2048 OPAL guide to deciduous trees_Invertebrates 592 x 210 copy 17/04/2015 18:39 Page 1

Tree Rowan Elder Beech Whitebeam Cherry Willow

Identification Guide Sorbus aucuparia Sambucus nigra Fagus sylvatica Sorbus aria Prunus species Salix species
This guide can be used for the OPAL Tree Health Survey
and OPAL  Air Survey

Oak Ash
Quercus species Fraxinus excelsior

Maple Hawthorn Hornbeam Crab apple Birch Poplar

Acer species Crataegus montana Carpinus betulus Malus sylvatica Betula species Populus species

Horse chestnut Sycamore

Aesculus hippocastanum Acer pseudoplatanus

London Plane Sweet chestnut Hazel Lime Elm Alder

Platanus x acerifolia Castanea sativa Corylus avellana Tilia species Ulmus species Alnus species
2048 OPAL guide to deciduous trees_Invertebrates 592 x 210 copy 17/04/2015 18:39 Page 1

Tree Rowan Elder Beech Whitebeam Cherry Willow

Identification Guide Sorbus aucuparia Sambucus nigra Fagus sylvatica Sorbus aria Prunus species Salix species
This guide can be used for the OPAL Tree Health Survey
and OPAL  Air Survey

Oak Ash
Quercus species Fraxinus excelsior

Maple Hawthorn Hornbeam Crab apple Birch Poplar

Acer species Crataegus montana Carpinus betulus Malus sylvatica Betula species Populus species

Horse chestnut Sycamore

Aesculus hippocastanum Acer pseudoplatanus

London Plane Sweet chestnut Hazel Lime Elm Alder

Platanus x acerifolia Castanea sativa Corylus avellana Tilia species Ulmus species Alnus species
2048 OPAL guide to deciduous trees_Invertebrates 592 x 210 copy 17/04/2015 18:39 Page 2

Start here
‹

‹
Is the leaf at least twice as Does the leaf have a Is the underside of
No No Yes No
long as it is wide? toothed edge? the leaf pale?
Does the tree have needles Does the tree have simple Do the leaves have
No Yes Hawthorn Yes Hornbeam No Yes
or scale-like leaves? leaves? lobes?

Yes No Yes

Yes Yes
Does the bud
Is the leaf shorter Is the edge of the leaf Whitebeam No
grow on a stalk?
Are the twigs Yes
No than 10 cm? double toothed?
a simple leaf thorny? Yes
– a single leaf Lobes are large
attached to a stalk projections at the No No double-toothed Birch
Conifers a compound leaf
edge of the leaf Sweet chestnut
leaves – large teeth
Check you are looking at Birch not
If you have found a conifer, choose – made up of with smaller
several leaflets Oak Check: If there are 2 red teeth Alder. Alder has a rounded leaf tip,
another tree for your OPAL survey spots at the top of the in-between while Birch has a pointed leaf tip Crab apple
leaf stalk, it is probably a
Do all the leaflets grow Do the veins spread out
Horse chestnut Yes No Cherry
from the end of the stalk? from a single point?

