Species Description

Click on the links below or to the left for a description of each species. Description includes: botanical name, other names, description, habitat, range, and usages. 

Conifers

Conifers are predominantly evergreen, cone-bearing trees such as pine, spruce, hemlock, and fir.  They keep their leaves (needles) and then shed only the oldest leaves. The leaves that are dropped are well down the stem from the newly developing leaves. (Baldcypress is a conifer, but is listed with the deciduous trees.)

Loblolly Pine (North MS, South MS, Advanced 2G)

Slash Pine, Improved

Longleaf Pine, Improved and containerized 

Deciduous

These trees are characterized by shedding foliage. They are also called broad-leaf trees as their leaves are usually wide and long. The large surface allows for maximum photosynthesis during the  growing season. Deciduous trees survive the winters by shedding their leaves and becoming dormant (inactive) until spring. These trees are characterized by shedding foliage.

The Oaks

Taken together, the oaks represent one of the most important hardwood segments of the eastern forest.  They provide high-grade wood for furniture, flooring, veneer, and many other useful and beautiful products.  Their fruit is the acorn, which is extremely valuable as a wildlife food.  It is the primary over-wintering food source for most forest game species in the South.  Acorns are eaten by deer, turkey, ruffed grouse, quail, bear, and boar.  These trees are often decorative, and preferred by many homeowners as shade trees.  In the fall, oaks add rich colors to the autumn foliage.

Oaks are divided into two groups:  red oaks and white oaks.  The red oak acorn is generally bitter and requires two years to mature.  The white oak acorn matures in one season.