Dichotomous Key to Trees
What Is A Dichotomous Key?
Dichotomous keys are designed to assist people with the identification of all types of living things from plants to microbes.
The word dichotomous comes from dichotomy meaning branching, contrasting or opposite ideas. A dichotomous key gives you a series of steps with a set of choices which are opposite or contrasting in nature that are initially very general and become more specific as one proceeds through the steps. By analyzing the physical characteristics of the object/organism in question and using the steps and choices given in the key, the observer can identify an object/organism based upon established traits.
Dichotomous keys are designed to assist people with the identification of all types of living things from plants to microbes.
The word dichotomous comes from dichotomy meaning branching, contrasting or opposite ideas. A dichotomous key gives you a series of steps with a set of choices which are opposite or contrasting in nature that are initially very general and become more specific as one proceeds through the steps. By analyzing the physical characteristics of the object/organism in question and using the steps and choices given in the key, the observer can identify an object/organism based upon established traits.
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DICHOTOMOUS KEY TO DECIDUOUS TREES OF PENNSYLVANIA
1. Leaves opposite………………………..........................................................................................................................................…………………………….2
2. Leaves simple……………………………………..................................................................................................................................…………….. Key A
2. Leaves compound………………………................................................................................................................................……………………….Key B
1. Leaves alternate………………….........................................................................................................................................………………………………….3
3. Leaves compound……………………….................................................................................................................................……………………….Key C
3. Leaves simple……………………………..................................................................................................................................………………………Key D
Key A - Trees with Opposite Simple Leaves
1. Leaves lobed………………………………………….................................................................................................................................……………..Maples
1. Leaves not lobed………………………………........................................................................................................................................…………………….2
2. Typical leaves more than 6 inches long…………….....................................................................................................................……………Catalpa
2. Typical leaves never 6 inches long…………….............................................................................................................………Flowering Dogwood
Key B - Trees With Opposite Compound Leaves
1. Leaves with 3 or less leaflets…………………….....................................................................................................................…………………Bladdernut
1. Leaves with more than 3 leaflets………………………...................................................................................................................................……………2
2. Leaves palmately compound…………….................................................................................................................………………….Horse Chestnut
2. Leaves pinnately compound…………………......................................................................................................................................………………. 3
3. Leaflets mostly 3-7, coarsely toothed; twigs with conspicuous white bloom ……........................................................…………Ash-leaved maple
3. Leaflets mostly 5-11, with fine teeth or no teeth; conspicuous white bloom absent……………….........................................................…….. Ashes
Key C - Trees with Alternate Compound Leaves
1. Some leaflets compound, others simple…………………...................................................................................................................................……….2
2. Edge of leaflets without teeth……………....................................................................................................................…… Kentucky coffee tree
2. Edge of leaflets with teeth…………………….......................................................................................................................................……………….3
3. Unbranched thorns present; leaves large, sometimes 3 ft. across; base of the leaf talk clasping the twig……......................…… Hercules club
3. Branched thorns present; leaves never more than 1 ft. across, usually half of that.………………………………......................……….. Honey Locust
1. All leaflets simple……………………………….......................................................................................................................................……………………..4
4. Thorns present………………………………….....................................................................................................................................……………………5
5. Edge of leaflets without teeth, thorns short, unbranched........................................................................................................... Black Locust
5. Edge of leaflets with very fine teeth; thorns branched…........................................................................................................... Honey Locust
4. Thorns absent…………………………….....................................................................................................................................………………………….6
6. Leaflets notched at attachment of leaflet stalk………………........................................................................................................................……7
7. Leaflets with 1-6 irregularly rounded teeth; terminal leaflet present…………………………………......................................……………………Ailanthus
7. Leaflets with many small teeth; terminal leaflet often absent….............................................................................................. Black Walnut
6. Leaflets not notched at attachment of leaflet stalk…………......................................................................................................................……..8
8. Leaflets <1 in. wide in typical leaf………………….............................................................................................................................…………..9
9. Terminal bud present, purplish in color………............................................................................................................……… Mountain Ash
9. Terminal bud absent……………………………..........................................................................................................................………Sumachs
8. Leaflets more than 1 in. in typical leaf……………..........................................................................................................................……………10
10. Leaflets all about the same size; more than 9 present; terminal leaflet usually present……………………………………………...........…. Butternut
10. Terminal leaflets usually much larger than others; 9 or less leaflets present……………………………………………………....................... Hickories
Key D - trees with alternate simple leaves
1. Leaves lobed………………………………………………………….....................................................................................................................................…..2
