I've identified these trees in the neighbourhood of our cottage in Val-des-Monts, Quebec. Because flowers appear only in the early spring for most species, and because sapling bark is generally non-descript (and there are many saplings), I concentrate on leaf identification. The buds are available in winter for determination of tree species.
Please report any errors of identification.
- American basswood
- American beech
- American elm
- Balsam fir
- Balsam poplar
- Beaked hazelnut
- Black ash
- Eastern hemlock
- Eastern white cedar
- Eastern white pine
- Ironwood
- Largetooth aspen
- Manitoba maple
- Mountain maple
- Pussy willow
- Red maple
- Red oak
- Round-leaved dogwood
- Serviceberry
- Speckled alder
- Spruce
- Striped maple
- Sugar maple
- Trembling aspen
- White ash
- White birch
- Willow
- Yellow birch
American basswood
Tilia americana
This tree has the biggest leaves in our forests. They are heart-shaped with an asymmetry at the base of the leaf where it meets the leaf stem. In the city it's close relative is the linden tree, usually with smaller leaves.
Leaves are placed alternately on the branch. Fully grown basswood trees grow tall and often appear as two or three together. Buds are attractive - chunky, plump, oval with a hint of a beak, often reddish but also brown or green buds bearing only one or two bud scales.
For a more complete description and photos, click here.
Tilia americana
This tree has the biggest leaves in our forests. They are heart-shaped with an asymmetry at the base of the leaf where it meets the leaf stem. In the city it's close relative is the linden tree, usually with smaller leaves.
Leaves are placed alternately on the branch. Fully grown basswood trees grow tall and often appear as two or three together. Buds are attractive - chunky, plump, oval with a hint of a beak, often reddish but also brown or green buds bearing only one or two bud scales.
For a more complete description and photos, click here.
American basswood
American beech
Fagus grandifolia
A common tree in this area.
The leaves crinkle a bit when you bend them, are very smooth, and have teeth that are almost scalloped. resemble postage stamp edges. The veins are regular and straight.
The branches can run horizontally for long distances overhead, for example over a 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, eventually turning whitish.
The buds are a good identifier, nothing else resembles them. Light brown and long, needle-like.
For more description and photos, click here.
Where to see one: See Tree Locations.
Fagus grandifolia
A common tree in this area.
The leaves crinkle a bit when you bend them, are very smooth, and have teeth that are almost scalloped. resemble postage stamp edges. The veins are regular and straight.
The branches can run horizontally for long distances overhead, for example over a 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, eventually turning whitish.
The buds are a good identifier, nothing else resembles them. Light brown and long, needle-like.
For more description and photos, click here.
Where to see one: See Tree Locations.
American beech
American elm
White elm
Ulmus Americana
See beaked hazelnut for a description of the leaves plus look-alikes.
The bark often has a basket-weave appearance with strips crossing each other.
Buds in winter in my experience are brown or orange-brown. The terminal bud often is set on an angle to the stem. Lateral buds are smaller and the flower buds rounder. held close to the twig.
For more description and photos, click here.
White elm
Ulmus Americana
See beaked hazelnut for a description of the leaves plus look-alikes.
The bark often has a basket-weave appearance with strips crossing each other.
Buds in winter in my experience are brown or orange-brown. The terminal bud often is set on an angle to the stem. Lateral buds are smaller and the flower buds rounder. held close to the twig.
For more description and photos, click here.
American elm
Balsam fir
Abies balsamea
This is an evergreen tree very common in this area, especially small, less mature ones. 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, more two-dimensional appearance than spruce. Spruce needles are sharper than those of balsam fir. In this area, spruce seems the least common of the three but is the one blown down in strong wind most easily. Hemlock needles are smaller and somewhat triangular.
The trunk of balsam fir is often marked by sap-containing, poppable blisters.
For further description and photos, click here.
To see a live one, go to Tree Locations.
Abies balsamea
This is an evergreen tree very common in this area, especially small, less mature ones. 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, more two-dimensional appearance than spruce. Spruce needles are sharper than those of balsam fir. In this area, spruce seems the least common of the three but is the one blown down in strong wind most easily. Hemlock needles are smaller and somewhat triangular.
The trunk of balsam fir is often marked by sap-containing, poppable blisters.
For further description and photos, click here.
To see a live one, go to Tree Locations.
Balsam fir
Balsam poplar
Populus balsamifera
The three poplars I've identified in this area are balsam poplar, large toothed aspen and trembling aspen.
