Tree Identification
Before learning how to ID a tree, it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with the parts of a tree (flowers, seeds, leaves, twigs & buds, bark, and roots). Check out the anatomy pages for information on the variation within the different parts of a tree. Once you’ve got that down, use one of the keys below to find ID a tree!
Conifers
Conifers – also known as gymnosperms – lack flowers, but have cones (except redcedar and yew), needles, scales or awls, and are evergreens (except larch). Their branches are typically whorled, most species have dark brown bark, and scars on the tree often ooze resin.
Broad-leaf trees
Broad-leaf trees – also known as flowering trees or angiosperms – are characterized by flowers and, not surprisingly, broad, flattened leaves that are deciduous. Seeds range greatly in variety, but always develop from flowers.
Dichotomous Key
The dichotomous (well, almost dichotomous) key below is useful for quick reference if you don’t need visual references to help you along. The key mostly stops at genus, but goes to species for a few. If the key stops at genus, the link will take you to a page that will help you separate out the different species in that clade.
| Conifers | |
|---|---|
| 1a. Leaves are flattened scales or awl-shaped | |
| 2a. Tree with awls and bluish berry-like cones | Juniperus |
| 2b. Tree lacking awls and with brown cones pointing up | Thuja |
| 1b. Leaves are single needles | Spruce, fir, hemlock, yew |
| 3a. | Picea |
| 3b. Leaves are single needles | Abies |
| 3c. Leaves are single needles | Tsuga |
| 3d. Leaves are single needles | Taxus |
| 1c. Leaves are needles in clusters | Pines & Larches |
| 4a. Needles in clusters of 2-5 | Pinus |
| 4a. Needles on little knobby spur shoots with up to 20 deciduous needles | Larix |
| Broad-leaf trees with ALTERNATE branching | |
|---|---|
| 1a. Leaves are flattened scales or awl-shaped | |
| 2a. Tree with awls and bluish berry-like cones | Juniperus |
| 2b. Tree lacking awls and with brown cones pointing up | Thuja |
| 1b. Leaves are single needles | Spruce, fir, hemlock, yew |
| 3a. | Picea |
| 3b. Leaves are single needles | Abies |
| 3c. Leaves are single needles | Tsuga |
| 3d. Leaves are single needles | Taxus |
| 1c. Leaves are needles in clusters | Pines & Larches |
| 4a. Needles in clusters of 2-5 | Pinus |
| 4a. Needles on little knobby spur shoots with up to 20 deciduous needles | Larix |
| Broad-leaf trees with OPPOSITE branching | MAD Capped Bucking Horse |
|---|---|
| 1a. Compound leaves | |
| 2a. | Juniperus |
| 2b. | Thuja |
| 1b. Simple leaves | Spruce, fir, hemlock, yew |
| 3a. | Picea |
| 3b. | Abies |
| 3c. | Tsuga |
| 3d. Leaves are single needles | Taxus |
| 1c. Leaves are needles in clusters | Pines & Larches |
| 4a. Needles in clusters of 2-5 | Pinus |
| 4a. Needles on little knobby spur shoots with up to 20 deciduous needles | Larix |
