Dichotomous Key : Tree

How to identify trees!

1a.coniferous(evergreen)...............................................................................................................................................................go to 2

1b. deciduous(hardwood)...............................................................................................................................................................go to 9

2a. leaves needle-shaped................................................................................................................................................................go to 3

2b. leaves non-needle-shaped.......................................................................................................................................................go to 4

3a. single leaves...............................................................................................................................................................................go to 5

3b. grouped leaves...........................................................................................................................................................................go to 6

3c. clustered leaves...................................................................................................................................................................a tamarack

4a. is it.......................................................................................................................................................................northern white cedar

4b. is it...........................................................................................................................................................................................red cedar

5a. flat needles..................................................................................................................................................................................go to 7

5b. angled needles...........................................................................................................................................................................go to 8

6a. is it.........................................................................................................................................................................................white pine

6b. is it......................................................................................................................................................................red pine/norway pine

6c. is it............................................................................................................................................................................................jack pine

7a. is it...........................................................................................................................................................................................balsam fir

7b. is it.........................................................................................................................................................................................a hemlock

8a. is it...................................................................................................................................................................................a white spruce

8b. is it..................................................................................................................................................................................a black spruce   

9a. alternate branching................................................................................................................................................................go to 10 

9b. opposite branching................................................................................................................................................................go to 10

10a. simple leaf..............................................................................................................................................................................go to 11

10b. compound leaf......................................................................................................................................................................go to 12

11a.simple lobed-leaf...................................................................................................................................................................go to 16

11b.simple non-lobed leaf...........................................................................................................................................................go to 17

11c.smooth outline.................................................................................................................................................................sugar maple

11d.toothed outline......................................................................................................................................................................go to 18

12a.pith of a twig plated..............................................................................................................................................................go to 14

12b.pith of a twig non-plated......................................................................................................................................................go to 15

12c.if none of the above match...................................................................................................................................................go to 13

13a. is it.........................................................................................................................................................................................black ash

13b. is it.........................................................................................................................................................................................green ash

13c. is it..................................................................................................................................................................................mountain ash

13d. is it.........................................................................................................................................................................................white ash

13e. is it.........................................................................................................................................................................................box elder

14a.is it....................................................................................................................................................................................black walnut

14b.is it..........................................................................................................................................................................................butternut

15a. is it..........................................................................................................................................................................bitternut hickory 

15b. is it..........................................................................................................................................................................shagbark hickory

15c. is it....................................................................................................................................................................................black locust

15d. is it..................................................................................................................................................................................honey locust

15e. is it..................................................................................................................................................................................mountain ash

16a. is it................................................................................................................................................................................chinkapin oak

16b. is it............................................................................................................................................................................................bur oak

16c. is it........................................................................................................................................................................................white oak

16d. is it..........................................................................................................................................................................swamp white oak

16e. is it........................................................................................................................................................................................black oak

16f. is it.............................................................................................................................................................................................red oak

16g. is it...........................................................................................................................................................................northern pin oak

17a.does it have thorns...................................................................................................................................................is it a hawthorn 

17b.does it have papery bark.....................................................................................................................................................go to 20 

17c.does it have flattened stems.................................................................................................................................................go to 21

17d.other.........................................................................................................................................................................................go to 22

18a. is it........................................................................................................................................................................................red maple

18b. is it...................................................................................................................................................................................silver maple 

20a. is it...................................................................................................................................................................................yellow birch

20b. is it.......................................................................................................................................................................................river birch

20c. is it......................................................................................................................................................................................paper birch

21a. is it...........................................................................................................................................................................large tooth aspen

21b. is it...............................................................................................................................................................................quaking aspen

21c. is it................................................................................................................................................................................balm of gilead

22a. is it.......................................................................................................................................................................................bluebeech

22b. is it.......................................................................................................................................................................................ironwood 

22c. is it...............................................................................................................................................................................................beech

22d. is it.....................................................................................................................................................................................coke cherry

22e. is it........................................................................................................................................................................................pin cherry

22f. is it....................................................................................................................................................................................black cherry