Populus balsamifera
The three poplars I've identified in this area are balsam poplar, large toothed aspen and trembling aspen.
Large toothed aspen
Beaked hazelnut
Corylus cornuta
Corylus cornuta
There are six trees in our area fairly easily separated by observing the bark of mature trees but not so easily when seen as young saplings: yellow birch, ironwood (hop hornbeam), white birch and beaked hazelnut, white elm (American elm) and speckled alder.
Bark: On reasonably mature trees, the bark differentiates five of the six. Ironwood (hop hornbeam) has vertical shreddy bark. The bark of the two birches is characteristic and shown under their headings. Elm bark sometimes look like a basket-weave. Speckled alder bark is speckled by lenticels commonly is seen on shorelines and tends to lean. Bark of beaked hazelnut has no special features.
Leaves can be differentiated as follows. All six are roughly boat-shaped. Most are pictured below.
Beaked hazelnut has a small number of veins, about 8. The distal half of the leaves have a ragged edge. The petioles are fairly long and thin, and are not hairy,
Ironwood has a lot of veins, about 14. The leaf is much more conforming, not ragged. The petioles are very short and somewhat hairy. Leaf edges are double-toothed. On mature trees, the leaf is more ellipse-shaped, less oval. There are often leaves of different sizes on the same branch, sometimes some almost covering each other.
White and yellow birch have thick whitish petioles often with a curve at the base. The leaves are sometimes in pairs. The leaves are generally larger and darker than the foregoing. White birch leaves have a flattened base, yellow birch leaf base is rounded.
Elm has severely straight veins and prominent saw teeth. The base of leaves is often uneven. Petioles are very short.
Speckled alder leaves have a leathery look, wrinkled and feel thicker, and are often more oval.
Buds (winter): Beaked hazelnut buds don't have the woody appearance of the others. They look more to me like the winter buds of speckled alder and striped maple. which have few scales.
Flowers: Catkins. The "cone" shown below was seen in March and may be the early form of the male (pollen) catkin of beaked hazelnut.
Bark: On reasonably mature trees, the bark differentiates five of the six. Ironwood (hop hornbeam) has vertical shreddy bark. The bark of the two birches is characteristic and shown under their headings. Elm bark sometimes look like a basket-weave. Speckled alder bark is speckled by lenticels commonly is seen on shorelines and tends to lean. Bark of beaked hazelnut has no special features.
Leaves can be differentiated as follows. All six are roughly boat-shaped. Most are pictured below.
Beaked hazelnut has a small number of veins, about 8. The distal half of the leaves have a ragged edge. The petioles are fairly long and thin, and are not hairy,
Ironwood has a lot of veins, about 14. The leaf is much more conforming, not ragged. The petioles are very short and somewhat hairy. Leaf edges are double-toothed. On mature trees, the leaf is more ellipse-shaped, less oval. There are often leaves of different sizes on the same branch, sometimes some almost covering each other.
White and yellow birch have thick whitish petioles often with a curve at the base. The leaves are sometimes in pairs. The leaves are generally larger and darker than the foregoing. White birch leaves have a flattened base, yellow birch leaf base is rounded.
Elm has severely straight veins and prominent saw teeth. The base of leaves is often uneven. Petioles are very short.
Speckled alder leaves have a leathery look, wrinkled and feel thicker, and are often more oval.
Buds (winter): Beaked hazelnut buds don't have the woody appearance of the others. They look more to me like the winter buds of speckled alder and striped maple. which have few scales.
Flowers: Catkins. The "cone" shown below was seen in March and may be the early form of the male (pollen) catkin of beaked hazelnut.
Beaked hazelnut
This is the March appearance. I think this is the still undeveloped male catkin.
Credit: Go Botany. Click photo for more photos.
Clockwise from top: ironwood, beech, yellow birch -
Photos taken Sept 30, 2025
From left to right: speckled alder, beaked hazelnut, American elm -
Photos taken Sept 30, 2025
Black ash
Leaves are compound and opposite. There is possibly no other such combination seen in a tree in this area. There are three ash in the area, of which I have identified two - black and white ash, no green ash yet.
See White Ash for a description of how to tell these apart.
For further description and photos, click here and here.
To find this tree, see Tree Location.
Leaves are compound and opposite. There is possibly no other such combination seen in a tree in this area. There are three ash in the area, of which I have identified two - black and white ash, no green ash yet.
See White Ash for a description of how to tell these apart.
For further description and photos, click here and here.
To find this tree, see Tree Location.
Black ash
Eastern hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
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 and somewhat triangular. The cones are very small.
