Key To Hardwoods
Reading edition
The key is composed of paired statements, one true and one false for any given specimen. The guide numbers at the end of statements are used to locate the next pair. Follow the true statements until you come to a common name. If you have made no mistake in interpreting the paired statements, you should arrive at the correct identity of the specimen. Then check the text and illustration.
1. Leaves compound, with blades divided into leaflets 2
1. Leaves simple, blades not divided into leaflets 7
2. Leaves with opposite arrangement on twigs 3
2. Leaves with alternate arrangement on twigs 4
3. Leaflets with rounded bases, conspicuously whitish below when fresh; seed end of samara thickened, wing terminal only White Ash
3. Leaflets with wedge-shaped bases, green below; wing terminal and extending about half the length of the seed Green Ash
4. Buds valvate; buds, fruits, and lower surface of leaflets covered with yellow glandular scales; fruit winged on upper half of husk suture, husk thin, shell thin, meat bitter Bitternut Hickory
4. Buds imbricate, composed of overlapping scales 5
5. Leaflets typically 5, glabrous except for a few hairs on rachis and midribs; bark shaggy Shagbark Hickory
5. Leaflets 7 6
6. Leaflets densely tomentose; bark tight, in diamond-shaped pattern; husk very thick, shell thick, meat sweet Mockernut Hickory
6. Leaflets usually glabrous; bark tight, in diamond-shaped pattern; husk moderately thick, shell thick, meat sweet, husk tardily dehiscent Pignut Hickory
7. Leaves essentially evergreen, large percentage staying on trees until bud expansion, dark green above, silky white pubescent below; flowers white, about 5 to 8 cm in diameter Sweetbay
7. Leaves typically deciduous, or trees retaining some dead leaves to bud expansion 8
8. Leaf margins entire 9
8. Leaf margins lobed or toothed 12
9. Leaves with rusty pubescence below, broadly obovate, leathery bases tapering to cordate or cuneate Blackjack Oak
9. Leaves essentially glabrous or with a few hairs in vein axils 10
10. Leaves shiny below, elliptic or rhombic to spatulate Laurel Oak
10. Leaves dull green below 11
11. Leaves elliptic to obovate, strongly veined with purple spots and discoloration in summer; fruit a drupe Black Tupelo
11. Leaves abruptly obovate, bases wedge-shaped, few lateral veins; fruit an acorn Water Oak
12. Leaf margins toothed 13
12. Leaf margins lobed 16
13. Margins indistinctly toothed, blades narrowly to broadly ovate, base unequal, apex long acuminate Sugarberry
13. Margins distinctly toothed 14
14. Teeth obtuse or rounded, leaf base wedge-shaped, stellate pubescent below Chestnut Oak
14. Teeth sharp 15
15. Leaves normally elliptic, veins prominent below, bases rounded; corky outgrowths on older branches, often lacking on large trees Winged Elm
15. Leaves broadly oval, pinnate veins distinct, margins doubly toothed, bases oblique, unequally rounded American Elm
16. Leaves palmately lobed 17
16. Leaves pinnately or apically lobed 18
17. Leaves opposite, more or less glaucous and pubescent below; fruit a double samara Red Maple
17. Leaves alternate, glabrous below; fruit spherical, woody with spine-like projections; corky outgrowths on branches frequent Sweetgum
18. Blades truncate to notched at apex, 4-lobed; fruit an aggregate of samaras; flower conspicuous, greenish-yellow with red markings Yellow-poplar
18. Blades with acute to obtuse apices 19
19. Blades apically 3-lobed 20
19. Blades pinnately lobed 21
20. Blades broadly obovate, base rounded, rusty pubescent below Blackjack Oak
20. Blades narrowly obovate, base wedge-shaped, mostly glabrous Water Oak
21. Leaves with rounded lobes 22
21. Leaves with bristle tips to lobes and lateral teeth 23
22. Leaves with 7 to 9 lobes, divided nearly to the midrib, whitish below White Oak
22. Leaves with 5 unequal lobes, upper lateral pair larger, squarish, at right angles to midrib, crosslike in appearance, pubescent below Post Oak
23. Leaves pubescent below, whitish to tawny 24
23. Leaves glabrous below or with a few hairs on midrib and in vein axils 26
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24. Leaves with 7 to 9 lobes, terminal lobes long, strap-shaped, slightly curved, bases bell-shaped Southern Red Oak
24. Leaves with 7 to 11 lobes 25
25. Leaves oblong, 7 to 11 lobes, base broadly wedge-shaped to truncate, secondary lobes rare; inner bark reddish Cherrybark Oak
25. Leaves broadly oval, 7 to 9 lobes, each lobe with secondary bristle-tipped teeth; inner bark yellow-orange Black Oak
26. Upper leaf surface glossy green 27
26. Upper leaf surface dull green, 7 to 9 lobes, 8 to 22 cm long, round sinuses extending less than half way to midrib Northern Red Oak
27. Leaves with 7 to 9 narrow lobes, sinuses extending more than halfway to midrib Scarlet Oak
27. Leaves with 5 to 7 narrow lobes, rounded sinuses, extending about three-fourths of way to midrib Shumard Oak
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