ID Keys

Dichotomous Leaf Key

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So far you have made the following choices...

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

Broadleaf Arrangement, or phyllotaxy, is a very important id clue. To determine phyllotaxy, look to see how many leaves are attached to the twig at each node. If there are no leaves, look for the arrangement of the buds that can be found at the base of each leaf. If you can not reach the twigs, remember that twigs grow from buds... and they will have the same arrangement as the leaves.

alternate

Most woody plants are alternately arranged. The leaves and buds alternate along the stem.
opposite These leaves are oppositely arranged, as are the buds that grow at the base of the leaves.
whorled A few species have whorled leaves, with (usually) 3 leaves and buds at each node.
My leaves are arranged opposite each other, in pairs or in threes
My leaves alternate on the stem - they are not whorled or in pairs

Broadleaves can be simple or compound. Simple leaves have a single blade, compound leaves have several leaflets attached to a common stalk. It can be difficult to distinguish between these two leaf types. It may help to determine what, exactly, is the deciduous unit. Leaves are attached directly to twigs; leaflets are attached to a common stalk that is attached to the twig. Another clue... in late summer, buds can be found on the twig at the base of the leaf. There are never buds on leaf stalks.

simple leaf

A leaf with a single blade is a simple leaf. The leaf stalk is attached directly to a woody twig.

bifoliate leaf The simplest type of compound leaf is a bifoliate leaf, which has two leaflets attached to a common stalk.
trifoliate leaf Trifoliate leaves have three leaflets attached to a common stalk.
palmate leaf Palmate leaves have leaflets that radiate from the end of the central stalk.
pinnate leaf Pinnate leaves have leaflets attached laterally to the central stalk.
bipinnate leaf Bipinnate leaves have pinnate leaflets attached to pinnate leaflets. The whole structure is shed in the fall.
My leaves are simple - they have a petiole that bears a single leaf
My leaves are compound - they have a central stalk with several leaflets

Possible matches:

There were 352 matches to your search.

print this native? Acacia auriculiformis - earleaf acacia

print this native? Acacia koa - koa

print this native? Adenostoma sparsifolium - redshanks

print this native? Ailanthus altissima - tree-of-Heaven

print this native? Albizia julibrissin - mimosa

print this native? Alnus glutinosa - European black alder

print this native? Alnus incana ssp. rugosa - speckled alder

print this native? Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia - thinleaf alder

print this native? Alnus oblongifolia - Arizona alder

print this native? Alnus rhombifolia - white alder

print this native? Alnus rubra - red alder     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata - Sitka alder

print this native? Amelanchier alnifolia - Pacific serviceberry

print this native? Amelanchier arborea - downy serviceberry

print this native? Amelanchier canadensis - shadblow serviceberry

print this native? Amelanchier laevis - Alleghany serviceberry

print this native? Amorpha fruticosa - desert false indigo

print this native? Annona glabra - pond apple

print this native? Aralia spinosa - Devil's walking stick

print this native? Araucaria araucana - monkeypuzzle tree

print this native? Arbutus menziesii - Pacific madrone

print this native? Arbutus xalapensis - Texas madrone

print this native? Arctostaphylos columbiana - hairy manzanita

print this native? Arctostaphylos glauca - bigberry manzanita

print this native? Asimina triloba - pawpaw

print this native? Betula alleghaniensis - yellow birch     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Betula lenta - sweet birch

print this native? Betula nana - bog birch

print this native? Betula nigra - river birch     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Betula occidentalis - water birch

print this native? Betula papyrifera - paper birch     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Betula pendula - European weeping birch