To me, the bark of mature balsam fir have a vaguely purplish tint especially from a distance.
For further description and photos, click here.
To see one, see Tree Location.
Tsuga canadensis
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 and somewhat triangular. The cones are very small.
To me, the bark of mature balsam fir have a vaguely purplish tint especially from a distance.
For further description and photos, click here.
To see one, see Tree Location.
Eastern hemlock
Eastern white cedar
Thuja occidentalis
An evergreen tree common in this area, often seen in wetter areas. The leaves are characteristic and the bark is shreddy.
For further description and photos click here.
To see one, see Tree Location.
Thuja occidentalis
An evergreen tree common in this area, often seen in wetter areas. The leaves are characteristic and the bark is shreddy.
For further description and photos click here.
To see one, see Tree Location.
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 expected in this area: eastern white pine which has 5 needles per packet and is common, and red pine which has 2 needles per packet. They are often the tallest evergreen trees, particularly obvious when looking out over lakes. I've seen no red pine in the circumscribed area described on the home page but have seen several on an island on nearby Lake McGregor.
For further description and photos click here.
To see one, see Tree Location.
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 expected in this area: eastern white pine which has 5 needles per packet and is common, and red pine which has 2 needles per packet. They are often the tallest evergreen trees, particularly obvious when looking out over lakes. I've seen no red pine in the circumscribed area described on the home page but have seen several on an island on nearby Lake McGregor.
For further description and photos click here.
To see one, see Tree Location.
Eastern white pine
Ironwood
Ostrya virginiana
A common tree in sapling form but there seem to be fewer mature trees in our area of Val-des-Monts. On the mature tree, the vertically shreddy brown bark differentiates this tree all others. It is more difficult to identify as a sapling.
Leaves: See photos below. See beaked hazelnut for a description plus look-alikes.
Buds (winter): these are very similar to birch. From a little distance they both have the shape of a computer mouse. Those of the birches are somewhat bigger and distinctly darker brown at the base, lighter at the tip. Those of ironwood can have a similar appearance but indistinctly so or be more yellowish. Buds of ironwood, white birch and yellow birch stick out at an angle from the twig.
For further description and photos click here.
Ostrya virginiana
A common tree in sapling form but there seem to be fewer mature trees in our area of Val-des-Monts. On the mature tree, the vertically shreddy brown bark differentiates this tree all others. It is more difficult to identify as a sapling.
Leaves: See photos below. See beaked hazelnut for a description plus look-alikes.
Buds (winter): these are very similar to birch. From a little distance they both have the shape of a computer mouse. Those of the birches are somewhat bigger and distinctly darker brown at the base, lighter at the tip. Those of ironwood can have a similar appearance but indistinctly so or be more yellowish. Buds of ironwood, white birch and yellow birch stick out at an angle from the twig.
For further description and photos click here.
Ironwood leaves in the fall
Ironwood - Click photo for more photos.
Largetooth aspen
Populus grandidentata
This tree is recognizable by the ease with which the leaves shake 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. These grow to heights, one of the tallest trees in the area.
The bark of a mature tree is furrowed and resembles that of northern red oak. However, the bark lightens toward the top sometimes even resembling white birch.
For further description and photos click here.
To see one, see Tree Location.
Populus grandidentata
This tree is recognizable by the ease with which the leaves shake 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. These grow to heights, one of the tallest trees in the area.
The bark of a mature tree is furrowed and resembles that of northern red oak. However, the bark lightens toward the top sometimes even resembling white birch.
For further description and photos click here.
To see one, see Tree Location.
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Largetooth aspen
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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
Manitoba maple
This is a common tree in the city; less common here.
This is a common tree in the city; less common here.
Manitoba maple
Mountain maple
It has irregular teeth and a triangular central lobe. The basal lobes are described as never being more prominent than a pronounced tooth. I have only seen this one beside a stream which is its common habitat.
For further description and photos click here.
It has irregular teeth and a triangular central lobe. The basal lobes are described as never being more prominent than a pronounced tooth. I have only seen this one beside a stream which is its common habitat.
For further description and photos click here.
Mountain maple
Pussy willow
Salix discolor
There are many willows and they can be difficult to differentiate. Pussy willow catkins are characteristic and appear very early. April 19, 2022 they are in bloom. The bark is heavily flecked with lenticels. The buds are reddish, small and appressed to the trunk. Pussy willows 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.
For further description and photos click here.
To see one, see Tree Location.
