Trees and Tree Terms Identification

Vocabulary flashcards covering leaf structural terms and identifying features of hardwood and conifer tree species.

Simple Leaf

A single undivided leaf blade attached to a petiole with a bud present at its base.

Compound Leaf

A leaf completely divided into separate leaflets, characterized by having an axillary bud at the base of the main petiole, but no bud at the base of individual leaflets.

Leaflet

An individual leaf-like division of a compound leaf that lacks a bud at its base.

Opposite and Alternate Leaf Arrangement

Descriptive terms that refer to the arrangement in which leaves attach to the stem, rather than how leaflets attach to a compound leaf.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

A hardwood species identified by U-shaped leaf notches between lobes and brown, pointed buds.

Sugar Maple Bud (Acer saccharum)

The sharp, brown, pointed winter bud of a sugar maple tree.

Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

A hardwood species identified by V-shaped leaf notches between lobes and red, often clustered buds.

Red Maple Bud (Acer rubrum)

Distinctive red buds of a red maple tree, frequently found in clusters.

White Oak (Quercus alba)

A hardwood species featuring leaves with rounded lobes (usually 9 lobes) and clustered, blunt-pointed buds with hairless scales.

White Oak Bud (Quercus alba)

Clustered, blunt-pointed buds featuring scales that lack hairs.

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

A hardwood species with pointed leaf lobes and buds that are often clustered and more pointed than those of white oak.

Northern Red Oak Bud (Quercus rubra)

Clustered buds of Northern red oak that are noticeably more pointed than white oak buds.

Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)

A hardwood species characterized by ovate leaves with doubly-toothed margins, usually hairy twigs, and slightly sticky buds.

Paper Birch Bark (Betula papyrifera)

Distinctive white, paper-like peeling bark.

Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis)

A hardwood species with leaves slightly more oblong than paper birch, pointier buds, and twigs and buds with a wintergreen taste.

Yellow Birch Bark (Betula alleghaniensis)

Distinctive yellowish-bronze, tightly curling, peeling bark.

White Pine (Pinus strobus)

A conifer species with needles in bundles of five, measuring 3–5 inches long, and cones measuring 4–8 inches long.

White Pine Cone (Pinus strobus)

An elongated pine cone ranging from 4 to 8 inches in length.

Red Pine (Pinus resinosa)

A conifer species with needles in bundles of two, measuring 4–6 inches long, and egg-shaped cones approximately 2 inches long.

Red Pine Cone (Pinus resinosa)

A small, egg-shaped pine cone measuring about 2 inches in length.