Twig Key

So far you have made the following choices...

• deciduous leaves
• alternate arrangement
• tree
• lacking spines
• three or fewer end buds
• scaly end buds
• three bundle scars per leaf scar
• end buds are tall, pointed or large
• leaf scars are narrow
• twig is zig-zag

It could be one of the species in the table below. Let's narrow our choices by looking for pubescence (fuzz or hair) on either the twig or bud.

My twig lacks pubescence (hair or fuzz)	My twig has pubescence (hair or fuzz) on either the twig or bud

Possible Matches:

Family	Genus	Species	common name
Betulaceae	Betula	alleghaniensis	yellow birch
Betulaceae	Betula	lenta	sweet birch
Betulaceae	Betula	nigra	river birch
Betulaceae	Betula	papyrifera	paper birch
Betulaceae	Betula	pendula	European weeping birch
Betulaceae	Betula	populifolia	gray birch
Betulaceae	Betula	uber	roundleaf birch
Betulaceae	Carpinus	caroliniana	hornbeam
Betulaceae	Corylus	americana	American hazel
Betulaceae	Ostrya	virginiana	hophornbeam
Betulaceae	Ostrya	virginiana	hophornbeam
Fagaceae	Fagus	grandifolia	American beech
Fagaceae	Fagus	sylvatica	European beech
Grossulariaceae	Ribes	sanguineum	red-flowering currant
Grossulariaceae	Ribes	sanguineum	red-flowering currant
Rosaceae	Amelanchier	alnifolia	Pacific serviceberry
Rosaceae	Amelanchier	arborea	serviceberry
Rosaceae	Malus	spp.	apple
Rosaceae	Prunus	angustifolia	Chickasaw plum
Tiliaceae	Tilia	americana	American basswood
Tiliaceae	Tilia	cordata	littleleaf linden
Tiliaceae	Tilia	tomentosa	silver linden
Ulmaceae	Zelkova	serrata	Japanese zelkova

 

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