Salix discolor
There are many willows and they can be difficult to differentiate. Pussy willow catkins are characteristic and appear very early. April 19, 2022 they are in bloom. The bark is heavily flecked with lenticels. The buds are reddish, small and appressed to the trunk. Pussy willows 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.
For further description and photos click here.
To see one, see Tree Location.
Red maple
Acer rubrum
There are five maple in this area: sugar maple, red maple, striped maple, Manitoba maple and rarely 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.
For further description and photos click here.
To see one, see Tree Location.
Acer rubrum
There are five maple in this area: sugar maple, red maple, striped maple, Manitoba maple and rarely 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.
For further description and photos click here.
To see one, see Tree Location.
Red maple
Red oak
Northern red oak
Quercus rubra
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. They grow tall. The bark of mature trees is deeply furrowed and can resemble large-tooth aspen. The latter bark whitens toward the top.
Winter buds are fairly characteristic. The terminal bud looks like four or five little light brown claws.
For further description and photos click here.
To see one, see Tree Location.
Northern red oak
Quercus rubra
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. They grow tall. The bark of mature trees is deeply furrowed and can resemble large-tooth aspen. The latter bark whitens toward the top.
Winter buds are fairly characteristic. The terminal bud looks like four or five little light brown claws.
For further description and photos click here.
To see one, see Tree Location.
Red oak
Round-leaved dogwood
Cornus rugosa
Cornus rugosa
Round-leaved dogwood mid-September. Identification not fully certain.
Serviceberry
Amelanchier spp
The leaves of serviceberry are smaller than those of similarly-leaved trees, and are less robust. The petioles tend to be somewhat longer. The teeth are finer, similar to the cherries. Buds are a help in identification.
Amelanchier spp
The leaves of serviceberry are smaller than those of similarly-leaved trees, and are less robust. The petioles tend to be somewhat longer. The teeth are finer, similar to the cherries. Buds are a help in identification.
Speckled alder
Speckled alder are often found in wetter areas. See beaked hazelnut for a description of leaves plus look-alikes.
For further description and photos click here.
For further description and photos click here.
Speckled alder
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Speckled alder - underside leaf
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Spruce
Picea spp
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.
For further description and photos click here.
Picea spp
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.
For further description and photos click here.
Spruce
Striped maple
Acer pensylvanicum
This qualifies more as a shrub than a tree. I have never seen a striped maple with a thick trunk, or tall. The trunk has an intermittently striped appearance once it is mature enough,
The leaves of all maples are placed oppositely on the branch,
For further description and photos click here.
Acer pensylvanicum
This qualifies more as a shrub than a tree. I have never seen a striped maple with a thick trunk, or tall. The trunk has an intermittently striped appearance once it is mature enough,
The leaves of all maples are placed oppositely on the branch,
For further description and photos click here.
Striped maple
Striped maple
Striped maple
Striped maple
Sugar maple
Acer saccharum
This 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.
The winter buds are brown. The terminal buds have two closely associated lateral buds, so it looks like three little claws. The buds of red maple are often red, outlined in white, though can be brown. They are more round than those of sugar maple.
In the city, Norway maple can be confused with sugar maple since the leaves have a U-shaped valley. However I have not seen Norway maple in the woods here. The leaves of all maples are placed oppositely on the branch.
For further description and photos click here.
Acer saccharum
This 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.
The winter buds are brown. The terminal buds have two closely associated lateral buds, so it looks like three little claws. The buds of red maple are often red, outlined in white, though can be brown. They are more round than those of sugar maple.
In the city, Norway maple can be confused with sugar maple since the leaves have a U-shaped valley. However I have not seen Norway maple in the woods here. The leaves of all maples are placed oppositely on the branch.
For further description and photos click here.
Sugar maple
Trembling aspen
Populus tremuloides
This tree is recognizable by the ease with which the leaves shake 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 large-tooth aspen which has much coarser and less numerous teeth. The leaves are placed alternately on the branch.
For further description and photos click here.
Populus tremuloides
This tree is recognizable by the ease with which the leaves shake 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 large-tooth aspen which has much coarser and less numerous teeth. The leaves are placed alternately on the branch.
For further description and photos click here.
White ash
Fraxinus americana
I have yet to identify green/red ash in our area. Here is how I tell white and black ash apart. Black ash has fully sessile leaflets, white ash has small to modest petioles. Black ash will often have 9 leaflets, white ash usually 5 or 7. Black ash has visible brownish hairs on the upper surface of the leaf at every meeting of the two leaflets. White ash does not. White ash tends to have a large terminal leaflet. Black ash has a flat-topped leaf scar (as does green ash) while white ash has a U-shaped scar.