2. Leaves fan-shaped, usually 1-3 lobes present……………...............................................................................................................……………Ginko
2. Leaves not fan-shaped…………………………………................................................................................................................................………………3
3. Leaves notched toward base of leaf, (palmately lobed)………...................................................................................................................…….4
4. Leaves somewhat star shaped; 5-7 lobes……………..............................................................................................................….. Sweet Gum
4. Leaves not star shaped, although lobed……………….......................................................................................................................…………..5
5. Base of leaf stalk hollow, petiole covers bud………................................................................................................................… Sycamore
5. Base of leaf stalk not hollow; underside of leaf white and hairy….…………………………………….....................................…………………… Poplars
3. Leaves notched toward midvein, (pinnately lobed)……………......................................................................................................................…..6
6. Leaves with 3-5 veins radiating outwards from near the base of the leaf…...................................................................................................7
7. Edges of leaf without teeth……………………………….................................................................................................................... Sassafras
7. Edges of leaf with teeth……………………………….....................................................................................................................…………………8
8. Twigs, terminal buds, and underside of leaf whitish with a soft fuzz……………………………………………...................................………… Apples
8. Twigs, terminal buds, and leaves without fuzz………..........................................................................................................……Mulberry
6. Leaves with one main vein…………………………………….....................................................................................................................………….9
9. Top of leaf notched………………………………...............................................................................................................................……...Tulip
9. Top of leaf not notched………………………….......................................................................................................................…………………..10
10. Leaves 4-10 in. long; fruit an acorn…………….........................................................................................................................….. Oaks
10. Leaves <4 in. long; fruit fleshy……………………………….................................................................................................................…...11
11. Thorns, if present, with buds on them…………...................................................................................................................... Apples
11. Thorns present, without buds…………………................................................................................................................... Hawthorne
3. Leaves notched neither towards base nor midvein, (neither palmately nor pinnately lobed)……………………………………………............……………... 12
12. Leaves with 3-5 main veins extending upwards from the base or near the base of the leaf………………………………………………………...........… 13
13. Edge of leaf without teeth; some leaves lobed……….............................................................................................................…Sassafras
13. Edge of leaf with teeth; leaves both lobed and unlobed….........................................................................................................Mulberry
12. Leaves with one main vein from the base of the leaf……………...........................................................................................................….. 14
14. Top of leaf notched…………………………………..............................................................................................................................…..Tulip
14. Top of leaf not notched……………………………………….......................................................................................................................….. 15
15. Thorns present without buds on them……………..............................................................................................................…Hawthorne
15. Thorns, when present, with buds on them……….............................................................................................................…. Crabapple
1. Leaves not lobed………………………………………………………..........................................................................................................................……….. 16
16. Edges of leaves without teeth of any kind……………………………................................................................................................................…… 17
17. Leaves with 3-5 main veins radiating upwards from the base or near the base……………………………………………………………..............……………. 18
18. Base of leaf notched at attachment of leaf stalk…………................................................................................................................ Redbud
18. base of leaf not notched………………………………....................................................................................................................….. Sassafras
17. Leaves with one main vein………………………………………......................................................................................................................…….. 19
19. Typical leaves more than 5 in. long………………………..............................................................................................................… Cucumber
19. Typical leaves less than 5 in. long…………………………………..................................................................................................................... 20
20. Buds clustered at end of twigs; leaves bristle-tipped……................................................................................................................ Oaks
20. Buds not clustered; leaves not bristle-tipped……………………................................................................................................................ 21
21. Leaves usually long and slender; bud covered with a single bud scale ..…..................................................................................Willow
21. Leaves about twice as long as wide, not longer; several bud scales covering bud……………………………………… ………………………………..…22
22. Buds and twigs white woolly; leaves white woolly beneath…………….....................................................................................… Apple
22. Buds and twigs not white woolly……………………. …………………….................................................................................................….23
23. Leaves widest above the middle with tapering tips…………….......................................................................................... Sour Gum
23. Leaves widest at or below middle; without tapering tips……...............................................................................................…. Pear
16. Edges of leaves with teeth…………………………………………………………...........................................................................................................… 24
24. Leaves with 3-5 main veins radiating upwards from the base or from near the base....................................................................................25
