Forest Preserves of Cook County 2023 Winter Brochure

Playing Tree Detective in Wintertime Without leaves, how do you identify them? AMERICAN ELM BARK-SHAGGY HICKORY BUD-TERMINAL 15 LATERAL BUD Look at the bark: The texture and patterns of bark varies significantly by species, ranging from solid with prominent ridges, to thin and tightly wrapped, to papery and easy to peel off. Shagbark hickory, for instance, hangs off the tree trunk in “shaggy” fashion. Focus on buds: Often the most precise way to ID trees in winter, looking at buds starts with differentiating among lateral buds (on the sides) and terminal buds (on the end). Oak trees, for example, have a grouping of terminal buds; most trees have just one. BUD-LATERAL SHAPE-AMERICAN ELM