- American basswood
- American beech
- American elm
- Balsam fir
- Beaked hazelnut
- Black ash
- Eastern hemlock
- Eastern white cedar
- Eastern white pine
- Ironwood
- Largetooth aspen
- Mountain maple
- Pussy willow
- Red maple
- Red oak
- Serviceberry
- Speckled alder
- Spruce
- Striped maple
- Sugar maple
- Trembling aspen
- White birch
- White pine
- Willow
- Yellow birch
American basswood
This tree has the biggest leaves in the forest. Heart-shaped with an asymmetry at the base of the leaf where it meets the leaf stem. In the city it is the linden tree, usually with smaller leaves. Leaves are placed alternately on the branch. Fully grown basswood trees are tall and often appear as two or three together. Buds are attractive - chunky with a hint of a beak.
This tree has the biggest leaves in the forest. Heart-shaped with an asymmetry at the base of the leaf where it meets the leaf stem. In the city it is the linden tree, usually with smaller leaves. Leaves are placed alternately on the branch. Fully grown basswood trees are tall and often appear as two or three together. Buds are attractive - chunky with a hint of a beak.
American basswood
American beech
The leaves crinkle a bit when you bend them, are very smooth, and have teeth that I think resemble postage stamp edges. The veins are regular and straight.
The branches can run horizontally for long distances overhead, for example over a dirt road - forming a canopy.
Leaves are placed alternately on the branch,
The trunk is very smooth light gray and resembles an elephant leg.
Beech leaves turn coppery in the fall and many remain on the branch all winter, turning whitish.
Similar leaved trees
American elm: much coarser saw-tooth teeth, rough texture, "basket-weave" bark
White and yellow birch: finer teeth, no coarse texture to leaves; papery bark
Ironwood (hop bornbeam): shreddy bark; leaves very similar to birch
The leaves crinkle a bit when you bend them, are very smooth, and have teeth that I think resemble postage stamp edges. The veins are regular and straight.
The branches can run horizontally for long distances overhead, for example over a dirt road - forming a canopy.
Leaves are placed alternately on the branch,
The trunk is very smooth light gray and resembles an elephant leg.
Beech leaves turn coppery in the fall and many remain on the branch all winter, turning whitish.
Similar leaved trees
American elm: much coarser saw-tooth teeth, rough texture, "basket-weave" bark
White and yellow birch: finer teeth, no coarse texture to leaves; papery bark
Ironwood (hop bornbeam): shreddy bark; leaves very similar to birch
American beech
American elm
Leaves are toothed and alternate, similar to birch, beech, alder and ironwood. However they are somewhat larger and more coarse-toothed. The very rough texture is characteristic though not always present. The base of the leaf is asymmetric, an important identifier. The petiole (leaf stem) is very short.
Leaves are toothed and alternate, similar to birch, beech, alder and ironwood. However they are somewhat larger and more coarse-toothed. The very rough texture is characteristic though not always present. The base of the leaf is asymmetric, an important identifier. The petiole (leaf stem) is very short.
American elm
Balsam fir
An evergreen tree common in this area. There are three spruce-like trees in this part of Quebec: spruce, balsam fir and eastern hemlock. Balsam fir is most easily confused with spruce but differs in that the needles stick out mainly from the sides of the leaf, not much from the top and bottom. This gives it a flatter appearance than spruce. Spruce needles are sharper than those of balsam fir. In this area, spruce is the least common of the three. Hemlock needles are smaller and somewhat triangular.
The trunk of balsam fir is often marked by sap-containing, poppable blisters.
An evergreen tree common in this area. There are three spruce-like trees in this part of Quebec: spruce, balsam fir and eastern hemlock. Balsam fir is most easily confused with spruce but differs in that the needles stick out mainly from the sides of the leaf, not much from the top and bottom. This gives it a flatter appearance than spruce. Spruce needles are sharper than those of balsam fir. In this area, spruce is the least common of the three. Hemlock needles are smaller and somewhat triangular.