25. Some leaves Lobed, others unlobed; teeth rounded…………................................................................................................……....Mulberry
25. None of the leaves lobed; teeth not rounded…………………..................................................................................................…………...…… 26
26. Base of leaf lopsided, (higher on one side than the other)…………..............................................................................................…...…..27
27. Leaves long and tapering………………………………...............................................................................................................…Hackberry
27. Leaves about as long as wide……………………….........................................................................................................…….... Basswood
26. Base of leaf not lopsided…………………………………...........................................................................................................…......... Poplars
24. Leaves with one main vein………………………………………………...............................................................................................................…… 28
28. Base of leaf lopsided……………………………....................................................................................................................……………........ Elms
28. Base of leaf not lopsided…………………………………………….............................................................................................................…....…. 29
29. One or more glands present on the base of the leaf or on the upper portion of undo that the leaf stalk………………..………………………....… 30
30. Leaf stalks flattened………………………...................................................................................................................…………....... Poplars
30. Leaf stalks round……………………….......................................................................................................………...... Cherries And Plums
29. Glands absent………………………………………………………......................................................................................................................... 31
31. Leaves with large teeth with one point………………………….............................................................................................................… 32
32. Leaves short and broad, about as long as wide………………............................................................................................................ 33
33. Leaf stalks flattened; plants never thorny……....................................................................................................................Poplars
33. Leaf stalks round plants thorny .………….........................................................................................................…….......Hawthorne
32. Leaves elongated; twice as long as broad or longer…………........................................................................................................... 34
34. Leaves more than twice as long as wide; buds covered with a single bud scale……………………………..................................…. Willow
34. Leaves broader; buds with several bud scales………….....................................................................................................…........ 35
35. Buds clustered at end of twigs, fruit an acorn……………...................................................................................................... Oaks
35. Terminal buds not clustered………………........................................................………………...........................................……......…36
36. Buds long and sharp-pointed, bark gray……..…...................................................................................................…........Beech
36. Buds short and blunt; bark black………………..................................................................................................…....... Chestnut
31. Leaves with very fine teeth or teeth with several points (compound teeth)…………………………………………………....................….......……..37
37. One or more glands (prunus)on leaf stalk or base of leaf blade…...................................................................................................38
38. Leaf stalks flattened……………………………...........................................................................................................….......……Poplars
38. Leaf stalks not flattened…………………............................................................................................……….......Cherries and Plums
37. Glands absent……………………………………………............................................................................................................…….......….. 39
39. Bark peeling circularly; lenticels elongated transversely………………………………………...................................……………….......…Birches
39. Bark not peeling circularly; lenticels not elongated……............................................................................................................… 40
40. Leaf stalks flattened…………………....................................................................................................................……........Poplars
40. Leaf stalks not flattened………………………...............................................................................................................……........…41
41. Leaves very long and slender, or single bud scale covering the bud…………………..........................................…….......... Willow
41. Buds covered by several scales; leaves broader….............................................................................................................. 42
42. Twigs, terminal buds, and underside of leaves white and woolly with fuzz………….....................................………......... Apple
42. Twigs, terminal buds, and leaves not as above…........................................................................................................... 43
43. Leaves with simple teeth or no teeth; upper surface of leaves shiny……………………..........................................…...... Pear
43. Leaves with compound teeth……………...................................................................................................................…. 44
44. Bark shredded……………….......................................................................................................…........Hop Hornbeam
44. Bark smooth with rounded ridges…...........................................................................................................Hornbeam
Apples
1. Branches not thorny; leaves not lobed, leaves and bonds often covered with white woolly Fuzz………………………………………………………………..… Apple
1. Branches thorny; leaves Lobed or doubly toothed…………………........................................................................................…..…… Wild Creek Apple
Ashes
1. Lateral leaflets without leaflets stalks……………………………………............................................................................................................. Black Ash
1. Lateral leaflets with leaflets stalks………………………………………..........................................................................................................…...White Ash
Birches
1. Leaves with long tapering tips; bark grayish-white, not self peeling; mostly shrubby trees………………………………………………………………..... Gray Birch
1. Leaves without long tapering tips…………………………………………………..........................................................................................................………. 2
2. Leaves not notched at attachment of leaf stalk; bark white and self peeling; trees….…………………………………………………………….…..... White Birch
2. Leaves slightly notched at attachment of leaf stalk; bark not white…………….........................................................................................……....... 3
