Читать книгу Collins Complete Guide to British Trees: A Photographic Guide to every common species - Paul Sterry - Страница 17

GINKGOACEAE (GINKGO FAMILY)An ancient family, representing the precursors of our modern conifers and broadleaves, that thrived before present tree families had evolved. Only one species has survived; others are known only from fossils dating from at least 200 million years ago.

ARAUCARIACEAE (MONKEY-PUZZLE FAMILY)A family of large evergreen trees, some important timber-producers, found mainly in South America and Australasia. Sexes are separate and trees seen in Britain have been raised from seed.

AXACEAE (YEW FAMILY)A small family of primitive conifers, some being little more than shrubs, restricted to the northern hemisphere. They have poisonous seeds and foliage. Male and female flowers are produced on separate trees and the seeds are surrounded by a fleshy cup called an aril. They can be propagated by seeds and cuttings.

CEPHALOTAXACEAE (PLUM YEW or COW-TAIL PINE FAMILY)Once a widely distributed family, according to fossil remains, but now restricted to the Far East. The leaves are large, flattened needles, the male and female flowers are borne on separate plants and the fruits are plum-like.

PODOCARPACEAE (PODOCARP or YELLOW-WOOD FAMILY)A family of yew-like trees with fruits that are borne on fleshy stalks that are edible. Mainly confined to the tropics and the southern hemisphere, but some occur in Japan and India.

CUPRESSACEAE (CYPRESS FAMILY)A large group of coniferous trees widely spread around the world. Most have very small, scale-like leaves and tiny buds. The cones are small and tough, often rounded and woody, or fleshy in the case of junipers. Most are slow-growing and long-lived, giving strong, scented timber, and were mistakenly called cedars by early explorers.

TAXODIACEAE (REDWOOD FAMILY)An ancient family, once with many more representatives than the 15 species that exist today. Four species are deciduous, the others all evergreen and mostly with hard, spine-tipped leaves. The globular cones are relatively small. The bark in all species is fibrous and a rich red-brown. Some redwoods are the largest living organisms in the world.

PINACEAE (PINE FAMILY)A large family of 200 species, all originating in the northern hemisphere. Their cones are woody and composed of a spiral arrangement of scales, each with two seeds. The leaves are needle-like. The arrangement of the needles, such as being grouped in pairs or threes, or growing on short pegs, is a great help in the identification of these trees. The family includes firs (genus Abies), cedars (genus Cedrus), larches (genus Larix), spruces (genus Picea), hemlock-spruces (genus Tsuga), Douglas firs (genus Pseudotsuga) and pines (genus Pinus).

SALICACEAE (WILLOW AND POPLAR FAMILY)A very widespread group of trees and shrubs, numbering well over 300 species, with many more hybrids that are often difficult to place. Male and female flowers are found on separate trees and usually take the form of catkins. Leaves are alternate, and long and pointed in the case of willows. Most species, apart from Goat Willow and Grey Willow, propagate easily from cuttings. Many grow in wet habitats such as stream sides, and small shrubby species are often found in upland regions. Wind-dispersed seeds make them rapid colonisers of new habitats. Most members of this family are vigorous, fast-growing trees and tolerant of much bad treatment from both man and natural disasters like storms. Many are of great importance for wildlife, supporting large numbers of insect larvae. A number are grown for ornament, having a weeping habit, bright foliage or colourful winter twigs.

JUGLANDACEAE (WALNUT FAMILY)A family of 7 genera and about 60 species spread across the Americas, SE Europe, SE Asia and Japan. Leaves are usually alternate and pinnate, flowers are without petals, small and grouped in catkins, with males and females on the same plant. The fruit is usually a nut, sometimes large and edible, or sometimes small and winged. The family includes hickories (genus Carya), wingnuts (genus Pterocarya) and walnuts (genus Juglans).

MYRICACEAE (BOG MYRTLE FAMILY)A family of 2 genera and 35 species of trees and shrubs; only one in our region. The simple leaves have resinous glands and the flowers are borne in spike-like catkins.

