There are many ways to identify a tree - the shape of the crown or leaves, the color of the fruits and flowers, the shape or arrangement of twigs and buds, and the nature of the bark.  These characteristics are unique for each species and help in the identification process.  Knowing the characteristics of the leaves, twigs and buds is the most useful way to identify a tree especially when using a botanical (dichotomous) key.  The different parts of a tree are described below.  Illustrations for these characteristics are on the pages that follow.

Types of Trees

There are two general types of trees based on leaf type - deciduous and coniferous.  Deciduous trees drop their leaves in the fall.  Coniferous trees, such as hemlocks, pines and spruce drop and replace their needles gradually.  Each needle lives about one year.  This gives coniferous trees an evergreen appearance.  Not all conifers are evergreen and not all broadleaf trees are deciduous.

Leaves

Leaves are the easiest and most common way to identify trees.  Leaf arrangement, form, blade shape, and margin are different for every tree species.  Knowledge of leaf terminology is important when using summer identification keys.

Types

Leaf Form And Arrangement

There are only four common opposite branching trees in our area.  They are maple, ash, dogwood and horse chestnut (or M-A-D-C-A-P).  The "CAP" stands for caprifoliaceae, the botanical name (genus) for horse chestnut.

Leaf Shape, Tips And Bases

The overall shape of the leaf and the shape at the tip and base are useful in tree I.D.  For example, willows have long and narrow (linear) leaves.  Little Leaf Linden and Elms have a oblique base (not symmetrical).  Some leaves have pointy tips (ashes, elms, red oak) while others are rounded at the tip (white oak).  Some leaves have lobes like maples and oak, while many do not.

Buds And Twigs

Buds are recognizable based on many things including their shape, arrangement and scales.  What color are the twigs?  Are they hairy?  Does the bud have overlapping scales?  Are they long?  The American beech has a long, narrow, sharp and scale like bud.

Twigs also have distinct characteristics including whether they are opposite (maples) or alternately arranged (oaks), stout (Tree of Heaven) or slender (honey locust), chambered pith (butternut) or solid pith.

Fruit

Fruit is only useful when it is present on the tree or ground.  Is the fruit fleshy or dry, a nut, samara, or pod?

Bark

What color is the bark?  Is it smooth?  Does it have ridges or flakes?

Crown Form

There are six basic tree forms: columnar, ovate, pyramidal, rounded, "V" shaped, and weeping.  Crown form varies within species and cultivars of those species.  Crown form is an important factor in determining where to plant trees.

Illustration I: Leaf Shapes, Margins, Tips And Bases, Leaf Types

Illustration II: Leaf Arrangement, Bud, Fruit And Bark Types, Crown Form