Introduction to Winter Tree
Identification
Coniferous Trees
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These are trees that hold on to their
leaves all year round.
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Their leaves are needle or scale-like.
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These forests are home to many fur-bearing
animals.
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Alternate names:
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Evergreens
Softwoods
Coniferous Trees
Needle-like leaves
Scale-like leaves
Deciduous Trees
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These are trees that lose their leaves in the
winter.
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These trees are harder in density, and are
used for furniture and flooring.
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A hardwood log will burn longer and hotter
than a softwood log.
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Alternate names:
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Hardwood
Broad leaved trees
How to identify a tree?
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Learn the tree identification features
Know your environment or habitat
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Wetland, upland, soil type
Use a tree identification key
Determine whether coniferous or
deciduous.
Check to see bud or leaf arrangement
Tree Identification Features
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Leaf, needle, scale-like leaf
Twig and bud
Bark
Size and form
Shade tolerance
Seed
Wood
Region and habitat
1. Identifying by the leaf
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A: Leaf type
B: Arrangement on twig
C: Leaf shape
D: Leaf margin
A: Leaf Types
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Compound vs. Simple
Scale-like
Needles
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In bunches of 5
In bunches of 2
Simply on twig
A: Leaf Type
Simple

undivided
Compound
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Divided into leaflets
A: Leaf Type
Scale-like
Needles
In
bundles
of 5
In
bundles
of 2
Singly on
twig
B: Leaf Arrangement
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Alternate
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Opposite
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Leaves grow alternately
on twig
Leaves grow opposite of
each other on twig
Whorled
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Leaves grow in a circular
fashion on the twig
C: Leaf Shape
oval
reversed
oval
linear
heart-shaped
cordate
cuneate
D: Leaf Margins
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Smooth
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Toothed
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Wavy or lobed
2. Twig and Buds
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Twig with opposite bud arrangement
Twig with alternate bud arrangement
Conifer twig
3. Bark
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Varies by age and growth rate
Identifying features:
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Colour
Structure (flaky, smooth, rough)
Pattern (fissured, furrowed, flat ridges)
4. Form or Shape
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Form refers to the shape of the crown,
the branches and the trunk.
Each species has a characteristic form
when grown in the open
5. Shade Tolerance
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All tree species have a tolerance level for
shade.
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Intolerant
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Intermediate
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Species that cannot survive in shaded conditions.
They need direct sunlight to grow.
Species that can survive in partially shaded conditions.
Tolerant
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Species that can live in shaded conditions
Shade Tolerance Chart
Tolerant
Intermediate
Intolerant
Hemlock
White pine
Red pine
Balsam fir
Yellow birch
Walnut
Ironwood
Oak
Butternut
Beech
Elm
Hickory
Sugar maple
Ash
White birch
Spruce
Black cherry
Cedar
Tamarack
Red maple
Jack pine
Silver maple
Willow
Basswood
Aspens
Poplars
Grey birch
6. Region & Habitat
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Soil structure, water conditions and
sunlight all have an impact on species
of trees growing in a region
Examples:
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Bog – black spruce, larch
Upland, rocky terrain – sugar maple,
hickory, beech, red oak, jack pine
Clay loam field – ash, basswood, elm
Coniferous
AKA: Evergreens, softwoods,
needle-bearing trees
Class: Magnoliopsida
Division: Pinophyta
Coniferous leaf
Needles
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Clusters of 2, 3 and
5 needles per
bundle
Scales
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Usually flat
Waxy
Short needles or scales
In opposite or whorls
Eastern White Cedar
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Thuja occidentalis
L.
AKA: Northern
white cedar,
eastern thuja,
eastern arbovitae
Needles
Bundles of 2, 3 and 5
Eastern White Pine
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Pinus strobus L.
AKA: northern
white pine,
weymouth pine
The only 5
needle pine in
Eastern
Canada.
Red Pine
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Pinus resinosa Ait.
AKA: Norway pine
The only native 2 needle pine in
eastern Canada with long needles
Tamarack
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Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch
AKA: Larch
Has tufts of soft needles in summer,
leaves turn brilliant yellow in fall and
trees become leafless in winter.
Single, flat or 4-sided
Balsam Fir
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Abies balsamea L.
AKA: Canada balsam
White Spruce
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Picea glauca (Voss)
AKA: Cat spruce, skunk spruce,
pasture spruce, Canadian spruce
Eastern Hemlock
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Tsuga canadensis Carriere
Deciduous
AKA: broadleaf, hardwoods,
flowering trees
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Opposite pairs
Two leaves or buds are
positioned on opposite sides
of the stem
Sugar Maple
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Acer saccharum Marsh.
AKA: Hard maple, rock maple
Silver Maple
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Acer saccharinum L.
AKA: Soft maple
Red Maple
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Acer rubrum L.
AKA: Swamp maple, soft maple
White Ash
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Fraxinus americana L.
Compound leaf
Leaves alternate &
compound
Butternut
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Juglans cinerea L.
AKA: White walnut
Leaves alternate
and simple
Edges lobed
Bur Oak
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Quercus macrocarpa Michx.
AKA: Blue oak, mossycup oak
Leaves alternate and simple
Edges toothed
Basswood
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Tilia americana L.
AKA: American linden
White Birch
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Betula papyrifera Marsh.
AKA: Paper birch, canoe birch
Leaves alternate, simple,
edges smooth
Bud arrangement
Winter Tree ID Key
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Take a few minutes to go over your
handout.
Highlight the important aspects, in
order to help you differentiate types of
trees.
Feel free to add notes. Sometimes
coding helps the memory.
Activity – Name that tree
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As a group, your objective will be to
use your handout in order to name the
type of tree displayed on each slide.
READY?
1) Name that tree…
2) Name that tree…
3) Name that tree…
4) Name That Tree…
5) Name That Tree…
6) Name That Tree…
7) Name That Tree…
8) Name That Tree…
9) Name that Tree
10) Name That Tree…
11)Name That Tree…
12) Name That Tree…
13) Name That Tree…
14) Name That Tree…
15) Name That Tree…
Final Score!!!
And the winner is…