Catalog of the Woody Plants of Oklahoma: Descriptions and Range Maps
F. L. Johnson, Oklahoma Biological Survey
B. W. Hoagland, Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory and Department of Geography, University of Oklahoma
INTRODUCTION
[Go to Latin name index]
[Go to common name index]
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This website is provided by the Oklahoma Biological Survey to aid persons interested in the study and identification of the woody plants of Oklahoma. The information provided was developed with both the academic and amateur in mind. It is our hope that in doing so a broader audience will come to appreciate the richness and variety of the Oklahoma flora. There are approximately 2,400 plant species in Oklahoma (Taylor and Taylor 1994) and about 330 are trees, shrubs, or woody vines.
For the purpose of this document, a woody plant is defined as a plant that retains some living woody material at or above ground level through the non-growing season (several species of small cacti fit this definition, but are not recognized trees or shrubs). Categorizing a woody plant as "tree", "shrub", or "vine" is often difficult and can appear arbitrary. Distinguishing between a tree and a shrub can be particularly difficult. That is why it is not unusual to see descriptions such as "small tree or large shrub." In this treatment we have adopted the following definitions: a tree is a woody plant that is at least 10 cm (4 in ) in diameter at 1.4 m (4.5 ft) above ground level; a shrub is less than 10 cm in diameter at 1.4 m above the ground and usually has multiple stems or is clonal; a woody vine does not stand upright without support but climbs on other vegetation or sprawls on the ground.
We hope that the format we have adopted will both aid in identification and enrich general knowledge of woody plant species. Each entry starts with the species' Latin binomial or scientific name, followed by the family name and a short list of synonyms (e.g., older scientific names that are no longer in use) . This information was acquired from a variety of sources, but the Natural Resources Conservation Service list was used extensively. Also included is the common name, or names, for each species. The most prevalent common name heads the list. Some common names are quite descriptive and can actually aid in plant identification (i.e., moonseed vine, rough leaved-dogwood, skunkbush). Others give clues to medicinal and other uses (i.e., toothache tree, whorehouse tea, soapweed). Others seem whimsical and rather entertaining (supple-jack, sow-teat blackberry, ladies' eardrops).
Following the species name is a set of descriptions of the physical characters of the plant. This is the primary vehicle for plant identification. To facilitate identification, photographs (all of which are taken by the authors unless noted otherwise) are inserted throughout the description section. Unfortunately, photographs are not available for all woody plant species at this time. The description of each species includes information regarding bark (color, pattern, etc.), twigs (size, leaf scars, bud morphology), leaves (size, shape, placement), flowers (size, color, number of petals, etc.) and fruit (size, shape, color). Currently, there are no dichotomous keys available for the woody flora on this website. We hope to redress this matter in the near future.
Knowledge of the habitat preferences and distribution of a species is another important identification aid. Therefore, we have provided a succinct description of each species' associated habitat. Information regarding a species' geographic distribution is provided in a written synopsis listing state and regional distribution. A county dot map accompanies each entry to illustrate the distribution within the state. The dot maps were derived from herbarium specimens housed at the Bebb Herbarium, at the University of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State University herbarium, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, and the University of Tulsa. Label data, including county of collection, directions to collection site, collector, and year of collection, were recorded into an electronic database. We are continuing to database specimens from other regional schools (i.e., University of Tulsa, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Cameron University, Northwestern Oklahoma State University and Northeastern State University) and institutions beyond our borders (i.e., the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, the University of Kansas).
Distribution maps are not only an effective tool for the study of species ranges, but also focus floristic survey and inventory activities. For example, as a result of this mapping exercise, we have identified several Oklahoma counties with inadequate representation in herbarium collections. These gaps in our knowledge can affect how we interpret distribution maps. Therefore, we have engaged in an systematic collection program in those "under represented" counties. As a result of these activities, the distribution maps for some species will be updated annually.
Finally, we included some general comments, notes regarding the etymology of scientific names, tips for field identification and distinguishing species with similar appearance, medicinal uses, horticultural uses, wildlife uses, and Regional Wetland Indicator (RWI) status. (RWI information will be of most interest to specialists in wetland issues. The indicator status species changes from time-to-time, so we encourage interested individuals to visit the USDA plants database for the most current designation.)
We hope that you find this website useful for the study of Oklahoma woody plants. We would like to emphasize, however, that this is a work in progress. Updates will be made regularly. Forthcoming features include dichotomus keys for identification, additional photographs, and updated distribution maps for all of the native and naturalized woody plants found in Oklahoma.
