Leaf shapes often give a clue to a tree's identity. Below we show some pictures of leaf shapes and the trees they are found on.

We'll use the term "standard leaf" for leaves that are found on tree like oaks, maples, cottonwoods, etc. Here, we'll divide standard leaves into several main shapes: those that are oval (many oaks, for example); those that are heart-shaped; those that have several large points or are deeply indented (such as maples and sycamores), and those that are compound, that is, a single leaf that is made up of smaller leaves, arranged either in rows (mesquites, for example); or groups of smaller leaves (such as walnut and ash).

Although leaf shape may help you identify a tree, other characteristics should be looked at too. For example, walnut leaflets look very similar to soaptree and ailanthus leaflets and many kinds of oak have very similar shaped leaves.

Conifer trees are more difficult to identify from the shape of their leaves, but they can at least be separated into groups (such as juniper, pine, fir) on the basis of the appearance of their needles and how the needles are arranged, as shown below the pictures of standard leaves.

Below are pictured each of the above types.

Standard Leaves

Compound Leaves

Some Evergreen Leaves