Activity Sheet - Discovering Trees
Identifying Trees
Trees fall into 3 categories, so first decide which type your tree is
Broadleaves: have wide flat leaves. Most species drop their leaves in winter, but some keep their leaves and are known as evergreen, e.g. Holly. The seeds are enclosed in fruits or nuts, and the wood is very hard.
Conifers: have narrow needle-like or scaley leaves. They are evergreen (except for the larch). The fruits are usually woody cones. Many are planted for timber as they grow faster than broadleaves.
Palms: have trunks without branches. The leaves grow at the top of the tree. Palms do not grow naturally in Britain, but sometimes you will see them in parks or gardens.
In winter, when there are no leaves, you can identify many trees just by looking at the twigs. This simple key covers many common trees.
1. Buds opposite
Buds alternate |
 |
go to 2
go to 6 |
2. Buds sticky
Buds not sticky |
 |
Horse Chestnut
go to 3 |
3. Buds black
Buds not black |
 |
Ash
go to 4 |
4. Twig with large white pith
Twig without white pith |
 |
Elder
go to 5 |
5. Buds fat and green
Buds small, flattened, not green |
Sycamore
Field Maple |
|
6. Twig with thorns
Twig without thorns |
 |
go to 7
go to 8 |
7. Twig redish brown
Twig greyish black |
Hawthorn
Blackthorn |
|
8. Twig hairy
Twig not hairy |
 |
go to 9
go to 10 |
9. Buds greenish
Buds dark brown |
Hazel
Elm |
|
10. Buds thin and pointed
Buds not thin and pointed |
 |
go to 11
go to 12 |
11. Buds sticking out from twig
Buds lying along twig |
 |
Beech
Hornbeam |
12. Twig zig-zagged
Not zig-zagged, but with ridges
neither of above, single bud at tip
none of above, several buds at tip |
|
Lime
Sweet Chestnut
Willow
Oak |
Conifers
Conifers are primative trees, they evolved long before the broadleaves. Their seeds are wind pollinated, because they evolved earlier than the insects which pollinate many broadleaves. Conifers have been enormously successful particularly in the northern temperate zone. They remain dominant at high altitudes and in very cold climates; in these conditions they are very slow growing. However, the conifers also include the fastest and largest growing of present day trees - the Californian redwood. The needle-like leaves allow the tree to photosynthesise all year round while coping with winter weather conditions. Most conifer leaves last 3 to 5 years. The larches are the only deciduous conifers widespread in the UK, and are well adapted to south-facing slopes on the snow line.
Needle Bearing Conifers
 Many needles, clustered in spikey bunches
If deciduous, Larch
If evergreen, Cedar |
 Needles in bunches of 2, 3 or 5
Pine |
 Needles in 2 rows along the twig
If in pairs on a tall tree, Redwood
If very dark on top surface, Yew |
 Needles spread around and all over the twig
If cones turn up, Fir
If cones hang down, Spruce |
 Needles in rings of 3
Juniper |
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