Texas Parks And Wildlife TREES, SHRUBS

PWD BK P4504-031H MartinDies6/11/072:43 PMPage 1texas parks and wildlifeTREES, SHRUBSANDWOODY VINESOFMARTIN DIES, JR.S T A T EPA R K

PWD BK P4504-031H MartinDies6/11/072:43 PMPage 2Illustrations from Tree, Shrubs and Woody Vines of the Southwest by Robert A. Vineswith drawings by Sarah Kahlden Arendale, 1960, University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas.

PWD BK P4504-031H MartinDies6/11/072:43 PMPage 3Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vinesof Martin Dies, Jr. State Park1AMERICANBEAUTYBERRYCallicarpa americanaThese shrubs usually produceabundant crops of brightpurple berries. It is highlydesirable food (mast) formany birds and deer.Although it has a bitter,astringent taste, it can be madeinto a pleasant tasting jelly.2AMERICAN BEECHFagus gradifoliaThis tree averages 70 to 80 feetin height, with large seed cropsbeing produced every two to threeyears. The seed provides excellentfood (mast) for animals and has abur-covered husk. Beech leavesturn a beautiful golden colorduring the fall months.1

PWD BK P4504-031H MartinDies6/11/072:43 PM3AMERICAN HOLLYIlex opacaThe largest of the nativehollies and grows up to50 feet in height,maturing in 100 to150 years. It is verytolerant of forest compe tition. With their darkgreen leaves and bright red berries,hollies have played an important partin primitive magic, medicines and folk lore.4AMERICANHORNBEAMCarpinus carolinianaA member of the birchfamily, the American horn beam is also called ironwood,named for the extremely hardand tough wood. The bole(trunk) of the tree has a“muscular” or fluted appearance.2Page 4

PWD BK P4504-031H MartinDies6/11/072:43 PM5BALD CYPRESSTaxodium distichumDistinguishing features of this treeis the swollen base of the trunkand “knees” which are believed tohelp support the tree. It cansuccessfully grow in marshy orsubmerged soils. Unlike otherneedle-bearing species, this tree isdeciduous (drops its needles inthe fall). Highly resistant to decay,it was used in the past to buildbridges, ships and hot tubs.6BLACK WALNUTJuglans nigraOne of the most highly valued of NorthAmerican hardwoods. Medium-sizedtree from 70 to 90 feet tall, it is allelo pathic, meaning it inhibits growth of otherplants under and around the tree.Native Americans used these huskswhen fishing, as the toxin killed fish,yet were still edible for humans. The blackwalnut seed is enclosed by a lime greenfleshly covering, or husk. This husk is veryvaluable as a brown dye.3Page 5

PWD BK P4504-031H MartinDies6/11/072:43 PM7DEVIL’S WALKING STICKAralia spinosaAptly-named shrub or small tree,containing circles of sharppointed prickles (small thorns)around the trunk and at thebase of each leaflet. Each leaflet maygrow to 60 inches in length. Fruitprovides food (mast) for animals.8EASTERNHOPHORNBEAMOstrya virginianaThe Eastern hophornbeam has a scalybark, with seedpods shaped like hops.They are very tolerant trees, success fully growing under other trees.The buds, catkins (flexible flower)and fruit are important mast(food) for wildlife.4Page 6

PWD BK P4504-031H MartinDies6/11/072:43 PMPage 7MUSCADINE GRAPEVitis rotundifolia9SWEET WINTERGRAPEVitis cinereaGRAPEFAMILYVitis sp.The park is home to two types of nativegrapes: muscadine and sweet wintergrapes. The larger-leafed winter grapevine produces whitish flowers and apurple-black berry. The darker green,more rounded muscadine grape alsoproduces whitish flowers, and a larger grape.Many types of wildlife eat these grapes, andboth grapes make excellent jelly.10HICKORY FAMILYCarya sp.Hickories produce heavy, strong,especially shock-resistant wood with highfuel value. Hickory wood has also beenused to smoke meats. They have up to 11to 23 leaflets, are long-lived trees andhave outstanding yellow-gold fallcolor. Historically, Native Americanscrushed the meat of the hickory nuts tomake flour.SHAGBARK HICKORYCarya ovata5