3. Bark yellowish; self peeling; leaves folded lengthwise along the midrib.. .....................................................................................Yellow Birch
3. Bark black, not self peeling; leaves smaller and not folded……..............................................................................................…..... Black Birch
Elms
1. Leaves very rough on the upper surface; buds dark brown with rusty brown hair..…………………………………………………………………………...Slippery Elm
1. Leaves smooth on the upper surface; buds light brown without the rusty brown hair..…………………………………………….. American Elm/Chinese Elm
Hickories
1. Leaflets mostly 5-7…………………………………...............................................................................................................………………….………………….. 2
2. Terminal leaflets much larger than lower lateral leaflets…………........................................................................................…. Shagbark Hickory
2. Terminal leaflets about the same size as lower laterals……………..............................................................................................…Pignut Hickory
1. Leaflets mostly 7-9…………………………………………………………….................................................................................................................……………3
3. Buds conspicuously yellow……………………………………..................................................................................................…...….. Swamp Bitternut
3. Buds not conspicuously yellow…………………………………......................……........................................................................... Mockernut Hickory
Maples
1. Leaves pinnately compound………………………………………....................................................................................................…… Ash-Leaved Maple
1. Leaves simple……………………………………..................................................................................................................………………………….……………..2
2. Leaves silvery white beneath…………………………………...........................................................................................................…………..……………..3
3. Leaves very conspicuously veined; buds with 3-4 pairs of buds scales...................................................................................Sycamore Maple
3. Leaves less veiny buds with 6-8 pairs of bud scales……………………...................................................................................................…………...4
4. Sides of notches between lobes straight………………….....................................................................................................……..…. Red Maple
4. Sides of notches between lobes curved………………………....................................................................................................….. Silver Maple
2. Leaves not silvery white beneath……………………………………………............................................................................................................………..5
5. Central lobes with five points; sap from leaf stalk milky; buds large and blunt with a few bud scales…………………………………….… Norway maple
5. Central lobe with 1-3 points……………………………………..............................................................................................................…………………..6
6. Leaves with 1 point on central lobe; buds with 6-8 pairs of buds scales; leaves slightly hairy beneath……………………………………… Black Maple
6. Leaves with 3 points on central lobe; leaves not hairy on the underside.................................................................................. Sugar Maple
Oaks
1. Leaves without any bristle tips; lobes rounded on the ends…………………...................................................................................................…………..2
2. Leaves lobed deeply toward midrib……………………………...........................................................................................................…….. White Oak
2. Leaves with rounded wavy teeth on the edge of the leaf………….............................................................................................….. Chestnut Oak
1. Leaves with bristle tips at the tip or along the sides…………………………….....................................................................................................………...3
3. Leaves with neither teeth nor lobes on the margin………………....................................................................................................…… Laurel Oak
3. Leaves with teeth or lobes……………………………………………………….............................................................................................................……..4
4. Leaves usually dull on the upper surface; lobes not cut more than halfway to midrib; buds shiny brown and hairy……………………………. Red Oak
4. Leaves shiny on the upper surface; cut more than halfway…………………….................................................................................................……5
5. Lower notches widest at the edge of the leaf; leaves thick and shiny on upper surface; terminal buds with flattened sides ………….. Black Oak
5. Lower notches closing towards edge of leaf; buds hairy on upper half only; buds not flattened on the sides………………………….…. Scarlet Oak
Cherries and Plums
1. Leaves with rusty brown hair on the main vein on the underside of the leaf.............................................................................. Wild Black Cherry
1. Leaves without rusty brown hair on the underside…………………………......................................................................................................…………….2
2. Leaves with light colored hair on the underside of leaf blade…………......................................................................................................…. Plum
2. Leaves with no hair on the underside…………………………........................................................................................................…………….…………..3
3. Leaves widest above the middle in typical leaf…………………………….....................................................................................................…………4
4. Edge of leaves finely toothed; bud scales two colored………….........................................................................................….… Choke Cherry
4. Edges of leaves coarsely toothed; bud scales not two colored.......................................................................... Sweet Cherry/Sour Cherry
3. Leaves more elongated, widest at or below the middle……………………….................................................................................................………5
5. Buds hairy; leaves conspicuously folded lengthwise……………….......................................................................................................... Peach
5. Buds not hairy; leaves not conspicuously folded lengthwise; bark reddish or tan ………………………………...........................……….… Fire Cherry
Poplars
1. Leaves velvety and white woolly beneath; often lobed like maples……….........................................................................................… White Poplar
1. Leaves not velvety white woolly beneath; leaves not lobed……………................................................................................................………..………….2
2. Leaves triangular in shape; glossy on the upper surface; yellow-green in color………..........................................................................................3
3. Leaves with in-curved teeth; base mostly straight across…………........................................................................................….….. Cottonwood
3. Teeth not in-curved; sides of base sloping upwards………………...................................................................................….…. Lombardy Poplar
2. Leaves rounded and not triangular; dull on upper surface and gray-green in color……........................................................................................4