The trunk of balsam fir is often marked by sap-containing, poppable blisters.
Balsam fir
Beaked hazelnut
The leaf of this tree is very similar to ironwood, white and yellow birch. The four can be differentiated as follows: Beaked hazelnut and white birch have about 8 veins while ironwood and yellow birch have about 14 veins. White birch has a flattened base, the leaves are often in twos, and the petiole is thick and longer. There are no peripheral curving branch veins. Beaked hazelnut leaves have a somewhat heart-shaped base and peripheral curving branch veins, a smaller petiole and sometimes little "cones" in the axils. The leaf edges are more raggedy.
Beaked hazelnut with the fruit (nut) lying horizontal upper part of photo
Black ash
Leaves are compound and opposite. There is possibly no other such combination seen in a tree in this area. The leaves are untoothed or occasionally toothed. There are 9 leaflets per leaf on the example found here, with tufts of hair where the leaflet meets the leaf axis, in October the whole leaf easily breaks off, not the leaflets and lateral buds are separated from the terminal bud - all signs of a black ash. Most other ash I see have 7 leaflets. These are likely green ash since white ash leaflets do not hug the axis of the leaf.
There are plants that resemble ash and could be mistaken for saplings. Sarsparilla is one, but it does not have a woody stem.
Leaves are compound and opposite. There is possibly no other such combination seen in a tree in this area. The leaves are untoothed or occasionally toothed. There are 9 leaflets per leaf on the example found here, with tufts of hair where the leaflet meets the leaf axis, in October the whole leaf easily breaks off, not the leaflets and lateral buds are separated from the terminal bud - all signs of a black ash. Most other ash I see have 7 leaflets. These are likely green ash since white ash leaflets do not hug the axis of the leaf.
There are plants that resemble ash and could be mistaken for saplings. Sarsparilla is one, but it does not have a woody stem.
Eastern hemlock
An evergreen tree common in this area. It is one of the three spruce-like trees in this part of Quebec: spruce, balsam fir and eastern hemlock. Hemlock needles are smaller. The cones are very small.
To me, the bark of balsam fir have a vaguely purplish tint especially from a distance. I also notice numerous small drilled holes are common in the bark, which I a guessing are due to a downy or hairy woodpecker, or sapsucker.
An evergreen tree common in this area. It is one of the three spruce-like trees in this part of Quebec: spruce, balsam fir and eastern hemlock. Hemlock needles are smaller. The cones are very small.
To me, the bark of balsam fir have a vaguely purplish tint especially from a distance. I also notice numerous small drilled holes are common in the bark, which I a guessing are due to a downy or hairy woodpecker, or sapsucker.
Eastern hemlock
Eastern white cedar
An evergreen tree common in this area, often seen in wetter areas. The leaves are characteristic and the bark is shreddy.
An evergreen tree common in this area, often seen in wetter areas. The leaves are characteristic and the bark is shreddy.
Eastern white cedar
Eastern white pine
One can think of evergreen trees in this area as being three groups: (1) Cedar has flat, braided-like leaves; (2) spruce-like trees with short needles (spruce, balsam fir and hemlock) and (3) pines whose needles are much longer. There are two main pines in this area: eastern white pine which has 5 needles per packet, and red pine which has 2 needles per packet. I note white pine to be the common one.
One can think of evergreen trees in this area as being three groups: (1) Cedar has flat, braided-like leaves; (2) spruce-like trees with short needles (spruce, balsam fir and hemlock) and (3) pines whose needles are much longer. There are two main pines in this area: eastern white pine which has 5 needles per packet, and red pine which has 2 needles per packet. I note white pine to be the common one.
Eastern white pine
Ironwood
The shreddy bark differentiates this tree from white and yellow birches and beaked hazelnut whose leaves are similar. The four can be differentiated as follows: Beaked hazelnut and white birch have about 8 veins while ironwood and yellow birch have about 14 veins. White birch has a flattened base, the leaves are often in twos, and the petiole is thick and longer. There are no peripheral curving branch veins. Beaked hazelnut leaves have a somewhat heart-shaped base and peripheral curving branch veins, a smaller petiole and sometimes little "cones" in the axils.
