Leaflets? Couplet 2 from 1a
Leaf arrangement? Couplet 3 from 1b
Leaf lobes? Couplet 4 from 3b
Leaf shape? Couplet 5 from 4b
Leaf stalk? Couplet 7 from 5b
Leaf shape and teeth? Couplet 8 from 7a
Leaf size? Couplet 9 from 7b
Taxa
Identified as
Box elder (Acer negundo)
Path through the key
- 1aLeaves compound, divided into separate leaflets.
- 2aLeaves opposite, with 3 (rarely 5) leaflets that have a few coarse teeth or shallow lobes.
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Identified as
Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
Path through the key
- 1aLeaves compound, divided into separate leaflets.
- 2bLeaves opposite, with 5 to 7 leaflets with toothed margins.
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Identified as
Rocky Mountain maple (Acer glabrum)
Path through the key
- 1bLeaves simple, a single blade.
- 3aLeaves opposite, with 3 to 5 toothed lobes and red leaf stalks.
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Identified as
Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
Path through the key
- 1bLeaves simple, a single blade.
- 3bLeaves alternate.
- 4aLeaves deeply lobed, the lobes rounded; fruit an acorn.
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Identified as
Peachleaf willow (Salix amygdaloides)
Path through the key
- 1bLeaves simple, a single blade.
- 3bLeaves alternate.
- 4bLeaves not lobed.
- 5aLeaves narrowly lance-shaped, at least 2.5 times as long as wide.
- 6aBuds small and pressed against the twig, each covered by a single cap-like scale; leaves 3 to 8 cm long, whitish beneath.
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Identified as
Narrowleaf cottonwood (Populus angustifolia)
Path through the key
- 1bLeaves simple, a single blade.
- 3bLeaves alternate.
- 4bLeaves not lobed.
- 5aLeaves narrowly lance-shaped, at least 2.5 times as long as wide.
- 6bBuds long (about 2.5 cm), curved, resinous and fragrant; leaves 4 to 11 cm long.
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Identified as
Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Path through the key
- 1bLeaves simple, a single blade.
- 3bLeaves alternate.
- 4bLeaves not lobed.
- 5bLeaves broader: rounded, triangular or broadly lance-shaped.
- 7aLeaf stalks flattened from side to side.
- 8aLeaves nearly round, 2 to 8 cm long, finely toothed; bark smooth and pale.
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Identified as
Plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
Path through the key
- 1bLeaves simple, a single blade.
- 3bLeaves alternate.
- 4bLeaves not lobed.
- 5bLeaves broader: rounded, triangular or broadly lance-shaped.
- 7aLeaf stalks flattened from side to side.
- 8bLeaves triangular, about as long as wide, with teeth at least 1 mm deep.
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Identified as
Black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa)
Path through the key
- 1bLeaves simple, a single blade.
- 3bLeaves alternate.
- 4bLeaves not lobed.
- 5bLeaves broader: rounded, triangular or broadly lance-shaped.
- 7bLeaf stalks round, or only slightly flattened.
- 9aLeaves 5 to 15 cm long, silvery white beneath with rusty smears of resin.
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Identified as
Paper birch (Betula papyrifera)
Path through the key
- 1bLeaves simple, a single blade.
- 3bLeaves alternate.
- 4bLeaves not lobed.
- 5bLeaves broader: rounded, triangular or broadly lance-shaped.
- 7bLeaf stalks round, or only slightly flattened.
- 9bLeaves 2 to 7 cm long, with sharp teeth, not silvery white beneath.
- 10aBark white and peeling on older trees.
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Identified as
Water birch (Betula occidentalis)
Path through the key
- 1bLeaves simple, a single blade.
- 3bLeaves alternate.
- 4bLeaves not lobed.
- 5bLeaves broader: rounded, triangular or broadly lance-shaped.
- 7bLeaf stalks round, or only slightly flattened.
- 9bLeaves 2 to 7 cm long, with sharp teeth, not silvery white beneath.
- 10bBark gray to brown, only slightly peeling; a small tree or large shrub along streams.
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