Bibliography
Scientific Name Index: Latin name sorted by genus. Click on the appropriate initial letter.
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A
Acacia angustissima
Acer barbatum
Acer leucoderme
Acer negundo
Acer rubrum
Acer saccharinum
Acer saccharum
Aesculus glabra
Aesculus pavia
Ailanthus altissima
Albizia julibrissin
Alnus maritima
Alnus serrulata
Amelanchier arborea
Amorpha canescens
Amorpha fruticosa
Amorpha laevigata
Amorpha nitens
Amorpha ouachitensis
Amorpha paniculata
Ampelopsis arborea
Ampelopsis cordata
Andrachne phyllanthoides
Aralia spinosa
Aristolochia tomentosa
Aronia arbutifolia
Artemisia filifolia
Arundinaria gigantea
Asimina triloba
Atriplex canescens
Atriplex confertifolia
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B
Baccharis halimifolia
Baccharis salicina
Baccharis texana
Baccharis wrightii
Berchemia scandens
Betula nigra
Bignonia capreolata
Brickellia californica
Brunnichia ovata
Bumelia lanuginosa
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C
Callicarpa americana
Calycocarpum lyoni
Campsis radicans
Carpinus caroliniana
Carya alba
Carya aquatica
Carya cordiformis
Carya illinoinensis
Carya laciniosa
Carya myristiciformis
Carya ovalis
Carya ovata
Carya texana
Carya tomentosa
Castanea pumila var. ozarkensis
Castanea pumila var. pumila
Catalpa bignonioides
Catalpa speciosa
Ceanothus americanus
Ceanothus herbaceus
Celastrus scandens
Celtis laevigata
Celtis laevigata var. reticulata
Celtis occidentalis
Celtis pumila
Celtis reticulata
Celtis tenuifolia
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Ceratoides lanata
Cercis canadensis
Cercocarpus montanus
Chilopsis linearis
Chionanthus virginicus
Chrysothamnus nauseoseus
Chrysothamnus pulchellus
Cissus incisa
Cissus trifoliata
Cladrastis kentuckea
Clematis crispa
Clematis drummondii
Clematis pitcheri
Clematis terniflora
Clematis versicolor
Cocculus carolinus
Cornus amomum
Cornus drummondii
Cornus florida
Cornus foemina
Corylus americana
Cotinus obovatus
Crataegus berberifolia
Crataegus brachyacantha
Crataegus calpodendron
Crataegus coccinioides
Crataegus crus-galli
Crataegus engelmannii
Crataegus intricata
Crataegus marshallii
Crataegus mollis
Crataegus pruinosa
Crataegus punctata
Crataegus reverchonii
Crataegus spathulata
Crataegus uniflora
Crataegus viridis
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D
Dalea formosa
Dalea frutescens
Diospyros virginiana
Dirca palustris
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E
Elaeagnus angustifolia
Ephedra antisyphilitica
Euonymus americana
Euonymus atropurpurea
Eurotia lanata
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F
Fagus grandifolia
Fallugia paradoxa
Forestiera acuminata
Forestiera pubescens
Frangula caroliniana
Fraxinus americana
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Fraxinus quadrangulata
Fraxinus texensis
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G
Gleditsia triacanthos
Glossopetalon planitierum
Gymnocladus dioicus
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H
Halesia carolina
Hamamelis vernalis
Hamamelis virginiana
Hydrangea arborescens
Hypericum hypericoides
Hypericum prolificum
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I
Ilex ambigua
Ilex decidua
Ilex opaca
Ilex vomitoria
Itea virginica
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J
Juglans microcarpa
Juglans nigra
Juniperus ashei
Juniperus monosperma
Juniperus pinchotii
Juniperus scopulorum
Juniperus virginiana
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K
Krascheninnikovia lanata
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L
Ligustrum spp.
