Tree Identification

Introduction

Identifying trees is one of the best ways to learn about individual trees and our
urban forest as a whole. It is a challenging endeavor that can take a lifetime to
master.

This chapter focuses on tree identification. The easiest method of tree

identification in the summer is by the leaves, although a tree’s form, bark, and
fruit characteristics also give clues to its identity. The tree identification plates at
the end of this chapter illustrate unique species characteristics.

Tree Identification Using Leaves

Using leaves to identify trees is the simplest and most commonly used method
of tree identification. On page 5-6, you will find a Characteristics of Leaves
Diagram, a visual reference for some of the upcoming terms. Leaf shape, size,
and arrangement are all indicators of the tree origin. The first step in identifying
the origin of a leaf is to recognize the pattern of leaf development along the
stems or petiole. The petiole is commonly described as the stem or where the
blade connects with the twig or branch. Leaves that do not meet at the stem are
considered alternate. When leaves meet at the same point of the stem, but are
on opposite sides; they are termed opposite. When a group of leaves meet at the
same point of the stem; they are labeled whorled.

How leaves grow on their petioles is another indicator of origin. When a single
leaf develops from a single petiole it is termed simple.

Compound leaves fall into three categories. Pinnate compound leaves are
opposite on the petiole. Bi-pinnately compound leaves are divided twice.
Finally, palmately compound is when each leaf is connected to the same point
on the petiole.

The edge of a leaf or margin is another indicator of the tree of origin. Entire,
serrate, crenate, dentate, and lobed are the most common. A smooth edge is
an entire margin. Serrate margins resemble an edge of a steak knife. Crenate
margins are wavy, and dentate margins are a deeper version of a serrate. Finally,
lobed margins have distinct lobes that can be pointed or rounded.
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 Tree Nomenclature

Nomenclature is the naming and qualifying of plants. Most trees have two names,
a scientific and a common name.

Scientific Names generally have two words and are in Latin. The first name or
generic name is the genus. The second name is the specific epithet. Acer saccharum
or Sugar Maple, Acer is the species name used for all Maple trees. Saccharum is
solely used when describing a Sugar Maple.

Occasionally a third term is used. This indicates the person who named the plant.
It is generally referred to as the author citation. The author’s citation is rarely used
in everyday terminology.

The Scientific Names are the same around the world. Common names may vary
depending on the region.

Plants are classified using the following accepted taxonomic units: Kingdom,
Division, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species, Variety, Cultivar.

The first four units rarely affect the naming of plants. However, the next five units
are important in classifying plants.

Family: These are assemblages of plants that rather closely resemble each other in
general appearance and characteristics. An example of a family is Rosaceae that
includes roses, almonds, and cherry trees, to name a few.

Genus: These are more closely related and definable groups of plants. This
category has components that have more in common with each other than they do
with other components within the same family. Similarity of flowers and fruits is
the most commonly used feature. An example is the Acer genus (North America)
and the Dipteroma genus (China) which are both part of the Aceraceae family
(maples).

Species: This is the most important unit in classification. This is a group of

individuals similar in essential identification characteristics. Similarity of leaf
shape, bud size and color, bark, fruit, growth habit, and other features are the
defining determinants of a species. An example is the Acer rubrum (red maple) or
Acer platanoides (Norway maple).
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Variety: These are plants subordinate to the species. They will display species-
specific differences when reproduced in nature. In plant nomenclature this is
designated with the abbreviation, “var.” such as Gleditsia tricanthos var. inermis or
Thornless Common Honeylocust.

Cultivar: The characteristics of cultivars are reproduced only through artificial

propagation. The Princeton American Elm is an example of a variety that has been
cultivated due to its resistance to Dutch Elm disease. Similar characteristics are not
reproducible in nature. In nomenclature this is designated with single quotes, such
as Acer rubrum ‘October Glory’, or Red Maple ‘October Glory.’

Using a Key to Identify Trees

A dichotomous key is another option in tree identification. A dichotomous key

is a device that outlines specific features of a plant in an organized manner to
allow the identifier to eventually arrive at a specific plant. Dichotomous keys are
arranged in couplets, which are traditionally IF/THEN statements. To work your
way through a key answer a series of questions eliminating certain plants that do
not match your responses until eventually the search is narrowed to the tree you
are studying. The statements are created to lead the investigator down just one
path. Filtering out the plants that do not match the identifier’s answers. After each
statement either an answer is given or another question is posed to further narrow
down the search.

