1. Laura Hlinka UMS 7th grade science
Tree Identification
Laura Hlinka
UMS 7th grade science

2. Tree Identification Characteristics
In order to correctly identify trees in nature it is important to know certain characteristics used in tree identification.
Looking at characteristics other than leaves of a tree will help to identify it. This helps when there are no leaves on a tree or they are too high to see properly.
These are just some of the techniques used in tree identification.

3. Tree Identification Characteristics
Some of these characteristics that should be looked at when identifying a tree are:
Leaf shape
Twigs and buds
Bud scars
Fruit
Flowers
Bark
Tree form/Branching pattern
Where the tree is growing and what other plants and trees it may be growing around.

4. Leaves
Leaves are NOT the best, but often the easiest way to identify a tree.
Needles and scale of evergreens are also considered leaves.
Questions to consider when identifying leaves:
Are the leaves:
simple or compound? 
margins smooth or margins rough? 
any sinuses or lobes?
What is the size, shape, texture, and color variation of the leaves?

5. First question- Type of leaf
Broad leaf
Scale
Needle - like

6. Evergreen Identification
When identifying evergreens count the number of needles that occur in a group and then length of the needles.
Needles that occur singularly may either be flat or round and have different numbers of white lines on the bottom of the needles.
Needles that are flat may be all scale like as in cedar trees or junipers.

7. External Anatomy of a Leaf
Margin
Midrib
Petiole
Blade

8. External Anatomy of a Leaf

9. Leaves – Sinuses or Lobes
A sinus is the indentation between two lobes.
A lobe is a division of a leaf blade that is broadly attached.

10. Leaves – Simple or Compound
Simple leaves only have one leaf blade.

11. Leaves – Simple or Compound
Compound leaves are made up of several separate leaflets attached to a common leaf stem. Has only one petiole

12. Types of Compound Pinnately Compound
Bipinnately Compound - Doubly compound
Palmately Compound

13. Pinnately Compound More than one leaflet per petiole
It kind of looks like a feather

14. Bipinnately Compound Doubly compound.
Looks like a compound leaf on a compound leaf

15. Palmately Compound
More than one leaflet per petiole, but they are attached like the fingers on your hand.

16. Leaves - Margins
Margins are the edges of the leaves, which have different patterns.
Examples of margins are:
Smooth
Serrate or Doubly serrate
Dentate
Crenate
Undulate
Sinuate
Lobed

17. Entire = Smooth
Edge of leaf is smooth
No lobes or serrate

18. Serrate or Doubly serrate
Edge of leaf is jagged all around.

19. Dentate
Edge of leaf is deeply jagged like teeth

20. Lobed
Edge of leaf is indented, but does not go all the way to the midrib

21. Leaves - Shapes Leaves can come in many shapes. Deltoid Lanceolate
Elliptical
Ovate
Obovate
Cordate

22. Leaf Shape
Deltoid - triangular shaped

23. Leaf Shape
Lanceolate Longer than wide

24. Leaf Shape
Elliptical - tapers off at both ends

25. Leaf Shape
Ovate - wider at base of leaf near petiole

26. Leaf Shape
Obovate - wider at top of leaf

27. Leaf Shape
Cordate - heart shaped leaf

28. Leaf Arrangements
Leaf arrangement refers to the leaf arrangement on the stem of the tree.
Leaves are arranged in three different ways:
Opposite – Buds form in pairs on either side of the twig.
Alternate – Buds are arranged singly at intervals along the twigs.
Whorled – Buds are arranged in circles around the twig.

29. Leaf Arrangements
OPPOSITE means the leaf petioles are attached oppositely of each other on the twig.

30. Leaf Arrangements
ALTERNATE means the leaf petioles are attached in a staggered pattern, not OPPOSITE each other on the twig)

31. Venation Types - vein pattern of leaf

32. Scientific and Common Names
Scientific names are used for standardization so everyone will know what tree is being discussed since common names change from one area to another.
Scientific names are either italicized when typed or underlined when hand written.
The genus of a scientific name is always capitalized and the species is always lowercase.