Leaf Key for Indian Springs Tree Species
1
Leaves needle-like, in (mostly) clusters
of 3
1
2
Leaves broad and flat
Leaves opposite
2
3
2
Leaves alternate
6
3
Leaves opposite, compound
3
Leaves opposite, simple
4
Leaves opposite, simple, without lobes
4
Leaves opposite, simple, lobed
(maples)
5
Leaves opposite, simple, lobed, leaf
edges serrated (saw-like)
Acer rubrum, red maple
USDA Symbol: ACRU
5
Leaves opposite, simple, lobed, leaf
edges with large teeth but smooth
between the teeth
Leaves alternate, compound
(hickories)
Acer barbatum, Florida maple
USDA Symbol: ACBA3
6
Pinus taeda, loblolly pine
USDA Symbol: PITA
Fraxinus pensylvanica, green ash
USDA Symbol: FRPE
4
Cornus florida, flowering dogwood
USDA Symbol: COFL2
5
7
6
Leaves alternate, simple
8
7
Leaves alternate, compound, leaflets 7
or more, central stalk fuzzy
Carya alba, mockernut hickory
USDA Symbol: CAAL27
7
Leaves alternate, compound, leaflets 5
or 7, central stalk hairless
Carya glabra, pignut hickory
USDA Symbol: CAGL8
7
Leaves alternate, compound, leaflets
5, 3 end leaflets very large
Carya ovata, shagbark hickory
USDA Symbol: CAOV2
8
Leaves alternate, simple, no lobes
(water oak, blackgum, beech)
8
Leaf alternate, simple, pointed lobes
(red oaks, sweetgum, yellow-poplar)
12
8
Leaf alternate, simple, rounded lobes
(white oaks, water oak)
13
9
Leaves alternate, simple, no lobes,
leaf edges smooth (water oak,
blackgum)
10
9
Leaves alternate, simple, no lobes,
leaf edges toothed or saw-like (beech,
elm, cherry)
11
10
Leaves alternate, simple, no lobes,
leaf edges smooth, leaf thin
10
Leaves alternate, simple, no lobes,
leaf edges smooth, leaf thick and
somewhat leathery, may have bristle
tips
Leaves alternate, simple, no lobes,
leaf edges toothed or saw-like, leaf
narrow, very fine-toothed, twig very
fragrant when broken
Leaves alternate, simple, no lobes,
leaf edges toothed or saw-like, fine
toothed, bark smooth and gray.
11
11
9
Nyssa sylvatica, blackgum
USDA Symbol: NYSY
Quercus nigra, water oak
USDA Symbol: QUNI
Prunus serotina, black cherry
USDA Symbol: PRSE2
Carpinus caroliniana, hornbeam
USDA Symbol: CACA18
11
Leaves alternate, simple, no lobes,
leaf edges toothed or saw-like, coarse
toothed, leaf base not symmetrical
Ulmus americana, American elm
USDA Symbol: ULAM
11
Leaves alternate, simple, no lobes,
leaf edges toothed or saw-like, teeth
large and bristle-tipped, bark smooth
and gray
Leaf alternate, simple, pointed lobes,
leaf with 3 broad lobes
Fagus grandifolia, American beech
USDA Symbol: FAGR
Liriodendron tulipifera, yellow-poplar
USDA Symbol: LITU
12
Leaf alternate, simple, pointed lobes,
shaped like a starfish
Liquidambar styraciflua, sweetgum
USDA Symbol: LIST2
12
Leaf alternate, simple, pointed lobes,
with several bristle-tipped lobes
Quercus falcata, southern red oak
USDA Symbol: QUFA
12
You have one of four species in the
red oak group. Difficult to separate
based on leaves alone.
Quercus rubra, northern red oak
USDA Symbol: QURU
Quercus coccinea, scarlet oak
USDA Symbol: QUCO2
Quercus shumardii, Shumard oak
USDA Symbol: QUSH
13
Leaf alternate, simple, rounded
finger-like lobes
13
Leaf alternate, simple, rounded lobes,
leaf cross-shaped
13
Leaves alternate, simple, rounded
lobes, leaf thick and somewhat
leathery, may have bristle tips
Quercus alba, white oak
USDA Symbol: QUAL
Quercus stellata, post oak
USDA Symbol: QUST
Quercus nigra, water oak
USDA Symbol: QUNI