4. Leaves with large teeth on the edges; buds with a white bloom which rubs off……………………………………………………….... Large-Toothed Aspen
4. leaves with small teeth; buds glossy brown…………………................................................................................................……Trembling Aspen
Sumach
1. Leaves and twigs hairy…………………………………........................................................................................................………………Staghorn Sumach
1. Leaves and twigs not hairy………………………………….......................................................................................................………….. Smooth Sumach
1. Leaves opposite………………………..........................................................................................................................................…………………………….2
2. Leaves simple……………………………………..................................................................................................................................…………….. Key A
2. Leaves compound………………………................................................................................................................................……………………….Key B
1. Leaves alternate………………….........................................................................................................................................………………………………….3
3. Leaves compound……………………….................................................................................................................................……………………….Key C
3. Leaves simple……………………………..................................................................................................................................………………………Key D
Key A - Trees with Opposite Simple Leaves
1. Leaves lobed………………………………………….................................................................................................................................……………..Maples
1. Leaves not lobed………………………………........................................................................................................................................…………………….2
2. Typical leaves more than 6 inches long…………….....................................................................................................................……………Catalpa
2. Typical leaves never 6 inches long…………….............................................................................................................………Flowering Dogwood
Key B - Trees With Opposite Compound Leaves
1. Leaves with 3 or less leaflets…………………….....................................................................................................................…………………Bladdernut
1. Leaves with more than 3 leaflets………………………...................................................................................................................................……………2
2. Leaves palmately compound…………….................................................................................................................………………….Horse Chestnut
2. Leaves pinnately compound…………………......................................................................................................................................………………. 3
3. Leaflets mostly 3-7, coarsely toothed; twigs with conspicuous white bloom ……........................................................…………Ash-leaved maple
3. Leaflets mostly 5-11, with fine teeth or no teeth; conspicuous white bloom absent……………….........................................................…….. Ashes
Key C - Trees with Alternate Compound Leaves
1. Some leaflets compound, others simple…………………...................................................................................................................................……….2
2. Edge of leaflets without teeth……………....................................................................................................................…… Kentucky coffee tree
2. Edge of leaflets with teeth…………………….......................................................................................................................................……………….3
3. Unbranched thorns present; leaves large, sometimes 3 ft. across; base of the leaf talk clasping the twig……......................…… Hercules club
3. Branched thorns present; leaves never more than 1 ft. across, usually half of that.………………………………......................……….. Honey Locust
1. All leaflets simple……………………………….......................................................................................................................................……………………..4
4. Thorns present………………………………….....................................................................................................................................……………………5
5. Edge of leaflets without teeth, thorns short, unbranched........................................................................................................... Black Locust
5. Edge of leaflets with very fine teeth; thorns branched…........................................................................................................... Honey Locust
4. Thorns absent…………………………….....................................................................................................................................………………………….6
6. Leaflets notched at attachment of leaflet stalk………………........................................................................................................................……7
7. Leaflets with 1-6 irregularly rounded teeth; terminal leaflet present…………………………………......................................……………………Ailanthus
7. Leaflets with many small teeth; terminal leaflet often absent….............................................................................................. Black Walnut
6. Leaflets not notched at attachment of leaflet stalk…………......................................................................................................................……..8
8. Leaflets <1 in. wide in typical leaf………………….............................................................................................................................…………..9
9. Terminal bud present, purplish in color………............................................................................................................……… Mountain Ash
9. Terminal bud absent……………………………..........................................................................................................................………Sumachs
8. Leaflets more than 1 in. in typical leaf……………..........................................................................................................................……………10
10. Leaflets all about the same size; more than 9 present; terminal leaflet usually present……………………………………………...........…. Butternut
10. Terminal leaflets usually much larger than others; 9 or less leaflets present……………………………………………………....................... Hickories
Key D - trees with alternate simple leaves
1. Leaves lobed………………………………………………………….....................................................................................................................................…..2
2. Leaves fan-shaped, usually 1-3 lobes present……………...............................................................................................................……………Ginko
2. Leaves not fan-shaped…………………………………................................................................................................................................………………3
3. Leaves notched toward base of leaf, (palmately lobed)………...................................................................................................................…….4
4. Leaves somewhat star shaped; 5-7 lobes……………..............................................................................................................….. Sweet Gum
