Washington Park Tree Identification
Once you have identified a tree in the park, submit the tree number from the map, a close up photograph and distance photograph (showing surrounding area in the park) and the date of your photographs to me. I will check the identification and send you additional information about the tree for your personal tree portfolio.
Illustrations by Marina Smelik
1a. Leaf typically 3/8 (0.95 cm) or less wide, leaf
shape scale-like, awl-like, needle-like, or narrow linear.
(Gymnosperms )
... 2
2a. Leaf shape scale-like 3
3a. Leaf shape scale-like in flat sprays, leaf arrangement 4 per node Calocedrus decurrens , incense cedar
3b. Leaf shape scale-like,
not in flat sprays, leaf
arrangement 2 per node
Juniperus chinensis Torulosa',
Hollywood
juniper
2b. Leaf shape not scale-like 4
4a. Leaf shape awl-like 5
5a. Leaf shape awl-like,
cone round, ¾ (2cm) long, cone scales with projecting processes
Cryptomeria
japonica, Japanese
cryptomeria
5b. Leaf shape awl-like,
cone 3 to 4 (7.5 to 10cm) long, cone scales without processes
Sequoiadendron
giganteum, giant
sequoia
4b. Leaf shape not awl-like 6
6a. Leaf shape needle-like, arranged in bundles (fascicles)... pine trees 7
7a. Leaf arrangement two needles per fascicle (2-needle pines) 8
8a. Leaves 3 to 4 inches
(7.6 to 10 cm) long, dark green, stiff, fascicle with a pair of filaments
Pinus
thunbergii, Japanese
black pine
8b. Leaves 2 to 3.5 inches (5 to 9 cm) long , slender,
light green, fascicle without pair of filaments
Pinus
halepensis, aleppo
pine
7b. Leaf arrangement three needles par fascicle (3-needle pines) 9
9a. Leaves 3-1/2 6 inches (8.9 15.2
cm) long, not drooping, cones radiating around the branches , bark dark
brown to almost black
Pinus
radiata, Monterey
pine
9b Leaves 6-12 inches long, drooping 10
10a Cones 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 10 cm) long, each cone scale rhomboidal shaped
with a minute prickle
Pinus patula , Jelecote pine
10b Cones 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20cm) long, each cone
scale with a prominent projection
Pinus canariensis , Canary
Island pine
6b. Leaf shape needle-like,
arranged in clusters on ends of short branchlets (cedars); OR narrow linear,
arranged
singly along stem
11
11a. Leaf shape needle-like ,
leaves arranged in clusters at ends of short shoots , cones upright on the branches
(Cedrus )
12
12a. Leaves less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) long Cedrus atlantica , Atlas cedar
12b. Leaves more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) long Cedrus deodara , deodar cedar
11b. Leaf shape narrow
linear , arranged singly along stem , not in clusters at ends of short branches,
cones
pendulant.
13
13a. Cone pendulant, with three-lobed bracts
between cone scales . Cones are readily found on this tree
.