BETULACEAE (BIRCH FAMILY)A large family of 6 genera and about 150 species of medium-sized trees and shrubs. Flowers are in the form of catkins, with the separate sexes growing on the same tree; the male catkins are the more conspicuous. Seeds are borne in smaller cone-like catkins, or in the form of nuts with hard shells or sometimes wings. In the British Isles, the family is represented by birches (genus Betula), alders (genus Alnus), hornbeams (genus Carpinus), hop-hornbeams (genus Ostrya) and hazels (genus Corylus). Some authorities place the genera Carpinus and Ostrya in a separate family, Carpinaceae, while the genus Corylus is sometimes placed in the family Corylaceae.

FAGACEAE (BEECH FAMILY)A large family containing many well-known trees. More than 1,000 species, in 8 genera, occur, mostly in the northern hemisphere, but many far to the south. The flowers are small, sexes are usually separate and on the same tree. Fruits are in the form of nuts, protected by a cupule. The family is represented in Britain and Ireland by beeches (genus Fagus), southern beeches (genus Nothofagus), Sweet Chestnut (genus Castanea) and oaks (genus Quercus).

ULMACEAE (ELM FAMILY)Includes about 150 species of both deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs occurring in tropical and northern areas. The leaves are normally alternate, the small flowers lack petals and the fruits may be winged, in the form of a nut, or fleshy with a single stone.

MORACEAE (MULBERRY FAMILY)A large family from the tropics with around 1,000 species, 12 of which are known as mulberries. Two of these are hardy in Britain and Ireland; their male and female flowers are in the form of separate catkins, but growing on the same tree, and the fruits are edible berries.

BERBERIDACEAE (BARBERRY FAMILY)A family of shrubs with alternate leaves and flowers with 6–9perianth segments in whorls. Fruits are berries or capsules. Only one species is native to the British Isles; it seldom achieves great stature.

PROTEACEAE (PROTEA FAMILY)A large family of over 1,000 evergreen trees and shrubs, mostly native to the southern hemisphere, but introduced widely around the world. Leaves are alternate and sometimes pinnate. The flowers can be very showy, although petals are very small, the main display being provided by a large divided calyx.

CERCIDIPHYLLACEAE (KATSURA FAMILY)A very small family with probably only a single species, once thought to be closer to the magnolias, but now considered to be more primitive and perhaps nearer to the planes.

MAGNOLIACEAE (MAGNOLIA FAMILY)A family of 12 genera and up to 200 species, most occurring in Asia, particularly the Himalayas, China and Japan; a few also occur in the south of the USA and further south into South America. They can be either trees or shrubs, deciduous or evergreen, with alternate, untoothed and occasionally lobed leaves. The flowers are often showy and sometimes scented.

LAURACEAE (LAUREL FAMILY)Mostly evergreen trees and shrubs. The family numbers about 1,000 species, mainly found in the tropics, but with a few hardy species occurring in more northern areas. Many are aromatic.

HAMAMELIDACEAE (WITCH HAZEL FAMILY)Contains about 25 genera and 100 species that occur in temperate and subtropical regions. They range from trees to shrubs and may be evergreen or deciduous. Many are very popular ornamental garden plants.

PLATANACEAE (PLANE FAMILY)A family of 8 species of large deciduous trees, mostly native to the USA and Mexico, apart from one that occurs in the Balkans and one in SE Asia. Leaves are large and normally palmate. Male and female flowers are in separate pendulous clusters on the same tree.

ROSACEAE (ROSE FAMILY)A very large and important family of over 100 genera and about 3,000 species of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. The trees can be deciduous or evergreen, and have alternate, simple leaves or a range of leaf types including complex pinnate leaves. Flowers are usually 5-petalled, with the ovary beneath the petals, but the fruits are very varied and the family is divided mainly on the basis of the types of fruits produced. Tree and shrub representatives in Britain and Ireland are brideworts (Spiraea), Quince (Cydonia), Medlar (Mespilus), pears (Pyrus), apples (Malus), whitebeams and allies (Sorbus), Loquat (Eriobotrya), mespils (Amelanchier), cotoneasters (Cotoneaster), hawthorns (Crataegus) and cherries and their allies (Prunus).

