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eolhc2023 wrote: ↑April 20th, 2023, 9:41 am Question: Can someone explain the major difference between American and Slippery Elm?
Slippery Elm has larger and rougher leaves, and I usually know when one of the following questions is about the source of it's name (even though this doesn't always work). I've compared many images of the two, but sometimes the differences I know about aren't obvious or don't even show. Is there any other way to tell the difference?

Only super-visible differences I can think of is seedpods. American Elm has the little more wing-y ones with the two things while Slippery elm has the ones which are kinda red and green and look "bigger" and more flat on the outsides (sorry idk how to describe).

This iNat blogpost covers a lot of the more subtle differences between the two. https://www.inaturalist.org/posts/20573 ... d-for-2020
Some of these are diagnostic, while others of them might not be as diagnostic but still really helpful!

happy woodlands!

should I worry about scientific name synonyms? Right now I have common name synonyms on my notes, but I'm wondering if I should put these (listed on wikipedia) - I'll use balsam fir as an example.

Pinus balsamea L.
Abies balsamifera Michx.
Peuce balsamea (L.) Rich.
Abies hudsonia Bosc ex Jacques
Picea balsamea (L.) Loudon
Abies minor Duhamel ex Gordon

onshape wrote: ↑July 7th, 2023, 2:57 pm should I worry about scientific name synonyms? Right now I have common name synonyms on my notes, but I'm wondering if I should put these (listed on wikipedia) - I'll use balsam fir as an example.

Pinus balsamea L.
Abies balsamifera Michx.
Peuce balsamea (L.) Rich.
Abies hudsonia Bosc ex Jacques
Picea balsamea (L.) Loudon
Abies minor Duhamel ex Gordon

I would learn only the scientific name that occurs on the national tree list (in this case, Abies balsamea). Even if the list is wrong or outdated for a scientific name, you shouldn't be counted wrong if you put the name on the list. I've never seen a question ask for a scientific name synonym, and there's so much variation and uncertainty in taxonomy that I don't think you need to worry about synonyms.

What's the point of this question on the 2023 Sierra Vista invite test?

103. What university has the only full-time research program in the world? (1pt)
Kentucky State University (KSU)

onshape wrote: ↑July 11th, 2023, 6:24 pm What's the point of this question on the 2023 Sierra Vista invite test?

103. What university has the only full-time research program in the world? (1pt)
Kentucky State University (KSU)

https://www.kysu.edu/academics/college- ... /index.php
"Kentucky State University has the only full-time Pawpaw research program in the world as part of the KSU Land Grant Program."

so im guessing that the question was prob truncated by accident by writer

Question:
For the Audubon Society field guide, are we allowed to have both the eastern and western versions as a field guide, or do we need to have the entire thing in a single book?

treesdea wrote: ↑August 2nd, 2023, 7:05 am Question:
For the Audubon Society field guide, are we allowed to have both the eastern and western versions as a field guide, or do we need to have the entire thing in a single book?

I always thought we could only have one book. What's the need for two field guides, anyway?

onshape wrote: ↑August 2nd, 2023, 12:25 pm

treesdea wrote: ↑August 2nd, 2023, 7:05 am Question:
For the Audubon Society field guide, are we allowed to have both the eastern and western versions as a field guide, or do we need to have the entire thing in a single book?

I always thought we could only have one book. What's the need for two field guides, anyway?

Some versions of the Audubon Society field guide have it split into two separate guides.

I wouldn't risk it. Having the guide split into two sounds annoying, and you might run into some trouble with event supervisors(this is why you bring a copy of the rules and Event Clarifications on soinc.org to competitions).

However, if you already have that specific guide I can see why you wouldn't want to purchase two. Going off of my R&M knowledge and 2023's rules, I would suggest you submit a question to soinc.org. The rules just say "a field guide," which is vague.

https://www.soinc.org/events/frequently-asked-questions

treesdea wrote: ↑August 2nd, 2023, 7:05 am Question:
For the Audubon Society field guide, are we allowed to have both the eastern and western versions as a field guide, or do we need to have the entire thing in a single book?

In past years they allowed two field guides but I'm pretty sure it's now limited to one per team. You might as well just get the 2021 edition (the information is similar anyway)