Pseudotsuga
menziesii , Douglas fir
13b. Cone without three-lobed bracts or cone not found on tree 14
14a. Leaf to 2 inches (5 cm) long and ¼ inch
(6mm) wide, acute point, somewhat stiff. Cone is fleshy and rarely
seen
Podocarpus
gracilior , fern pine
14b. Leaf 1 inch (2.8 cm) or less long 15
15a Leaf to 1 inch (2.8 cm) long and 1/8 th inch
(3 mm) wide, acute point, soft, dark green. Cone is fleshy, red
colored , occasionally
seen. Growth habit of stems is strongly upright (vertical)
Taxus
baccata Stricta', Irish yew
15b. Leaf less than 1 inch (2.8 cm) long 16
16a. Leaf ¾ inch (2 cm) long and 1/8 inch
(3 mm) wide, leaf
arrangement alternate , dark green, apex acute
pointed and stiff; mature cone woody
Sequoia sempervirens ,
coast redwood
16b Leaf less that ¾ inch (2 cm) long 17
17a. Leaf to ½ inch (1.5 cm) long and 1/16
th inch (2mm) wide, leaf and branchlet arrangement opposite , soft,
light green,
branchlets opposite; mature cone woody
Metasequoia glyptostroboides ,
dawn redwood
17b. Leaf to 3/8 inch (1 cm) long and 1/24 th inch
(1 mm) wide leaf and branchlet arrangement alternate , soft,
light green; mature
cone woody
Taxodium sp., cypress
1b . Leaf typically 3/8 inch (0.95 cm) or more wide, not scale-like, needle-like, awl-like, narrowly linear. Broad- leaf flowering plants ( Angiosperms ) and Ginkgo (Gymnosperm) 18
18a. Plant palm-like, leaves originating at the top of the trunk ( Monocotyledones) 19
19a. Trunk with hair-like fibers , leaves 2 to 4 feet (0.6 to 1.2 m) wide, Trachycarpus fortunei , windmill palm
19b. Trunk without hair-like fibers, leaves 3 to 6 feet (0.9 to 1.8
m) wide,
Washingtonia filifera , California
fan palm
18b. Plants not palm-like ( Dicotyledones ) 20
20a . Leaf type compound, that is composed of separate individual leaflets 21
21a. Leaf type compound palmate 22
22a. Tree with spines on trunk Chorisia speciosa floss silk tree
22b. Tree without spines on trunk 23
23a. Three (occasionally 5) leaflets, leaflet ¼ to 3/8 inches (0.6
to 1 cm) wide, leaflet margin entire
Rhus
lancea, African sumac
23b. Five leaflets (usually), leaflet 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 cm) wide, leaflet
margin serrate (teeth pointing foreword)
Aesculus x carnea,
red horsechestnut
21b. Leaf type compound pinnate 24
24a. Leaf type compound, once pinnate 27
27a. Leaf type compound even-pinnate Pistacia chinensis, Chinese pistache
27b. Leaf type compound odd-pinnate 28
28a. Leaf arrangement opposite, (note: compound
twice pinnate leaves may also be present)
Lyonothamnus floribundus
asplenifolius, fern-leaved Catalina
ironwood
28b. Leaf arrangement alternate 29
29a. Leaflet margin entire 30
30a. Leaflet 1 to 2 inches long, (2.5 to 5 cm) long , leaflet shape elliptic to ovate , apex mucronate,
and obtuse or truncate Robinia ambigua, locust
30b. Leaflet 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) long, leaflet shape ovate-lanceolate, apex acute,
not mucronate...
Sophora japonica, Japanese pagoda tree
29b. Leaflet 1-1/4 to 3 inches (3.2 to 7.6 cm) long, leaflet
margin crenate-serrate;(note: twice pinnate compound
leaves may also be present)
Koelreuteria
paniculata, goldenrain
tree
24b. Leaf type compound, twice pinnate 31
31a. Leaf arrangement opposite 32
32a. Terminal secondary leaflet longer than lateral secondary leaflets Jacaranda mimosifolia , jacaranda
32b. Terminal secondary leaflet not longer than lateral secondary leaflets ( note: compound once pinnate leaves may also be present) Lyonothamnus floribundus asplenifolius, fern-leaved Catalina ironwood
31b. Leaf arrangement alternate 33
33a. Secondary leaflet margin entire. Secondary
leaflet ¼ to 3/8 inch (0.6 to 0.95 cm) long,
Albizia julibrissin,
silk tree
33b. Secondary leaflet margin crenate serrate.
