Know Your Trees | Mississippi State University Extension Service

Preface

Know Your Trees is an identification guide to some of the commercially important or common trees native to Mississippi. While we do not identify all native trees in the state, we do cover all areas of the state. In addition, Know Your Trees covers all tree species that 4-H youth need to learn for the Forestry Judging competition.

Of special note, the first printing of this publication was in April 1925. W. R. Mattoon, Extension forester, USDA Forest Service, and Dr. J. M. Beal, professor, Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College, authored the original publication (Extension Bulletin No. 32), titled Forest Trees of Mississippi: How to Know Them. The book gave “a brief, general description of the more common forest trees of the state.” It provided identification characteristics with leaf, twig, and fruit drawings, and uses for 74 different tree species. The publication was reprinted in March 1936 and stood for another 21 years.

In June 1957, J. S. Therrell, Extension forester with Mississippi State College, made a major revision using the current title Know Your Trees, as Extension Publication 146. This revision included the addition of an identification key and eliminated substantial portions of the original text. It retained the drawings and species selections from the original book. The publication was reprinted in 1971.

In October 1993, Dr. Thomas Monaghan, Extension forestry coordinator with the Cooperative Extension Service, Mississippi State University, made another major revision. His revision highlighted 63 species, strengthened descriptive text, and incorporated black and white photographs as a replacement for drawings throughout the book. Know Your Trees had further minor revisions and reprints in 2006, 2009, 2011, and 2017. Consequently, this publication has remained in use over the last 95 years.

We are proud to update the publication with this latest major revision. This version includes 66 tree species with updated text providing more accurate descriptions of identification characteristics. There is a focus on plant taxonomy, which is the science of classification and naming of organisms. This current revision also includes color photography showing leaves and other distinguishing tree characteristics.

With the changes we have made in this revision of Know Your Trees, we hope you will find the publication more useful. Learning taxonomy can help with tree identification, even with species not highlighted in this publication. Furthermore, color photographs show detail not available in previous versions. We hope these changes will be helpful with identification and that you enjoy using this publication.

Finally, the authors are grateful for the contribution of a photograph from MSU Extension Associate Butch Bailey. He contributed the photo for Figure 30, the bluejack oak (Quercus marilandica).

John D. Kushla and A. Brady Self

Forest Resources

Mississippi is blessed with abundant natural resources. Mississippi’s forestland is more productive than other parts of the South and nation. Our state has fertile soils, a long growing season, and precipitation well distributed throughout the year. About 65 percent of the state’s land area—19.2 million acres—is commercial forest. Only in the Delta region is forestry not the predominant land use. Hardwood timber is most common in Mississippi, but pine volume and area are significant. Forestry and forest products provide over 61,600 jobs in the state. For all agriculture, timber harvest is third behind poultry and soybean production. With value-added processing of timber and wages paid, forestry contributes over $13 billion to the state economy every year.

Mississippians can improve on an already bountiful resource. Land is valuable for many purposes, so there is much competition for it in Mississippi. As a result, land values have remained high. Private, nonindustrial landowners own about 80 percent of Mississippi’s forest land. With so much private ownership, public awareness and support of forest management practices are necessary in developing a strong forest economy. Forestry lets Mississippians strengthen their economy without sacrificing natural resource conservation. Thus, public awareness of our forests should always be a primary part of youth and adult education programs. By learning and understanding more about our forests, Mississippians can make wise decisions about their management and use.