Fraxinus americana
I have yet to identify green/red ash in our area. Here is how I tell white and black ash apart. Black ash has fully sessile leaflets, white ash has small to modest petioles. Black ash will often have 9 leaflets, white ash usually 5 or 7. Black ash has visible brownish hairs on the upper surface of the leaf at every meeting of the two leaflets. White ash does not. White ash tends to have a large terminal leaflet. Black ash has a flat-topped leaf scar (as does green ash) while white ash has a U-shaped scar.
White ash
White birch
Paper birch
Betula papiryfera
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.
See beaked hazelnut for a description of leaves plus look-alikes.
For further description and photos click here.
To see one, see Tree Location.
Paper birch
Betula papiryfera
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.
See beaked hazelnut for a description of leaves plus look-alikes.
For further description and photos click here.
To see one, see Tree Location.
White birch
White spruce
Picea glauca
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.
For further description and photos click here.
Picea glauca
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.
For further description and photos click here.
Willow
Salix spp
There are many species of willow, not easy to differentiate.
Salix spp
There are many species of willow, not easy to differentiate.
Willow
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Willow
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Yellow birch
See beaked hazelnut for a description of leaves plus look-alikes.
For further description and photos click here.
To see one, see Tree Location.
See beaked hazelnut for a description of leaves plus look-alikes.
For further description and photos click here.
To see one, see Tree Location.
Yellow birch
TREE LOCATION
The following trees can be seen at one location on chemin Katimavik, Val-des-Monts.
Red oak, white birch, yellow birch, big-toothed aspen, balsam fir, eastern hemlock, eastern white cedar, white pine, black ash
Location
At its far end of chemin Katimavik, about a kilometer and a half in from the highway, the road curves right at a 90 degree angle. At that point, the driveway for 160 ch Katimavik keeps going straight. There is an address sign.
White pine
Facing the driveway to 160 ch Katimavik, turn right to continue on the road which takes the 90 degree turn there. Proceed about 35 steps. On your left, you'll see an evergreen tree growing almost in the ditch, with long needles, eastern white pine. Note that there are 5 needles per packet.
To see the following trees, return to the your original position at the road-turn. Stand in the middle of the road at the middle of the curve so you are facing the driveway of 160 again, which is facing north.
Red Oak (Northern red oak) and white birch (paper birch)
Now turn about 10-20 degrees to your left and see six very tall trees as you turn more, until 90 degrees (facing west). These are red oak (northern red oak). They are deeply furrowed. In winter, they still have some brown leaves. Between the last of these is a white birch, very obvious.
Yellow birch
Now turn back to face the driveway once more. Turn about 15 degrees to your right and see a yellow birch growing in the ditch. It has white-yellow shreddy bark.
Large-toothed aspen and yellow birch
Now turn so you are looking up the road from whence you came (south). On your left and a little ahead are two very tall trees, looking a lot like the red oak just seen. The bark is furrowed too but in the higher reaches it whitens and that identifies it as a poplar family tree. All those I have identified in this area have been large-toothed aspen and so I presume these are too. In winter, there are no remaining leaves; red oak has remaining leaves in most cases.
Very near the second aspen is a yellow birch leaning toward it.
Balsam fir
Between the two aspens just described is an evergreen tree. There is another to the right of the second aspen. Note that the needles are largely in one plane, horizontal. Not many needles are sticking up or down as in spruce.
Walk a little further south. On your right are many more small balsam fir by the side of the road.
Eastern hemlock
Continue walking in the direction of the highway and come to a hydro pole on your right. Just to the right of the pole, step into the woods a few steps and see a tall evergreen tree with a white birch beside it. This is eastern hemlock. The needles are shorter and slightly triangular which is how to differentiate this tree from balsam fir and spruce. Both eastern hemlock and balsam fir are very common here.
American beech
Walk a few more steps on the road in the same southerly direction. There is a path on your right going into the woods. About 5-10 steps in, you can see two trees on either side of the path, "guarding" it. These are small beech trees. They often keep browned leaves in winter. Beyond the leftmost beech is a tall red oak.
Eastern white cedar
Stand with your back to the hydro pole and see a different evergreen tree, with flat leaves, not really needle-like. This is white cedar, a rather poor example.
You've now seen four of the five or six coniferous evergreen trees: balsam fir, eastern hemlock, eastern white pine and eastern white cedar. That leaves only red pine (if we have any here) and the spruces to identify.