print this native? Betula populifolia - gray birch

print this native? Betula uber - roundleaf birch

print this native? Betula utilis - Himalayan white birch

print this native? Bucida buceras - black olive

print this native? Bursera fagaroides - fragrant bursera

print this native? Bursera microphylla - elephant tree

print this native? Bursera simaruba - gumbo-limbo

print this native? Canotia holacantha - crucifixion thorn

print this native? Caragana arborescens - pea tree

print this native? Carica papaya - papaya

print this native? Carpinus caroliniana - hornbeam

print this native? Carpinus japonica - Japanese hornbeam

print this native? Carya aquatica - water hickory

print this native? Carya cordiformis - bitternut hickory

print this native? Carya glabra - pignut hickory

print this native? Carya illinoinensis - pecan

print this native? Carya laciniosa - shellbark hickory

print this native? Carya myristiciformis - nutmeg hickory

print this native? Carya ovalis - red hickory

print this native? Carya ovata - shagbark hickory

print this native? Carya pallida - sand hickory

print this native? Carya tomentosa - mockernut hickory

print this native? Castanea dentata - American chestnut     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Castanea mollissima - Chinese chestnut

print this native? Ceanothus cordulatus - whitethorn ceanothus

print this native? Ceanothus spinosus - greenbark ceanothus

print this native? Ceanothus thyrsiflorus - blueblossom

print this native? Celtis africana - white stinkwood

print this native? Celtis laevigata var. laevigata - sugarberry

print this native? Celtis laevigata var. reticulata - netleaf hackberry

print this native? Celtis occidentalis - hackberry

print this native? Celtis pumila - dwarf hackberry

print this native? Cercis canadensis - eastern redbud

print this native? Cercis chinensis - Chinese redbud

print this native? Cercis orbiculata - western redbud

print this native? Cercocarpus intricatus - littleleaf mountain-mahogany

print this native? Cercocarpus ledifolius - curlleaf mountain-mahogany

print this native? Cercocarpus montanus - mountain-mahogany

print this native? Chilopsis linearis - desert-willow

print this native? Chionanthus virginicus - fringetree

print this native? Chrysobalanus icaco - cocoplum

print this native? Chrysolepis chrysophylla - golden chinkapin

print this native? Cinnamomum camphora - camphortree

print this native? Citrus spp. - citrus

print this native? Cladrastis kentukea - yellowwood

print this native? Cliftonia monophylla - buckwheat tree

print this native? Coccoloba uvifera - seagrape

print this native? Conocarpus erectus - buttonwood

print this native? Cornus alternifolia - alternate-leaf dogwood

print this native? Corylus colurna - Turkish hazel

print this native? Cotinus coggygria - European smoketree

print this native? Cotinus obovatus - American smoketree

print this native? Crataegus douglasii - black hawthorn

print this native? Crataegus monogyna - oneseed hawthorn

print this native? Crataegus spp. - hawthorn

print this native? Cyrilla racemiflora - swamp cyrilla

print this native? Davidia involucrata - dove tree

print this native? Diospyros virginiana - common persimmon

print this native? Ebenopsis confinis - ejoton

print this native? Elaeagnus angustifolia - Russian-olive

print this native? Elaeagnus commutata - silverberry

print this native? Elaeagnus pungens - thorny-olive

print this native? Elaeagnus umbellata - autumn-olive

print this native? Erythrina corallodendron - coral tree

print this native? Eucalyptus caesia - gungurru

print this native? Eucalyptus camaldulensis - river red gum

print this native? Eucalyptus globulus - blue gum

print this native? Eucalyptus nitens - shining gum

print this native? Eucalyptus polyanthemos - silver dollar gum

print this native? Eucalyptus woodwardii - lemon-flowered gum

print this native? Fagus grandifolia - American beech

print this native? Fagus orientalis - Oriental beech

print this native? Faidherbia albida - winter thorn

print this native? Ficus aurea - strangler fig

print this native? Ficus carica - common fig

print this native? Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay fig

print this native? Firmiana simplex - Chinese parasoltree

print this native? Fouquieria columnaris - boojum tree

print this native? Frangula alnus - glossy buckthorn

print this native? Frangula caroliniana - Carolina buckthorn

print this native? Frangula purshiana - Cascara buckthorn

print this native? Franklinia alatamaha - Franklin tree

print this native? Ginkgo biloba - ginkgo

print this native? Gleditsia aquatica - waterlocust

print this native? Gleditsia triacanthos - honeylocust     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Gordonia lasianthus - loblolly bay

