3. What does your leaf look like?
Simple Leaf shape
The leaf is whole and not divided into
smaller leaves called leaflets.
Compound Leaf Shape
Made up of smaller leaflets that
are divided down to the leaf stalk
There are other Leaf types … can you think of any or maybe research
other types of leaves to help Mr Barky find them all.
4. Simple leaf shapes ..
The shape of the leaf can tell you lots about the tree ...
They can be all shapes and sizes and can vary from tree to tree
Lanceolate/Linear
Long and thin or
lance-shaped. Three
times longer than
wide.
Cordate
Heart shaped
Oblong
Longer than wider,
nearly parallel sides
might have a
pointed tip.
Deltoid
Triangular-shaped
Elliptic
Widest in the middle
tapering equally at
both ends
Obovate
Widest in the middle
and tapers towards
the base. Opposite
to ovate
Lobed
Edge of leaf has
finger-like indents
that don’t come
from the centre
Palmately Lobed
Edge of leaf has
finger-like indents
that come from
the centre.
Ovate
Egg-shaped. Widest
below middle and
tapers towards the tip
of the leaf.
Orbicular
Circular or
rounded outline.
5. Simple Leaf Margin
The margin is the edge or the outline of the leaf.
Serrate
Saw-like teeth
around the edge
Doubly Serrate
Each tooth on the
serrate margin
also has its own
teeth
Lobed
Deep indentations
around the edge
that don’t go right
into the central
vein
Entire
Smooth, unbroken
edge with no
indentation or
notches
Crenate
Blunt, rounded
teeth around
the edge of the
leaf
Undulate
Wavy or soft
wavy edge of
the leaf
6. Compound leaf arrangement …
Opposite
Leaves are in pairs, directly across
from each other on the twig.
Alternate
Leaves are staggered, not directly
across from each other on the
twig.
How do the leaves grow on a section of the twig …
7. Compound leaf shape …
Is the compound leaf feather-shaped or hand-shaped?
Pinnately compound
The leaves are feather shaped and are
arranged each side of the centre stalk.
Palmately compound
The leaf is hand shaped. The leaflets
grown from the same place at the top of
the leaf stalk.
8. Compound leaflet shapes ..
Select the shape that is most similar to the the individual leaflet …
Lanceolate/Linear
Long and thin or
lance-shaped. Three
times longer than
wide.
Ovate
Egg-shaped. Widest
below middle and
tapers towards the tip
of the leaf.
9. Compund Leaf Margin
The margin is the edge or the outline of the leaf.
Serrate
Saw-like teeth
around the edge
Doubly Serrate
Each tooth on the
serrate margin
also has its own
teeth
Lobed
Deep indentations
around the edge
that don’t go right
into the central
vein
Entire
Smooth, unbroken
edge with no
indentation or
notches
Crenate
Blunt, rounded
teeth around
the edge of the
leaf
Undulate
Wavy or soft
wavy edge of
the leaf
10. Is your leaf hairy?
Is their hair or little spines on the leaf.
Yes No
11. Where is it hairy?
Where are the hairs or spines located?
BottomTop Stem
13. What colour is the top of your leaf
Light
Green
Dark Green
YellowOrange
14. Leaf Texture and appearance …
Glossy and shiny in appearance Dull in appearance with a a
wrinkly texture
Dull with 5 lobe like
fingers
None of these
19. Your Tree is …
Oak (Quercus robur)
• An Oak Tree can grow up to 40m tall.
• It is a symbol of strength and survival.
• The Oak is ‘king’ of British trees.
Find out more about Oak Trees …
Woodland Trust - English Oak
Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about the
Oak trees growing in your area?
Flowers
Fruit
Oak leaves
20. Your Tree is …
Ash (Fraxinus Excelsior)
• An Ash Tree can grow up to 35m Tall!
• Norse Vikings mythology called the Ask Tree ‘The Tree of
Life’.
• Ash is one of the toughest hard woods and is used to
make lots of things …
Find out more about Ash Trees …
Woodland Trust - Ash Trees
Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about the Ash
trees growing in your area?
Fruit Flowers
21. Your Tree is …
Hazel (Corylus Avellana)
• A Hazel tree can go up to 12m tall.
• A Hazel tree can live for 80 years!
Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about
the Hazel trees growing in your area?
Find out more about Hazel Trees …
Woodland Trust - Hazel Trees
Male Flowers
Female Flowers
Hazel leaf
22. • A White Poplar can grow up to 20m tall.
• In Greek mythology the White popular is linked to
Hercules.
Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about
the White Poplar trees growing in your area?
Find out more about White Poplar trees …
Woodland Trust - White Poplar
Your Tree is …
White Poplar (Populas alba)
Female Flowers
Male flowers
White Poplar leaves
23. • A Rowan can grow up to 15m tall..
• It can live for 200 years
• Its Celtic name means Wizard Tree.
Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about
the Rowan trees growing in your area?
Find out more about Rowan trees …
Woodland Trust - Rowan Trees
Your Tree is …
Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)
Fruit
Flowers
Rowan
leaves
24. • A Sweet Chestnut can grow up to 35m tall.
• It can live for 700 years!
• The Romans introduced Sweet Chestnut to the UK
Can you help Mr Barky to find out more
about the Sweet Chestnut trees growing in
your area?
Find out more about Sweet Chestnut trees …
Woodland Trust - Sweet Chestnut
Your Tree is …
Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa)
Male Catkins
Female Catkins
Fruits
Sweet Chestnut
leaves
25. • A Blackthorn can grow to 7m tall.
• It can live for 100 years!
Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about the
Blackthorn trees growing in your area?
Find out more about Blackthorn trees …
Woodland Trust - Blackthorn trees
Your Tree is …
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
Flowers
Fruits
Blackthorn leaves
26. • A Silver Birch can grow up to 30m tall.
• It has bark like paper.
• Up to 300 different insects can live in a birch tree!
Can you help Mr Barky to find out more
about Silver Birch trees?
Find out more about Silver Birch trees …
Woodland Trust - Silver Birch Trees
Your Tree is …
Silver Birch (Betula pendula)
Seeds
Flowers
Silver Birch
leaves
Bark
27. • A Downey Birch can grow up to 30m tall.
• It is very upright!
• Woodpeckers like to make their homes in Birch trees.
Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about the
Sweet Chestnut Trees growing in your area?
Find out more about Downy Birch trees …
Woodland Trust - Downey Birch
Your Tree is …
Downey Birch (Betula pubescens)
Bark
Flowers
Downey Birch
leaves
28. • A Beech tree can go up to 40m tall.
• Beech woods can be 1000’s of years old!
• Beech is the ‘Queen’ of British trees.
Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about
the Beech trees growing in your area?
Find out more about Beech trees …
Woodland Trust - Beech Trees
Your Tree is …
Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Flowers
Seed
Beech leaf
29. • A London Plane can grow up to 35m tall.
• They live for 100’s of years!
• It was bought to the UK in the 17th Century.
Can you help Mr Barky to find out
more about the London Plane?
Find out more about London Plane trees …
Woodland Trust - London Plane
Your Tree is …
London Plane (Platanus x hispanica)
Seeds
Flowers Leaves
30. • A Whitebeam can grow up to 15m tall.
• The bark is smooth and grey
• The whitebeam tree is compact and domed on top
Can you help Mr Barky to find out more about
the Whitebeam Trees growing in your area?
Find out more about Whitebeams …
Woodland Trust - Whitebeam
Your Tree is …
Whitebeam (Sorbus aria)
Berries Flowers