No Yes No
Does the edge of the leaf Cherry Is the leaf base Is the leaf tip a
Yes No
have large teeth? Check: Cherry asymmetrical? distinct point?
leaves have a wide
No Yes Yes
range of sizes distinct
Does the leaf have two or veins spread from London Plane point – it
Elder Yes three pairs of leaflets?
veins spread out several places looks like
from a single point along the leaf stalk
Check: Elder leaves release a pungent at the top of the
the end
- a pinnate leaf of the leaf
smell when you rub them No leaf stalk – a Are there 2 red spots at the
palmate leaf Yes Elm has been
top of the leaf stalk? pinched
No Check: Elm leaves feel rough
Opposite pairs –
pairs of leaves No when rubbed between the fingers
grow from a single Do the leaves grow in Does the leaf have Do the leaves grow
No
point on the stem opposite pairs on the a toothed edge? in opposite pairs?
twig?
Ash Yes Yes Yes Are there fine white hairs Does the leaf bulge out Is the leaf stalk
(Make sure that you are Willow No No No
Check: Ash has black buds on the edge of the leaf? more at one side? flattened?
looking at the leaves and Teeth are small
not just the leaflets) projections on the
edge of the leaf Yes Yes Yes
No
No
Sycamore Maple Does the leaf have a blunt
Check: Maple leaves
Lime
or rounded tip? Beech
have more rounded lobes, Hazel
Check: Beech leaves Poplar
Rowan while London Plane and Yes Check:
have a wavy edge
Check: Rowan never has black buds Alternate pairs – Sycamore have more Hazel leaves
like Ash. Rowan leaflets are deeper each leaf grows pointed lobes and leaf
toothed than Ash. Look out for red from a different stems are
place on the stem
berries on Rowan in autumn © OPAL 2015. All rights reserved. Alder hairy
2048 OPAL guide to deciduous trees_Invertebrates 592 x 210 copy 17/04/2015 18:39 Page 2

Start here
‹

‹
Is the leaf at least twice as Does the leaf have a Is the underside of
No No Yes No
long as it is wide? toothed edge? the leaf pale?
Does the tree have needles Does the tree have simple Do the leaves have
No Yes Hawthorn Yes Hornbeam No Yes
or scale-like leaves? leaves? lobes?

Yes No Yes

Yes Yes
Does the bud
Is the leaf shorter Is the edge of the leaf Whitebeam No
grow on a stalk?
Are the twigs Yes
No than 10 cm? double toothed?
a simple leaf thorny? Yes
– a single leaf Lobes are large
attached to a stalk projections at the No No double-toothed Birch
Conifers a compound leaf
edge of the leaf Sweet chestnut
leaves – large teeth
Check you are looking at Birch not
If you have found a conifer, choose – made up of with smaller
several leaflets Oak Check: If there are 2 red teeth Alder. Alder has a rounded leaf tip,
another tree for your OPAL survey spots at the top of the in-between while Birch has a pointed leaf tip Crab apple
leaf stalk, it is probably a
Do all the leaflets grow Do the veins spread out
Horse chestnut Yes No Cherry
from the end of the stalk? from a single point?

No Yes No
Does the edge of the leaf Cherry Is the leaf base Is the leaf tip a
Yes No
have large teeth? Check: Cherry asymmetrical? distinct point?
leaves have a wide
No Yes Yes
range of sizes distinct
Does the leaf have two or veins spread from London Plane point – it
Elder Yes three pairs of leaflets?
veins spread out several places looks like
from a single point along the leaf stalk
Check: Elder leaves release a pungent at the top of the
the end
- a pinnate leaf of the leaf
smell when you rub them No leaf stalk – a Are there 2 red spots at the
palmate leaf Yes Elm has been
top of the leaf stalk? pinched
No Check: Elm leaves feel rough
Opposite pairs –
pairs of leaves No when rubbed between the fingers
grow from a single Do the leaves grow in Does the leaf have Do the leaves grow
No
point on the stem opposite pairs on the a toothed edge? in opposite pairs?
twig?
Ash Yes Yes Yes Are there fine white hairs Does the leaf bulge out Is the leaf stalk
(Make sure that you are Willow No No No
Check: Ash has black buds on the edge of the leaf? more at one side? flattened?
looking at the leaves and Teeth are small
not just the leaflets) projections on the
edge of the leaf Yes Yes Yes
No
No
Sycamore Maple Does the leaf have a blunt
Check: Maple leaves
Lime
or rounded tip? Beech
have more rounded lobes, Hazel
Check: Beech leaves Poplar
Rowan while London Plane and Yes Check:
have a wavy edge
Check: Rowan never has black buds Alternate pairs – Sycamore have more Hazel leaves
like Ash. Rowan leaflets are deeper each leaf grows pointed lobes and leaf
toothed than Ash. Look out for red from a different stems are
place on the stem
berries on Rowan in autumn © OPAL 2015. All rights reserved. Alder hairy