T r e e s  o f  N o r t h  C a r o l i n a

A n g i o s p e r m s  ( f l o w e r i n g  p l a n t s )

L e a v e s  a l t e r n a t e ,  s i m p l e ,  p a l m a t e l y - l o b e d

Linear key | Dichotomous key

1. Large shrub or small tree…Hibiscus

1. Trees…2.

2. Leaves large, > 6 dm long and wide, fan-shaped; tree monopodial, with a single, unbranched stem…Sabal

2. Leaves < 5 dm long and wide; tree branching…3.

3. Leaves (at least some) asymmetrically lobed...4.

4. Leaves entire; twigs pleasantly aromatic when scratched...Sassafras

4. Leaves toothed; twigs not aromatic when scratched...5.

5. Leaves densely pubescent below; pistillate inflorescence globose...Broussonetia

5. Leaves sparsely pubescent to nearly glabrous below; pistillate inflorescence cylindric...Morus

3. Leaves symmetrically lobed...6.

6. Leaf lobes entire...Firmiana

6. Leaf lobes finely or coarsely toothed...7.

7. Plants armed with thorns or sharp short shoots......8.

8. Thorns often shiny; petals white; stamens 20 or less...Crataegus

8. Thorns usually dull; petals pink or white tinged with pink; stamens 20...Malus

7. Plants unarmed...9.

9. Stipules connate, encircling the twig, leaving circumferential stipular scar...Ficus

9. Stipules not as above, quickly deciduous or clasping stem...10.

10. Leaf blades (3-) 5 (-7) lobed, to 15 cm wide and long, each lobe finely serrate-crenate (>3 teeth per cm of margin) and rarely with a small sub-lobe; multiple fruit spherical and spiky, consisting of multiple bird-beak-like loculicidal capsules; buds axillary…Liquidambar

10. Leaves 3 (-5)-lobed, to 35 cm wide and long, each lobe coarsely toothed or sublobed, the teeth or sublobes (at most 1-2 per cm of margin) attenuate-acuminate; multiple fruit spherical and merely rough on the surface, consisting of multiple achenes with tawny bristles; buds infrapetiolar (completely hidden in the swollen petiole base)…Platanus