Flick Guide to Common

Species of Trees in Leaf

Kevin Widdowson
 Kevin Widdowson on behalf of the
Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust February 2020
 Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is a voluntary charitable
organisation which cares for Lincolnshire's wildlife and
countryside.

It is one of 46 similar Wildlife Trusts covering the UK which

are affiliated to the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts.

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is one of the oldest of these county

Trusts, having been founded in 1948. The Trust covers the
whole of the historic county of Lincolnshire - from the Humber
The LoveLincsPlants project is a Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust project
supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (2017-2020).
In partnership with the Natural History Museum, Lincolnshire
Naturalists Union, The Sir Joseph Banks Society and the University of
Lincoln, the aims of the project are to:

· Preserve Lincolnshire's botanical heritage by archiving an

historic herbarium of Lincolnshire plants

· Create a contemporary herbarium of Lincolnshire plants

· Train volunteers in traditional plant collecting and archiving

skills

· Inspire young people to train as the botanists of the future

· Introduce children to the importance of plants in the

modern world
Over the last 150 years the Lincolnshire Naturalists’ Union has compiled
a huge collection of over 9,000 plant specimens, including some of
Lincolnshire’s rarest plants. However, with no proper storage facilities
available in Lincolnshire the collection was at serious risk of
deterioration. As part of the National Lottery funded project the Natural
History Museum in London have received the collection, and will work to
secure it safely in facilities designed for the protection of plant
specimens. Using state of the art imaging facilities this collection will also
be made available to view online.

Inspired by Sir Joseph Banks, an eighteenth century Lincolnshire

naturalist, the project aims to enthuse botanists to making a
contemporary herbarium of Lincolnshire’s plants. Storage of this new
collection will be split between the Sir Joseph Banks Centre in
Horncastle and the Natural History Museum. Through working with
students at The University of the Lincoln, both the historic and 21st
century collection will provide a vital tool for scientific research into
climate change and plant genetics; helping to address plant extinction on
a local and national level.

Volunteers will be vital to the Lincolnshire Plants project. This citizen

science project will not only train volunteers in plant identification, it will
also find a new role for threatened traditional archiving skills, ensuring
that volunteers are trained in the collection, preparation and mounting of
specimens as well as opportunities to gain skills in botanical illustration
and photography.
About this guide

This guide is aimed at those entering the world of tree identification. It is

separated by leaf shape to enable the user to flick through the guide to
find a section of trees with that leaf outline. There are 35 species included
in the guide those being the most commonly found in the British Isles
either as naturally occurring or planted. No distinction has been as to
native status.

Leaf Shapes used in this Guide

Orbicular leaf

Elliptical (oblong) leaf

Triangular leaf

Pinnately lobed leaf

Pinnate compound leaf

Palmately lobed leaf

Palmate compound leaf

 –

Alnus glutinosa
Alder

Leaf Shape : +/- Orbicular

Leaf size : To 9cm
Leaf margins : Toothed +/- shallow lobes
Bud arrangement : Alternate, on columns
Bud scales : Purple asymmetric
Fruit : Winged seed in cone-like structure
–

Corylus avellana
Hazel

Leaf Shape : Circular to obovate. Cordate

Leaf size : To 12cm
Leaf margins : Toothed
Bud arrangement : Alternate. Flattened
Bud scales : Green, ciliate
Fruit : Nut with lacinate bracts
 –

Populus tremula
Aspen

Leaf Shape : Ovate, truncated base

Leaf size : To 8cm x 8cm wide
Leaf margins : Sinuate toothed
Bud arrangement : Alternate
Bud scales : Shiny dark red
Fruit : Capsule in catkin
Rhamnaceae– Buckthorn Family

Rhamnus cathartica
Buckthorn

Leaf Shape : Obovate

Leaf size : To 6cm
Leaf margins : Toothed
Bud arrangement : Opposite (subopposite)
Bud scales : Dark brown
Fruit : Berry with 2-4 seeds
 –

Tilia x europaea
Lime

Leaf Shape : Ovate. Asymmetric base

Leaf size : To 15cm
Leaf margins : Toothed
Bud arrangement : Alternate
Bud scales : 2 scales, red, asymmetric
Fruit : Nut, persistent bracteole
–

Carpinus betulus
Hornbeam

Leaf Shape : Oblong/Elliptical

Leaf size : To 11cm long
Leaf margins : Toothed
Bud arrangement : Alternate, buds incurved
Bud scales : Buff coloured
Fruit : Nut surrounded by 3 lobed bract
 Fagaceae– Beech Family

Castanea sativa
Sweet Chestnut

Leaf Shape : Oblong/Elliptical

Leaf size : c.20cm (to 30cm)
Leaf margins : Toothed, serrate
Bud arrangement : Alternate
Bud scales : Reddish orange
Fruit : Nut in cupule with sharp spines
–

