Glossary of terms in Water Resources

Glossary of terms in Water Resources

Plants

There are over two thousand plant species in Pennsylvania. Since the Raystown watershed is mainly forested, there is an abundance of trees and plants present here as well. In general, plants are composed of roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds. Trees also have roots, leaves, bark, twigs, seeds, and needles (a form of leaf). These parts allow the plant to uptake water and nutrients, transport them throughout the plant, catch light and undergo photosynthesis and respiration, and reproduce.

Eastern Hemlock

What does it look like?

Evergreen tree with conical crown of long, slender, horizontal branches often drooping down to the ground, and a slender, curved, and drooping leader.
Height: 60-70' (18-21 m) .
Diameter: 2-3' (0.6-0.9 m) .
Needles: evergreen; 3/8-5/8" (10-15 mm) long. Flat, flexible, rounded at tip; spreading in 2 rows from very short leafstalks. Shiny dark green above, with 2 narrow whitish bands beneath and green edges often minutely toothed.
Bark: cinnamon brown; thick, deeply furrowed into broad scaly ridges.
Twigs: yellow-brown; very slender, finely hairy, rough with peglike bases.
Cones: 5/8-3/4" (15-19 mm) long; elliptical; brown; short-stalked; hanging down at ends of twigs; composed of numerous rounded cone-scales; paired light brown, long-winged seeds.
In what types of habitats is it found?

Ranges From Southern Ontario, east to the Atlantic Ocean, south to Alabama, and west to Minnesota. To 3000' (914 m) in north; at 2000-5000' (610-1524 m) in south. It is found in acid soils; often in pure stands. Characteristic of moist cool valleys and ravines; also rock outcrops, especially north-facing bluffs.

The bark was once a commercial source of tannin in the production of leather. Pioneers made tea from leafy twigs and brooms from the branches. A graceful shade tree and ornamental, it can also be trimmed into hedges.

Evergreen, aromatic tree with narrow, pointed, spirelike crown and slender, horizontal branches.

Ranges from Central Maine south to N. Florida and west to Mississippi in narrow coastal belt; to 100' (30 m). It is found in wet, peaty, acid soils; forming pure stands in swamp forests.

Ancient logs buried in swamps have been mined and found to be well preserved and suitable for lumber. Pioneers prized the durable wood for log cabins, including floors and shingles. During the Revolutionary War, the wood produced charcoal for gunpowder. One fine forest is preserved at Green Bank State Forest in southern New Jersey. As an ornamental, this species is the hardiest of its genus northward.

Eastern Red Cedar

What does it look like? 

Evergreen, aromatic tree with trunk often angled and buttressed at base and narrow, compact, columnar crown; sometimes becoming broad and irregular.
Height: 40-60' (12-18 m).
Diameter: 1-2' (0.3-0.6 m).
Leaves: evergreen; opposite in 4 rows forming slender 4-angled twigs; 1/16" (1.5 mm) long, to 3/8" (10 mm) long on leaders. Scalelike, not toothed; dark green, with gland-dot.
Bark: reddish-brown; thin, fibrous and shreddy.
Cones: 1/4-3/8" (6-10 mm) in diameter; berrylike; dark blue with a bloom; soft, juicy, sweetish, and resinous; 1-2 seeds. Pollen cones on separate trees.
In what types of habitats is it found?

Found throughout S. Ontario and widespread in eastern half of United States from Maine south to N. Florida, west to Texas, and north to North Dakota. It is found from dry uplands, especially limestone, to flood plains and swamps; also abandoned fields and fence rows; often in scattered pure stands.

The most widely distributed eastern conifer, native in 37 states, Eastern Red Cedar is resistant to extremes of drought, heat, and cold. The aromatic wood is used for fenceposts, cedar chests, cabinetwork, and carvings. First observed at Roanoke Island, Virginia, in 1564, it was prized by the colonists for building furniture, rail fences, and log cabins. Cedar oil for medicine and perfumes is obtained from the wood and leaves. The heartwood was once almost exclusively the source of wood for pencils; Incense Cedar ( Calocedrus decurrens Torr.) is now used instead. Grown for Christmas trees, shelterbelts, and in many cultivated varieties for ornament. The juicy "berries" are consumed by many kinds of wildlife, including the cedar waxwing, named for this tree. Red Cedar can be injurious to apple orchards because it is an alternate host for cedar-apple rust, a fungus disease. Also, its berries are poisonous if eaten in large quantities.