4. Leaves not star shaped, although lobed……………….......................................................................................................................…………..5
5. Base of leaf stalk hollow, petiole covers bud………................................................................................................................… Sycamore
5. Base of leaf stalk not hollow; underside of leaf white and hairy….…………………………………….....................................…………………… Poplars
3. Leaves notched toward midvein, (pinnately lobed)……………......................................................................................................................…..6
6. Leaves with 3-5 veins radiating outwards from near the base of the leaf…...................................................................................................7
7. Edges of leaf without teeth……………………………….................................................................................................................... Sassafras
7. Edges of leaf with teeth……………………………….....................................................................................................................…………………8
8. Twigs, terminal buds, and underside of leaf whitish with a soft fuzz……………………………………………...................................………… Apples
8. Twigs, terminal buds, and leaves without fuzz………..........................................................................................................……Mulberry
6. Leaves with one main vein…………………………………….....................................................................................................................………….9
9. Top of leaf notched………………………………...............................................................................................................................……...Tulip
9. Top of leaf not notched………………………….......................................................................................................................…………………..10
10. Leaves 4-10 in. long; fruit an acorn…………….........................................................................................................................….. Oaks
10. Leaves <4 in. long; fruit fleshy……………………………….................................................................................................................…...11
11. Thorns, if present, with buds on them…………...................................................................................................................... Apples
11. Thorns present, without buds…………………................................................................................................................... Hawthorne
3. Leaves notched neither towards base nor midvein, (neither palmately nor pinnately lobed)……………………………………………............……………... 12
12. Leaves with 3-5 main veins extending upwards from the base or near the base of the leaf………………………………………………………...........… 13
13. Edge of leaf without teeth; some leaves lobed……….............................................................................................................…Sassafras
13. Edge of leaf with teeth; leaves both lobed and unlobed….........................................................................................................Mulberry
12. Leaves with one main vein from the base of the leaf……………...........................................................................................................….. 14
14. Top of leaf notched…………………………………..............................................................................................................................…..Tulip
14. Top of leaf not notched……………………………………….......................................................................................................................….. 15
15. Thorns present without buds on them……………..............................................................................................................…Hawthorne
15. Thorns, when present, with buds on them……….............................................................................................................…. Crabapple
1. Leaves not lobed………………………………………………………..........................................................................................................................……….. 16
16. Edges of leaves without teeth of any kind……………………………................................................................................................................…… 17
17. Leaves with 3-5 main veins radiating upwards from the base or near the base……………………………………………………………..............……………. 18
18. Base of leaf notched at attachment of leaf stalk…………................................................................................................................ Redbud
18. base of leaf not notched………………………………....................................................................................................................….. Sassafras
17. Leaves with one main vein………………………………………......................................................................................................................…….. 19
19. Typical leaves more than 5 in. long………………………..............................................................................................................… Cucumber
19. Typical leaves less than 5 in. long…………………………………..................................................................................................................... 20
20. Buds clustered at end of twigs; leaves bristle-tipped……................................................................................................................ Oaks
20. Buds not clustered; leaves not bristle-tipped……………………................................................................................................................ 21
21. Leaves usually long and slender; bud covered with a single bud scale ..…..................................................................................Willow
21. Leaves about twice as long as wide, not longer; several bud scales covering bud……………………………………… ………………………………..…22
22. Buds and twigs white woolly; leaves white woolly beneath…………….....................................................................................… Apple
22. Buds and twigs not white woolly……………………. …………………….................................................................................................….23
23. Leaves widest above the middle with tapering tips…………….......................................................................................... Sour Gum
23. Leaves widest at or below middle; without tapering tips……...............................................................................................…. Pear
16. Edges of leaves with teeth…………………………………………………………...........................................................................................................… 24
24. Leaves with 3-5 main veins radiating upwards from the base or from near the base....................................................................................25
25. Some leaves Lobed, others unlobed; teeth rounded…………................................................................................................……....Mulberry
25. None of the leaves lobed; teeth not rounded…………………..................................................................................................…………...…… 26
26. Base of leaf lopsided, (higher on one side than the other)…………..............................................................................................…...…..27
27. Leaves long and tapering………………………………...............................................................................................................…Hackberry
