Leaves and needles are one of the best tools to use when identifying trees.

Coniferous trees typically keep their needles all winter. A deciduous tree is one that drops its leaves in the fall.

Coniferous- Pine, spruce, hemlock, fir, cedar

Deciduous- Aspen, birch, maple, oak, ash

Deciduous conifer- American Larch (also called tamarack)

Parts of a Leaf

Lobe– Leaf tips

Sinus– Deeper part of the leaf

Stem/Petiole– Connects leaf to branch

Lamina– The surface of the leaf

Margin– The edge of the leaf

We use characteristics of a leaf to differentiate species.

A Sugar maple leaf has U shaped sinuses while a Red maple leaf has
V shaped sinuses.

Red maple (Acer rubrum)

Chestnut oak (Quercus prinus)

Red oaks have little hair like points on the lobes of their leaves, while White oaks and Chestnut oaks do not.

Deciduous trees are now pretty bare, but check the ground! Pick up leaves and see if you can identify them.

Use this resource to identify trees in all seasons!

Photos and Graphics by Abby Wilson