Lindera benzoin
Liquidambar styraciflua
Lonicera albiflora
Lonicera flava
Lonicera japonica
Lonicera sempervirens
Lycium barbarum
Lycium pallidum
Lyonia ligustrina
Lyonia mariana
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M
Maclura pomifera
Magnolia acuminata
Magnolia tripetala
Malus ioensis
Melia azederach
Menispermum canadense
Mimosa borealis
Mimosa nuttallii
Mimosa quadrivalvis
Morus alba
Morus microphylla
Morus rubra
Myrica cerifera
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N
Nyssa sylvatica
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O
Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri
Opuntia imbricata
Opuntia leptocaulis
Opuntia tunicata
Ostrya virginiana
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P
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Parthenocissus vitacea
Paulownia tomentosa
Philadelphus pubescens
Phoradendron leucarpum
Phoradendron tomentosum
Physocarpus monogynus
Physocarpus opulifolius
Pinus echinata
Pinus edulis
Pinus ponderosa
Pinus taeda
Planera aquatica
Platanus occidentalis
Polygonella americana
Poncirus trifoliata
Populus deltoides
Prosopis glandulosa
Prunus americana
Prunus angustifolia
Prunus gracilis
Prunus hortulana
Prunus mexicana
Prunus munsoniana
Prunus rivularis
Prunus serotina
Prunus virginiana
Ptelea trifoliata
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Q
Quercus acerifolia
Quercus alba
Quercus buckleyi
Quercus falcata
Quercus fusiformis
Quercus gambelii
Quercus havardii
Quercus imbricaria
Quercus incana
Quercus lyrata
Quercus macrocarpa
Quercus margarettiae
Quercus marilandica
Quercus michauxii
Quercus mohriana
Quercus muehlenbergii
Quercus nigra
Quercus pagoda
Quercus palustris
Quercus x pauciloba (Q. undulata)
Quercus phellos
Quercus prinoides
Quercus rubra
Quercus shumardii
Quercus sinuata var. breviloba
Quercus stellata
Quercus texana
Quercus velutina
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R
Rhamnus caroliniana
Rhododendron canescens
Rhododendron oblongifolium
Rhus aromatica
Rhus copallinum
Rhus glabra
Rhus lanceolata
Rhus microphylla
Rhus trilobata
Ribes aureum
Ribes cereum
Ribes curvatum
Ribes cynosbati
Ribes missouriense
Robinia hispida
Robinia pseudoacacia
Rosa arkansana
Rosa carolina
Rosa foliolosa
Rosa multiflora
Rosa setigera
Rosa woodsii
Rubus aboriginum
Rubus allegheniensis
Rubus argutus
Rubus bifrons
Rubus cuneifolius
Rubus deliciosus
Rubus flagellaris
Rubus idaeus
Rubus invisus
Rubus occidentalis
Rubus oklahomus
Rubus pensylvanicus
Rubus trivialis
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S
Sabal minor
Salix amygdaloides
Salix caroliniana
Salix exigua
Salix fragilis
Salix humilis
Salix nigra
Sambucus canadensis
Sambucus nigra
Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii
Sassafras albidum
Schrankia nuttallii, Schrankia uncinata
Senecio flaccidus var. flaccidus
Sideroxylon lanuginosum
Smilax bona-nox
Smilax glauca
Smilax laurifolia
Smilax rotundifolia
Smilax smallii
Smilax tamnoides
Sophora affinis
Staphylea trifolia
Styrax americana
Suaeda suffrutescens
Symphoricarpos occidentalis
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus
Symphoricarpos palmeri
Symplocos tinctoria
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T
Tamarix chinensis
Tamarix parviflora
Tamarix ramosissima
Taxodium distichum
Tilia americana
Tilia caroliniana
Toxicodendron pubescens
Toxicodendron radicans
Toxicodendron rydbergii
Trachelospermum difforme
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U
Ulmus alata
Ulmus americana
Ulmus crassifolia
Ulmus rubra
Ulmus serotina
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V
Vaccinium arboreum
Vaccinium corymbosum
Vaccinium fuscatum
Vaccinium pallidum
Vaccinium stamineum
Vaccinium virgatum
Viburnum rafinesquianum
Viburnum rufidulum
Vitis acerifolia
Vitis aestivalis
Vitis cinerea
Vitis mustangensis
Vitis palmata
Vitis riparia
Vitis rotundifolia
Vitis rupestris
Vitis vulpina
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W
Wisteria frutescens
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X
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Y
Yucca arkansana
Yucca filamentosa
Yucca glauca
Yucca harrimanae var. neomexicana
Yucca louisianensis
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Z
Zanthoxylum americanum
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis
Zanthoxylum hirsutum
Ziziphus obtusifolia
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Send comments to Bruce Hoagland
bhoagland@ou.edu
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Last update: 10/29/99
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