Does it Burn? Plant Edition

LARC 2430 Plant Identification Field Guide E-Book By Jarret Bastys

[doesitburnplantedition]

Hamamelis virginiana (Witch Hazel)

Plant community: Oak Hickory Forest

Native region/country: East from TX, south to FL, north to ME. 

Mature size:   15-20 feet tall.  15-20 feet spread.

Habitat and/or preferred growing conditions:   Grows  in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best flowering in full sun. Prefers moist, acidic, organically rich soils. Tolerates heavy clay soils.

Hardiness zone: 3-8

Leaf/flower color:  Fruits are greenish seed capsules that become woody with age and mature to light brown. Each seed capsule splits open in fall of the following year, exploding the 1-2 black seeds within for up to 30 feet. Leaves are oval to obovate, medium to dark green (to 6” long) with dentate to wavy margins turn yellow in fall.

Does it burn?: Probably

Burn Quality: Unknown

Sources:

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=HAVI4

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a749

[doesitburnplantedition]

Sphagnum sp. (Sphagnum Moss)

Plant community: Red Maple Swamp

Native region/country: All of the US except NV, NM and NE.   

Mature size:   Up to 1 foot tall, up to 1 foot spread.  

Habitat and/or preferred growing conditions:   Grows in wet and boggy areas on peaty soil, on mounts and on moors forming patches.  

Hardiness zone: 1-9

Leaf/flower color:  Leaves are tiny and sometimes slightly toothed.  They grow in hair-like tufts close to the stem and are light green.  

Does it burn?: Probably

Burn Quality: Unknown

Sources:

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SPHAG2

http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/Survival/Pages/sphagnummoss.html

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/sphagnum_moss.htm

http://www.pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Sphagnum+cymbilifolium

[doesitburnplantedition]

Ilex verticillata (Winterberry)

Plant community: Red Maple Swamp

Native region/country: East from TX, south to FL, north to ME.  

Mature size:   3-12 feet tall.  3-12 feet spread.

Habitat and/or preferred growing conditions:   Grows in average, acidic, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Adaptable to both light and heavy soils, but prefers moist, acidic, organic loams. Good tolerance for poorly drained soils including wet boggy or swampy conditions

Hardiness zone: 3-9

Leaf/flower color:  Leaves are elliptic to obovate, toothed, and dark green (2-3” long).  Insignificant flowers.  Bright red berreis (1/4″ diameter).  

Does it burn?: Probably

Burn Quality: Unknown

Sources:

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d440

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ILVE

[doesitburnplantedition]

 Mitchella repens (Partridge Berry)

Plant community: Oak Hickory Forest

Native region/country: East from TX, south to FL, north to ME.  

Mature size:   0-.25 feet tall.  0-1 feet spread.

Habitat and/or preferred growing conditions:    Grows in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Tolerates some drought

Hardiness zone: 3-8

Leaf/flower color:  Leaves are oval to round, glossy, dark green (to 3/4” long) with whitish veins appear in pairs along the stems. Fragrant, four-lobed, funnel-shaped, white flowers (to 1/2” long) are lightly flushed with pin

Does it burn?: Probably

Burn Quality: Unknown

Sources:

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=MIRE

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b345

[doesitburnplantedition]

Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion)

Plant community: Urban Growth

Native region/country: All of the US 

Mature size:   max 1′8″ tall, 1 ft spread.

Habitat and/or preferred growing conditions:   Grows almost anywhere. 

Hardiness zone: 5-9

Leaf/flower color: Leaves are 2 to 16 inches long.  The flower heads are solitary at the end of naked, hollow stalks.  Stalks can reach heights up to 2 feet.  One head contains from 100 to 300 flowers. Seeds of common dandelion are topped by a parachute of bristles that aid in dissemination.

Does it burn?: Probably

Burn Quality: Unknown

Sources:

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=taof

http://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Taraxacum+officinale

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/organic-herbs/growing-dandelion

http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/taroff/all.html#BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

[doesitburnplantedition]

Nyssa sylvatica (Black Tupelo)

Plant community: Oak Hickory Forest, New England Barrier Beach, Red Maple Swamp

Native region/country: Eastern North America

Mature size:   30-50 feet tall.  20-30 feet spread. 

Habitat and/or preferred growing conditions:   Grows in average, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, acidic soils. Tolerates poorly-drained soils and can grow in standing water.  Will tolerate some drought. 