FABACEAE (PEA FAMILY)A very large family of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants that bear their seeds in pods. Their roots have colonies of nitrogen-fixing bacteria living on them in tiny nodules. All of the tree species have tough, durable wood and many of them are thorny. Most have compound leaves and very attractive flowers.

SIMAROUBACEAE (QUASSIA FAMILY)A mainly tropical and subtropical family of about 20 genera and 150 species of trees and shrubs. Leaves are alternate and usually pinnate, and the flowers are small and 5-petalled. The fruit is either winged or a capsule.

ANACARDIACEAE (CASHEW FAMILY)A large family of more than 800 species of trees, shrubs and climbers found mainly in warm climates. They may be deciduous or evergreen, but most have alternate leaves that can be simple or pinnate, and many, such as Poison Ivy, have an irritant resin in the leaves that can damage human skin. The flowers are small and the sexes are often on different plants.

ACERACEAE (MAPLE FAMILY)A family of about 100 species of trees and shrubs, some evergreen, some deciduous, mostly occurring in northern temperate regions. Leaves are opposite and nearly always lobed, and sometimes divided into leaflets. Flowers are small, and the seeds are winged, in 2 halves. Many have beautiful autumn colours and are popular garden trees, and some are important timber-producing trees.

HIPPOCASTANACEAE (HORSE-CHESTNUT FAMILY)A family of 2 genera and 15 species of deciduous trees and shrubs occurring in North America, SE Europe and E Asia. The compound leaves are strongly palmate, and the showy flowers are 4-or 5-petalled, growing in large upright clusters at the ends of the shoots, usually in summer. The fruits are large shiny nuts in a variably prickly husk. The timber is not particularly strong for such a large tree, and is best used for carving and turnery.

QUIFOLIACEAE (HOLLY FAMILY)A large family of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs from temperate and tropical regions, most of which are hollies. Leaves are usually alternate. The male and female flowers are normally small, white or tinged pink, and on separate plants. The fruit is usually a colourful berry.

CELASTRACEAE (SPINDLE FAMILY)A family of almost 100 genera and more than 1,000 species of evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs and climbers, found in many parts of the world and in many climatic types. The leaves may be opposite or alternate and the greenish flowers are usually small and insignificant.

BUXACEAE (BOX FAMILY)A family of about 60 species of evergreen trees and shrubs, with a few herbaceous plants. The leaves are normally opposite and the flowers are tiny, usually growing in clusters.

RHAMNACEAE (BUCKTHORN FAMILY)A family of about 60 genera and 900 species of trees, shrubs and climbers found in most regions of the world. They may be deciduous or evergreen, bear spines on the shoots and branches and have alternate or opposite leaves. The flowers are small and separate sexes may occur on different plants. A number of species yield useful dyes, and many are poisonous.

TILIACEAE (LIME FAMILY)A family of more than 700 species of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. The majority are found in the tropics but the 30 true limes (Tilia), which originated in the cooler regions of the northern hemisphere, are the only trees. The leaves are alternate and may be lobed, and they often have star-like hairs. The flowers are small, frequently fragrant, with 5 petals and sepals and many stamens. The fruit is usually a dry capsule, but it may be hard and woody. The timber is pale and soft and can be used for wood-carving.

PITTOSPORACEAE (PITTOSPORUM FAMILY)A large family of 9 genera and over 200 species, mostly originating in Australasia. The leaves are alternate and usually untoothed and the 5-lobed flowers develop into either dry or succulent fruits. Some are cultivated and numerous attractive varieties occur in gardens.

TAMARICACEAE (TAMARISK FAMILY)A family of small trees and shrubs with tiny, scale-like, clasping alternate leaves and glands that excrete salt. The flowers are small but borne in dense heads. The seeds are wind-dispersed and are good colonisers of disturbed ground. Many grow near the sea.

