MODULE 3 - TREES & SHRUBS

TREES & SHRUBS — FLOWERING, LEAFING & FOREST LAYERS

Timing: Late March | Est. Study Time: 4–5 hours

Overview

Before leaves fill the canopy, Ozark trees and shrubs put on a dramatic floral display. This module covers spring-flowering woody plants, leaf-out phenology, and the layered structure of the Ozark forest.

Topics Covered

•       Dominant Ozark trees: Oaks (White, Black, Post, Chinkapin), Hickories, Shortleaf Pine

•       Spring-flowering trees and shrubs: Redbud, Dogwood, Wild Plum, Serviceberry, Pawpaw

•       The layered forest: canopy, understory, shrub layer, herbaceous layer

•       Leaf-out sequence and the spring light window for understory plants

•      Microtopography and slope effects

•      Tree identification using winter buds, bark, and early spring features