What does it look like? 

Resinous and aromatic evergreen tree with angled, buttressed, often branched trunk and a narrow, conical crown of short, spreading branches.
Height: 40-70' (12-21 m).
Diameter: 1-3' (0.3-0.9 m).
Leaves: evergreen; opposite in 4 rows; 1/16-1/8" (1.5-3 mm) long. Scalelike; short-pointed; side pair keeled, flat pair with gland-dot. Dull yellow-green above, paler blue-green beneath.
Bark: light red-brown; thin, fibrous and shreddy, fissured into narrow connecting ridges.
Twigs: branching in horizontal plane; much flattened; jointed.
Cones: 3/8" (10 mm) long; elliptical; light brown; upright from short curved stalk; with 8-10 paired, leathery, blunt-pointed cone-scales, 4 usually bearing 2 tiny narrow-winged seeds each.
In what types of habitats is it found?

Ranges from SE. Manitoba east to Nova Scotia and Maine, south to New York, and west to Illinois; south locally to North Carolina; to 3000' (914 m) in south. It is adapted to swamps and to neutral or alkaline soils on limestone uplands; often in pure stands.

Probably the first North American tree introduced into Europe, it was discovered by French explorers and grown in Paris about 1536. The year before, tea prepared from the foliage and bark, now known to be high in vitamin C, saved the crew of Jacques Cartier from scurvy. It was named arborvitae, Latin for "tree-of-life," in 1558. The trees grow slowly and reach an age of 400 years or more. The lightweight, easily split wood was preferred for canoe frames by Native Americans, who also used the shredded outer bark and the soft wood to start fires. Today, the wood is used principally for poles, cross-ties, posts, and lumber. Cedar oil for medicine is distilled from the twigs.

What does it look like? 

Tree with rows of horizontal branches forming a conical crown; smaller and shrubby at tree line.
Height: 40-100' (12-30 m).
Diameter: 1-2' (0.3-0.6 m).
Needles: evergreen; 1/2-3/4" (12-19 mm) long. Stiff, 4-angled, sharp-pointed; spreading mainly on upper side of twig, from very short leafstalks; blue-green, with whitish lines; exuding skunklike odor when crushed.
Bark: gray or brown, thin, smooth or scaly; cut surface of inner bark whitish.
Twigs: orange-brown, slender, hairless, rough, with peglike bases.
Cones: 1 1/2-2 1/2" (4-6 cm) long; cylindrical, shiny light brown, hanging at end of twigs, falling at maturity; cone-scales thin and flexible, margins nearly straight and without teeth; paired brown, long-winged seeds.
In what types of habitats is it found?

Ranges across N. North America near northern limit of trees from Alaska and British Columbia east to Labrador, south to Maine, and west to Minnesota; local in NW. Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming; from near sea level to timberline at 2000-5000' (610-1524 m). It is found in many soil types in coniferous forests; sometimes in pure stands.

This is the foremost pulpwood and generally the most important commercial tree species of Canada. As well as providing lumber for construction, the wood is valued for piano sounding boards, violins, and other musical instruments. White Spruce and Black Spruce are the most widely distributed conifers in North America after Common Juniper, which rarely reaches tree size. Various kinds of wildlife, including deer, rabbits, and grouse, browse spruce foliage in winter.

What does it look like? 

Large tree with blue-green foliage and a conical crown of stout, horizontal branches in rows.
Height: 70-100' (21-30 m).
Diameter: 1 1/2-3' (0.5-0.9 m).
Needles: evergreen; spreading on all sides of twig from very short leafstalks; 3/4-1 1/8" (2-2.8 cm) long. 4-angled, sharp-pointed, stiff; with resinous odor when crushed; dull blue-green or bluish, with whitish lines.
Bark: gray or brown; furrowed and scaly.
Twigs: yellow-brown, stout, hairless, rough, with peglike leaf bases.
Cones: 2 1/4-4" (6-10 cm) long; cylindrical, mostly stalkless, shiny light brown; cone-scales long, thin, and flexible, narrowed and irregularly toothed; paired, long-winged seeds.
In what types of habitats is it found?

