By Melissa Hughes, URIMGP Class of 2018

The two sessions on Tree Identification led by RI Tree Council’s John Campanini were very informative and instructive.  Initially, the Rhode Island landscape formed as the glaciers retreated from 15,000 to 10,000 years ago. A well-drained, coarse, shallow, and sandy soil was formed from the pressure and grinding of the glaciers on the rocks. Conifer forests dominated until 500 years ago when deciduous forests took over.

Provided with slides, handouts, and specimens, students were led through the process of identification of conifers and deciduous trees in a logical, scientific manner, all in layman’s terms, of course.  Initially, we looked at both conifers and deciduous trees in terms of alternate versus opposite branches and leaves before observing other distinguishing characteristics (depending on the initial division of cone-bearing or flowering tree), such as leaf edge, leaf shape, bud shape, cone formation, leaf scar shape, needle shape, and needle groupings, to name a few.  Armed with these tools and a field guide, participants should easily be able to key out local species.  It was a pleasure to take the two-part course because of its content, the skills learned, and the knowledge and enthusiasm of the instructors.

My ID skills were further honed in the Wilcox Park Tree ID course led by Park Superintendent Alan Peck.  This class was briefer, but no less helpful. Leaf samples from trees in the park were provided, and we went through the basic alternate versus opposite branch differentiation.   Maple and oak leaves were also displayed to distinguish among the species of maples, e.g., red, sugar, Norway, etc., and oaks, e.g., red, white, etc.  Mr. Peck then led us on a tour of the many exotic and domestic trees in Wilcox Park, ten of which are labeled champion trees in Rhode Island.