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DECIDUOUS SUMMER KEY
Identifying deciduous, or broad-leaf bearing, trees using leaves isn't too hard and can be fun. However, leaves can vary in shape and size with a species or even on the same individual tree. Knowing as many identification features as possible is always a good idea. But that takes practice. Working these keys also takes practice.
Be careful to READ THE DESCRIPTIONS CLOSELY and CAREFULLY! Carefully compare the descriptions with your sample and your memory of what the tree and habitat looked like. Remember that words such as "often" and "usually" do NOT mean "always". It is best to use a mature tree, or one that is not a seedling or sapling. Deciding if a small tree is just a shrub or if it is a young tree can be difficult. The appearance of a tree sometimes changes quite a bit as a tree ages (kind of like people). If you click on underlined, blue words, you will link to the glossary for a definition of that word. Underlined blue and CAPITALIZED words are names of trees that will link you to another page with several similar species.
If you’re not sure how to use a tree identification key like this, click here. (read the instructions!).
1. Opposite
branching. (2)
1. Alternate branching.
(12)
2. Compound leaves. (3)
2. Simple leaves. (6)
3. Leaflets 3-5,
coarsely-toothed. BOXELDER
3. Leaflets 5-9, shallow-toothed. (4)
4. Leaflets 9-11, stemless. BLACK ASH
4. Leaflets 5-9, with stems. (5)
5. Top of leaf scar smile-shaped.
WHITE ASH
5. Top of leaf scar straight. GREEN ASH
6. Tree size.
(7)
6. Shrub size.
(9)
7. Leaf margin smooth.
SUGAR MAPLE
7. Leaf margin toothed. (8)
8. Leaves double-toothed,
green both sides. RED MAPLE
8. Leaves with deep sinuses,
silvery underneath. SILVER MAPLE
9. Leaf veins palmate,
maple-like. (10)
9. Leaf not palmate.
(11)
10. Leaf sinuses
roundish, trunk with obvious stripes. STRIPED
MAPLE
10. Leaf sinuses sharp-angled,
trunk gray. MOUNTAIN MAPLE
11. Leaves with finely-toothed
margins. BUCKTHORN
11. Leaves with smooth margins.
DOGWOOD
12. Compound leaves. (13)
12. Simple leaves. (18)
13. Leaflets over 2". (14)
13. Leaflets under 2". (16)
14. Leaflets 7-11, with largest at end of leaf. Hickory nuts.
BITTERNUT HICKORY
14. Leaflets 11-23, largest in the middle or all even length. Twigs with chambered pith.
(15)
15. Leaves 15-30 inches long, 11-17 leaflets. Dark pith. BUTTERNUT
15. Leaves 12-36 inches long, 15-23 leaflets. Tan pith. BLACK
WALNUT
16. Leaflets serrated MOUNTAIN
ASH
16. Leaflets smooth margined. (17)
17. Leaves often double-compound,
many leaflet pairs.
HONEYLOCUST
17. Leaves single-compound, 7-19 leaflets. BLACK
LOCUST
18. Lobed leaves. Smooth or toothed margins. (19)
18. Leaves not lobed. Simple leaves, toothed margins.
(22)
19. Pointed lobes. (20)
19. Rounded lobes. (21)
20. Sinuses usually
no closer to mid-vein that 1/2 inch. Tree usually with good form.
NORTHERN RED OAK
20. Sinuses usually large and nearly to mid-vein. Scrubby-looking
tree. NORTHERN PIN OAK
20. Angled lobes or very large teeth. Toothed margins. Thorns.
HAWTHORNE
21. Leaf "club-shaped" with one pair of sinus that nearly to
mid-vein. Twigs with corky growths. Acorn cups fuzzy. Rare.
BUR OAK
21. Lobes and sinuses fairly balanced. Twigs without corky growths.
Acorn cups not fuzzy. Rare. WHITE
OAK
22. Papery bark, like birches. (23)
22. Bark not papery. (24)
23. Leaves single-toothed,
white peeling bark. PAPER BIRCH
23. Leaves double-toothed,
yellow or bronze bark. YELLOW BIRCH
24. Leaf stems flat. (25)
24. Leaf stems round. (26)
25. Leaves have small teeth (<1/16"), bark usually white.
QUAKING ASPEN
25. Leaves have large teeth (1/8-1/4"), woolly underneath in the
spring. BIGTOOTH ASPEN
25. Triangular leaf with base angled-back towards the twig. Long,
sticky buds. COTTONWOOD
26. Leaves & small twigs with bitter taste. (27)
26. Leaves & twigs not bitter. (30)
27. Rusty fuzz on back of leaf along mid-rib. BLACK
CHERRY
27. No rusty fuzz. (28)
28. Leaf much longer than wide. PIN
CHERRY
28. Leaf not much longer than wide. (29)
29.
Terminal buds long and slender. JUNEBERRY
29. Terminal buds shorter, only about 2-3 times the width of the twig.
CHOKE CHERRY
30. Leaf margins double-toothed,
elm-like or birch-like leaves. (31)
30. Leaf margins not as above. (35)
31. Bark cross-section layered
and unequal leaf base. (32)
31. Bark not layered.
(34)
32. Leaves 2-3 inches. Bark and twigs with corky wings or ridges.
ROCK ELM
32. Leaves usually over 3 inches long. Bark not as above. (33)
33. Leaves 4-6 inches, very scratchy. Inner bark slimy when chewed.
SLIPPERY ELM
33. Leaves 4-6 inches. Bark cross-section with alternate dark &
light layers. AMERICAN ELM
34. Bark smooth, small understory tree.
MUSCLEWOOD
34. Bark shreddy, small understory
tree. IRONWOOD
35. Leaves much longer than wide. (36)
35. Leaves not so long & narrow. (38)
36. Shrub size.
SMALL WILLOWS
36. Tree size.
(37)
37. Leaf bases rounded
with stipules. BLACK
WILLOW
37. Leaf bases sharply
angled without stipules
(or tiny ones). PEACHLEAF WILLOW
38. Shrub or small tree.
Leaves may be somewhat lobed.
Thorns. HAWTHORNE
38. Tree size.
(39)
39. Heart-shaped leaves. Trees often in clumps. Brick-red,
smooth buds. BASSWOOD
39. Leaves not heart-shaped. (40)
40. Leaves with large, coarse, pointed teeth. AMERICAN
BEECH
40. Leaves with teeth that are not so obvious. (41)
41. Leaves are rusty-looking with barely serrate margins. Long,
sticky buds. BALM-of-GILEAD
41. Leaf serrations point to leaf tip. Twigs and bark with corky
ridges. HACKBERRY
Some species not covered in this key but included in the species description pages are: pears, plums, black maple, Norway maple, elderberries, weeping willow, pussy willow, and Bebb's willow.
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This site created and maintained by Bill Cook, MSU Extension Forester for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Editing and modification is ongoing. Submit suggestions, questions, and corrections to cookwi@msu.edu or call 906-786-1575.
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U.P. TREE IDENTIFICATION
KEY