How to Identify Trees from their Leaves

Geoff White

Bath Spa University College / University of Malta

March 2005

The leaf below is from a wild almond tree

This leaf is from a eucalyptus tree

This one is from an ash tree

This leaf comes from the fig

This is a holly leaf

This is a carob leaf

Here is a picture of a Holm Oak or Sigra

Here is its leaf

We shall teach InterModeller how to identify these different

trees

Divide these leaves into two groups

The holly, wild almond and eucalyptus are single leaves.

The leaves from the ash, fig, carob and evergreen oak are made up of several smaller leaflets.

These are all single leaves. How can you tell which is which?

There are two ways of doing it.

• The wild almond is definitely green but the eucalyptus is a bluish colour

• The holly is the only one which has prickles

These leaves are multiple leaves

Which one is different from all the others?

The Holm oak leaves are arranged in a fan

The others are arranged in pairs along the stalk.

How do you know which is which?

You count the number of pairs

The fig has two pairs

The ash has three pairs

The Carob has four pairs

A task for you – complete the classification chart for

identifying trees from their leaves

Is the leaf a single or multiple one

Single

Multiple

Does it have prickles

Yes

No

Holly

What colour is the leaf

Green Bluish

Wild AlmondEucalyptus

See if you can complete the multiple side of the

chart

Is the leaf a single or multiple one

Single

Multiple

Does it have prickles

Yes

No

Holly

What colour is the leaf

Green Bluish

Wild AlmondEucalyptus

Here’s the answer

Multiple

How are they arranged?

In a fan In pairs along the stalk

How many pairs are there?

Two Three Four

Fig Ash Carob

Evergreen Oak

Let’s have a look at InterModeller