Cornus sanguinea
Dogwood

Leaf Shape : Ovate

Leaf size : Simple leaf to 7cm
Leaf margins : Entire
Bud arrangement : Opposite
Bud scales : Dark brown, hairy
Fruit : Drupe appearing in clusters
 Celastraceae– Spindle Family

Euonymus europaeus
Spindle

Leaf Shape : Elliptical

Leaf size : To 13cm
Leaf margins : Toothed
Bud arrangement : Opposite
Bud scales : Green, red tips
Fruit : Pink Capsule, orange aril
–

Fagus sylvatica
Beech

Leaf Shape : Elliptic

Leaf size : To 10 cm
Leaf margins : Undulating
Bud arrangement : Alternate
Bud scales : Combine to form long sharp bud
Fruit : Nut in sharp scaled cupule (Mast)
 –

Ilex aquifolium
Holly

Leaf Shape : Ovate

Leaf size : To 7cm
Leaf margins : Undulate with sharp spines
Bud arrangement : Alternate
Bud scales : 2, small, often purple
Fruit : 2-4 seeded drupe
Rosaceae– Rose Family

Prunus cerasifera
Cherry Plum

Leaf Shape : Elliptical, long tapering tip

Leaf size : To 7cm
Leaf margins : Toothed
Bud arrangement : Alternate
Bud scales : Pale brown
Fruit : Drupe with flattened stone
 –

Prunus spinosa
Blackthorn

Leaf Shape : Elliptical

Leaf size : To 4cm
Leaf margins : Toothed
Bud arrangement : Alternate
Bud scales : Black
Fruit : Drupe, Slightly flattened fruit
Salicaceae – Willow Family

Salix caprea s.l.

Goat Willow

Leaf Shape : Ovate to orbicular

Leaf size : To 12cm
Leaf margins : minutely toothed
Bud arrangement : Alternate, spiralling
Bud scales : Single scale, red
Fruit : Capsule arranged in catkins
 Salicaceae – Willow Family

Salix cinerea s.l.

Grey Willow

Leaf Shape : Obovate

Leaf size : To 8cm
Leaf margins : Minutely
Bud arrangement : Alternate spiralling
Bud scales : Single bud scale, brown
Fruit : Capsule arranged in Catkin
Adoxaceae – Moschatel Family

Viburnum lantana
Wayfaring Tree

Leaf Shape : Ovate

Leaf size : To 10cm
Leaf margins : Toothed
Bud arrangement : Opposite
Bud scales : No scales
Fruit : Drupe with 1 seed
 Betulaceae– Birch Family

Betula pendula
Silver Birch

Leaf Shape : Triangular

Leaf size : Up to 7cm long
Leaf margins : Toothed
Bud arrangement : Alternate
Bud scales : Usually green at base
Fruit : Winged fruit in strobile
–

Crataegus laevigata
Midland Hawthorn

Leaf Shape : Ovate, lobed

Leaf size : to 5cm
Leaf margins : Toothed
Bud arrangement : Alternate
Bud scales : Red, glabrous
Fruit : +/- Spherical containing 2 stones
 Rosaceae– Rose Family

Crataegus monogyna
Hawthorn

Leaf Shape : ovate lobed

Leaf size : To 5cm
Leaf margins : Toothed
Bud arrangement : Alternate
Bud scales : Red, glabrous
Fruit : +/- spherical containing 1 stone
Fagaceae– Beech Family

Quercus cerris
Turkey Oak

Leaf Shape : Lobed, linear

Leaf size : To 15cm
Leaf margins : Entire
Bud arrangement : Alternate, clustered at tip
Bud scales : Grey, long whisker-like stipules
Fruit : Nut in cupule
 –

Quercus petraea
Sessile Oak

Leaf Shape : Lobed, tapering base

Leaf size : To 12cm
Leaf margins : Entire
Bud arrangement : Alternate, clustered at tip
Bud scales : Pale brown with darker margins
Fruit : Nut in a cupule
Fagaceae– Beech Family

Quercus robur
Pedunculate Oak

Leaf Shape : Lobed with rounded auricles

Leaf size : To 12cm
Leaf margins : Entire
Bud arrangement : Alternate, clustered at tip
Bud scales : Red/Brown with pale margins
Fruit : Nut in cupule
 Rosaceae– Rose Family

Sorbus intermedia
Swedish Whitebeam

Leaf Shape : Ovate, lobed

Leaf size : To 12cm
Leaf margins : Toothed
Bud arrangement : Alternate
Bud scales : Red, green margins, ciliate
Fruit : Drupe
Adoxaceae – Moschatel Family