Secondary leaflet 1-1/4 to 3 inches (3.2 to 7.6 cm) long,; (note: once
pinnate
compound leaves may also be present)
Koelreuteria
paniculata, goldenrain tree
20b Leaf type simple 34
34a Leaf arrangement opposite 35
35a. Leaf margin entire 36
36a. Leaf tomentose beneath, 5 to 12 inches (12.7 to 30.5 cm) long and 7 to
8 inches (17.8 to 20.3 cm) wide , leaf
base cordate
to somewhat cordate
Paulownia tomentosa, empress
tree
36b. Leaf glabrous on top and bottom 37
37a. Leaf long and narrow, length: width ratio greater than 8:1 or more Angophora intermedia
37b. Leaf broader, length: width ratio 5:1 or less 38
38a. Leaf sessile , 3-½ to 4 inches (9 to 10 cm) long, 1 to 1-1/4 inches
(2.6 to 3.2 cm) wide, base cordate
Eucalyptus
viminalis , manna gum (juvenile leaf )
38b. Leaf with distinct petiole (may be short), base not cordate 39
39a. Leaf 2-1/2 to 3 inches (6.3 to7.6 cm) long, leaf margin light yellow Ligustrum lucidum, glossy privet
39b. Leaf less than 2 inches (5 cm) long, leaf margin green 40
40a. Leaf 1-1/2 to 1-7/8 inches (3.6 to 4.8 cm) long, stem round, leaf aromatic when rubbed between two fingers Myrtus communis, myrtle
40b. Leaf 1 to 1-1/8 inches (2.5 to 2.8 cm) long, stem square , leaf not aromatic when rubbed between two fingers Buxus sempervirens, English boxwood
35b. Leaf margin palmately lobed 41
41a. Lower surface of leaf glaucescent (blue-gray) 42
42a. Leaf 1-1/2 to 2-3/4 inches (3.8 to 7 cm) wide, 3 lobed, leaf margin entire
or seldom irregularly serrate
Acer buergeranum, trident maple
42b. Leaf 2 to 41/2 inches (5.1 to 11.4 cm) wide, 3-5 lobes, leaf margin serrate Acer rubrum, scarlet maple
41b. Lower surface of leaf green, often lighter than upper surface but not glaucescent 43
43a. Leaf 5 9 lobed, 2 to 4 inches (5.1 to 10.2 cm) wide Acer palmatum, Japanese maple
43b. Leaf 3 7 lobed, never 9 lobed 44
44a. Leaf 3 to 6inches (7.6 to 15 cm) wide, 5 7 lobed ... Acer platanoides, Norway maple
44b. Leaf 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30.5 cm) wide, 3 5 lobed Acer macrophyllum, bigleaf maple
34b. Leaf arrangement alternate 45
45a. Leaf shape fan-shaped , 2 to 3 inches (5
to 7.5 cm) long and 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) wide; leaves also in
clusters
of 3 to 5 leaves on short shoots
Ginkgo biloba ,
ginkgo
45b. Leaf not fan shaped 46
46a . Leaf margin entire 47
47a. Leaf gray scurfy or rusty tomentose beneath 48
48a. Leaf 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10cm) long, gray scurfy beneath Lagunaria patersonii, primrose tree
48b. Leaf 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) long, often rusty tomentose beneath,
leaf texture thick
Magnolia grandiflora, southern magnolia
47b. Leaf not gray scurfy or rusty tomentose beneath 49
49a. Leaf length and width about the same ( leaf length: width ratio about
1:1 ), leaf base cordate
Cercis
occidentalis, western redbud
49b. Leaf longer than wide, (leaf length: width ratio greater than 1:1) base not cordate 50
50a. Leaf with two glands at apex of petiole , length 2-1/2 to 2-3/4 inches
(6.3 to 7 cm) long, leaf shape rhombic-
ovate
Sapium
sebiferum, Chinese tallow tree
50b. Leaf without glands on petiole, leaf shape not rhombic-ovate, 51
51a. Leaf length ½ inch (1.3 cm) or less, sharp pointed, bark on trunk
white to light gray, thick and spongy, pealing
off in thin papery layers
Melaleuca
styphelioides, rigidleaf melaleuca
51b. Leaf length longer than ½ inch (1.3 cm), bark not as in 51a. 52
