Florida, with its temperate to subtropical/tropical climate, supports a diverse array of tree and palm species. Each tree has unique identifying features, uses, history, and place in Florida ecosystems and urban landscapes. Similarly, different species have different maintenance requirements, stress tolerances, green log weights, and failure profiles – making proper tree identification a critical first step in many arboricultural practices. This workshop is ideal for local or visiting arborists and professionals who want to expand their tree identification skills and increase their knowledge of species that are perhaps out of their existing repertoire. Participants will be introduced to the most common and most interesting species found in the Sunshine State.
A practical, hands-on portion of the workshop will draw on “Trees: North and Central Florida” (Koeser et al. 2015) a book and mobile app intended to serve as a primary field identification guide to those interested in increasing their knowledge about the trees in Florida. Participants, led by the instructors, will learn the basics of taxonomy, dichotomous key use, and proper tree identification based primarily on leaf morphology. Plant samples and an indoor/outdoor walking tour of the Gaylord Palms facility will ensure hand-on exposure and experience with the species being examined. Upon completion, participants will be able to properly identify the most common species in the urban landscape and will know (among other interesting facts) which native Floridian tree is so poisonous; people are advised not to stand below it during a rain storm.