![]() This publication replaces the long-used 50 Trees of Indiana, and it has a few more trees in it. One resource I would suggest you start with is Purdue Extension’s fairly new resource entitled, An Introduction to Trees of Indiana. ![]() Their cones look kind of like a pale blueberry.įinally, a good tree identification resource will help you. Our most common native evergreen in Indiana is the eastern redcedar, which has scale-like leaves that overlap each other somewhat like fish scales. Conifers (cone-bearing trees) that lose their needles every year include bald cyprus and tamarack. Other possible evergreens with flat needles include yews and eastern hemlock. Spruces have square needles on small wooden stalks or pegs. Do you have needles bound in a cluster, or individual needles? Pines have needles that are bound in clusters at their base, typically 2 or 5 needles per cluster. Of course, if you have evergreens or conifers, it’s mostly about needle characteristics and cones. The space between lobes is called a sinus, and it can be somewhat shallow or deeply cut into the leaf. On the tips, these lobes may have a rounded appearance, a pointed appearance, or some other variation. Lobes are larger areas of the leaf that stick out from the center. ![]() Teeth are serrations on the leaf edge that give it a look akin to a sawblade. What does the margin (edge) of the leaf look like? Is it smooth (called “entire”), or does it have teeth or lobes. Doubly-compound leaves can be found on Kentucky coffeetree and honeylocust. There are also doubly-compound leaves with much more branching and many more leaflets. Examples of compound leaves include black walnut, ashes, hickories, and butternut. Examples of trees with simple leaves are tuliptree (our state tree), oaks, eastern redbud, and maples (except boxelder, a maple sometimes called ash-leaf maple). The next thing to observe are the actual leaf characteristics.įirst, is it a simple leaf (one leaf blade), or a compound leaf (many leaflets that comprise the overall leaf). Alternately-arranged leaves have one leaf at a node, then a little further up there’s another leaf on the other side of the branch. We also include catalpa in that group, but it technically has a whorled arrangement (3 leaves per node arranged around the stem). The most common suspects are ashes, maples, boxelder, Ohio buckeye, and flowering dogwood. The list of trees with oppositely-arranged leaves and branches is a much shorter list than their alternate counterparts. Opposite arrangement means exactly what the name implies: at each leaf node, there is another leaf on the opposite side of the branch. One of the first things to look at is leaf arrangement, namely: opposite or alternate. But even that identification method begins with other aspects of the tree. Proper identification of trees is important so we can select the best tree for a site (pre-planting), provide good growing conditions, and address any health issues with the tree by first knowing what tree we have (certain pests tend to attack certain types of trees).įor most novices in tree identification, the best method is probably through identification of leaves during the growing season. Woodmanseeĭo you know all the trees in your yard? As leaves emerge from buds very soon, I’d challenge you to identify your trees this year. But, here, we a focus on ease of use and connection over semantics.Banner image: American hornbeam, a.k.a. In addition, notice the position of the leaves on the tree’s twigs and branches:Įach of these descriptions will have their very own special word in Greek or Latin, which can help you identify them in field guides. The main points to think about when identifying tree leaves, are: They are also one of the easiest ways to start your tree identification journey. Leaves are the power houses of all plants and trees – the place where photosynthesis happens and where trees (and plants) make the energy they need to survive.
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