52a. Leaf 1-1/2 to 2 inches (3.8-5cm) long, leaf
margin undulate , leaf dark green above with light green primary
vein,
twigs black
Pittosporum
tenuifolium, tawhiwhi
52b. Leaf longer than 2 inches (5cm) 53
53a. Leaf much longer than wide; the leaf length to width ratio is greater than 8:1 54
54a. Bark pealing in ribbons Eucalyptus viminalis, manna gum (adult leaf)
54b. Bark not pealing in ribbons, fissured, brown to red-brown
Eucalyptus
nicholii, Nichol's willow-leafed peppermint
53b. Leaf length to width ratio less than 8:1 55
55a. Leaf length to width ratio 5:1 or more, leaf shape linear to lanceolate Quercus phellos, willow oak
55b. Leaf length to width ratio less than 5:1 56
56a. Leaf 3 to 5 inches (7.5 to 12.5cm) long, leaf shape ovate-lanceolate , dark green above and pale beneath. Secondary veins at almost right angles from the primary vein , straight and parallel to each other. Fruit a distinctive urn- shaped capsule to 1-1/2 (3.8cm) long Eucalyptus ficifolia, red-flowering gum
Capsule
of Eucalyptus ficifolia
56b. Leaf and fruit not as in 56a 57
57a. Leaf secondary veins (at least some) arising at or near leaf base; leaves 2 to 5 inches (5 to 12.6 cm) long, and 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5 cm) wide Cinnamomum camphora, camphor tree
57b. Leaf secondary veins all arising along entire length of primary vein 58
58a. Leaf length: width ratio 2:1 or less , leaf 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm)
long, leaf texture thick
Magnolia grandiflora, southern magnolia
58b. Leaf length: width ratio greater than 2:1, texture not thick 59
59a. Leaf 2-1/2 to 5 inches (6.3 to12.7cm) long, leaf
margin undulating, leaf light green with distinctly lighter,
cream-colored
petiole and primary vein .
Pittosporum
eugenoides, tarata or lemonwood
59b. Leaf 3 to 5-1/2 inches (7.6 to14cm) long, medium to dark green, leaf
margin undulating, petiole and primary vein
lighter
green but not cream-colored
Pittosporum
undulatum, Victorian box
46b . Leaf margin not entire 60
60a. Leaf margin palmately lobed ... 61
61a. Bark shedding in puzzle-like pattern, leaf 3 to 5 lobed ... Platanus acerifolia, London plane
Platanus
acerifolia bark.
61b Bark not shedding, leaf 5 to 7 lobed ... Liquidambar styraciflua, liquidamber
60b Leaf margin not palmately lobed ... 62
62a. Tree bark white with black fissures, leaf shape rhombic-ovate
, leaf margin double serrate, leaf 2 to 2-1/2 inches
(5- 6.3cm) long, petiole ¾ - 1 inch (1.9 2.5cm) long
Betula
pendula, European white birch
62b. Bark and leaf shape not as above 63
63a. Tree bark deeply fissured and corky feeling, leaf gray tomentose beneath,
leaf 1 to 2-1/2 inches (2.5 to 6.3 cm)
long, leaf margin spine tipped
Quercus
suber, cork oak
63b. Bark and leaf not as above 64
64a. Leaf less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide, leaf margin serrate Maytenus boaria, mayten
64b. Leaf more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide 65
65a. Leaf greater than 6 inches (15 cm) long Eriobotrya deflexa, bronze loquat
65b. Leaf less than 6 inches (15 cm) long 66
66a. Leaf base obviously oblique 67
67a. Leaf margin double serrate, leaf 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) long Ulmus americana, American elm
67b. Leaf margin serrate (single, not double) 68
68a. Leaf 2 to 5 inches (5 to 12.5 cm) long, veins on underside of leaf pubescent-tomentose
Zelkova
serrata, Japanese zelkova
68b. Leaf 2-1/2 to 2-3/4 inches (6.3 to 7 cm) long, veins on underside of
