Forestry B/C

[caseyotis]

I wish we could get preserved specimens.

What do you get mixed up? I'm not so good with this kind of thing, but I know that Birch trees have a very distinctive bark, and hornbeams have more ridged bark (vertically) if that makes sense. The leaves look almost exactly the same though (yellow/American). I've noticed that yellow birch leaves are a tad bit darker, and if the specimen shows the stem of the leaf, the yellow birch's stem is more green than the hornbeam's generally reddish/brown stem. Again, this isn't 100% accurate, but it's just what I've observed.

[wushuhimexx]

Oh I wish we got bark references in competition, that would help then. My main problem with those leaves is just that the margins and shape look the exact same, so im forever mixing them up =_= I've never noticed the thing about the stems before though! I'll keep that in mind as a possible tell :o

[caseyotis]

Eh, we usually don't either. .-. I just thought it was something...
I feel your pain. That was the only telltale difference I could find, though.

[sofan]

I seriously need help. The coach for my team just put me and and idk anything about trees. I know the basics.(about trees) ( I know a few species of trees) And i don't have time to study due to homework and projects. would someone reply and post links for me to study for?
Thanks

[caseyotis]

Goodness, that's harsh. Well, you've come to the right place.
Trees are really interesting, and it's fairly simple to get to know them. You need to have the Audubon National Guide to Trees (Western or Eastern, depending on where you live and what region you're doing). You have to have time to study though; you should, unless your homework takes seven hours to do, which is ridiculous. You can go here to find all sorts of resources (I find the PowerPoint very useful). The Audubon Guide is extremely important. I recommend tabbing it or something, so you can find trees very easily. You will most likely be presented with specimens that you have to identify using the guide (you may be presented with leaves, flowers, bark, fruit, etc.). If you dedicate yourself, the event is pretty simple, though.

[PicturePerfect]

Gah... I'm new to Sci Olympiad... How do you guys study for forestry? And does anyone have a more localized tree list for California (Sacramento Invitational)?

[PicturePerfect]

Goodness, that's harsh. Well, you've come to the right place.
Trees are really interesting, and it's fairly simple to get to know them. You need to have the Audubon National Guide to Trees (Western or Eastern, depending on where you live and what region you're doing). You have to have time to study though; you should, unless your homework takes seven hours to do, which is ridiculous. You can go here to find all sorts of resources (I find the PowerPoint very useful). The Audubon Guide is extremely important. I recommend tabbing it or something, so you can find trees very easily. You will most likely be presented with specimens that you have to identify using the guide (you may be presented with leaves, flowers, bark, fruit, etc.). If you dedicate yourself, the event is pretty simple, though.

Wait so can we have the guide at the competition? O.o

[jma]

Gah... I'm new to Sci Olympiad... How do you guys study for forestry? And does anyone have a more localized tree list for California (Sacramento Invitational)?

Well, I live in California but not Sacramento so you might have to look in a more specific place for the tree list. Anyways, it's not that complicated to study. I think it's really helpful to get lots of different sources to study all the features of a tree. That way you can learn as much as you can about that tree. Some really helpful books are the Audubon guide(western since you live in Sacramento), and the National Federation Guide to Trees of North America. After you have gone through the trees several times, take a practice test or go onto the Forestry ID thread and test yourself.

[PicturePerfect]

Gah... I'm new to Sci Olympiad... How do you guys study for forestry? And does anyone have a more localized tree list for California (Sacramento Invitational)?

Well, I live in California but not Sacramento so you might have to look in a more specific place for the tree list. Anyways, it's not that complicated to study. I think it's really helpful to get lots of different sources to study all the features of a tree. That way you can learn as much as you can about that tree. Some really helpful books are the Audubon guide(western since you live in Sacramento), and the National Federation Guide to Trees of North America. After you have gone through the trees several times, take a practice test or go onto the Forestry ID thread and test yourself.

So basically just like go over the tree list over and over? (I don't live in Sacramento, just that our invitational is over there. Would that make a difference in the tree list? I live in SoCal.)

Thanks!

BTW I like Taylor Swift + the Civil Wars too

[caseyotis]

Flash cards are really amazing. I found myself able to remember everything after a week or so of studying them.
And the guide is very important. Chances are, you won't know exactly what the tree is, so you'll have to be able to flip through the guide to find the tree easily. Familiarize yourself with it. It's your best friend.