A Guide to Deciduous Tree Knowledge

	Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) leaves usually have five to seven oblong-lance shaped to oval leaflets sharply toothed on the margin. Leaf texture is thick, almost leathery. Seeds ripen in late summer, are winged samaras, and hang in clusters on the tree over winter. Select cultivars 'Wahpeton' (Dakota Centennial^�), 'Rugby' (Prairie Spire^�), 'Leeds' (Prairie Dome^�), 'Bergeson,' and 'Patmore' for superior performance and diversity of form. The tree is medium in growth rate, reaches 40 to 50 feet, is long-lived and will tolerate considerable alkalinity and salinity. Widely used in landscape and shelter plantings. Native to the state. Yellow fall color.
	Black ash (Fraxinus nigra) resembles green ash. It commonly has nine to 11 leaflets connected directly to the main leaf stem (rachis). It is less drought tolerant than green ash, but is being planted in residential, park and boulevard settings, particularly in the eastern third of North Dakota. It is native in the Pembina Hills and produces yellow fall color. The cultivar 'Fallgold' has a narrower, more erect growth habit and is recommended in the Northern Plains.
	Manchurian ash (Fraxinus mandshurica) is very similar to black ash with nine to 11 leaflets. New twigs are a golden color. It grows very dense and oval-shaped for many years, and its form is quite striking in the landscape. Fall color is yellow. The cultivar Mancana is recommended for planting. A new hybrid ash, Fraxinus x 'Northern Treasure' is being introduced in Canada and is a cross between black and Manchurian ash.
	Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra) leaves have five to seven toothed leaflets arising at a common point (as the fans on a pinwheel). The leaflets are 3 to 6 inches long. The large showy flowers appear in clusters at the ends of the branches shortly after leafing in the spring. The fruit is a large, 1 to 2 inches in diameter, leathery capsule. It contains a large round chestnut-brown, shiny seed that contains a light colored spot at its base. Not native. New hybrid cultivars, medium-sized in stature, deserve greater attention for planting as residential and ornamental trees. Select 'Autumn Splendor' and 'Homestead' cultivars for leaf scorch resistance and reddish-orange fall color.

E. Leaves — Compound and Alternate

	Black walnut (Juglans nigra) leaves are 1 to 1� feet long and have 13 to 23 leaflets. The terminal leaflet is often missing. Individual leaflets are 2� to 3 inches long and up to 1� inches wide. They are aromatic when crushed. Buds are light brown, woolly, and up to 1/2 inch long. A twig cut lengthwise will show a light tan-colored chambered pith. The fruit is a smooth, round drupe, up to 2 inches in diameter, covered with a thick husk. The seed (nut) is hard, having round topped ridges. The kernel is edible. The tree reaches a height of 30 to 50 feet. Because it has a tap root, it is best to plant the nuts where you want your tree to grow. Not native. Use Northern Plains seed sources.
	Butternut (Juglans cinerea) leaves closely resemble black walnut. Leaves have 11 to 17 leaflets, the margins of these are finely toothed. The pith is dark, chocolate colored and chambered. The hairy, sticky fruit is lemon shaped, up to 3 inches long. The hard nut has sharp ridges. The nut meat is edible. Not native. Use northern seed sources only.
	Honey-locust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis) leaves are delicate and feathery in appearance, having 15 to 90 leaflets. Often the leaves are twice compound, that is, the rachis is branched and the leaflets occur on these branches. Each leaflet is 1/3 to 1� inches long. The fruit is a reddish brown, twisted flat pod 8-10 inches long and about 1 inch wide. Select cultivars 'Skyline' and 'Imperial' for superior form and hardiness. Honey-locust is only borderline in winter hardiness in much of North Dakota.
	Mountain-ash (Sorbus aucuparia) leaves have 9 to 17 leaflets. These leaflets are oblong, rounded at the tip, light to dull green above, paler beneath. Leaflet length 3/4 to 2� inches. Flowers are white in large clusters, fruit is a cluster of bright orange-red pomes each 1/4 inch in diameter. Bark of the trunk is smooth and coppery bronze in color. A small tree growing to a height of 25 feet, it is used extensively as an ornamental in protected areas. Showy mountain-ash (S. decora) is somewhat shorter in stature and planted occasionally. Not native. Sometimes damaged by fireblight.
	Kentucky coffee-tree (Gymnocladus dioica) is a hardy, rugged, coarse-textured tree that is also graceful. The bark is platy, foliage is bipinnate compound, and the fruit a large pod. It is essentially pest free and grows 40 to 50 feet tall. Fall color is pale yellow. Select the cultivar 'Stately Manor,' which is a male selection and is therefore seedless.
	Prairie Gem (Pyrus ussuriensis 'MorDak') is a very hardy ornamental pear with dark green, lustrous, leathery leaves. It is a 25-foot tree with a dense oval form becoming rounded with age. White flowers are attractive in spring.

Deciduous Trees: Leaf Identification

NDSU Extension Service, North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Science, and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Sharon D. Anderson, Director, Fargo, North Dakota. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. We offer our programs and facilities to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, Vietnam era veterans status, or sexual orientation; and are an equal opportunity employer.
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A Guide to Deciduous Tree Knowledge (continued)

D. Leaves — Compound and Opposite

E. Leaves — Compound and Alternate

Deciduous Trees: Leaf Identification