Ironwood is fuzzier than yellow birch and has more leaves of various sizes that overlap. Its stem is smaller and less thick and leaves do not occur in twos as is often the case with yellow birch. Ironwood has short curving branch veins distally while the birches don't.
The shreddy bark differentiates this tree from white and yellow birches and beaked hazelnut whose leaves are similar. The four can be differentiated as follows: Beaked hazelnut and white birch have about 8 veins while ironwood and yellow birch have about 14 veins. White birch has a flattened base, the leaves are often in twos, and the petiole is thick and longer. There are no peripheral curving branch veins. Beaked hazelnut leaves have a somewhat heart-shaped base and peripheral curving branch veins, a smaller petiole and sometimes little "cones" in the axils.
Ironwood is fuzzier than yellow birch and has more leaves of various sizes that overlap. Its stem is smaller and less thick and leaves do not occur in twos as is often the case with yellow birch. Ironwood has short curving branch veins distally while the birches don't.
Ironwood
Largetooth aspen
This tree is recognizable by the ease with which it shakes in even a light breeze. This is thanks to its petiole which is very long and flattened. It requires a closer look at the leaf though to distinguish it from trembling aspen which has much finer and more numerous teeth. Leaves are placed alternately on the branch. The leaf underside is white.
This tree is recognizable by the ease with which it shakes in even a light breeze. This is thanks to its petiole which is very long and flattened. It requires a closer look at the leaf though to distinguish it from trembling aspen which has much finer and more numerous teeth. Leaves are placed alternately on the branch. The leaf underside is white.
Largetooth aspen
Large-tooth aspen. The early young leaves look quite different being larger and with quite different teeth. Colour can be dark or light green. The stems can appear to be herbaceous, not woody.
Young aspen
Bud of large-tooth aspen
Mountain maple
I am not sure if this is mountain maple or a variation of red maple. It has irregular teeth and a triangular central lobe.
I am not sure if this is mountain maple or a variation of red maple. It has irregular teeth and a triangular central lobe.
Mountain maple
Pussy willow
There are many willows and they can be difficult to differentiate. Pussy willow catkins are characteristic and appear very early. At the foot of our hill April 19, 2022 they are in bloom. The bark is heavily flecked with lenticels. The buds are reddish, small and appressed to the trunk. Appears in clumps. The leaf shown below may be pussy willow. Not toothed, slightly wavy margin, obovate, common here. Willows hold on to their leaves in fall longer than many trees.
There are many willows and they can be difficult to differentiate. Pussy willow catkins are characteristic and appear very early. At the foot of our hill April 19, 2022 they are in bloom. The bark is heavily flecked with lenticels. The buds are reddish, small and appressed to the trunk. Appears in clumps. The leaf shown below may be pussy willow. Not toothed, slightly wavy margin, obovate, common here. Willows hold on to their leaves in fall longer than many trees.
Red maple
There are four maple in this area: sugar maple, red maple, striped maple and rarely I think, mountain maple. Red maple can be confused with sugar maple. The angle between the lobes of red maple are sharp while those of sugar maple are U-shaped. The leaf stems (petioles) of red maples are often red-tinged.
The leaves of all maples are placed oppositely on the branch,
The "keys" which are the fruit of red maple are more numerous and smaller than those of sugar maple and clog my eaves troughs and downspouts in the spring.
There are four maple in this area: sugar maple, red maple, striped maple and rarely I think, mountain maple. Red maple can be confused with sugar maple. The angle between the lobes of red maple are sharp while those of sugar maple are U-shaped. The leaf stems (petioles) of red maples are often red-tinged.
The leaves of all maples are placed oppositely on the branch,
The "keys" which are the fruit of red maple are more numerous and smaller than those of sugar maple and clog my eaves troughs and downspouts in the spring.