print this native? Gymnocladus dioicus - Kentucky coffeetree

print this native? Halesia diptera - two-wing silverbell

print this native? Halesia tetraptera - silverbell

print this native? Hamamelis virginiana - witch-hazel

print this native? Hamamelis xintermedia - hybrid witch-hazel

print this native? Heteromeles arbutifolia - toyon

print this native? Ilex amelanchier - sarvis holly

print this native? Ilex cassine - dahoon

print this native? Ilex chinensis - Kashi holly

print this native? Ilex coriacea - large gallberry

print this native? Ilex decidua - deciduous holly

print this native? Ilex montana - mountain holly

print this native? Ilex mucronata - catberry

print this native? Ilex myrtifolia - myrtle holly

print this native? Ilex opaca - American holly

print this native? Illicium floridanum - Florida anise tree

print this native? Illicium parviflorum - yellow anisetree

print this native? Jatropha cuneata - limberbush

print this native? Juglans californica - California black walnut

print this native? Juglans cinerea - butternut

print this native? Juglans hindsii - Hind's black walnut

print this native? Juglans major - Arizona walnut

print this native? Juglans microcarpa - little walnut

print this native? Juglans nigra - black walnut

print this native? Kalmia latifolia - mountain laurel

print this native? Koeberlinia spinosa - allthorn

print this native? Koelreuteria paniculata - goldenraintree

print this native? Leucaena retusa - littleleaf leadtree

print this native? Liquidambar styraciflua - sweetgum

print this native? Liriodendron tulipifera - yellow-poplar

print this native? Lycium fremontii - Fremont's desert-thorn

print this native? Lysiloma candidum - palo blanco

print this native? Lysiloma watsonii - desertfern

print this native? Maclura pomifera - Osage-orange

print this native? Magnolia acuminata - cucumbertree

print this native? Magnolia ashei - Ashe magnolia

print this native? Magnolia fraseri - Fraser magnolia

print this native? Magnolia grandiflora - southern magnolia

print this native? Magnolia macrophylla - bigleaf magnolia

print this native? Magnolia pyramidata - pyramid magnolia

print this native? Magnolia tripetala - umbrella magnolia

print this native? Magnolia virginiana - sweetbay magnolia     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Malus angustifolia - southern crab apple

print this native? Malus fusca - Oregon crabapple

print this native? Malus prunifolia - plumleaf crab apple

print this native? Malus spp. - apple

print this native? Melaleuca quinquenervia - melaleuca

print this native? Melia azedarach - Chinaberry

print this native? Metopium toxiferum - poisonwood

print this native? Morella californica - Pacific waxmyrtle

print this native? Morella cerifera - waxmyrtle

print this native? Morella inodora - odorless bayberry

print this native? Morella pensylvanica - northern bayberry

print this native? Morus alba - white mulberry

print this native? Morus microphylla - Texas mulberry

print this native? Morus rubra - red mulberry

print this native? Myrsine cubana - colicwood

print this native? Notholithocarpus densiflorus - tanoak

print this native? Nyssa aquatica - water tupelo     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Nyssa biflora - swamp tupelo

