This presentation teaches tree identification by grouping trees into categories.  Two or three choices are offered in each slide to gradually narrow down the possibilities.  This is called the dichotomous method.  The presentation includes selected trees that are common in rural villages in New York State.  You can go through the presentation slide by slide, or use it as a key to identify a specific tree. As a key, click on the box that best fits the characteristics of your sample.  Use the shaded category boxes to navigate back to previous choices or the “return” arrow to go back to the last slide veiwed.

Trees with opposite leaves can be remembered by the acronym MADCAPHorse.  The letters stand for names of trees with opposite arranged leaves: Maple, Ash, Dogwood, Caprifoliaceae (family that includes honeysuckle and viburnum), Horsechestnut.  But it leaves out Lilac. Simple leaf (right) – new bud arises at base of leaf stem (petiole), not at base of leaflets.

Lobes are the finger like projections typical of Maple (right).

The indentation between the lobes (or fingers) of the leaf is called the sinus.  Look for a rounded shape, like a “U” (sugar Maple, left) or a sharp angle, like a “V” (red maple, left).

Sugar Maple (left), Norway Maple, (center) has a milky sap in the leaf stem (petiole).  Silver Maple (top right) has a very deeply cut sinus.

Opposite, simple leaves, sharp buds, platy bark curling up on one side, pair of samara in “U” shape.  Fall color yellow to reddish orange.

Opposite, simple leaves, round buds, milky sap, pair of samara in line and appear in June.  The leaf disease tar spot (bottom left) common in August and September.  Fall color yellow-brown.  The cultivar ‘Crimson King’ and others similar, has reddish purple leaves and is commonly (and erroneously) called red maple.  Be sure to identify the maple with reddish leaves as Norway Maple.

Opposite, simple leaves with silvery underside.  Fall color yellow.  Bark in long strips or plates.  Large V-shaped crotches characteristic and potential hazard.

Opposite simple leaves.  Note the green leaves.  The recognized common name Red Maple, belongs to this tree, not the tree with reddish purple leaves.  It also has round buds.  The bark is smooth and gray when young, becoming checkered, and then peeling in long strips as it matures. 

Opposite simple leaves, unlobed.  Large buds, white cone shaped flowers, Lenticled (cherry-like) bark

Fine teeth (left), large teeth or lobes (right)

Opposite, compound leaf with small or no teeth.  Stout twigs, bark with diamond shaped furrows.

Opposite, compound leaf, large irregular teeth.

Opposite, palmately compound leaf.  Large, sticky buds.

Large, heart shaped leaves, whorled in threes.  String bean like fruit.

Simple leaf (top) – new bud arises at base of leaf stem (petiole), not at base of leaflets.

Alternate, simple leaves.  Mostly ascending branches.

Alternate, simple leaves, deep cut sinuses.  Branches ascending near top of tree, horizontal at the middle, and descending on the lower portion of the tree.

Leaves alternate, simple, somewhat maple-like.  Bark peeling off in sheets revealing creamy yellow bark underneath.

Large teeth (upper left), small teeth (lower right).

Hawthorn (lower left), Birch (upper middle), Elm (lower right).

Simple alternate leaf, bark white or cinnamon, peels in paper-like layers.

Leaves alternate, may be lobed or unlobed, with thorns or without.  Red berries in fall and winter.  Tree 20-25’ tall with horizontal, spreading branches.

Simple alternate leaves, base of leaf uneven (photo right). Elm has characteristic vase shape (photo left).

Linden oblique leaf base (left), Cherry with petiole glands – bumps on leaf stem (2nd from left), Crabapple bark brown – mottled (center), Hawthorn bark silvery grey and sometimes with thorns (2nd from right). Pear leaf glossy on short spurs (right).

Simple alternate leaf, uneven leaf base. Large buds.

Alternate, simple leaves, often with glands (bumps) on petioles.  Bark with horizontal lenticels. 

Alternate simple leaf, abundant flowers in spring, small apple-like fruit late summer and fall. 

Simple alternate leaf, thick and leathery on short spurs.  Clusters of white flowers in May.

Count the leaflets and note their shape. black walnut (left) - 15-23 leaflets each leaflet 3-6” long, Honeylocust (right) - 20-30 leaflets, each leaflet 1-2” long.

Alternate compound, large leaflets, diamond shaped fissures in bark.

Alternate, compound, small leaflets, sugar maple-like bark.

Alternate compound leaf, each leaflet 3-5” long.

Needles in bundles, pine (left).  Needles single, spruce (right).

5 needles/ bundle – white pine (left).  2 needles/bundle - Austrian pine (right).

Stiff needles, 2/bundle.

Long, soft evergreen needles, five needles/bundle.

Single stiff needles, bristly stem remains where needles fall off giving rough texture to twig.