Bigleaf maple, or Oregon maple, Acer macrophyllum
Largest of the maple trees; the current national champion, in Lane County, OR, is 119' tall.  The palmate and deeply lobed leaves are also the largest of any maple, turning bright yellow in the fall.  Bark of mature trees is deeply furrowed and often covered by mosses, liverworts, ferns and lichens.  Used by many species of wildlife.  The wood was used by Native Americans, and is currently employed for furniture and musical instruments; the sweet sap can be boiled down into syrup.

Vine maple, Acer circinatum
A low-elevation tree of moist forests, usually small and shrub-like (but can grow to over 25 feet) with many branches.  The leaves are opposite, and palmately lobed with the points forming a circle, turning brilliant red in the fall, or more yellow when in the shade.  Vine maple grows by cloning, and can thrive after a disturbance.  The wood was used by Native Americans for tools and its thin branches for weaving.  The leaves are browsed by deer and elk; flowers, buds and seeds are eaten by small mammals and birds; insects, including bees, use the tree as well.

Douglas maple, or Rocky Mountain maple, Acer glabrum
A small, multi-stemmed tree, usually 20'-30', typically with opposite, smooth, three-lobed leaves that turn yellow to orange in the fall, and reddish winged seeds.  Found along streambanks and often in disturbed areas.  The strong stems were used by native peoples for bows and snowshoes.

Black cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa (formerly in the genus Frangula)
A fast-growing and large tree; the current record-holder, near Salem, OR, is 155' tall and 29' in circumfrance.  Leaves are alternate and elliptical with a crenated margin; flowers are yellow.  The seeds carry cottony fluff that is released into the air in spring.  The wood is brittle and very hard. Black cottonwood often grows on wet soils near streams. It was recently discovered that the tree can fix atmospheric nitrogen.

Golden giant chinquapin, or giant chinquapin, Castanopsis chrysophylla
Chinquapin grows as a shrub in hot and dry locations, but becomes a tree up to 148' tall in cool, moist areas.  The species is related to chestnuts, and can live as long as 500 years.  Leaves are lance-shaped, evergreen and leathery, with golden scales on the undersides.  A cluster of nuts in a spiny burr is produced in the fall; the nuts were roasted and eaten by native peoples.  The tree is the only known host of the Golden Streak butterfly.

Oregon white Oak or Garry oak, Quercus garryana
Can be a large shrub or a tree as tall as 100' with deciduous, alternate leaves.  In Oregon, the tree is found mainly on the west side of the Cascades, and often has mistletoe, and/or galls produced by wasps.  Native americans ate the acorns, as do bears and other wildlife.  The dense wood has been used for fenceposts and furniture, and makes excellent firewood.

Pacific madrone, Arbutus menziesii
A striking evergreen tree with flaky, bright red-orange bark  that leaves a shiny smooth surface when it peels.  The tree can reach almost 100' in height, but is usually smaller.  Leaves are glossy dark green, alternate, simple and ovate.  The flowers are white, bell-shaped and small, and the berries are bright red-orange.  Madrone often grows alongside Douglas-fir.  Many kinds of birds eat the berries and also use the tree for their nests.  Native peoples made tea from the bark.