tree id

-​Leaves: alternate, simple, serrate margin, inequilateral at base  

-​Buds: light green, conical but not sharp-pointed, asymmetric/lopsided

-​Bark: gray, narrow flat vertical ridges  

-​Fruit: nut on a leaflike bract

-​Uses: ornamental

littleleaf linden

​Leaves: alternate, simple, sinuses not as deep as pin oak (northern red oak sinuses extend about halfway to the midrib), lobes pointed and bristle-tipped  

-​Buds: pointed, base of bud reddish brown and smooth, tip of bud light brown and pubescent

-​Bark: dark gray, narrow flat ridges (look like ski trails)

-​Fruit: large acorn with shallow cup, cup scales tight

-​Uses: furniture, cabinets, flooring, fence posts (hard, strong wood)

Northern red oak

-​State Tree of Illinois

-​Leaves: alternate, simple, rounded sinuses, rounded lobes

-​Buds: small, brown, rounded, not pubescent

-​Bark: light gray, loose narrow vertical plates

-​Fruit: large acorn with shallow warty/knobby cup

-​Uses: furniture, cabinets, flooring, fence posts (hard, strong wood)

white oak

Needles: green, needles single, spirally arranged, 1 inch long, not sharp to touch 

-​Buds: small, brown, pointed  

-​Bark: dark gray, platy/scaly

-​Twig: When needles fall from a twig, the needle stalks do not remain on the twig.  Thus, the twig feels smooth.

-​Cone: brown, small, 2 inches long, woody scales, 3 lobed bracts longer than scales (bract looks like a mouse’s tail and back feet)  

-​Uses: most important timber species in the U.S., Christmas tree, habitat for the threatened northern spotted owl

douglas fir

Leaves: alternate, simple, deep rounded sinuses (sinuses extend almost to the midrib), lobes pointed and bristle-tipped  

-​Buds: small, brown, blunt, not pubescent  

-​Bark: gray, smooth at top of tree, breaking into narrow flat ridges at bottom of tree (look like ski trails)  

-​Fruit: small striped acorn, shallow cup, cup scales tight  

-​Uses: ornamental, fence posts (hard, strong wood)

pin oak

Leaves: opposite, simple, 5 lobes with deep pointed sinuses, terminal lobe divergent, silvery on bottom side of leaf

-​Buds: small, green turning red, blunt (not sharp-pointed)

-​Bark: gray, top and bottom of tree with narrow loose ridges (ridges break off easily)

-​Fruit: double samara (spring)

-​Uses: ornamental, furniture

 

silver maple

Note: poor form/crooked trunk

- Leaves: alternate, simple, heart-shaped, palmate venation, smooth margin

-​Buds: small, green turning red, blunt (not sharp pointed), appressed to twig

-​Twig:  zig-zag  

-​Bark: gray, platy/scaly

-​Fruit: legume (2 – 3 inches long)

-​Uses: ornamental (pink flowers in spring)

 

eastern redbud

Leaves: alternate (some leaves clustered on twig), simple, football-shaped, crenate (rounded teeth) margin

-​Buds: reddish purple, pointed, appressed to twig  

-​Bark: gray, platy/scaly

-​Fruit: small (1/2 inch long) red apples

-​Uses: ornamental, making jelly  

crabapple

Leaves: opposite, simple, usually 3 lobes with pointed sinuses, terminal lobe convergent

-​Note:  Opposite leaf arrangement is rare.  Species with opposite leaves include maple, ash, dogwood, Caprifoliaceae Family (e.g. Japanese honeysuckle), horsechestnut, and Ohio buckeye.

-​Buds: small, green turning red, blunt (not sharp-pointed)

-​Bark: gray, smooth at top of tree, breaking into irregular plates and ridges at bottom of tree

-​Fruit: double samara (spring)

-​Uses: ornamental, furniture

red maple

Note: good/full form

- Needles: blue-green, needles single, spirally arranged, 1 inch long, sharp-pointed  

-​Buds: light brown, sharp-pointed  

-​Twig; When needles fall from a twig, the needle stalks remain on the twig.  Thus, the twig feels rough or ‘spiky’.

-​Bark: brown, platy/scaly

-​Cone: light brown, slender, 3 inches long, papery scales  

-​Uses: ornamental

blue spruce

Note: horizontal branching pattern

- Needles: 5 needles/fascicle, 4 inches long, soft (not sharp-pointed)

-​Buds: small, reddish brown, pointed  

-​Bark: gray, flat vertical irregular-shaped ridges

-​Cone: slender, 5 inches long, unarmed  

-​Uses: construction lumber, Christmas tree

 

eastern white pine

Leaves: alternate, simple, triangle-shaped, doubly serrate margin, pubescent on bottom side of leaf

-​Buds: small, triangle-shaped, appressed to twig, pubescent

-​Bark: light brown exfoliating/peeling in papery flakes/sheets  

-​Fruit: small nuts crowded together in a cylindrical cone (catkin)

-​Uses: ornamental, furniture

river birch

Leaves: alternate, compound or double compound, small leaflets (1 inch long), smooth or crenate margin

-​Buds: hidden under leaf scar, small, brown, superposed

-​Bark: light brown, smooth on young trees, flat plates that look like ‘cake icing’ on large trees

-​Fruit: flattened curled/twisted legume (12 – 18 inches long)

-​Uses: ornamental (thornless variety)

Note:  Honey locust can also have 3 thorns/cluster on branches and trunk (used for fence posts).

honey locust