Guide to Identifying Trees and Shrubs Plants A-L: Includes Conifers, Vines and Groundcovers

Identification Guide to Trees and Shrubs

A-L

Includes Conifers, Vines and Groundcovers

With Simple Descriptions and Color Images

Includes English/Spanish Glossary

Mark Zampardo

College of Lake County

Copyright © 2013 by Mark Zampardo

ISBN 978-1-4652-1208-5 (print)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

Contents

Introduction

How Plants are Named

Identification Guide to Trees, Shrubs, Conifers and Groundcovers

Common Name to Binominal Name Index

Binomial Name to Common Name Index

Glossary of Terms in English and Spanish

Introduction

This is a plant identification book, pure and simple.

Whether you’re selecting, installing or purchasing trees and shrubs, you’re often presented with row upon row of plants in the nursery. If you’re unfamiliar with the plants’ identifying characteristics, how do you know which to choose?

It’s easy. Just follow the simple clues offered here. Designed to be used on the job site or at the garden center, this easy-to-read guide provides pertinent information on nearly 340 of the most common trees, shrubs, conifers, vines and groundcovers. Each page features one plant, beautifully illustrated with full-color photographs that highlight the plant’s foliage and shape as well as its flower Also included are the plant’s Latin and common names, complete with a simple pronunciation guide, a brief description of the plant’s key identifying characteristics, and space for the reader’s own notes.

Simple, consistent descriptions and limited use of botanical terminology allow for easy reading, providing a good introduction for those new to landscaping or gardening and those who are learning English as a second language.

An easy-to-understand guide to botanical nomenclature gives the reader a quick lesson in plant names, and a handy glossary of common botanical terms—presented in both English and Spanish—is provided as well. Glossary definitions are offered in language that is consistent, simple and easy to understand. You’ll also find a convenient index of Latin and common names for quick and easy reference.

These features make Identification Guide to Trees and Shrubs ideal for Spanish-speaking landscapers and gardeners with limited English reading skills. The guide was originally developed for use in the author’s plant identification classes, which were especially designed to accommodate Spanish speakers in the landscape profession, in addition to native speakers of English.

How Plants are Named

The formal, botanical name of a plant is always in Latin, so sometimes it is called the Latin name. This name always has a minimum of two parts; thus, the method we use to give a plant a formal name is called the binomial naming system.

Family Name

Plants in the same family share characteristics such as types of flowers and fruit. The family name always ends with aceae (pronounced AY-see-ee). In the binomial system, the family name is not part of the formal name of the plant.

When written: The family name begins with a capital letter, but it does not appear in italics.

Genus

Inside the family group, a more closely related group is called the genus. It is the first name in the formal name of the plant.

When written: The genus always begins with a capital letter, and it is always in italics when it is typed. (If you write the name by hand, underline it.)

Specific Epithet

The specific epithet is the second name in the formal name of the plant. It gives more information about the particular plant.

When written: The specific epithet is in lower case letters and appears in italics when it is typed. (If you write the name by hand, underline it.)

Cultivar

The cultivar name is part of the formal name for plants that have been created or selected intentionally and whose unique characteristics are maintained through cultivation. The term cultivar is shortened from "CULtivated VARiety" When there is a cultivar name, it is the third part of the formal name.

When written: The cultivar name begins with a capital letter, and it is inside single quotation marks. It does not appear in italics. (If you write the name by hand, do not underline it but use the single quotation marks.)

Variety (var.)

The variety name is also part of the formal name for plants. A variety, listed as (var.) in this book, has qualities that differ from the species but when planted from seed will have the same characteristics as the parent plant. Sometimes we cannot see the differences, such hardiness.

When written: The variety name begins with a lower case letter and is in italics when it is typed or underlined when hand-written. (The abbreviated indication var. does not appear in italics.)

Hybrid

A hybrid is a plant that results from a cross between two or more plants that are similar. In the formal name, a hybrid is indicated by the inclusion of an x between the Genus and the Specific Epithet. Sometimes a hybrid is listed with the Genus and a cultivar only.

When written: The x does not appear in italics.

Species

The entire formal name of the plant is called the species name.

Example:

Common Names

The common name is the English name for the plant. It often describes the flowers, leaves, origin, medicinal properties or the discoverer Unfortunately, some plants have several common names or the same common name is used for more than one plant. Sometimes the common name is the same as the Genus of the plant, such as Magnolia.

Patents and Tradmarks

Plant Patents

Whoever invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant, including cultivated spores, mutants, hybrids and newly found seedlings, other than a tuber propagated plant or a plant found in an uncultivated state, may obtain a patent therefore.

Every patent shall contain a grant to the patentee of the exclusive right to make, use, and vend the invention or discovery (including in the case of a plant patent the exclusive right to asexually reproduce the plant).

Trademarks

International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants

Because they are, by definition, in the public domain, neither part of a plant’s binomial name can be trademarked. The only part of a plant name potentially eligible for trademark status is its commercial trade designation.

The age-old adage in determining the validity of a trademark; A trademark must tell who you are and not what you are.

For example, the trademark Big Mac® indicates that a particular type of hamburger is a product of McDonald’s Corp.

™ Indicates common law rights

® Registered with the trademark office

When a trademark becomes generic and is used to denote the goods themselves and not their origin, then the exclusive right to use the mark may be lost.

For example Aspirin by the Bayer Corp. is actually acetylsalicylic acid. It became a generic term for the chemical and Bayer lost the trademark.

A Trademark is the company’s brand of a plant

Abelia xgrandiflora

Abeliophyllum distichum

Abies alba

Abies balsamea

Abies concolor