Viburnum opulus
Guelder Rose

Leaf Shape : Lobed

Leaf size : To 10cm
Leaf margins : Entire
Bud arrangement : Opposite
Bud scales : 2 fused scales
Fruit : Drupe
 Oleaceae– Ash Family

Fraxinus excelsior
Ash

Leaf Shape : Compound, pinnate

Leaf size : To 30cm. Leaflets to 9cm
Leaf margins : Leaflets toothed
Bud arrangement : Opposite (sub opp. or 3 whorled)
Bud scales : Black
Fruit : Samara
—

Juglans regia
Walnut

Leaf Shape : Compound, pinnate

Leaf size : Leaflets to 20cm
Leaf margins : Entire
Bud arrangement : Alternate, often superposed
Bud scales : 2 scales, grey to black
Fruit : Drupe containing shelled nut
 Adoxaceae – Moschatel Family

Sambucus nigra
Elder

Leaf Shape : Compound, pinnate

Leaf size : Leaflets to 10cm
Leaf margins : Tooth leaflets
Bud arrangement : Opposite
Bud scales : Red, ragged
Fruit : Drupe 3-5 seeds
Rosaceae– Rose Family

Sorbus aucuparia s.l.

Rowan

Leaf Shape : Compound, pinnate

Leaf size : Leaflets to 7cm
Leaf margins : Toothed
Bud arrangement : Alternate
Bud scales : Hairy
Fruit : Drupe
 Sapindaceae - Maple Family

Acer campestre
Field Maple

Leaf Shape : Palmately lobed

Leaf size : Up to 8cm long—10cm wide
Leaf margins : Entire
Bud arrangement : Opposite with interpetiolar ridge
Bud scales : Hairy
Fruit : Fused samara
Sapindaceae - Maple Family

Acer platanoides
Norway Maple

Leaf Shape : Palmately lobed

Leaf size : Up to 13cm long
Leaf margins : Large toothed
Bud arrangement : Opposite with interpetiolar ridge
Bud scales : Red
Fruit : A fused samara
 -

Acer pseudoplatanus
Sycamore

Leaf Shape : Palmately lobed

Leaf size : leaves 7-16cm long
Leaf margins : Toothed
Bud arrangement : Opposite with interpetiolar ridge
Bud scales : Green. Brown margin. Ciliate
Fruit : Fused samara
Sapindaceae - Maples Family

Acer saccharinum
Silver Maple

Leaf Shape : Palmately lobed > half way to rib

Leaf size : Up to 15cm long
Leaf margins : Large toothed
Bud arrangement : Opposite with interpetiolar ridge
Bud scales : Shiny red
Fruit : Fused samara
 Platanaceae– Plane Family

Platanus x hispanica
London plane

Leaf Shape : Palmately lobed

Leaf size : To 20cm
Leaf margins : Large teeth
Bud arrangement : Alternate
Bud scales : Singular, red
Fruit : Spherical cluster of achenes
Salicaceae – Willow Family

Populus alba
White Poplar

Leaf Shape : Palmately lobed

Leaf size : To 8cm
Leaf margins : Weakly toothed
Bud arrangement : Alternate
Bud scales : White felted
Fruit : Capsule in Catkin
 Sapindaceae - Maple Family

Aesculus hippocastanum
Horse Chestnut

Leaf Shape : Compound, palmate.

Leaf size : To 30cm
Leaf margins : Toothed
Bud arrangement : Opposite. Large leaf scar
Bud scales : Brown. Sticky
Fruit : Capsule 1-3 seeds
 Glossary