Red maple
Red oak
The leaves of oak are characteristic. Like beech, some oak leaves can remain on the tree well into winter. When numerous leaves are seen on a deciduous tree in winter, it will be one of these two. Leaves of oak are placed alternately on the branch.
The leaves of oak are characteristic. Like beech, some oak leaves can remain on the tree well into winter. When numerous leaves are seen on a deciduous tree in winter, it will be one of these two. Leaves of oak are placed alternately on the branch.
Red oak
Serviceberry
Speckled alder
Speckled alder are often found in wetter areas. The leaf edges have a shredded appearance. They look somewhat like birch and ironwood but are rounder and wrinklier.
Speckled alder
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Speckled alder - underside leaf
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Spruce
Spruce trees can be confused with eastern hemlock and with balsam fir. Spruce though have stiff, fairly sharp needles which grow from the sides, top and bottom of the branchlet. Balsam fir needles are not stiff and not at all sharp. They grow mainly from the sides of the branchlet. Eastern hemlock leaves are characteristic in that they are very short, There are fewer spruce than balsam fir in my local area but they seem to be more easily blown down than the fir in a storm. There are many eastern hemlock. See the entries here on balsam fir and eastern hemlock for further discussion.
I am not sure which type of spruce is pictured below. The three main spruces are white, red and black.
Spruce trees can be confused with eastern hemlock and with balsam fir. Spruce though have stiff, fairly sharp needles which grow from the sides, top and bottom of the branchlet. Balsam fir needles are not stiff and not at all sharp. They grow mainly from the sides of the branchlet. Eastern hemlock leaves are characteristic in that they are very short, There are fewer spruce than balsam fir in my local area but they seem to be more easily blown down than the fir in a storm. There are many eastern hemlock. See the entries here on balsam fir and eastern hemlock for further discussion.
I am not sure which type of spruce is pictured below. The three main spruces are white, red and black.
Spruce
Striped maple
This qualifies more as a shrub than a tree. I have never seen a striped maple with a thick trunk, or tall. The trunk - stem seems more appropriate - has an intermittently striped appearance once it is mature enough,
The leaves of all maples are placed oppositely on the branch,
This qualifies more as a shrub than a tree. I have never seen a striped maple with a thick trunk, or tall. The trunk - stem seems more appropriate - has an intermittently striped appearance once it is mature enough,
The leaves of all maples are placed oppositely on the branch,
Striped maple
Striped maple
Striped maple
Striped maple
Sugar maple
This iconic tree can be confused with red maple. The main distinguishing characteristic is the U-shaped valley between the lobes, as shown below. Red maple have a V or almost right-angle appearance there. In the city, Norway maple can be confused since it has a U-shaped valley. However I have not seen Norway maple in the woods of Western Quebec. The leaves of all maples are placed oppositely on the branch,
This iconic tree can be confused with red maple. The main distinguishing characteristic is the U-shaped valley between the lobes, as shown below. Red maple have a V or almost right-angle appearance there. In the city, Norway maple can be confused since it has a U-shaped valley. However I have not seen Norway maple in the woods of Western Quebec. The leaves of all maples are placed oppositely on the branch,
sugar maple
Trembling aspen
This tree is recognizable by the ease with which it shakes in even a light breeze. This is thanks to its petiole which is very long and flattened. It requires a closer look at the leaf though to distinguish it from largetooth aspen which has much coarser and less numerous teeth. The leaves are placed alternately on the branch,
This tree is recognizable by the ease with which it shakes in even a light breeze. This is thanks to its petiole which is very long and flattened. It requires a closer look at the leaf though to distinguish it from largetooth aspen which has much coarser and less numerous teeth. The leaves are placed alternately on the branch,
White birch
This tree has papery, white bark. I find it difficult to examine its leaves because these trees grow very tall and have no low branches. This can be a differentiating factor vs yellow birch. It is mainly from fallen trees that I find accessible leaves. The bark is characteristic although some examples of yellow birch can be similar. In these cases, the yellow birch's bark tends to shred in small curls whereas the white birch is entirely smooth or shredding in large pieces of bark.
