Leaf Classification and Identification
After completing this tutorial you should be able to:
      Define and understand:
      Identify or "key":
         key is a tool which enables us to identify an unknown organism. A dichotomous

         key is designed with two alternative pathways or choices. If the correct choice is
 
         made, the specimen will be correctly identified. Taxonomists frequently use fresh
 
         or herbarium specimens (flattened, dried, pressed plants which are mounted on
 
         sheets of paper) for their studies. Our work with leaf classification will include

         both types. In order to use the tree key it is very important to learn the 
terminology which is an integral part of the identification process.
Leaf Types
Leaves are plant organs which are very important to the photosynthetic               
process. A broad leaf usually consists of the blade (lamina) which is the flattened
 
photosynthetic portion. This type of leaf is usually considered to be deciduous, 
   
that is, the leaves drop during the fall and winter. The petiole is the stem-like
   
portion of the leaf, found between the blade and the branch or stem. Leaves without 
   
petioles are considered to be sessile. Stipules are leaf-like structures found near the
   
base of the petiole. A leaf is complete if the blade, petiole, and stipules are present. 
   
It is incomplete if one or more of the parts are missing.
Evergreens, or the gymnosperms, are plants which typically do not lose a
a major portion of their leaves during a single season. These leaves have been
   
modified to conserve moisture and may be found as long and narrow needle-like 
   
leaves. They also may be rounded or flattened in cross section, while others may
   
appear to be scale or fan-like.
Simple and Compound Leaves
A simple leaf has a single blade on a petiole, which in turn, is attached to a
woody stem. A leaf is considered to be compound if the blade is divided into a
   
number of leaflets which are attached to a single petiole. A compound leaf with 
   
leaflets on either side of the extension of the petiole (rachis) is considered to be
   
pinnate. A branching form of pinnately compound leaves are considered to be
   
bi- or doubly pinnate. The leaflets of palmately compound leaves arise from the 
   
terminal end of the petiole. This gives the appearance of fingers emanating from
   
the palm of a hand.
Phyllotaxy
Phyllotaxy refers to the arrangement of leaves on the stem. There are three
basic types of leaf arrangement: alternate, opposite, and whorled. Trees with
   
alternate arrangement have one leaf at each node. Two leaves at the node, opposite
   
to each other, demonstrate opposite arrangement. Three or more leaves on a node
   
are considered to be whorled.
Venation
Veins are strands of vascular tissue which appear prominently on the blade.
Venation deals with the arrangement of veins. Netted venation appears as a network
   
of smaller veins emanating from one or more larger veins. Pinnately (netted) veined 
   
leaves have one major vein from which smaller veins diverge on either side. These
   
veins appear to be feather-like. Palmately (netted) veined leaves have several main
   
veins, each having many small branches. Parallel venation is common to monocot 
   
leaves and the veins are usually of equal size and parallel with one another. 
   
Dichotomous venation is common to the ferns and Ginkgo biloba. These veins are 
   
nearly parallel at the base, but diverge into two branches near the margin of the leaf.
Margin
Leaf margin deals with the morphology or shape of the blade. A leaf with an 
entire margin may be more or less round without any indentations. Serrated leaves
   
have fine sawtooth-like projections on the margin. Doubly-serrated leaves have these
   
projections in pairs. Lobed leaves usually have fairly deep indentations, but may also
   
have pointed or rounded portions. Pinnately-lobed leaves may appear to be shaped 
   
like a feather, while palmately-lobed leaves may appear to be shaped like a hand.
Leaf Identification
After reviewing the terminology associated with leaf classification we may now
proceed to our "Key to Selected Trees and Shrubs". Read through the text of the key 
   
and click on the genus and species names to see a picture of each of the trees. Use the
   
back button to return to the key and scroll down the page to continue. The third and
   
fourth pages of text contain historical and economic information relavent to each of
   
the trees. We may now attempt to identify five different tree leaves. As you observe
   
the leaves jot down: leaf type, leaf arrangement, venation, margin, and whether it is
   
simple or compound. During the selection process, read the text of the key and select
   
one of the two choices concerning each characteristic of the leaf. If the leaves are 
   
broad you may need to scroll through nearly the entire key. If the leaves are
   
evergreen you may go to number twenty-one. 
   
Identify Leaf/Tree: 
# 1,
 
# 2,

# 3,

# 4,
  # 5.  
      
   Review Questions
      
I.Term Definitions:
1. deciduous:
   
2. phyllotaxy: 
   
3. dichotomous:
   
4. rachis:
II.True-False: 
5. True-False. A leaf with a single blade and petiole is considered to be simple.
III. Fill in the Blanks:
6.Ginkgo biloba demonstrates____________________ venation.
   
7. Simple leaves without a petiole are considered to be _________________.
   
8. Leaves which are "smooth" at the margin are considered to be ________________.
   
9. A compound leaf shaped like a feather is considered to be ________________.
   
10. ________________ are the strands of vascular tissue in the leaf.  
 


**Email the answers to the review questions and unknown trees 
to Dr. Preisner's address at trp2@psu.edu**



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