PWD BK P4504-031H MartinDies6/11/072:43 PMPage 811MAGNOLIA (SOUTHERN)Magnolia grandif loraThis medium-sized tree grows from60 to 110 feet tall with large, showy,beetle-pollinated creamy white flowersthat reach up to 11 inches in diameter.Leaves are dark green and glossy, andthe red seeds are produced in an uprightaggregate (cluster of seeds) cone.12MAPLE FAMILYAcer sp.FLORIDA MAPLEAcer barbatumThree members of the maple family can be found inthe park. Florida maple leaves have five lobes withrounded tips, red maple has pointed tips, and thebox-elder has a compound leaf (many leaflets ona stem) with usually three lobes. Red maplepetiole (leaf stalk) is reddish in color, with theleaf turning a bright red in the fall.RED MAPLEAcer rubrumBOX-ELDER MAPLEAcer negundo6

PWD BK P4504-031H MartinDies6/11/072:43 PMPage 9WHITE OAKQuercus alba13OAK FAMILYQuercus sp.There are over five mem bers of the oak (Quercus)family in North America,producing more nativetimber annually thanany other group of broadleaved trees. Oaks aredivided into categories. White oaks, whichin East Texas include the white oak, overcupoak, post oak, swamp chestnut oak and liveoak, have lighter colored and sweeter flavored acornmeat. Red oaks, which include Shumard oak, southern red oak and cherrybarkoak, have bristles at the tips of each leaf lobe, and have bitter, darker-coloredacorn meat.14PINE FAMILYPinus sp.Three native pines found in thepark are the short leaf, loblollyand longleaf pines. Pinesare the most importanttimber in the south, usedfor producing lumber andpaper. The illustration showsthe medium-length loblollyneedles and cone. Short leafneedles and cones are shorter,whereas the longleaf are longer.LOBLOLLY PINEPinus taeda7

PWD BK P4504-031H MartinDies6/11/072:43 PM15POISON IVYToxicodendronradicansPerhaps the most notorious plant of theforest, all parts of the poison ivy plantcan cause a severe rash to those allergic tothe plant. A deciduous (drop leaves in thefall) vine or small shrub with characteris tic three-leaf arrangement. Remember thesaying: leaves of three, let them be.Leaves turn red in the fall. Deer and otherbrowsers (animals that eat leaves) are not affectedby the toxins in the plant, and birds and squirrelsconsume poison ivy berries with no ill effects.16SASSAFRASSassafras albidumSassafras is unusual because ofthe three distinctly shapedleaves: typical leaf shape, themitten shape and the ghost shape. Thedried and powdered leaves are used tothicken and flavor Creole dishes. Oil ofsassafras is used to make tea and root beer.It is an important deer browse and the seedsare food for various wildlife.8Page 10

PWD BK P4504-031H MartinDies6/11/072:43 PM17SWEETGUMLiquidambar styracif luaThis large tree that grows from 80 to120 feet tall, and is one of the mostwidespread trees in the southernforest. Maturity is reached in200 to 300 years. Seeds areproduced in a round, prickly, “sweetgumball.” Leaves are star-shaped and producespectacular fall color.18YAUPON HOLLYIlex vomitoriaShrub to small tree with evergreen, wavytoothed thick leaves. Red berries produced bythis plant are commonly used in Christmasdecorations. The scientific name vomitoriadescribes the reaction to eating yauponberries. Historically, yaupon leaf tea, whichcontains caffeine, was used as a standardtreatment each spring to improve spirits,restore energy and kill intestinal worms.9Page 11

PWD BK P4504-031H MartinDies6/11/072:43 PMPage 124200 Smith School RoadAustin, Texas 78744PWD BK P4504-031H (5/05)In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries.TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin,disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternativeformat, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or byemail at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041.

Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines of Martin Dies, Jr. State Park 1 . AMERICAN BEAUTYBERRY . . turn a beautiful golden color during the fall months. 1 . . hollies and grows up to 50 feet in height, maturing in 100