To help with the identification process of deciduous (woody plants that shed their leaves every year) trees and shrubs, the chart on this page goes over how a leaf it typically identified.

 

Shape

The shape is what we see first. There are many different shapes of leaves. The most common shapes here in Pine County includes Ovate, Palmate, Lobed, and a few more.

Margin

Margin is what the edges of a leaf would look like. Whether the leaf is smooth or lobed or dentate (tooth-like), it's an important step in identifying a leaf. The Margin styles on the chart can all be found in Pine County.

Venation

Venation is the pattern of the veins within the leaf. All of the patterns on the chart can be found here in Pine County.

 

 

All of these identification methods help in the process of deciding what tree you may be studying. This of course is only helpful when you can find a leaf to study. During the winter months when the leaves have fallen off, there are other methods to use which include the study of the bark, branches, and stems.