Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Trees

Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Trees — page 3 — LET S LOOK AT TREES AUTUMN LEAVES IN VERMONT TREES FIELD GUIDE

Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Trees — page 4 — CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ADVENTURE INTO THE TREES There are many ways to know the trees around us and in National Geographic Kids Ultimate Explorer Field Guide Trees you will find out how as you meet both eastern and western trees You will learn that some trees prefer cool climates and some prefer heat Others may have different moisture sunlight and soil needs When you look at trees keep in mind that they make important contributions to the health of our planet Trees reduce erosion so they help keep soil out of streams and rivers Trees clean our air and help keep temperatures from climbing too high or dropping too low They absorb and store carbon dioxide and provide oxygen Forest health is critical to addressing climate change That's why trees need our protection too Trees face challenges today They are cut down to provide land for roads housing and other uses Additionally insects and diseases are threatening some species Warmer air temperatures and drought challenge trees that may have been able to fight off insects and disease in past years In many areas of North America the overpopulation of deer is harming forests as they nibble at young shoots keeping them from growing into full size trees The distinct personalities of different trees are tied to their individual evolution and adapation to their environment Native trees are descendants of trees that were here before European explorers and settlers came to North America They have evolved with our native insects birds and other animals Other trees non native or exotic have been brought here from other continents and will have a different relationship with other players in the environment We have to watch them carefully so that they do not take over the native plants that play an important part in the North American ecosystem We hope that National Geographic Kids Ultimate Explorer Field Guide Trees will inspire you to enjoy and protect our trees and that you'll have fun doing it Tony Dove and Ginger Woolridge authors Essential Native Trees and Shrubs for the Eastern United States LET S LOOK AT TREES 7

Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Trees — page 5 — HOW TO USE This Book LOOK AROUND You may see trees as tall as two story buildings or as short as bushes or you may not see trees at all until you go to a local park Wherever you find trees use this guide to learn about them Cuban Royal Palm Page 143 Tree Entry HERE IS THE TREE S SCIENTIFIC NAME ITS ORDER ITS AVERAGE HEIGHT THE ENVIRONMENT IT LIVES IN AND WHERE IT GROWS IN NORTH AMERICA THIS IS WHERE YOU LL FIND THE TREE S COMMON NAME THIS TEXT GIVES GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPECIES INCLUDING BARK AND LEAVES TO LOOK FOR AND SOME COOL SURPRISING FACTS DISCOVER FUN FACTS OR IDENTIFYING TIPS FROM EXPERTS ABOUT EACH SPECIES IDENTIFY A TREE BY LOOKING FOR THESE BASIC FEATURES CAN YOU NAME THE CORRECT SPECIES IN 10 SECONDS CLASSIFICATION TAB 8 TREES FIELD GUIDE

Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Trees — page 6 — Special Features Tree mendous SPECIAL FEATURES CALLED TREE MENDOUS give you a closer look at trees appearance ance their amazing growth patterns and their remarkable flowers and leaves A CAPTION DESCRIBES THE MAIN PHOTO A TEXT BLOCK GIVES GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPECIAL FEATURES OF APPEARANCE SEASONAL CYCLES OR CONSERVATION LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT SPECIES THAT REPRESENT THE THEME OF TREE MENDOUS Classification TREES HAVE BOTH COMMON NAMES AND SCIENTIFIC NAMES Common names are the ones you usually know such as Red Maple or Weeping Willow It's good to know common names but you'll find that they can be confusing One tree can have many common names and some of them might make you think it is a different kind of tree For instance the Eastern Redcedar is not a cedar but a juniper tree Scientific names are more precise Each tree has only one scientific name which is in Latin and has two parts genus and species The genus name is capitalized and is the tree's immediate group For instance all oak trees are in the genus Quercus The species name identifies one particular kind of tree within a genus For instance the species name for the Pin Oak is palustris So the scientific name for Pin Oak is Quercus palustris Each tree belongs to a bigger family the family is part of an even bigger order and the order is part of a very big group Finally all trees are in the kingdom of plants Here's how the Pin Oak fits in Kingdom Plantae plants Group Angiospermae all flowering plants Order Fagales a kind of flowering plant Family Fagaceae Beech tree Genus Quercus Species palustris HOW TO USE THIS BOOK 9

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