Hardiness zone: 3-9

Leaf/flower color: Leaves are obovate to elliptic, entire to slightly toothed (to 5" long) and are dark green above and paler below.  Good fall color.  Flowers are not showy and fruits mature to a dark blue.

Does it burn?: Probably

Burn Quality: Unknown

Sources:

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a670

[doesitburnplantedition]

Cladrastis kentukea (Yellowwood)

Plant community: N/A

Native region/country: East from OK, south to GA, north to ME.  

Mature size:   30-50 feet tall.  40-55 feet spread.

Habitat and/or preferred growing conditions:   Grows in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates some dry soils once established.

Hardiness zone: 4-8

Leaf/flower color: Leaves are pinnately compound (usually with 7-11 leaflets) open as yellowish green, turn bright green in summer and then turn yellow in fall.  Fragrant pink flowers in large, drooping, terminal panicles (10-15” long).

Does it burn?: Probably

Burn Quality: Unknown

Sources:

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CLKE

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a270

[doesitburnplantedition]

Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)

Plant community: Oak Hickory Forest

Native region/country: East from TX, south to FL, north to ME.  

Mature size:   15-30 feet tall.  15-30 feet spread. 

Habitat and/or preferred growing conditions:   Grows in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, organically rich, acidic soils in part shade

Hardiness zone: 5-9

Leaf/flower color: Leaves are oval, dark green (3-6” long) and turn attractive shades of red in fall.  Actual flowers are insignificant, however  each flower cluster is surrounded by four showy, white, petal-like bracts which open flat, giving the appearance of a single, large, 3-4” diameter, 4-petaled, white flower.

Does it burn?: Probably

Burn Quality: Unknown

Sources:

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=COFL2

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c280

[doesitburnplantedition]

Fagus orientalis (Oriental Beech)

Plant community: N/A

Native region/country: Eastern Europe and Asia Minor

Mature size:   Up to 100 feet high.   

Habitat and/or preferred growing conditions:   Grows in shade to part shade and is tolerant of most soil types.  

Hardiness zone: 4-7

Leaf/flower color: Leaves are obovate that are 5-7 inches and turn golden yellow or yellowish brown in fall.  

Does it burn?: Probably

Burn Quality: Unknown

Sources:

http://floridata.com/Plants/Fagaceae/Fagus%20orientalis/843

[doesitburnplantedition]

Quercus bicolor (Swamp White Oak) 

Plant community: Red Maple Swamp

Native region/country: East from MO, south to AL, north to ME.  

Mature size:   50-60 feet high.  50-60 feet spread.  

Habitat and/or preferred growing conditions:   Grows in average, medium to wet, acidic soil in full sun

Hardiness zone: 3-8

Leaf/flower color: Leaves are dark, shiny green above and silvery white beneath, with 5-10 rounded lobes or blunt teeth along the margins. Fall color is yellow, but sometimes reddish purple. Insignificant flowers in separate male and female catkins in spring. Fruits are acorns that mature in early fall.

Does it burn?: Probably

Burn Quality: Unknown

Sources:

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=QUBI

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=q330

[doesitburnplantedition]

Aesculus glabra var. glabra (Ohio Buckeye)

Plant community: N/A

Native region/country: East from TX, south to GA, north to ME.  

Mature size:   20-40 feet high.  20-40 feet spread.  

Habitat and/or preferred growing conditions:   Grows in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, fertile soils. 

Hardiness zone: 3-7

Leaf/flower color: Leaves are bright green palmate and compound each with five spreading ovate-oblong leaflets to 3-6” long.  Fall color is usually yellow.   Flowers are followed by fruit, which is a globular dehiscent capsule consisting of 1-2 buckeyes encased by a leathery light brown partitioned husk covered with warty spines.  All parts of tree emit an unpleasant odor when bruised. 

Does it burn?: Probably

Burn Quality: Unknown

Sources:

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a845

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=AEGLG

[doesitburnplantedition]

Comptonia peregrina (Sweetfern)

Plant community: Old Field

Native region/country: East from MN, south to GA, north to ME.  

Mature size:   2-5 feet high.  4-8 feet spread.  

Habitat and/or preferred growing conditions:   Grows in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade.  Tolerant of drought and a wide range of soils.

Hardiness zone: 2-6

Leaf/flower color: Leaves are simple, narrow, lustrous, pinnatifid, deeply notched, olive to dark green color (to 4" long). Insignificant, yellowish green flowers appear in spring and give way to greenish brown, burr-like nutlets

Does it burn?: Probably

Burn Quality: Unknown

Sources:

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c240

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c240

[doesitburnplantedition]

Myrica penslyvanica (Bayberry)

Plant community: New England Barrier Beach

Native region/country: East from OH, south to NC, north to ME.  

