New England hardwoods – trees and shrubs with alternate compound leaves: one leaf grows from each stem node and each leaf has smaller leaflets.
The largest family in this group is Rosaceae, containing the well-known Roses (Rosa), both wild and ornamental. Also in this family are the small forest trees called Mountain-Ashes (Sorbus), and the shrubby Blackberries and Raspberries (Rubus).
The family Anacardiaceae contains the Sumacs (Rhus), with large terminal flower clusters that attract numerous pollinators, as well as Poison Ivy and its rarer relative Poison Sumac, both in the genus Toxicodendron.
The family Juglandaceae comprises the Hickories (Carya) and Walnuts (Juglans), large and important woodland trees found throughout eastern North America.
Fabaceae is one of the largest plant families – the herbaceous members, such as clover, peas, and beans, feed both humans and our domestic animals. The woody species of the family in New England are non-native ornamentals.
A total of 24 species from 5 plant families are covered in this category:
Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica)
Winged Sumac (Rhus copallinum)
Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)
Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)
Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)
Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis)
Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra)
Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)
Butternut (Juglans cinerea)
Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)
Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)
Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
Bristly Locust (Robinia hispida)
Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
Carolina Rose (Rosa carolina)
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris)
Beach Rose (Rosa rugosa)
Virginia Rose (Rosa virginiana)
Common Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis)
Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)
American Mountain-Ash (Sorbus americana)
Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus) (Ailanthus altissima)