print this native? Nyssa ogeche - Ogeechee tupelo

print this native? Nyssa sylvatica - blackgum

print this native? Olneya tesota - desert ironwood

print this native? Ostrya virginiana - hophornbeam

print this native? Oxydendrum arboreum - sourwood

print this native? Pachycormus discolor - torote blanco

print this native? Parkinsonia aculeata - Jerusalem thorn

print this native? Parkinsonia florida - blue paloverde

print this native? Parkinsonia microphylla - yellow paloverde

print this native? Parrotia persica - Persian ironwood

print this native? Persea americana - avocado

print this native? Persea borbonia - redbay

print this native? Persea palustris - swampbay

print this native? Photinia xfraseri - red tips

print this native? Pieris japonica - Japanese pieris

print this native? Planera aquatica - water elm

print this native? Platanus occidentalis - American sycamore

print this native? Platanus racemosa - California sycamore

print this native? Platanus wrightii - Arizona sycamore

print this native? Poncirus trifoliata - trifoliate orange

print this native? Populus alba - European white poplar

print this native? Populus angustifolia - narrowleaf cottonwood

print this native? Populus balsamifera ssp. balsamifera - balsam poplar     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa - black cottonwood     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Populus deltoides - eastern cottonwood     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Populus fremontii - Fremont cottonwood

print this native? Populus grandidentata - bigtooth aspen

print this native? Populus heterophylla - swamp cottonwood

print this native? Populus nigra var. italica - Lombardy poplar

print this native? Populus tremuloides - quaking aspen     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Prosopis glandulosa - honey mesquite

print this native? Prosopis pubescens - screwbean mesquite

print this native? Prunus alleghaniensis - Allegheny plum

print this native? Prunus americana - American plum

print this native? Prunus angustifolia - Chickasaw plum

print this native? Prunus avium - sweet cherry

print this native? Prunus caroliniana - Carolina laurelcherry

print this native? Prunus cerasifera - purple leaf plum

print this native? Prunus cerasus - sour cherry

print this native? Prunus emarginata - bitter cherry

print this native? Prunus fremontii - desert apricot

print this native? Prunus ilicifolia - hollyleaf cherry

print this native? Prunus laurocerasus - cherrylaurel

print this native? Prunus maritima - beach plum

print this native? Prunus mexicana - Mexican plum

print this native? Prunus pensylvanica - fire cherry     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Prunus persica - peach

print this native? Prunus sargentii - Sargent cherry

print this native? Prunus serotina - black cherry

print this native? Prunus serrula - birch bark cherry

print this native? Prunus subcordata - Klamath plum

print this native? Prunus xyedoensis - Yoshino cherry

print this native? Psorothamnus spinosus - desert smoke tree

print this native? Punica granatum - pomegranate

print this native? Pyrus calleryana - Callery pear

print this native? Pyrus communis - common pear

print this native? Quercus acutissima - sawtooth oak

print this native? Quercus agrifolia - coast live oak

print this native? Quercus alba - white oak

print this native? Quercus arizonica - Arizona white oak

print this native? Quercus austrina - bluff oak

print this native? Quercus berberidifolia - scrub oak

print this native? Quercus bicolor - swamp white oak

print this native? Quercus chrysolepis - canyon live oak

print this native? Quercus coccinea - scarlet oak

print this native? Quercus douglasii - blue oak

print this native? Quercus ellipsoidalis - northern pin oak

print this native? Quercus engelmannii - Engelmann oak

print this native? Quercus falcata - southern red oak

print this native? Quercus fusiformis - Texas live oak

print this native? Quercus gambelii - Gambel oak

print this native? Quercus garryana - Oregon white oak

print this native? Quercus georgiana - Georgia oak

print this native? Quercus grisea - gray oak

print this native? Quercus hemisphaerica - Darlington oak

print this native? Quercus hypoleucoides - silverleaf oak

print this native? Quercus ilicifolia - bear oak

print this native? Quercus imbricaria - shingle oak

print this native? Quercus incana - bluejack oak

print this native? Quercus kelloggii - California black oak

print this native? Quercus laevis - turkey oak

print this native? Quercus laurifolia - laurel oak     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Quercus lobata - valley oak

print this native? Quercus lyrata - overcup oak

print this native? Quercus macrocarpa - bur oak     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Quercus margaretta - sand post oak

print this native? Quercus marilandica - blackjack oak

print this native? Quercus michauxii - swamp chestnut oak     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Quercus montana - chestnut oak

print this native? Quercus muehlenbergii - chinkapin oak

print this native? Quercus nigra - water oak     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Quercus oglethorpensis - Oglethorpe oak

