tree id

River Birch (Betula nigra)

- 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

Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

-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).

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

-Leaves: opposite, simple, 3 – 5 lobes with rounded sinuses, terminal lobe square-shaped

-Buds: brown, conical, sharp-pointed

-Bark: gray, broad firm ridges (ridges do not break off easily)

-Fruit: double samara (fall)

-Uses: maple syrup, ornamental, furniture, cabinets

Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra)

-Needles: 2 needles/fascicle, 3 – 6 inches long, sharp-pointed, do not break/snap when bent

-Buds: reddish brown, conical, sharp-pointed, sticky/resinous

-Bark: gray, platy/scaly

-Cone: oval, 2 – 3 inches long, armed with deciduous prickle

-Uses: native of southern Europe, planted in U.S. as an ornamental

Littleleaf Linden (Tilia cordata)

-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

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

-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)

White Oak (Quercus alba)

-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

Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

- 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

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

- 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)

Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)

- 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

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

-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)

Crabapple (Malus spp.)

- 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

Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

-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