Tree ID Using GPS for Navigation at the Smith Center
Dichotomous Key
1a. The tree is a conifer
1b. The tree is not a conifer
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2a. The tree has bundles of 2 needles
Scotch Pine
2b. The tree has bundles of 5 needles
White Pine
3a. The bark of the tree is gray
3b. The bark of the tree is not gray
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4a. The bark of the tree is pale gray
4b. The bark of the tree is not pale gray
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5a. The bark of the tree has two layers-brown flakes on
the outer layer and an inner whitish, yellowish, or
greenish layer
Sycamore
5b. The bark is red-brown to reddish-gray
Dogwood
Courtesy of Anne Baldini, Farquhar MS
6a. The bark of the tree is pale gray and flaky or scaly and
is not deeply fissured.
White Oak
6b. The bark of the tree is pale gray with dark spots and
is smooth
American Beech
7a. The bark of the tree is gray to dark gray with furrows.
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7b. The bark of the tree is gray and the bark is like stone,
sculptured into muscles and sinews
American Hornbeam
(Ironwood)
8a. The bark of the tree is gray and furrowed, and young
bark is dark green and smooth with whitish vertical
streaks.
8b. The bark of the tree is gray and furrowed
Tulip Poplar
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9a. The bark of the tree is gray to dark gray with deep
furrows and wrinkles
Mockernut Hickory
9b. The bark of the tree is dark steel gray with furrows
and ridges.
Red Oak
Courtesy of Anne Baldini, Farquhar MS