print this native? Quercus pagoda - cherrybark oak     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Quercus palustris - pin oak

print this native? Quercus phellos - willow oak     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Quercus prinoides - dwarf chinquapin oak

print this native? Quercus robur - English oak

print this native? Quercus rubra - northern red oak

print this native? Quercus shumardii - Shumard oak

print this native? Quercus sinuata - Durand white oak

print this native? Quercus stellata - post oak

print this native? Quercus texana - Nuttall oak

print this native? Quercus tomentella - island live oak

print this native? Quercus toumeyi - Toumey oak

print this native? Quercus velutina - black oak

print this native? Quercus virginiana - live oak     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Quercus wislizeni - interior live oak

print this native? Quillaja saponaria - soapbark

print this native? Rhamnus cathartica - common buckthorn

print this native? Rhododendron austrinum - Florida azalea

print this native? Rhus copallinum - shining sumac

print this native? Rhus glabra - smooth sumac

print this native? Rhus lanceolata - prairie sumac

print this native? Rhus lentii - lentisco

print this native? Rhus typhina - staghorn sumac

print this native? Robinia neomexicana - New Mexican locust

print this native? Robinia pseudoacacia - black locust

print this native? Salix alba - white willow

print this native? Salix babylonica - weeping willow

print this native? Salix bebbiana - Bebb's willow

print this native? Salix caprea - goat willow

print this native? Salix discolor - pussy willow

print this native? Salix gooddingii - Goodding's willow

print this native? Salix hookeriana - dune willow

print this native? Salix lucida - shining willow

print this native? Salix lutea - yellow willow

print this native? Salix nigra - black willow

print this native? Salix prolixa - MacKenzie's willow

print this native? Salix sitchensis - Sitka willow

print this native? Sapindus saponaria - soapberry

print this native? Sassafras albidum - sassafras

print this native? Schinus molle - peppertree

print this native? Schinus terebinthifolius - Brazilian peppertree

print this native? Sciadopitys verticillata - umbrella pine

print this native? Senegalia greggii - catclaw acacia

print this native? Sequoia sempervirens - redwood     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Sequoiadendron giganteum - giant sequoia     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Sesbania punicea - rattlebox

print this native? Sideroxylon lanuginosum - gum bumelia

print this native? Sideroxylon lycioides - buckthorn bumelia

print this native? Sorbus alnifolia - Korean mountain-ash

print this native? Sorbus americana - American mountain-ash

print this native? Sorbus aucuparia - European mountain-ash

print this native? Sorbus decora - showy mountain-ash

print this native? Sorbus scopulina - Greene's mountain-ash

print this native? Sorbus sitchensis - Sitka mountain-ash

print this native? Stewartia ovata - mountain-camellia

print this native? Stewartia spp. - stewartia

print this native? Styphnolobium affine - Texas sophora

print this native? Styphnolobium japonicum - Japanese pagoda tree

print this native? Swietenia mahagoni - West Indies mahogany

print this native? Tamarix aphylla - athel tamarisk

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? Tilia americana - American basswood

print this native? Tilia cordata - littleleaf linden

print this native? Toxicodendron vernix - poison sumac

print this native? Triadica sebifera - Chinese tallow tree

print this native? Ulmus alata - winged elm     Landowner Factsheet

print this native? Ulmus americana - American elm

print this native? Ulmus crassifolia - cedar elm

print this native? Ulmus parvifolia - Chinese elm

print this native? Ulmus procera - field elm

print this native? Ulmus pumila - Siberian elm

print this native? Ulmus rubra - slippery elm

print this native? Umbellularia californica - California-laurel

print this native? Ungnadia speciosa - Mexican buckeye

print this native? Vaccinium arboreum - sparkleberry

print this native? Vernicia fordii - tungoil tree

print this native? Wollemia nobilis - Wollemi-pine

print this native? Zanthoxylum clava-herculis - pricklyash