Trees of New England Field Guide

by Stan Tekiela

Overview

Learn to identify trees in the Northeast with this handy field guide, organized by leaf type and attachment.

Make tree identification simple, informative, and productive with the field guide by award-winning author and naturalist Stan Tekiela. There’s no need to look through dozens of photos of trees that don’t grow in New England. Learn about 117 species found in the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont (every native tree plus common non-natives), organized by leaf type and attachment. Just look at a tree’s leaves, then go to the correct section to learn what it is.

Fact-filled information contains the particulars that you want to know, including special sections about fall colors and leaf peeping, while full-page photographs provide the visual detail needed for accurate identification. so grab the Trees of New England Field Guide for your next outing—to help ensure that you positively identify the trees that you see.

Book Features

• 117 species: Every native tree plus common non-natives
• Easy to use: Thumb tabs show leaf type and attachment
• Compare feature: Decide between look-alikes
• Stan’s Notes: Naturalist tidbits and facts
• Professional photos: Crisp, stunning full-page images

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781647554538
Publisher:	Adventure Publications, Incorporated
Publication date:	09/03/2024
Series:	Tree Identification Guides
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	4.40(w) x 5.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Naturalist, wildlife photographer, and writer Stan Tekiela is the author of more than 190 field guides, nature books, children’s books, and playing cards, presenting many species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, trees, wildflowers, and cacti in the United States. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural History from the University of Minnesota and as an active professional naturalist for more than 30 years, Stan studies and photographs wildlife throughout the United States and Canada. He has received various national and regional awards for his books and photographs. Also a well-known columnist and radio personality, his syndicated column appears in more than 25 newspapers and his wildlife programs are broadcast on a number of Midwest radio stations.

Read an Excerpt

Red Maple
Acer rubrum

Family: Soapberry (Sapindaceae)

Height: 40–60' (12–18 m)

Tree: single trunk, narrow dense crown

Leaf: lobed, 3–4" (7.5–10 cm) long, oppositely attached, 3–5 lobes (usually 3), shallow notches in between lobes, double-toothed margin, light green color, red leafstalk

Bark: gray, smooth, broken by narrow irregular cracks

Flower: tiny red hanging flower, .25" (.6 cm) wide, on a 1–2" (2.5–5 cm) long red stalk, growing in clusters, 1–3" (2.5–7.5 cm) wide

Fruit: pair of winged seeds (samara), red in springtime, .5–1" (1–2.5 cm) long

Fall Color: red to orange

Origin/Age: native; 75–100 years

Habitat: wet to moist soils, along swamps or depressions that hold water, sun to partial shade

Range: throughout

Stan’s Notes: One of the most drought-tolerant species of maple in New England. Often planted as an ornamental, it can be identified by its characteristic leaves, which have three pointed lobes and red stalks. The common name comes from the obvious red flowers that bloom early in spring, but the flowers and leafstalks are not the only red colors it has. New leaves, fall color, and spring seeds are also red. Produces one of the smallest seeds of any of the maples. Also called Swamp Maple, Water Maple, or Soft Maple, the latter being used to refer to the Silver Maple (pg. 201) as well. Even though it is sometimes called Soft Maple, its wood is very hard and brittle.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Silhouette Quick Compares

Needle and Leaf Quick Compares

Fall Color in New England

Why Leaves Change Color

Typical Fall Colors, by Tree Group

Why Do Trees Lose Their Leaves?

Where to See the Best Fall Color in New England

Tracking Fall Colors Online

Sample Page

The Trees

• Single needles
• Clustered needles
• Scaly needles
• Simple, oppositely attached leaves
• Simple, alternately attached leaves
• Lobed, oppositely attached leaves
• Lobed, alternately attached leaves
• Compound, oppositely attached leaves
• Compound, alternately attached leaves
• Palmate compound, oppositely attached leaves

Glossary

Checklist/Index

More for New England by Stan Tekiela

About the Author