27. Leaves about as long as wide……………………….........................................................................................................…….... Basswood
26. Base of leaf not lopsided…………………………………...........................................................................................................…......... Poplars
24. Leaves with one main vein………………………………………………...............................................................................................................…… 28
28. Base of leaf lopsided……………………………....................................................................................................................……………........ Elms
28. Base of leaf not lopsided…………………………………………….............................................................................................................…....…. 29
29. One or more glands present on the base of the leaf or on the upper portion of undo that the leaf stalk………………..………………………....… 30
30. Leaf stalks flattened………………………...................................................................................................................…………....... Poplars
30. Leaf stalks round……………………….......................................................................................................………...... Cherries And Plums
29. Glands absent………………………………………………………......................................................................................................................... 31
31. Leaves with large teeth with one point………………………….............................................................................................................… 32
32. Leaves short and broad, about as long as wide………………............................................................................................................ 33
33. Leaf stalks flattened; plants never thorny……....................................................................................................................Poplars
33. Leaf stalks round plants thorny .………….........................................................................................................…….......Hawthorne
32. Leaves elongated; twice as long as broad or longer…………........................................................................................................... 34
34. Leaves more than twice as long as wide; buds covered with a single bud scale……………………………..................................…. Willow
34. Leaves broader; buds with several bud scales………….....................................................................................................…........ 35
35. Buds clustered at end of twigs, fruit an acorn……………...................................................................................................... Oaks
35. Terminal buds not clustered………………........................................................………………...........................................……......…36
36. Buds long and sharp-pointed, bark gray……..…...................................................................................................…........Beech
36. Buds short and blunt; bark black………………..................................................................................................…....... Chestnut
31. Leaves with very fine teeth or teeth with several points (compound teeth)…………………………………………………....................….......……..37
37. One or more glands (prunus)on leaf stalk or base of leaf blade…...................................................................................................38
38. Leaf stalks flattened……………………………...........................................................................................................….......……Poplars
38. Leaf stalks not flattened…………………............................................................................................……….......Cherries and Plums
37. Glands absent……………………………………………............................................................................................................…….......….. 39
39. Bark peeling circularly; lenticels elongated transversely………………………………………...................................……………….......…Birches
39. Bark not peeling circularly; lenticels not elongated……............................................................................................................… 40
40. Leaf stalks flattened…………………....................................................................................................................……........Poplars
40. Leaf stalks not flattened………………………...............................................................................................................……........…41
41. Leaves very long and slender, or single bud scale covering the bud…………………..........................................…….......... Willow
41. Buds covered by several scales; leaves broader….............................................................................................................. 42
42. Twigs, terminal buds, and underside of leaves white and woolly with fuzz………….....................................………......... Apple
42. Twigs, terminal buds, and leaves not as above…........................................................................................................... 43
43. Leaves with simple teeth or no teeth; upper surface of leaves shiny……………………..........................................…...... Pear
43. Leaves with compound teeth……………...................................................................................................................…. 44
44. Bark shredded……………….......................................................................................................…........Hop Hornbeam
44. Bark smooth with rounded ridges…...........................................................................................................Hornbeam
Apples
1. Branches not thorny; leaves not lobed, leaves and bonds often covered with white woolly Fuzz………………………………………………………………..… Apple
1. Branches thorny; leaves Lobed or doubly toothed…………………........................................................................................…..…… Wild Creek Apple
Ashes
1. Lateral leaflets without leaflets stalks……………………………………............................................................................................................. Black Ash
1. Lateral leaflets with leaflets stalks………………………………………..........................................................................................................…...White Ash
Birches
1. Leaves with long tapering tips; bark grayish-white, not self peeling; mostly shrubby trees………………………………………………………………..... Gray Birch
1. Leaves without long tapering tips…………………………………………………..........................................................................................................………. 2
2. Leaves not notched at attachment of leaf stalk; bark white and self peeling; trees….…………………………………………………………….…..... White Birch
2. Leaves slightly notched at attachment of leaf stalk; bark not white…………….........................................................................................……....... 3
3. Bark yellowish; self peeling; leaves folded lengthwise along the midrib.. .....................................................................................Yellow Birch
3. Bark black, not self peeling; leaves smaller and not folded……..............................................................................................…..... Black Birch
Elms
1. Leaves very rough on the upper surface; buds dark brown with rusty brown hair..…………………………………………………………………………...Slippery Elm
1. Leaves smooth on the upper surface; buds light brown without the rusty brown hair..…………………………………………….. American Elm/Chinese Elm
Hickories
1. Leaflets mostly 5-7…………………………………...............................................................................................................………………….………………….. 2
