Identification should include differentiation among

anatomical characteristics of species (e.g., leaf, bark, bud)
ecoregion
forest cover type
potential natural vegetation
naturalized
invasive.

Teacher Resources:

Common Native Trees of Virginia Identification Guide Book. Virginia Department of Forestry (https://www.dof.virginia.gov/infopubs/Native-Tree-ID_2020.pdf).
Common Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of Virginia, Virginia Department of Forestry (https://dof.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/Common-Native-Shrubs-and-Woody-Vines-ID-spreads_pub.pdf).
Hardin, James W., Donald J. Leopold, and Fred M. White. Harlow & Harrar’s Textbook of Dendrology.
Native Plants, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/nativeplants).
Schoon, Kenneth. City Trees: ID Guide to Urban and Suburban.
Silvics of North America,S. Department of Agriculture. 1990. (https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654_vol1.pdf).
State of the Forest Annual Report on Virginia's Forests, Virginia Department of Forestry, (https://dof.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/SOF-2020_pub.pdf)
Virginia Tech Dendrology, Virginia Tech college of Natural Resources and Environment, 2021. (http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/main.htm).
Williams, Dan D., and Bill J. Lott. FFA Georgia State and National Tree Lists. 2012.
Dendrology, Virginia Tech (http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/main.htm).
FFA Georgia State and National Tree Lists, by Bill J. Lott and Dan D. Williams (2012)
Harlow & Harrar’s Textbook of Dendrology, current edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Book Company
Native Plants, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/nativeplants).
Silvics of North America, Handbook #654, volume one and two, U.S. Forest Service, P. O. Box 2417, 12th and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20013

Process/Skill Questions:

How do environmental factors influence species location?
What characteristics are used to identify trees?
How is leaf size affected by the tree’s environment?
How are simple leaves distinguished from compound leaves?
What are trade-offs between native and nonnative plants?
How do invasive plants affect native ecosystems?