Dichotomous keys are useful tools, but are not foolproof. There is no single key
that can account for all plant deviations. Plant characteristics change over time
and season, with each species having unique characteristics difficult to assess in
every key. For example, maples are often commonly known as having the ‘typical’
five-lobed leaves when in fact, the genus Acer possesses species with compound
pinnate, simple pinnate, simple palmate, deciduous and evergreen leaves. The same
is true for oaks where one gets the impression that White and Bur Oak leaves are
characteristic of the genus. However, looking at enough oaks one quickly discovers
this is more the exception than the rule.

A good example of a dichotomous key can be found on The National Arbor Day
Foundation Web site: http://www.arborday.org/trees/treeID.cfm

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 DC Trees
Although there are many different genera and species of trees in Washington, DC,
the majority will be within the twenty-nine species covered here. And, of these
twenty-nine different trees, the majority of those will be within just three major
genera:

• Maple
• Oak
• Elm

Therefore, it will be important to recognize the basic traits consistent within these
three genus.

Maples (Acer spp)

We start with the maples because of one very basic difference between these and
the oaks and elms. Maples are just one of the three common trees in Washington
DC that have opposite branching. This means that the leaves and the buds are
directly opposite from one another on the stem.

Another distinguishing feature of maple is a thin bark. In general, most maples are
thin-barked compared to oak or elm.

And finally, maple leaves are very different from the oaks and elm. All maples have
a palmate vein pattern. There are other genera that also have palmate venation,
but maple is the largest of this group. In this pattern, there are several main veins,
all of approximate equal size, which extend from the base of the leaf to the end of
the lobe, or to the margin of the leaf.

In general, maple leaves tend to be as wide as they are long. In some instances,
maple leaves can be more broad than they are long.

Oaks (Quercus spp)

In contrast to the maples, oaks have alternate leaf patterns. This means that the
leaves and buds are arranged alternatively along the stems. Oaks also have simple
3-4 leaves. This means that the bud is located in the axil of a single leaf and the stem.
In addition, oaks have pinnate leaf venation. This means that the leaves have a
prominent central vein that extends from the base to the top of the leaf.
In general, oak leaves are longer than they are wide.

Elms (Ulmus spp)

The leaves and buds of elms are also arranged alternatively along the stems.
Furthermore, the leaves are simple and the vein pattern is pinnate like the oaks.
The major difference between the elm and oak is that elm leaves are oblong to ovate
in shape, rather than lobed.

An ovate leaf is one that has a pear-like shape. It is broad at the base and tapers to
a point at the top. In fact, one of the most useful characteristics used to distinguish
elm species is by comparing the shape of the leaf base. Another distinguishing
feature of the elm leaf is that all the leaves in this genus have a leaf margin that is
very jagged. This pattern is either serrate or double-serrate.

Tree Identification Plates

The following pages present descriptions and illustrations of features of

twenty-nine of the most commonly found trees in Washington, DC. There is a
brief description of each tree as well as images of leaves, twigs, bark, and fruit.
Volunteers are urged to use these pages as an identification reference as they
complete the tree survey. Other field guides or tree identification manuals may
prove useful as well.

The following Tree Identification plates are used with permission of The Virginia
Tech School of Forestry.

Additional References and Resources

A Resource Manual for Tree Stewards, Virginia Urban Forest Council, Kathy Stevebeck, Edi-
tor. March 2001
Eastern Trees-Peterson Field Guide, George A. Ptrides and Janet Wehr, Houghton Mifflin
Company, New York, New York 10003

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 Characteristics of Tree Leaves

Entire Serrate Crenate Dentate

Lobed
margin Undulate
Opposite Alternate
margin

Needles

Palmately lobed Scales Pinnately lobed

Awls

Palmate Bipinnate Pinnate

A Resource Manual for Tree Stewards, Virginia Urban Forest Council, Kathy Stevebeck, Edi-
tor. March 2001
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