The American Indians waited until their children developed a personality and then gave a name to fit this personality. For instance: Swift of Foot might be given to someone that was able to run fast; Walks Softly could be given to someone that was on the quiet side.
In nature, trees, birds, insects and animals are often known by other names than their scientific names. For example, trees have many local names. Where we lived before coming to Troy, we had two large trees in front of our house. Throughout the year, this tree was known as “that tree with the pretty white blossoms”; “ that messy cigar tree” and “that darn messy tree with the huge leaves”. From these descriptions, I’m sure you recognize that the trees were catalpa trees. Lumbermen and foresters have much different names for this same tree.
In order to avoid confusion, trees have been given scientific names that are always in either Latin or Greek, which are the universal languages. However, when trying to spell and pronounce these scientific names, I find it very difficult.
The scientific names are based on what is known as the binominal system, which was devised by the Swedish botanist Linnaeus, in 1753. Linnaeus is known as the Father of Modern Taxonomic Botany. Prior to this time, there had been neither an accepted nor uniform method of naming plants and living things.
The first part of the scientific name is known as the generic name and the first letter always begins with a capital letter. For example, all oaks are grouped together in the genus Quercus, and all pines are grouped in the genus Pinus. The second part of the scientific name is known as the specific name or the name of a particular species. Specific names are not capitalized. Our Eastern White Pine's scientific name is Pinus strobus. Pinus is the classical Latin name for pine tree, while strobus is the Latin name for pine cone. Our Northern Red Oak's scientific name is Quercus rubra. Quercus is the classical Latin name of the oaks, while rubra means red. Learning the name of a tree is only the beginning of your personal knowledge of that tree.
Trees have played an important part in our history. Many treaties were made and signed under special trees. Trees have also marked graves of loved ones. Through the years, trees have worked their way into our folklore and daily lives. At one time, it was a custom for a newly married couple when setting up housekeeping to plant two maples in front of their new home. Take a ride around the countryside and be on the look out for old farm houses, with two large maple trees growing in the front yard. You will be surprised at how many still remain.
During the winter months when most trees are bare, my wife is always drawing my attention to a tree’s symmetry. Mary Alice says that at this time of the year a tree’s beauty isn't hidden by a leaf canopy. However, it is during the winter when most people have a hard time identifying trees. Without their leaves to aid in identification, many of us must resort to a book on trees. The bark, buds and limbs are the tree's fingerprints, and once these are known, you'll have no problem in identifying a tree during the four seasons.
No matter if you call a tree by either its local name, common name or Latin name, you'll have to agree with me, trees are interesting in all seasons. Trees are a special gift from our creator. Here is my wife's favorite poem about trees,
Many a tree is found in the woods,
And every tree for its use is good,
Some for the strength of the gnarled root,
Some for the sweetness of flower or fruit;
Some for shelter against the storm.
And some to keep the hearthstone warm.
Some for the roof and some for the beam,
And some for a boat to breast the storm;
In the wealth of the wood since the world began
The trees have offered their gifts to man. By Henry Van Dyke.