woodland settings and in the open as specimen trees, and even the character of the wood itself. For the most part, images of oaks and parts of oaks that I've uploaded previous to creating this gallery will simply be collected to this one. Newer uploads will go directly here, and where appropriate will be collected to other galleries (such as ones for fall foliage).

Genus Quercus - Oak trees

Oak trees and shrubs occupy a wide range of habitats. They are native ...

Updated: Mar 17, 2013 7:54pm PST

Family Oleaceae Trees - Olive, Ash, etc. : The Oleaceae family is an ancient one that includes a number of important tribes and genera. Some members are trees, while others are vines and shrubs. I have arbitrarily decided to put only the tree members of the family in this gallery, but leave the vines and shrubs in their more generic galleries. Tree genera of the family include ash (Fraxinus), olive (Olea), lilac (Syringa), and fringetree (Chionanthus).

Family Oleaceae Trees - Olive, Ash, etc.

The Oleaceae family is an ancient one that includes a number of import ...

Updated: Mar 12, 2013 10:24am PST

Fir and Spruce - Genera Abies and Picea : The genus Abies (fir trees) and the genus Picea (spruce trees) are part of the large Pinaceae family of conifers that also includes the genus Pinus (true pine trees). For simplicity, I'll include here also the Douglas-fir (genus Pseudotsuga or false hemlock), since some people might still think of that tree as being a true fir. FYI, I've recently learned that the hypen in Douglas-fir is part of this species' official name, done in an attempt to distinguish it from true firs.

Fir and Spruce - Genera Abies and Picea

The genus Abies (fir trees) and the genus Picea (spruce trees) are par ...

Updated: Nov 21, 2012 6:06am PST

Genus Malus - Apple trees, fruit, flowers : Who doesn't love apples? I don't want to know such a person! I've decided to start a separate gallery for pictures of all parts of all kinds of apple trees. I felt that the 'Ornamental Fruit Trees' gallery (http://arctangent.smugmug.com/Nature/Cyber-Arboretum/Ornamental-Fruit-Trees/19895789_F5Zj7w), while fine for pictures of crab apples in bloom, really wasn't suitable for showing fruit, bark, limbs, overall conformation, leaves, etc. I'll leave the older crab apple blossom pictures in the other gallery and collect them to this one, but add future photos directly here.

Genus Malus - Apple trees, fruit, flowers

Who doesn't love apples? I don't want to know such a person! I've de ...

Updated: Nov 14, 2012 5:51am PST

Genus Tilia - Linden, Lime, Basswood :

Genus Tilia - Linden, Lime, Basswood

Updated: Nov 13, 2012 5:49am PST

Genus Fagus - Beech Trees : I love trees. All trees. But I really, really love beech trees. Beeches belong to the family Fagaceae, about which Wikipedia says (it) comprises about 900 species of both evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, which are characterized by alternate simple leaves with pinnate venation, unisexual flowers in the form of catkins, and fruit in the form of cup-like (cupule) nuts. Fagaceae is commonly referred to as the beech family. In addition to beeches, the family includes oaks, chestnuts and chinquapins. I'm familiar with four main types, or species of beech trees that are either native to, or commonly planted in residential environments or in public spaces in Michigan and Ohio. Until I've traveled more, these four will make up the bulk of the gallery. They are, in no particular order, American beech (Fagus grandiflora), European beech (Fagus sylvatica), and two ornamental variants of the European beech, namely the Purple beech and the Weeping beech. At least initially, the gallery will be simply sorted in descending order of upload. That will keep the newer uploads at the beginning of the gallery. Eventually I might sort by caption, and re-caption pictures in order to group trees either by species and cultivar, or by individual trees.

Genus Fagus - Beech Trees

I love trees. All trees. But I really, really love beech trees. Bee ...

Updated: Nov 13, 2012 2:37am PST

Deciduous Trees - Imported from Asia : The list of trees that have been imported to North America from around the world is long and varied. Asia, especially China, is a rich source of such imports. Many of the trees represented here, while they might have been photographed in various arboretums, have become popular for their landscape appeal, and can be seen frequently on private property or in plantings around public institutions.

Deciduous Trees - Imported from Asia

The list of trees that have been imported to North America from around ...

Updated: Nov 04, 2012 11:53am PST

Genus Pinus - Pine trees : I sometimes have a hard time identifying with certainty a pine tree's species. As a genus, pines are fairly easy to identify, though. For this reason, at least for now, I'll keep this particular gallery sorted by date of upload, rather than by caption. Please take all attributions of species with a grain of salt. If a particular tree was actually labeled, as in an arboretum, I'll indicate a greater (though not necessarily 100%) degree of certainty in the ID. Pines, like fir and spruce, all belong to the family Pinaceae. I've decided to group fir and spruce trees in a separate gallery from pine trees for no very good reason other than the fact that pines all have multiple needle clusters, while fir and spruce have single needles along their branches.

