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Dichotomous Leaf Key

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Location: NC
tree

A tree generally has a single upright stem and reaches a height of 20 feet.

Some species are shrubs in harsh climates and trees in moderate climates.

shrub Shrubs are low branching, suckering, or have multiple stems and do not reach 20 feet in height.
bramble Most people recognize brambles, which include roses and blackberries.
vine Vines require some extra help for support. They hold on to the support by twining, growing tendrils, or aerial roots.
My leaf is from a tree
My leaf is from a shrub
My leaf is from a bramble, rose, or soft-wooded shrub with arching canes
My leaf is from a climbing or scrambling vine
cactus

Cacti do have leaves - they are reduced to spines.
palm Palms are common in warm regions.
yucca Yuccas can be found in many loacations but are more common is deserts.
slender or scaly vine Slender or Scaly leaves can be found on pines, junipers, and other genera.
broadleaf Broadleaf includes genera with narrow leaves, such as the willows.
Broad leaves
Slender or scaly leaves
My leaf is palm-like
My leaf is slender and strap-like (the yuccas)
I have a cactus, with leaves that are reduced to spines

Slender or Scaly Leaves

Long and slender needles can be single or in clusters.
single needles or clusters
Short, stiff needles can be scale-like or sharp and awl-like.
scale foliage or awl foliage
Needle-like, long and slender
Scale-like or awl-like (short, sharp and stiff)

Possible matches:

There were 26 matches to your search.

print this native? Abies fraseri - Fraser fir     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Chamaecyparis thyoides - Atlantic white-cedar     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Juniperus communis - common juniper

print this native? Juniperus virginiana - eastern redcedar

print this native? Larix decidua - European larch

print this native? Picea abies - Norway spruce

print this native? Picea rubens - red spruce     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Pinus clausa - sand pine

print this native? Pinus echinata - shortleaf pine

print this native? Pinus elliottii - slash pine     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Pinus palustris - longleaf pine     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Pinus pungens - Table Mountain pine

print this native? Pinus resinosa - red pine     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Pinus rigida - pitch pine

print this native? Pinus serotina - pond pine     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Pinus strobus - eastern white pine

print this native? Pinus taeda - loblolly pine

print this native? Pinus virginiana - Virginia pine

print this native? Tamarix chinensis - saltcedar

print this native? Tamarix gallica - tamarisk

print this native? Tamarix parviflora - smallflower tamarisk

print this native? Taxodium ascendens - pondcypress

print this native? Taxodium distichum - baldcypress     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Thuja occidentalis - northern white-cedar     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Tsuga canadensis - eastern hemlock

print this native? Tsuga caroliniana - Carolina hemlock