American beech
About 35 steps from the hydro pole heading toward the highway, on your right are three more mature thick trunked beech which resemble elephant legs, very smooth though in this case blotchy from lichen growth. Their needle-like buds give them away too.
Black ash
Between address sign 136 and the next address sign to the north is a stretch of many unpretty thin trees, which are all or mostly black ash. They are spindly with long wavering branches coming off the trunk. They have an opposite pattern to branches and leaves. The winter buds are a good identifier. Black ash have pointy terminal buds. There is a small gap between the terminal bud and the lateral buds just below. That differentiates them in winter from white ash and green ash.
To be done: basswood, beaked hazelnut, sugar maple, red maple, mountain maple, striped maple, ironwood, speckled alder, white elm, spruces, pussy willow
Red oak, white birch, yellow birch, big-toothed aspen, balsam fir, eastern hemlock, eastern white cedar, white pine, black ash
Location
At its far end of chemin Katimavik, about a kilometer and a half in from the highway, the road curves right at a 90 degree angle. At that point, the driveway for 160 ch Katimavik keeps going straight. There is an address sign.
White pine
Facing the driveway to 160 ch Katimavik, turn right to continue on the road which takes the 90 degree turn there. Proceed about 35 steps. On your left, you'll see an evergreen tree growing almost in the ditch, with long needles, eastern white pine. Note that there are 5 needles per packet.
To see the following trees, return to the your original position at the road-turn. Stand in the middle of the road at the middle of the curve so you are facing the driveway of 160 again, which is facing north.
Red Oak (Northern red oak) and white birch (paper birch)
Now turn about 10-20 degrees to your left and see six very tall trees as you turn more, until 90 degrees (facing west). These are red oak (northern red oak). They are deeply furrowed. In winter, they still have some brown leaves. Between the last of these is a white birch, very obvious.
Yellow birch
Now turn back to face the driveway once more. Turn about 15 degrees to your right and see a yellow birch growing in the ditch. It has white-yellow shreddy bark.
Large-toothed aspen and yellow birch
Now turn so you are looking up the road from whence you came (south). On your left and a little ahead are two very tall trees, looking a lot like the red oak just seen. The bark is furrowed too but in the higher reaches it whitens and that identifies it as a poplar family tree. All those I have identified in this area have been large-toothed aspen and so I presume these are too. In winter, there are no remaining leaves; red oak has remaining leaves in most cases.
Very near the second aspen is a yellow birch leaning toward it.
Balsam fir
Between the two aspens just described is an evergreen tree. There is another to the right of the second aspen. Note that the needles are largely in one plane, horizontal. Not many needles are sticking up or down as in spruce.
Walk a little further south. On your right are many more small balsam fir by the side of the road.
Eastern hemlock
Continue walking in the direction of the highway and come to a hydro pole on your right. Just to the right of the pole, step into the woods a few steps and see a tall evergreen tree with a white birch beside it. This is eastern hemlock. The needles are shorter and slightly triangular which is how to differentiate this tree from balsam fir and spruce. Both eastern hemlock and balsam fir are very common here.
American beech
Walk a few more steps on the road in the same southerly direction. There is a path on your right going into the woods. About 5-10 steps in, you can see two trees on either side of the path, "guarding" it. These are small beech trees. They often keep browned leaves in winter. Beyond the leftmost beech is a tall red oak.
Eastern white cedar
Stand with your back to the hydro pole and see a different evergreen tree, with flat leaves, not really needle-like. This is white cedar, a rather poor example.
You've now seen four of the five or six coniferous evergreen trees: balsam fir, eastern hemlock, eastern white pine and eastern white cedar. That leaves only red pine (if we have any here) and the spruces to identify.
American beech
About 35 steps from the hydro pole heading toward the highway, on your right are three more mature thick trunked beech which resemble elephant legs, very smooth though in this case blotchy from lichen growth. Their needle-like buds give them away too.
Black ash
Between address sign 136 and the next address sign to the north is a stretch of many unpretty thin trees, which are all or mostly black ash. They are spindly with long wavering branches coming off the trunk. They have an opposite pattern to branches and leaves. The winter buds are a good identifier. Black ash have pointy terminal buds. There is a small gap between the terminal bud and the lateral buds just below. That differentiates them in winter from white ash and green ash.
To be done: basswood, beaked hazelnut, sugar maple, red maple, mountain maple, striped maple, ironwood, speckled alder, white elm, spruces, pussy willow