Genus Pinus - Pine trees

I sometimes have a hard time identifying with certainty a pine tree's ...

Updated: Nov 04, 2012 10:59am PST

Genus Sassafras - Sassafras trees : Sassafras trees (Sassafras albidum) is native to eastern North America, and is hardy as far north as southern lower Michigan, parts of New York state and lower New England states, and as far south as the gulf states. The species is beloved for its unusual leaf shapes, commonly referred to as mittens, the spicy aromaticity of its crushed leaves, and the brilliant colors of its foliage in autumn. Both the deeply corrugated bark and the eccentric limb patterns of mature trees provide additional visual interest.

Genus Sassafras - Sassafras trees

Sassafras trees (Sassafras albidum) is native to eastern North America ...

Updated: Oct 04, 2012 4:33am PST

Evergreens - Mixed and in the Landscape : Pictures of scenes or landscapes in which evergreens figure prominently. Also shots of mixtures of evergreens that don't fit readily into any of the more specific galleries of this cyber arboretum. I've tried to select pictures that celebrate the wonderful variety of evergreens that add charm to our yards, gardens, and parks year-round.

Evergreens - Mixed and in the Landscape

Pictures of scenes or landscapes in which evergreens figure prominentl ...

Updated: Sep 26, 2012 2:02pm PST

Conifers - Miscellaneous including juniper, cypress : This is a gallery for all of the evergreen conifers that don't have separate galleries. For now the types included here are juniper and cypress and hemlock. I expect eventually to have examples of yew, false cypress, cedar, and what is variously known as red cedar, arborvitae or thuja, as well. Pines, spruce, and fir appear in separate galleries.

Conifers - Miscellaneous including juniper, cypress

This is a gallery for all of the evergreen conifers that don't have se ...

Updated: Sep 26, 2012 1:49pm PST

Ground Covers and Other Spreading Plants : This is a gallery for herbaceous plants with low, spreading growth habits. Some have conspicuous enough flowers that they may be planted in gardens for that purpose, but most are grown for their foliage interest, and as alternatives to grass, for example, to cover patches of ground. Unfortunately, many such spreading plants can be too successful, and must be regarded as invasive in some situations. Pictures of vines such as ivies will only be included if they actually depict the ivy spreading on the ground and not climbing over things. For now, for lack of a better place for them, some crop plants, other than grains and grasses, will be included.

Ground Covers and Other Spreading Plants

This is a gallery for herbaceous plants with low, spreading growth hab ...

Updated: Jun 22, 2012 4:04am PST

Genus Ulmus - Elm trees : Elm trees originated in Asia roughly 40 million years ago (Miocene period), and eventually spread across most of the Northern Hemisphere, with a few intrusions into the Southern Hemisphere.

Genus Ulmus - Elm trees

Elm trees originated in Asia roughly 40 million years ago (Miocene per ...

Updated: Apr 16, 2012 10:40am PST

Deciduous Conifers - Larch, Bald Cypress, Metasequoia Trees : In plants, deciduous refers to leaves that are shed, and replaced, on an annual basis. If you divide trees into broadleaf and conifers (or trees with needles or scales), and make a separate division of trees by behavior, namely deciduous or evergreen, you find that in temperate zones while most deciduous trees are broadleaf, and most evergreens are conifers, there are groups of evergreen broadleafs (such as live oaks) and deciduous conifers. In North America, this latter group consists mainly of larches, genus Larix, (known as tamaracks in Canada), bald cypresses, genus Taxodium, and dawn redwoods ( genus Metasequoia). In taxonomy, larches are members of the Pinaceae, or pine, family. The most recent analysis places both bald cypress and dawn redwood in a sub-family of the cypress family, Cupressaceae, despite both trees having needles rather than the scales associated with cypresses.

Deciduous Conifers - Larch, Bald Cypress, Metasequoia Trees

In plants, deciduous refers to leaves that are shed, and replaced, on ...

Updated: Nov 19, 2011 2:13am PST

Family Betulaceae - Birch and Alder Trees : The primary members of this family are birch trees and alders. Birch trees all belong to the genus Betula, which is further divided into several sub-genera. They are native to and widespread across the entire northern hemisphere. Alders are members of the genus Alnus and share similar habitats with birches. The family Betulaceae is closely related to the family Fagaceae, to which beech trees belong. Initially at least, the emphasis in this gallery will be not on the various species, but on the great charm that individual trees and stands of trees, especially birches, provide to a landscape, and on the fascinating details of the bark, and what can be found growing there.

Family Betulaceae - Birch and Alder Trees

The primary members of this family are birch trees and alders. Birch ...

Updated: Sep 30, 2011 7:58pm PST