leaf glabrous (there are tufts of hair in vein
axils, but veins themselves are
glabrous)
Ulmus
parvifolia, Chinese elm
66b. Leaf base not oblique 69
69a. Leaf secondary veins (at least some) arising
at or near leaf base , only apical half of leaf margin serrated, leaf
2-3/4 to
3-1/4 inches (7 to 8.2 cm) long
Celtis
sinensis, Chinese hackberry
69b. Leaf secondary veins all arising along entire length of primary vein 70
70a. Leaf secondary veins parallel to each other for their entire length 71
71a . Leaf Secondary veins curve upward as
they approach the leaf margin . Leaf margin serrate,
leaf 2 to 5 inches
(5 to 12.5 cm) long
Zelkova serrata, Japanese zelkova
71b. Leaf secondary veins stay straight all the way to the leaf margin 72
72a. Leaf margin double serrate, leaf 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) long Carpinus betulus, European hornbeam
72b. Leaf margin serrate (single , not double),
margin of young leaves with fine hairs, leaf 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm)
long
Fagus
sylvatica, European beech
70b. Leaf secondary veins not parallel to each other for their entire length, secondary veins much-branched 73
73a. Leaf margin spine- tipped, leaves with entire leaf margins may also be on tree 74
74a. Leaf margin spines coarse, 1/16 to 1/8 inch (1 to 3 mm) long, leaf margin
wavy, leaf 1-1/2 to 3 inches
(3.8 to 7.6 cm) long
Ilex aquifolium, English holly
74b. Leaf margin spines fine, leaf cupped (convex),
1/16 inch (1 mm) long and 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 cm) wide
Quercus
agrifolia, coast live oak
73b. Leaf margin serrate or crenate, but not spine-tipped 75
75a. Leaf petiole very short, 1/8 inch (3 mm) long, leaf margin with 6 to
10 shallow rounded teeth, leaf 1-3/4 to 2
inches (4.4 to 5 cm) long
Quillaja
saponaria
75b. Leaf petiole longer, ¼ to 1 inch (6 to 25 mm) long, leaf length longer, 2 to 6 inches (5 to 15 cm) long 76
76a. Leaf base rounded 77
77a. Leaf 2-1/2 to 4 inches (6.3 to 10 cm) long, petiole ½ to 1 inch (1.2 to 2.5 cm) long, leaf margin finely serrate Prunus lusitanica, Portugal laurel
77b. Leaf 3 to 6 inches (7.6 to 15 cm) long, petiole 1/8 to 3/8 inch (3 to 10 mm) long, leaf margin minutely serrate Prunus laurocerasus, English laurel
76b. Leaf base cuneate (wedge-shaped) 78
78a. Leaf pubescent beneath, veins densely pubescent, leaf 3-1/2 to 4 inches
(8.8 to 10 cm) long, leaf margin serrate
except near leaf base
Crataegus
x lavallei, Carriere hawthorn
78. Leaf glabrous beneath 79
79a. Leaf 2 to 3-1/2 inches (5 to 8.8 cm) long, 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm)
wide, petiole ¼ to ½ inch (6 to 12 mm)
long, flowers white
Arbutus
unedo, strawberry tree
79b. Leaf 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 inches (11.3 to 14 cm) long, petiole ¾ to
7/8 inch (19 to 24 mm) long, flowers pink
Arbutus Marina'
PLEASE NOTE:
The following trees in this key are no longer suitable for keying out due to recent sign placement on the trees: Acer buergeranum, Cedrus atlantica, Chorisia speciosa, Cryptomeria japonica, Lagunaria patersonii, Maytenus boaria, Robinia ambigua, Ulmus americana and Zelkova serrata. However when you see one of these trees with a sign on it, you could key it out just for practice.
The following trees in this key are no longer suitable for keying out because they are gone or not good specimens: Acer macrophyllum, Cinnamomum camphora and Prunus laurocerasus.