It naturally ranges from the Rocky Mountain region from S. and W. Wyoming and E. Idaho south to N. and E. Arizona and S. New Mexico; at 6000-11,000' (1829-3353 m). However, it has been transplanted to other parts of the United States. It is found in narrow bottomlands along mountain streams; often in pure stands.

Cultivated varieties of Blue Spruce include several with dramatic bluish-white and silvery-white foliage. It is a popular Christmas tree and is also used in shelterbelts.

What does it look like? 

Open-crowned tree with spreading branches and very short needles; sometimes a shrub.
Height: 30-70' (9-21 m).
Diameter: 1' (0.3 m).
Needles: evergreen; 3/4-1 1/2" (2-4 cm) long. 2 in bundle; stout, slightly flattened and twisted, widely forking; shiny green.
Bark: gray-brown or dark brown; thin, with narrow scaly ridges.
Cones: 1 1/4-2" (3-5 cm) long; narrow, long-pointed, and curved upward; shiny light yellow; usually remaining closed on tree many years; cone-scales slightly raised and rounded, keeled, mostly without prickle.
In what types of habitats is it found?

Ranges from  Alberta, east to central Quebec and Nova Scotia, southwest to New Hampshire, and west to N. Indiana and Minnesota; to about 2000' (610 m). It is found in sandy soils, dunes, and on rock outcrops; often in extensive pure stands.

Jack Pine is a pioneer after fires and logging, although it is damaged or killed by fires. The cones usually remain closed for many years until opened by heat of fires or exposure after cutting. The northernmost New World pine, it extends beyond 65-degrees northern latitude in Mackenzie and nearly to the limit of trees eastward. Kirtland's warbler is dependent upon Jack Pine; this rare bird breeds only in north-central Michigan, where it is confined to dense stands of young pines following forest fires.

Red Pine
Pinus resinosa

Norway Pine

What does it look like? 

A common, large tree with small cones and broad, irregular or rounded crown of spreading branches, 1 row added a year.
Height: 70-80' (21-24 m).
Diameter: 1-3' (0.3-0.9 m), often larger.
Needles: evergreen; 4 1/4-6 1/2" (11-16.5 cm) long; 2 in bundle; slender; dark green.
Bark: reddish-brown or gray; with broad, flat, scaly plates; becoming thick.
Cones: 1 1/2-2 1/4" (4-6 cm) long; egg-shaped; shiny light brown; almost stalkless; opening and shedding soon after maturity; cone-scales slightly thickened, keeled, without prickle.

In what types of habitats is it found?

Ranges from SE. Manitoba east to Nova Scotia, south to Pennsylvania and west to Minnesota. Local in Newfoundland, N. Illinois and E. West Virginia. at 700-1400' (213-427 m) northward; to 2700' (823 m) in Adirondacks; and at 3800-4300' (1158-1311 m) in West Virginia. It is found in well-drained soils; particularly sand plains; usually in mixed forests.
What are important facts about the species?

The misleading alternate name "Norway Pine" for this New World species may be traced to confusion with Norway Spruce by early English explorers. Another explanation is that the name comes from the tree's occurrence near Norway, Maine, founded in 1797. Because the name was in usage before this time, the former explanation is more likely. Red Pine is an ornamental and shade tree; the wood is used for general construction, planing-mill products, millwork, and pulpwood.

Eastern White Pine

What does it look like? 

The largest northeastern conifer, a magnificent evergreen tree with straight trunk and crown of horizontal branches, 1 row added a year, becoming broad and irregular.
Height: 100' (33 m), formerly 150' (46 m) or more.
Diameter: 3-4' (0.9-1.2 m) or more.
Needles: evergreen; 2 1/2-5" (6-13 cm) long, 5 in bundle; slender; blue-green.
Bark: gray; smooth becoming rough; thick and deeply furrowed into narrow scaly ridges.
Cones: 4-8" (10-20 cm) long; narrowly cylindrical; yellow-brown; long-stalked; cone-scales thin, rounded, flat.
In what types of habitats is it found?

