Of course, planted individuals can be found far outside of a species' native range.

Each species has a range, or the broad area in which temperature, rainfall, and other environmental conditions allow the species to grow and reproduce. These trees are either native to this continent or naturalized, that is, originating in some other area but having become widespread and capable of reproducing outside of cultivation. Several hundred species of trees are found in North America. Gymnosperms do not have flowers their seeds are not inside a fruit (the term means naked seeds) but are typically borne in cones, so most gymnosperms can also be called conifers (cone- bearing trees) pines, spruces, and firs are gymnosperms and conifers (Table 1). Angiosperms are flowering plants, with seeds inside fruits that develop from the flowers oaks, hickories, and maples are all angiosperms. Tree BasicsĪlong with other plants that reproduce by seeds (some plants reproduce by spores, not seeds), trees are classified into two groups, based on whether or not they produce flowers. Scientific names of all species mentioned are listed in Appendix 1 at the end of this article. This article provides a basic introduction to Virginia's trees and a foundation for assessing the connections between water and trees. Tree structures and functions influence at least four major areas of water-resources concerns: water quality aquatic habitat water quantity and the interactions among water, climate, and energy use.

Today the connections between forests and water are widely reported in the news media, promoted by natural resource agencies, and investigated by specialists such as hydrologists, dendrologists, foresters, forest biologists, and water managers. Since at least the late 1800s, scientists and forest managers in the United States have recognized that forests have strong influences on water resources.

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