Hardwood Tree Leaf Identification
So you have a leaf in hand and you want to know what it is. Chances are, the leaf belongs to a hardwood tree, also known as deciduous trees, which belong to the same group as flowering plants. Fortunately, when identifying a hardwood tree, the leaves provide some of the best clues that will help you to reach a reliable conclusion.
Hardwood trees are distinguished from evergreen trees because they lose their leaves when the weather grows cold, a mechanism that protects the trees from dehydration when groundwater freezes during the winter. The shape, arrangement, complexity, texture and pattern of leaf veins will all help you to identify your hardwood tree.
Leaf Shape and Arrangement
According to the North Dakota State University Extension, deciduous trees are arranged into four groups based on the arrangement of their leaves on the branch and the basic shape of the leaves. If you have only a single leaf, you might not be able to tell much about leaf arrangement. Opposite leaves grow in pairs directly across each other on the branch, while alternate leaves grow singly, alternating sides of the branch. The most basic classification of leaf shape is simple or compound. Simple leaves occur singly, and compound leaves occur in groups. If you have trouble knowing what constitutes a group, the extension recommends looking at the base of the leaf. If there's a bud, it is a simple leaf. If there is no bud, it is compound.
- So you have a leaf in hand and you want to know what it is.
- According to the North Dakota State University Extension, deciduous trees are arranged into four groups based on the arrangement of their leaves on the branch and the basic shape of the leaves.
The shape of the leaf margins provides another valuable detail to aid you in identification. The margins of smooth leaves lack ragged or curved edges. Finely toothed and doubly toothed edges have mild and sharp jagged edges, respectively. Lobed leaves have multiple rounded projections.
Also note the pattern formed by the leaf veins. Pinnate veins emerge from multiple points from the rib that extends down the middle of the leaf. Palmate veins extend from a single point, resembling the spread fingers of a hand. Observe the texture and color of the leaf and whether it is covered in fine hairs or smooth. Finally, note if the leaf has a particular aroma. All of these details can help you narrow down identification.
- The shape of the leaf margins provides another valuable detail to aid you in identification.
Once you've narrowed down your leaf to one or a few species, it's time to consider other factors that might help you to fine-tune the identification even further. Look up the possible species in a field guide and confirm that all of the information matches with what you know about your tree. For example, if you found a long, frond-like leaf in New England, it more likely belongs to a willow tree, not a palm tree. If you know any additional information about the tree the leaf came from, such as the color or texture of the bark or the tree's habitat, confirm that this information matches as well.
Ugunduzi wa majani ya mti wa Hardwood: Ikiwa una majani ya mti, unaweza kuamua ni nini. "Kuna uwezekano kwamba jani hilo ni la mti wa mbao ngumu, unaoitwa pia ""miti ya majani,"" ambayo ni ya kikundi kimoja na mimea yenye maua." Kwa bahati nzuri, wakati wa kutambua mti wa mbao ngumu, majani hutoa baadhi ya vidokezo bora ambavyo vitakusaidia kufikia hitimisho linalotegemeka. Miti ya mbao ngumu hutofautiana na miti ya kijani kibichi kwa sababu hupoteza majani yao wakati hali ya hewa inapoanza kuwa baridi, utaratibu ambao hulinda miti kutoka kwa ukame wakati maji ya chini ya ardhi yanapoganda wakati wa majira ya baridi. Umbo, mpangilio, utata, muundo, na muundo wa mishipa ya majani yote yatakusaidia kutambua mti wako wa mbao ngumu. Kulingana na Chuo Kikuu cha Jimbo la North Dakota, miti ya majani imepangwa katika vikundi vinne kulingana na mpangilio wa majani yao kwenye tawi na umbo la msingi la majani. Ikiwa una jani moja tu, huenda usiweze kusema mengi kuhusu mpangilio wa majani. Majani yanayopingana hukua kwa jozi moja kwa moja kwenye tawi, huku majani yanayobadilishana yakikua peke yake, yakibadilishana pande za tawi. Uainishaji wa msingi zaidi wa umbo la jani ni rahisi au mchanganyiko. Majani sahili hutokea peke yake, na majani yenye mchanganyiko hutokea katika vikundi. Ikiwa una shida kujua ni nini kinachotengeneza kikundi, upanuzi unapendekeza kuangalia msingi wa jani. Ikiwa kuna kichaka, ni jani sahili. Ikiwa hakuna kichaka, ni kiwanja. - Kwa hiyo una jani mkononi na unataka kujua ni nini. Kulingana na Chuo Kikuu cha Jimbo la North Dakota, miti ya majani imepangwa katika vikundi vinne kulingana na mpangilio wa majani yao kwenye tawi na umbo la msingi la majani. Umbo la kingo za majani hutoa maelezo mengine yenye thamani ya kukusaidia utambue. Pembe za majani laini hazina kingo zilizokumbwa au zilizokunjwa. Pembe zenye meno madogo na zenye meno maradufu zina pembe zenye miiba laini na kali, kwa mtiririko huo. Majani yenye matundu yana miamba mingi yenye umbo la mviringo. Pia angalia muundo unaofanyizwa na mishipa ya majani. Mishipa ya pinnate hutoka katika sehemu nyingi kutoka kwenye ubavu ambao huenea katikati ya jani. Mishipa ya mikono huanzia sehemu moja, ikifanana na vidole vilivyoenea vya mkono. Angalia umbo na rangi ya jani na kama limefunikwa kwa nywele nyembamba au laini. Mwishowe, angalia ikiwa jani hilo lina harufu fulani hususa. Maelezo hayo yote yanaweza kukusaidia kutambua mtu huyo. - Umbo la kingo za majani hutoa maelezo mengine yenye thamani ya kukusaidia katika utambulisho. Baada ya kuamua aina moja au chache, ni wakati wa kuzingatia mambo mengine ambayo yanaweza kukusaidia kuboresha utambulisho. Angalia aina ya mti unaoweza kuonekana katika mwongozo wa shamba na uthibitishe kwamba habari zote zinalingana na kile unachojua kuhusu mti wako. Kwa mfano, ikiwa umepata jani refu lenye umbo la majani huko New England, yaelekea ni la mti wa willow, wala si la mtende. Ikiwa unajua habari nyingine kuhusu mti huo, kama vile rangi au umbo la ganda au mahali ambapo mti huo ulikuwako, hakikisha kwamba habari hiyo inalingana na habari hiyo.