This app was adapted from a handbook that was prepared for the Mississippi Forestry Commission by the Department of Forestry at Mississippi State University. Publication of the handbook was made possible through a grant from the U.S. Forest Service to the Mississippi Forestry Commission.

Trees (forests) represent a huge economic benefit to the state of Mississippi. Forests occupy about 65% of the land area of Mississippi and timber is second only to poultry production in terms of agricultural income in Mississippi. Tree identification is an obvious necessity for those who work in forestry and related fields. For those who simply enjoy the woods for recreational or aesthetic reasons, being able to identify the trees can make the experience even more enjoyable. It is our desire that this book will be beneficial to both the professional and the recreational user.

Tree Names

All known plants, including trees, have a scientific name and usually one or more common names. For example, the scientific name for cherrybark oak is Quercus pagoda Raf.., but cherrybark oak, spanish oak, swamp red oak, are all common names for the same species. For that reason the scientific name is less confusing and far more descriptive. The term pagoda in the scientific name for cherrybark oak denotes the pagoda shape of the outline of the leaves.

The scientific name e.g., Quercus pagoda Raf.., is composed of three parts. The first part is the genus or generic name, the second part is the species or specific epithet, and the third part is the authority or name, often given as an abbreviation, of the person who classified the species and gave it a scientific name.