The leaf of this tree is very similar to ironwood, beaked hazelnut and yellow birch. The four can be differentiated as follows: Beaked hazelnut and white birch have about 8 veins while ironwood and yellow birch have about 14 veins. White birch has a flattened base. For white and yellow birch the leaves are often in twos, and the petiole is thick and longer. There are no peripheral curving branch veins. Beaked hazelnut leaves have a somewhat heart-shaped base and peripheral curving branch veins, a smaller petiole and sometimes little "cones" in the axils.
Leaves are placed alternately on the branch.
This tree has papery, white bark. I find it difficult to examine its leaves because these trees grow very tall and have no low branches. This can be a differentiating factor vs yellow birch. It is mainly from fallen trees that I find accessible leaves. The bark is characteristic although some examples of yellow birch can be similar. In these cases, the yellow birch's bark tends to shred in small curls whereas the white birch is entirely smooth or shredding in large pieces of bark.
The leaf of this tree is very similar to ironwood, beaked hazelnut and yellow birch. The four can be differentiated as follows: Beaked hazelnut and white birch have about 8 veins while ironwood and yellow birch have about 14 veins. White birch has a flattened base. For white and yellow birch the leaves are often in twos, and the petiole is thick and longer. There are no peripheral curving branch veins. Beaked hazelnut leaves have a somewhat heart-shaped base and peripheral curving branch veins, a smaller petiole and sometimes little "cones" in the axils.
Leaves are placed alternately on the branch.
White birch
White spruce
Spruce trees can be confused with eastern hemlock and with balsam fir. Spruce though have stiff, fairly sharp needles which grow from the sides, top and bottom of the branchlet. Balsam fir needles are not stiff and not at all sharp. They grow mainly from the sides of the branchlet. Eastern hemlock leaves are characteristic in that they are very short, I have so far found few spruce along chemin Katimavik. There are innumerable balsam fir, especially saplings. There are many eastern hemlock. See the entries here on balsam fir and eastern hemlock for further discussion.
Spruce trees can be confused with eastern hemlock and with balsam fir. Spruce though have stiff, fairly sharp needles which grow from the sides, top and bottom of the branchlet. Balsam fir needles are not stiff and not at all sharp. They grow mainly from the sides of the branchlet. Eastern hemlock leaves are characteristic in that they are very short, I have so far found few spruce along chemin Katimavik. There are innumerable balsam fir, especially saplings. There are many eastern hemlock. See the entries here on balsam fir and eastern hemlock for further discussion.
Willow
There are many species of willow, not easy to differentiate.
There are many species of willow, not easy to differentiate.
Willow
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Willow
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Yellow birch
This tree has white to yellow-white bark which shreds in small curls.
The leaf of this tree is very similar to ironwood, white birch and beaked hazelnut. The four can be differentiated as follows: Beaked hazelnut and white birch have about 8 veins while ironwood and yellow birch have about 14 veins. White birch has a flattened base, the leaves are often in twos, and the petiole is thick and longer. There are no peripheral curving branch veins. Beaked hazelnut leaves have a somewhat heart-shaped base and peripheral curving branch veins, a smaller petiole and sometimes little "cones" in the axils.
This tree has white to yellow-white bark which shreds in small curls.
The leaf of this tree is very similar to ironwood, white birch and beaked hazelnut. The four can be differentiated as follows: Beaked hazelnut and white birch have about 8 veins while ironwood and yellow birch have about 14 veins. White birch has a flattened base, the leaves are often in twos, and the petiole is thick and longer. There are no peripheral curving branch veins. Beaked hazelnut leaves have a somewhat heart-shaped base and peripheral curving branch veins, a smaller petiole and sometimes little "cones" in the axils.
Yellow birch