Dichotomous Tree Identification Key


A dichotomous key is a tool that can be used to identify trees. 
 
"Dichotomous" means "divided into two parts." Therefore, a dichotomous key will always give you two choices in each step and following all the steps will lead you to the name of the tree you're identifying.
 
How to use this key
 
1) Use the leaves from a tree or find a picture of a tree you want to identify and click on the most appropriate match to the right.
 
OR
 
2) Click one of the numbers below to identify one of our mystery trees. If you end up with two matching pictures you have identified the tree correctly.
 
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6bark.jpg

 

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<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeKey/treeToIdentify.aspx?feature=needles'>Tree has needles</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>Coniferous Trees<a id='ResultLink' href=''></a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/treekey/18needles.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeKey/treeToIdentify.aspx?feature=broadLeaves'>Tree has broad leaves</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>Deciduous Trees<a id='ResultLink' href=''></a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/treekey/6leaf.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeKey/treeToIdentify.aspx?feature=NeedlesinBundles'>Needles in bundles or groups</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'><a id='ResultLink' href=''></a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/treekey/12needles2.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeKey/treeToIdentify.aspx?feature=NeedlesSingleFlattenedScaly'>Needles single or flattened and scaly</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>flattened, scaly needles<a id='ResultLink' href=''></a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/treekey/22scales2.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeKey/treeToIdentify.aspx?feature=OppositeBranching'>Opposite branching</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>side branches, leaves, and leaf scars grow from the stem directly across from each other<a id='ResultLink' href=''></a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/treekey/0oppbran.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeKey/treeToIdentify.aspx?feature=AlternateBranching'>Alternate branching</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>side branches, leaves, and leaf scars do not grow directly across from each other<a id='ResultLink' href=''></a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/treekey/0altbrn.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='#'>Needles in clusters</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>You have a: <a id='ResultLink' href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeSpecies.aspx?Name=Tamarack'>Tamarack (Larix laricina)</a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/20needles.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeKey/treeToIdentify.aspx?feature=Needles2-5perBundle'>Needles 2-5 per bundle</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'><a id='ResultLink' href=''></a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/17needles2.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeKey/treeToIdentify.aspx?feature=NeedlesSquareRoundScaly'>Needles square, round or scaly</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'><a id='ResultLink' href=''></a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/7needles3.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeKey/treeToIdentify.aspx?feature=NeedlesFlat'>Needles flat</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'><a id='ResultLink' href=''></a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/10needles2.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeKey/treeToIdentify.aspx?feature=OBCompoundLeaves'>Compound leaves</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>A single leaf with numerous leaflets. Leaflets are smaller parts of leaves that often resemble leaves themselves and join together along the leaf stem. A leaf actually begins where the woody twig ends.<a id='ResultLink' href=''></a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/0compnd.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeKey/treeToIdentify.aspx?feature=OBSimpleLeaves'>Simple leaves</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>The leaf stem is the same as the main vein for that leaf.<a id='ResultLink' href=''></a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/4leaf.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='#'>Five needles per bundle </a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>You have a:<a id='ResultLink' href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeSpecies.aspx?Name=White%20pine'>White pine (Pinus strobus)</a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/24needles.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeKey/treeToIdentify.aspx?feature=NeedlesInPairs'>Needles in pairs</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'><a id='ResultLink' href=''></a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/17needles2.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='#'>Needles scaly and flattened </a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>You have a:<a id='ResultLink' href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeSpecies.aspx?Name=Northern%20White%20Cedar'>Northern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)</a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/22scales3.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeKey/treeToIdentify.aspx?feature=NeedlesSquareOrRound'>Needles square or round</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'><a id='ResultLink' href=''></a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/25needle2.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='#'>Needles 1/2 inch long with short stem </a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>You have a:<a id='ResultLink' href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeSpecies.aspx?Name=Eastern%20Hemlock'>Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)</a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/10needles3.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='#'>Needles 3/4-1 1/4 inches long, no stem</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>You have a:<a id='ResultLink' href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeSpecies.aspx?Name=Balsam%20Fir'>Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)</a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/1needles.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='#'>Needles 3-4 inches long</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>You have a:<a id='ResultLink' href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeSpecies.aspx?Name=Red%20pine'>Red Pine (Pinus resinosa)</a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/17needles3.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeKey/treeToIdentify.aspx?feature=needlesUnder2inches'>Needles under 2 inches</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'><a id='ResultLink' href=''></a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/12needles3.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='#'>9-11 leaflets, leaflets do not have stems</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>You have a:<a id='ResultLink' href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeSpecies.aspx?Name=Black%20Ash'>Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra)</a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/0nostemash.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='#'>5-9 leaflets, leaflets have stems, smile-shaped leaf scar </a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>You have a:<a id='ResultLink' href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeSpecies.aspx?Name=White%20Ash'>White Ash (Fraxinus americana)</a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/27leafcolor.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='#'>Leaf margins smooth, 5 lobes</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>You have a:<a id='ResultLink' href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeSpecies.aspx?Name=Sugar%20Maple'>Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)</a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/19leaf2.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='#'>Leaf margins notched, 3-5 lobes</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>You have a:<a id='ResultLink' href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeSpecies.aspx?Name=Red%20Maple'>Red Maple (Acer rubrum)</a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/15leaf2.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeKey/treeToIdentify.aspx?feature=ABCompoundLeaves'>Compound leaves</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>(A single leaf with numerous leaflets. Leaflets are smaller parts of leaves that often resemble leaves themselves and join together along the leaf stem. A leaf actually begins where the woody twig ends.) <a id='ResultLink' href=''></a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/0compnd.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeKey/treeToIdentify.aspx?feature=ABSimpleLeaves'>Simple leaves</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>(The leaf stem is the same as the main vein for that leaf.)<a id='ResultLink' href=''></a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/4leaf.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='#'>Leaflets over 2 inches long, 5-7 hairless leaflets, egg-shaped nut </a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>You have a:<a id='ResultLink' href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeSpecies.aspx?Name=Shagbark%20Hickory'>Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)</a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/11leaf3.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='#'>Leaflets over 2 inches long, 7-17 slightly hairy (below) leaflets, leaf 12-36 inches long </a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>You have a:<a id='ResultLink' href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeSpecies.aspx?Name=Black%20Walnut'>Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)</a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/8leaf.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeKey/treeToIdentify.aspx?feature=LeaveLobed'>Leaves lobed, smooth or toothed margins</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'>(Lobes are like fingers on a leaf that make a leaf irregular shaped.) lobed with smooth margin<a id='ResultLink' href=''></a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/0lobesinus.jpg'></DIV>
<DIV id='TreeKeyDiv'><span id='TreeKeyTitle'><a href='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/TreeKey/treeToIdentify.aspx?feature=LeavesNotLobed'>Leaves not lobed</a></span><br/><span id='TreeKeyEx'><a id='ResultLink' href=''></a></span><br/><img id='TreeKeyImg' src='https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/SiteAssets/images/TreeKey/21leaf2.jpg'></DIV>
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