Leaves: The leaves of the Red Maple are very roughly toothed with 3-5 shallow lobes.Floral buds are globose and conspicuous since they are borne in clusters. Twigs are reddish and have rounded, oblong, vegetative buds. Crushed twigs do not emit a rank odor as does the silver maple. The bark is smooth and light gray on young- and intermediate-aged stems, while mature bark is dark gray and rough. The red maple is usually a medium-sized tree with a moderate growth rate. The upper surface is a bright gray-green and underside is more whitish with erect hairs that disappear as the leaf matures. The lateral lobes indent to the mid-vein by 1/3 to 7/8ths of the distance and these lobes to have a somewhat rounded tip. There will be 7 to 10 (5 to 9) ascending lobes looking like fingers, and a rounded apex at the top end of the leaf. Oblong to ovate in shape, with a base that is a narrow wedge shape to triangular with the point forming the short stalk. Fall color is yellow to rusty brown – not considered striking. The upper leaf is a dark shiny green and the underside much lighter with dense fine hair. The edges are not deeply cut but with broad large teeth, either on the entire leaf or just the top half. Ovate with a triangular or narrow wedge shape base and with a rounded point at the tip. The deciduous species of the oak tree are seen in the colder latitudes, while those with evergreen leaves are seen toward the south. The oak tree has many hybrids which can make identification a tough job.

Hybrids, intermediates of two oak tree species, generally take the latter form. Other than evergreen and deciduous oak trees, the species also includes smaller plants or oak shrubs. It belongs to the beech family (Fagaceae). The oak tree is classified under the genus Quercus, a Latin word meaning ‘oak tree’. There is also the palm-shaped maple leaf and the lobed oak leaf, two of our most recognizable leaf shapes. Common leaf identification shapes include ovate (egg-shaped), lanceolate (long and narrow), deltoid (triangular), orbicular (round) and cordate (heart-shaped). The shape of a leaf can also give clues when identifying broadleaf tree species. Live oak is an evergreen tree with broad, elliptical leaves. Larch has green needles that turn color in fall and drop off the tree. Most evergreens have needles or scales, while most broadleaf trees are deciduous, meaning they drop their leaves when dormant. There are three basic leaf types: needles, scales, and broadleaf. The starting point for most people when identifying trees species is the leaves. A vine is a plant whose stems require support – it either climbs up a tree or other structure or sprawls over the ground. Shrubs are woody plants less than 13 feet tall that usually have multiple stems, and those stems are generally less than three inches in diameter at 4.5 feet from the ground. Aromatic sumac leaves, for instance, have a strong, astringent fragrance when crushed.Īs a general rule, trees are considered woody plants 13 feet tall or taller and typically have only one trunk. You should also study the tree for thorns or spines, ridges, buds, and even the odor! Many trees and shrubs are fragrant, or their twigs have a distinct flavor. Tree Leaf Identification By Leaf And Size Deciduous trees-including oaks, maples, and elms-shed their colorful leaves in the fall and sprout bright new green leaves in the spring. Whether you’re on a walk in the woods or a park or merely sitting in your own backyard, you may be curious about the trees around you. Leaves are the most reliable way to identify a tree, since they’re found on or beneath the tree all year round, as opposed to the flowers and fruit that often only appear for a few weeks each year.

Tree Leaf Identification: Begin with the basics – bark, leaves, branch structure, flowers, and fruit.

Family tree leaf guide