Trees with 'alternate' branching
at River Bend Nature Center

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To continue, just click on simple or compound,
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A simple leaf is single leaf blade

A compound leaf is multiple leaflets attached along a stem
Alternate branching with compound leaves
 

Hickory (genus Carya)

Hickories have alternate compound leaves. The leaflets grow larger from top to bottom along the leaf stem (petiole). The bark of the bitternut hickory resembles elephant skin. A few shagbarks can be found as well.

 

Butternut (Juglans cinerea )
Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)

Butternuts and walnuts both have long, compound leaves with 11 or more leaflets. Butternuts are more common in River Bend, but most are infected with a bark fungus and are dying.

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Alternate branching with simple, lobed (fingered) leaves
 

Oak (genus Quercus )

Oaks are generally split into 2 categories:
red oaks (pointed leaves) and white oaks (rounded leaves).

White oak leaves

Red oak leaves
 
Alternate branching with simple unlobed leaves
 

Eastern Cottonwood
(Poplus deltoides)

 

Quaking Aspen
(Populus tremuloides

Birch (genus Betula)

American Basswood
(Tilea americana)

Elm (genus Ulmus)

Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Eastern Hophornbeam
aka Ironwood
(Ostrya virginiana)

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)

Willows (genus Salix)

  
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(c) River Bend Nature Center
Faribault MN USA
www.rbnc.org
rbncinfo@rbnc.org
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