Dendrology of the Laurel Creek - Whitetop Laurel Creek Watershed, Part 1

Dendrology (tree and woody plant identification and taxonomy) is an important part of planning or protecting riparian zones, erosion control, and floodplain management.  Big Laurel Creek - Whitetop Laurel Creek Watershed consists of many ecosystems and plant communities, including high elevation forests, alluvial forests, and roadsides and fields in the developed floodplains.  Below is a list of important tree and plant species in the watershed that will be presented in more detail in later posts.  

  1. Frasier Fir (Abies fraseri)
  2. Red Spruce (Picea rubens)
  3. Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis)
  4. Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
  5. White Oak (Quercus alba)
  6. Chestnut Oak (Quercus montana)
  7. Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)
  8. Yellow Poplar / Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
  9. Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)
  10. Cucumber Tree (Magnolia acuminata)
  11. American Chestnut (Castanea dentata)
  12. Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
  13. Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
  14. Rosebay (Rhododendron maximum)
  15. Common Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
  16. Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)

Location: Whitetop Laurel Creek near Damascus, VA, USA

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