Ranges from SE. Manitoba east to Newfoundland, south to N. Georgia, and west to NE. Iowa; a variety in Mexico. From near sea level to 2000' (610 m); in the southern Appalachians to 5000' (1524 m). It is found in Well-drained sandy soils; sometimes in pure stands.

The largest conifer and formerly the most valuable tree of the Northeast, Eastern White Pine is used for construction, millwork, trim, and pulpwood. Younger trees and plantations have replaced the once seemingly inexhaustible lumber supply of virgin forests. The tall straight trunks were prized for ship masts in the colonial period. It is the state tree of Maine, the Pine Tree State; the pine cone and tassel are the state's floral emblem. The seeds were introduced in England (where it is called Weymouth Pine) from Maine in 1605 by Captain George Weymouth of the British Navy.

What does it look like?

 Beautiful, large, introduced tree with crown of spreading branches that become rounded and irregular, and rich blue-green foliage.
Height: 70' (21 m) .
Diameter: 2' (0.6 m) and much larger with age.
Needles: evergreen; 1 1/2-2 3/4" (4-7 cm) long. 2 in bundle; stiff, slightly flattened; twisted and spreading; blue-green.
Bark: reddish-brown, thin; becoming gray and shedding in papery or scaly plates.
Cones: 1 1/4-2 1/2" (3-6 cm) long; egg-shaped; pale yellow-brown; short-stalked; opening at maturity; cone-scales thin, flattened, often with minute prickle.
In what types of habitats is it found?

It is native across Europe and N. Asia, south to Turkey. Naturalized locally in SE. Canada and NE. United States from New England west to Iowa. It is found in various soils from loams to sand; tolerating city smoke.

The native pine of the Scottish Highlands, this is the most widely distributed pine in the world and one of the most important European timber trees. In the United States, native pines are better adapted for forestry plantations, but Scotch Pine is commonly grown for shelterbelts, ornament, and Christmas trees.

What does it look like?

 Large tree with rounded, dense crown and striking, multicolored foliage in autumn.
Height: 70-100' (21-30 m).
Diameter: 2-3" (0.6-0.9 m).
Leaves: opposite; 3 1/2-5 1/2" (9-14 cm) long and wide; palmately lobed with 5 deep long-pointed lobes; few narrow long-pointed teeth; 5 main veins from base; leafstalks long and often hairy. Dull dark green above, paler and often hairy on veins beneath; turning deep red, orange, and yellow in autumn.
Bark: light gray; becoming rough and deeply furrowed into narrow scaly ridges.
Twigs: greenish to brown or gray; slender.
Flowers: 3/16" (5 mm) long; with bell-shaped 5-lobed yellowish-green calyx; male and female in drooping clusters on long slender hairy stalks; with new leaves in early spring.
Fruit: 1-1 1/4" (2.5-3 cm) long including long wing; paired forking keys; brown, 1-seeded; maturing in autumn.
In what types of habitats is it found?

Ranges from extreme SE. Manitoba east to Nova Scotia, south to North Carolina, and west to E. Kansas; local in NW. South Carolina and N. Georgia; to 2500' (762 m) in north and 3000-5500' (914-1676 m) in southern Appalachians. It is found in moist soils of uplands and valleys, sometimes in pure stands.

Maples, particularly Sugar Maple, are among the leading furniture woods. This species is used also for flooring, boxes and crates, and veneer. Some trees develop special grain patterns, including birdseye maple with dots suggesting the eyes of birds, and curly and fiddleback maple, with wavy annual rings. Such variations in grain are in great demand. The boiled concentrated sap is the commercial source of maple sugar and syrup, a use colonists learned from the Indians. Each tree yields between 5 and 60 gallons of sap per year; about 32 gallons of sap make 1 gallon of syrup or 4 1/2 pounds of sugar.