2. Terminal leaflets much larger than lower lateral leaflets…………........................................................................................…. Shagbark Hickory
2. Terminal leaflets about the same size as lower laterals……………..............................................................................................…Pignut Hickory
1. Leaflets mostly 7-9…………………………………………………………….................................................................................................................……………3
3. Buds conspicuously yellow……………………………………..................................................................................................…...….. Swamp Bitternut
3. Buds not conspicuously yellow…………………………………......................……........................................................................... Mockernut Hickory
Maples
1. Leaves pinnately compound………………………………………....................................................................................................…… Ash-Leaved Maple
1. Leaves simple……………………………………..................................................................................................................………………………….……………..2
2. Leaves silvery white beneath…………………………………...........................................................................................................…………..……………..3
3. Leaves very conspicuously veined; buds with 3-4 pairs of buds scales...................................................................................Sycamore Maple
3. Leaves less veiny buds with 6-8 pairs of bud scales……………………...................................................................................................…………...4
4. Sides of notches between lobes straight………………….....................................................................................................……..…. Red Maple
4. Sides of notches between lobes curved………………………....................................................................................................….. Silver Maple
2. Leaves not silvery white beneath……………………………………………............................................................................................................………..5
5. Central lobes with five points; sap from leaf stalk milky; buds large and blunt with a few bud scales…………………………………….… Norway maple
5. Central lobe with 1-3 points……………………………………..............................................................................................................…………………..6
6. Leaves with 1 point on central lobe; buds with 6-8 pairs of buds scales; leaves slightly hairy beneath……………………………………… Black Maple
6. Leaves with 3 points on central lobe; leaves not hairy on the underside.................................................................................. Sugar Maple
Oaks
1. Leaves without any bristle tips; lobes rounded on the ends…………………...................................................................................................…………..2
2. Leaves lobed deeply toward midrib……………………………...........................................................................................................…….. White Oak
2. Leaves with rounded wavy teeth on the edge of the leaf………….............................................................................................….. Chestnut Oak
1. Leaves with bristle tips at the tip or along the sides…………………………….....................................................................................................………...3
3. Leaves with neither teeth nor lobes on the margin………………....................................................................................................…… Laurel Oak
3. Leaves with teeth or lobes……………………………………………………….............................................................................................................……..4
4. Leaves usually dull on the upper surface; lobes not cut more than halfway to midrib; buds shiny brown and hairy……………………………. Red Oak
4. Leaves shiny on the upper surface; cut more than halfway…………………….................................................................................................……5
5. Lower notches widest at the edge of the leaf; leaves thick and shiny on upper surface; terminal buds with flattened sides ………….. Black Oak
5. Lower notches closing towards edge of leaf; buds hairy on upper half only; buds not flattened on the sides………………………….…. Scarlet Oak
Cherries and Plums
1. Leaves with rusty brown hair on the main vein on the underside of the leaf.............................................................................. Wild Black Cherry
1. Leaves without rusty brown hair on the underside…………………………......................................................................................................…………….2
2. Leaves with light colored hair on the underside of leaf blade…………......................................................................................................…. Plum
2. Leaves with no hair on the underside…………………………........................................................................................................…………….…………..3
3. Leaves widest above the middle in typical leaf…………………………….....................................................................................................…………4
4. Edge of leaves finely toothed; bud scales two colored………….........................................................................................….… Choke Cherry
4. Edges of leaves coarsely toothed; bud scales not two colored.......................................................................... Sweet Cherry/Sour Cherry
3. Leaves more elongated, widest at or below the middle……………………….................................................................................................………5
5. Buds hairy; leaves conspicuously folded lengthwise……………….......................................................................................................... Peach
5. Buds not hairy; leaves not conspicuously folded lengthwise; bark reddish or tan ………………………………...........................……….… Fire Cherry
Poplars
1. Leaves velvety and white woolly beneath; often lobed like maples……….........................................................................................… White Poplar
1. Leaves not velvety white woolly beneath; leaves not lobed……………................................................................................................………..………….2
2. Leaves triangular in shape; glossy on the upper surface; yellow-green in color………..........................................................................................3
3. Leaves with in-curved teeth; base mostly straight across…………........................................................................................….….. Cottonwood
3. Teeth not in-curved; sides of base sloping upwards………………...................................................................................….…. Lombardy Poplar
2. Leaves rounded and not triangular; dull on upper surface and gray-green in color……........................................................................................4
4. Leaves with large teeth on the edges; buds with a white bloom which rubs off……………………………………………………….... Large-Toothed Aspen
4. leaves with small teeth; buds glossy brown…………………................................................................................................……Trembling Aspen
Sumach
1. Leaves and twigs hairy…………………………………........................................................................................................………………Staghorn Sumach
1. Leaves and twigs not hairy………………………………….......................................................................................................………….. Smooth Sumach