Mature size:   5-10 feet high.  5-10 feet spread.  

Habitat and/or preferred growing conditions:   Grows in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, peaty or sandy, acidic soils, but tolerates a wide range of soils and growing conditions. 

Hardiness zone: 3-7

Leaf/flower color: Leaves are narrow, broadly oblanceolate, leathery, glossy, grayish-green (to 4" long) and are dotted with resin and aromatic when crushed.  Diosceious shrub. Neither catkin is showy, with only the male flowers displaying color (drab yellowish-green)

Does it burn?: Probably

Burn Quality: Unknown

[doesitburnplantedition]

Abies fraseri (Fraser Fir)

Plant community: N/A

Native region/country: TN, GA, NC, VA

Mature size:   30-50 feet high.  10-25 feet spread.  

Habitat and/or preferred growing conditions:   Grows in rich, moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best in full sun. .

Hardiness zone: 4-7

Leaf/flower color:  Foliage is flattened, shiny, dark green needles (to 1” long) and are white-banded beneath.  Cones are purple and appear upright on the branches.  

Does it burn?: Probably

Burn Quality: Unknown

Sources:

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ABFR

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c202

https://www.chiefrivernursery.com/store/Fraser-Fir-Transplants.html

[doesitburnplantedition]

Picea mariana (Black Spruce)

Plant community: N/A

Native region/country: South to PA, east from MN, North to ME.  Also, AK.  

Mature size:   40-50 feet high.  8-12 feet spread.  

Habitat and/or preferred growing conditions:  Grows in well-drained soils, but grows best on those that are moist and acidic.  Grows in full sun to part shade.

Hardiness zone: 3-5

Leaf/flower color:   Leaves are evergreen, four-sided needles, stiff, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, light blue-green in color.   Species is monoecious. Males are red, turning yellow to light brown and females are purple, upright, and in the upper crowns. Fruit are ovoid cones (1 inch long).  

Does it burn?: Yes

Burn Quality: Poor.  Low heat , easy to burn, hard to split, medium smoke, many sparks.  Weight of seasoned cord (lbs): 2,482.  Heat produced per cord (M BTU): 15.9.

Sources:

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PIMA

http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=104

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Picea+mariana

https://www.chiefrivernursery.com/store/Black-Spruce-Seedlings.html

http://mb-soft.com/juca/print/firewood.html

http://www.offroaders.com/tech/firewood-BTU.htm

[doesitburnplantedition]

Pinus virginiana (Scrub Pine)

Plant community: N/A

Native region/country: West from MO, south to GA, north to NY.  

Mature size:   20-40 feet high.  20-35 feet spread.  

Habitat and/or preferred growing conditions:  Grows on a variety of soils, best in full sun.  Tolerant to drought, not tolerant to salt. 

Hardiness zone: 5-8

Leaf/flower color:   Leaves are evergreen needles, 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, with 2 yellow-green, twisted, somewhat divergent needles per fascicle.   Species is monoecious.  Males have cylindrical, yellow, flowers near branch tip and females yellow to red, curved prickle present.   Fruit are conical to ovoid cones and are 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long.

Does it burn?: Probably

Burn Quality: Unknown

Sources:

http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=113

https://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/Volume_1/pinus/virginiana.htm

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PIVI2

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st481

[doesitburnplantedition]

Pinus Ponderosa (Ponderosa Pine)

Plant community: N/A

Native region/country: West from TX to CA, north to WA.  

Mature size:   60-125 feet tall.  25-30 feet spread. 

Habitat and/or preferred growing conditions:  Grows in average, medium moisture, well-drained sandy to gravely loams in full sun. Prefers light, moist soils with good drainage. No tolerance for shade. Established trees tolerate some dry soil conditions.

Hardiness zone: 3-7

Leaf/flower color:   Dark yellow-green needles (5-10” long) in bundles of three (infrequently bundles of two) are concentrated in tufts at the branch ends. Oval cones (4-6” long) grow upright, but turn upside down at muturity to release seed. 

Does it burn?: Yes

Burn Quality: Fair.  Low heat, easy to burn, easy to split, medium smoke, moderate sparks, good aroma.   Weight of seasoned cord (lbs): 2,380.  Heat produced per cord (M BTU) 20.8.

Sources:

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PIPO

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c233