ELAEAGNACEAE (OLEASTER FAMILY)A family of about 50 species of evergreen or deciduous shrubs and small trees, found in temperate and cooler regions in the northern hemisphere. The twigs are frequently armed with spines. The leaves have entire margins, may be scaly on the underside and are either opposite or alternate. The flowers are small and lack petals, and the sexes may be separated on different plants. Some species produce edible fruits.

MYRTACEAE (MYRTLE FAMILY)A large family mainly occurring in the southern hemisphere. Only a single representative occurs naturally in Europe (the evergreen shrub Myrtle Myrtus communis), and none is known in North America. The family does, however, include the genus Eucalyptus, trees from Australasia. Overall, the family includes about 4,000 species of mostly evergreen aromatic trees and shrubs. The leaves are generally opposite and the flowers have 4 or 5 petals but many stamens.

EUCRYPHIACEAE (EUCRYPHIA FAMILY)A small family of 5 species in a single genus, but widespread, occurring in Chile and Australasia. The leaves are opposite and may be simple or pinnate, with entire or toothed margins. One is deciduous but the others are evergreen. The flowers, borne in summer, are showy and make these trees popular subjects for large gardens.

NYSSACEAE (BLACK GUM FAMILY)A small family of 7 trees native to E Asia and North America. The male and female flowers are separate but borne on the same tree. The flowers are small and lack petals, but may be conspicuous because of large showy bracts below them. The leaves are alternate.

CORNACEAE (DOGWOOD FAMILY)A family of about 100 species of evergreen or deciduous shrubs that grow in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Leaves are usually opposite and flowers are small but often surrounded by conspicuous colourful bracts.

ERICACEAE (HEATHER FAMILY)A large family of 100 genera and about 3,000 species found all around the world. Most are trees or shrubs and may be evergreen or deciduous with alternate leaves. The flowers are variable, but most have 5 petals joined at the base.

EBENACEAE (EBONY FAMILY)A large family of trees found mainly in the tropics and including the African tree that yields the black wood known as ebony. The date plums, Diospyros species, producing edible fruits, are mostly hardy in the N European climate.

STYRACACEAE (STORAX FAMILY)A family of about 150 species of small trees and shrubs found in E Asia, the S USA, Central and South America, with an isolated species in the Mediterranean. The leaves are simple and alternate, and the flower has a tubular corolla dividing into 5–7 lobes. The fruit is a dryish capsule.

OLEACEAE (OLIVE FAMILY)A large family of nearly 1,000 species, including many sweet-scented flowering shrubs such as lilacs (Syringa), and numerous large trees like ash (Fraxinus). All trees and shrubs have opposite leaves and the flowers have either 4 petals or none at all.

BIGNONIACEAE (BIGNONIA FAMILY)A family of many trailing and climbing plants, but the Catalpa genus from North America, the West Indies and China contains 11 tree species.

SCROPHULARIACEAE (FIGWORT FAMILY)A large family of mainly herbaceous plants such as the familiar foxgloves and speedwells. However, there are about 10 tree species, mainly from China, in the genus Paulownia.

CAPRIFOLIACEAE (HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY)A family of shrubs and small trees, many with attractive flowers and colourful berries. Found across a range of habitats. A number of species have been taken into cultivation for food or as ornamental plants.

ASTERACEAE (DAISY FAMILY)A large family, most members of which growing in the British Isles are annuals or perennial herbaceous plants. However, a few species do become woody shrubs. Flowers are typically numerous and borne in dense, terminal heads.

AGAVACEAE (CENTURYPLANT FAMILY)A family of perennials with either succulent leaves in huge rosettes, or branched and woody stems that terminate in rosette-like tufts of leaves. Flowers are borne in large spikes. Mainly from warm climates or the southern hemisphere. Grown in the British Isles, usually in mild regions, and only one species really qualifies for tree-like status.

ARECACEAE (PALM FAMILY)A large family from the tropics, adapted to survive in dry weather and often very windy conditions. The unusual form of growth does not enable them to branch, and the trunks do not become thicker as the trees age. Palms have a single terminal growing point from which new leaves and flowers emerge. Some are hardy enough to survive the European climate, growing in southern areas of Britain. Palms are raised from seed.