Achene A small dry fruit containing a single seed

Alternate Form appearing one per node often on
opposite side of the axis
Aril An appendage partially or completely covering
the seed
Auricle Ear-like lobe
Berry A simple fruit with one to many seeds
immersed in a fleshy pulp
Bract A modified and specialised leaf in the
inflorescence
Bracteole A secondary bract usually smaller than the
bract
Bud Early development of a leaf or flower with a
protective covering
Bud arrangement Position of buds along the axis
Bud scales The coverings of the bud
Capsule A dry fruit composed of two or more unite
carpels. Splits open
Carpel basic unit of of the female sexual organ
Catkin A slender often pendulous, cylindrical
Inflorescence
Ciliate Bearing a fringe of hairs
Compound Composed of several similar leaflets
Cordate Base of leaf deeply notched so the leaf
appears heart shaped
Cupule Cup-like structure at the base of fruits
Drupe A fruit containing a stone
Elliptical Broadest in the middle
Entire Not divide. Unbroken by teeth, lobes or
serrations
Fruit A seed bearing organ
Fused Joined together into a whole
Glabrous Smooth and without hairs
Inflorescence Part of the plant that bears the flowers
Interpetiolar Placed between the petioles of opposite leaves
or buds
Interpetiolar ridge Ridge on the node between opposite leaves or
buds
Lacinate Cut into drawn out teeth
Leaf scar Mark on the twig where the leaf has fallen
Leaflet Singular part of a compound leaf
Lobed A division over half way from leaf edge to
midrib
Nothovarieties Cultivated species
Nut A one seed with hard shell
Oblong Longer than wide with parallel sides
Obovate Egg shaped with the widest part above the
middle
Opposite Two leaves or buds emerging from the same
node
Orbicular Flat with a circular outline
Ovate Egg shaped with the widest part below the
middle
Palmate When all lobes or leaflets originate from a
central point
Persistent Remaining in place
Petiole Leaf stalk
Pinnate Divided in towards a central axis or midrib
s.l. Latin: sensuo lato, meaning in the broad
sense. Used to indicate where a plant has
many similar subspecies, varieties and
nothovarieties
Samara A dry fruit with a wing longer than the seed
bearing part
Serrate Toothed like a saw
Simple Leaf A leaf not divided into leaflets
Sinuate An uneven margin that has deep rounded
undulations
Spine A sharp pointed hard structure derived from a
leaf
Stipule A leaf-like or scale like appendage
Stone Hard structure in a drupe
Strobile An inflorescence made up of overlapping
scales
Subopposite (subopp) Almost but not quite opposite
Subspecies Subdivision of a species
Superposed Borne one above the other
Toothed Small pointet projections from the leaf margin
Undulating Wavy
Varieties Below the rank of subspecies
Whorl Three or more buds or leaves borne at the
same node
References

Beentje, H. 2012. The Kew Plant Glossary, an illustrated dictionary of plant

terms, Revised edn. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey.
More, D. White, J. 2013. Illustrated Trees of Britain and Europe, 2nd edn.
Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
Poland, J. 2018. Field Key to Winter Twigs: a guide to native and planted
deciduous trees, shrubs and woody climbers (xylophytes) found in the Brit-
ish Isles. John Poland, Southampton in association with the Botanical
Society of Britain and Ireland.
Poland, J. Clement, E. 2020. The Vegetative Key to the Brirish Flora, 2nd
edn. John Poland, Southampton.
Shultz, B. 2018. Identification of Trees and Shrubs in Winter using Buds
and Twigs. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey.
Stace, C.A. 2019. New Flora to the British Isles, 4th edn. C&M Floristics,
Stowmarket.

Photograph credits
The main body of photographs were taken and edited by Kevin Widdowson.
Thanks go to the following people for suppling additional images to be edited.

Juglans regia fruit Di Napier

Populus tremula flower Chris Gibson
Prunus cerasifera fruit Chris Gibson
Prunus spinosa fruit Chris Gibson
Quercus cerris fruit Sarah Lambert
Rhamnus cathartica fruit Sarah Lambert
Rhamnus cathartica leaf Chris Gibson
Sorbus aucuparia fruit Chris Gibson
Sorbus torminalis Fruit Chris Gibson
Ulmus glabra fruit Di Napier
Viburnum opulus fruit Chris Gibson
Index

Acer campestre 34
Acer platanoides 35
Acer pseudoplatanus 36
Acer saccharinum 37
Aesculus hippocastanum 40
Alder 6
Alnus glutinosa 6
Ash 30
Aspen 8
Beech 15
Betula pendula 22
Blackthorn 18
Buckthorn 9
Carpinus betulus 11
Castanea sativa 12
Cherry Plum 17
Cornus sanguinea 13
Corylus avellana 7
Crataegus laevigata 23
Crataegus monogyna 24
Dogwood 13
Elder 32
Euonymus europaeus 14
Fagus sylvatica 15
Field Maple 34
Fraxinus excelsior 30
Goat Willow 19
Grey Willow 20
Guelder Rose 29
Hawthorn 24
Hazel 7
Holly 16
Hornbeam 11
Horse Chestnut 40
Ilex aquifolium 16
Juglans regia 31
Lime 10
London Plane 38
Midland Hawthorn 23
Norway Maple 35
Pedunculate Oak 27
Platanus x hispanica 38
Populus alba 39
Populus tremula 8
Prunus cerasifera 17
Prunus spinosa 18
Quercus cerris 25
Quercus patraea 26
Quercus robur 27
Rhamnus cathartica 9
Rowan 33
Salix caprea s.l. 19
Salix cinerea s.l. 20
Sambucus nigra 32
Sessile Oak 26
Silver Birch 22
Silver Maple 37
Sorbus aucuparia s.l 33
Sorbus intermedia 28
Spindle 14
Swedish Whitebeam 28
Sweet Chestnut 12
Sycamore 36
Tilia x europaea 10
Turkey Oak 25
Viburnum lantana 21
Viburnum opulus 29
Walnut 31
Wayfaring Tree 21
White poplar 39
Flick Guide to Common Species of
Trees in Leaf