About This Quiz
Trees are so important, yet we often take them for granted. Without them, we wouldn't be able to breathe ... seriously. Trees and plants produce the planet's supply of oxygen through a vital process called photosynthesis, just in case you didn't know. There are numerous types of trees in the world, not just big ones and little ones. Even among the same tree families, there are abundant appreciable differences. Tree leaf characteristics are as distinctive as fingerprints or snowflakes to the trained eye. For those of you who know the difference between a petiole and a stipule, or a simple leaf and a compound leaf, consider this quiz a refresher.
You needn't be a trained botanist to appreciate the subtle attributes of tree leaves. Here is a quiz that tests everyone's knowledge of trees and the leaves they ultimately shed. Brush up on tree names, learn about native locations and ideal planting conditions. Did you know that certain trees produce toxins that can harm animals and humans? This quiz will also provide hints about Christmas trees with the sturdiest branches for your kid's massive homemade ornaments and the best aromatic leaves that you can grind and infuse into a love potion.
Up until the turn of the century, the American Chestnut tree dominated landscapes of the Eastern United States. The leaves of the American Chestnut tree are typically canoe-shaped.
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The veins of the Sycamore leaf sprout from a single point. Native Americans relied heavily on the Sycamore tree, especially for medicinal purposes.
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The Northern Red Oak, or Quercus rubra, grows as tall as 90 feet in open spaces. Its grown branches form a shapely rounded crown.
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The largest Black Ash tree in North Dakota grows as tall as 66 feet. It requires ample water, and can flourish in partial or full sunlight.
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The Eastern White Pine tree can grow as high as 150 feet tall. This popular conifer reigns as one of the biggest trees of its type in the Midwest forest region.
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The signature flat green needles of the Eastern Hemlock tree are glossy on the top and dull on the bottom. The bark of the Eastern Hemlock contains tannins which are used to produce leather.
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Before the virulent spread of Dutch elm disease, the American Elm tree was once the most common tree in America. This tree starts to bear seeds after 15 years.
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The bark of the Red Spruce tree is reddish brown. The Red Spruce grows single needles compared to pine trees, which produce needles in clusters.
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The Crack Willow's oblong-shaped leaves are finely toothed with pointy ends. Crack Willow trees that grow near rivers help to control soil erosion.
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Crab apple trees produce the sweet and spicy fruit used to make jellies, apple cider and preserves. Over 30 species of crab apple exist.
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There are many horticultural varieties of the European Yew. Japanese Yew, Irish Yew and Evergreen Yew are among the most popular.
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Larch trees tend to flourish in cool temperatures. There are only 10 species of larch trees that exist, mostly in cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
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The wood of the elm tree is water resistant and quite durable. It is commonly used to make boats, furniture and coffins.
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The Turkey Oak tree grows up to about 30 feet tall. Its reddish-gray dense bark is often used for fuel.
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The Apache Pine tree is located within a limited area, within the southwest region of the United States and some parts of Mexico. Arizona and New Mexico are the U.S. states where the tree primarily grows.
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The blue-green needles of the Fraser Fir tree are firm and don't shed easily. The tree's resilient needles and stiff branches make it an excellent Christmas tree selection.
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The Sweetgum tree grows to a modest range of 80 to 120 feet in height, and it grows fast. The tree produces flower and fruit at the ripe age of 2025 years.
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The Batai tree is native to Southeast Asia. It is a fast-growing tree that flourishes in wet forests.
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The Austrian Pine tree is also native to Austria. Although it has European roots, the tree is extensively planted in midwestern and eastern North America.
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Although its often referred to as Big Laurel, the tree grows to 40 to 80 feet in height, which is modest compared to popular big trees. Its elliptical-shaped green leaves are smooth and leathery.
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The Black Poplar tree is native to the United Kingdom. Its soft-textured wood is often used to manufacture toys and artificial limbs.
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The branches of the fragrant Balsam Poplar tree are weak. The tree is native to Northern North America.
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The Common Hawthorn tree grows as a small tree or a shrub. It produces small fruits and leaves with serrated edges.
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Mexican Juniper trees exist mainly in parts of Mexico and Guatemala. The tree's leaves secrete an oil that is highly flammable.
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In the autumn, the Sugarberry tree produces berries that secrete a sweet viscous substance. The tree's wood is used to produce plywood and athletic equipment.
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The oblong-shaped leaf of the Sweet Chestnut tree boasts parallel veins and a pointed tip. The tree also produces seeds enclosed in prickly green cases.
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The American Basswood tree is native to the Midwestern United States and New England. The tree has weak, odorless wood that's ideal for packaging food. Native Americans used thin strips of the wood as bandages.
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The Shagbark Hickory tree yields alternate leaves on twigs. On each leaf grows five to seven leaflets that can reach eight to 16 inches long.
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The peculiar right-angle shape of the Quaking Aspen tree leaf stem allows the tree's leaves to vibrate or quake in the wind. Quaking Aspen's leaves shake like butterfly wings even with the slightest breeze.
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The European Beech tree's leaves have signature wavy margins with five to nine pairs of veins. The leaves are dark-green and glossy with a red tint.
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The Southern Blue Gum tree usually grows as tall as 180 feet high. However, there is a Southern Blue Gum tree in Tasmania that reaches 297 feet!
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The Holm Oak tree is also called the Holly Oak tree. It typically grows 30 to 60 feet in both height and width.
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All parts of the California Laurel tree contain a camphor-like oil, especially the leaves. The volatile oil is an irritant and an insecticide.
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The scaly leaves of the Monterey Cypress tree are a medium evergreen color that does not change. The typical lifespan for the Monterey Cypress tree ranges from 40 to 150 years.
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Certain cultivars of the European Ash tree turn yellow before they fall in autumn. This tree produces green flowers in the spring.
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The False Hemlock tree is really a Douglas Fir tree, which is not a true fir. The Douglas Fir tree is the official tree of Oregon state.
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The Little Walnut tree is found in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and Northern Mexico. You will likely find the Little Walnut tree growing near dry, rocky valleys and along hillsides.
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The oval-shaped leaf of the Texas Madrone tree is green on the top and light green on the bottom. The leaf's edges are smooth.
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The Water Elm tree is more popularly known as "American Elm." The elm's leaves are oblong-shaped and sprout four to six inches long.
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The Magnolia tree is hugely popular in the southern United States. The Sweetbay Magnolia tree produces an impressive cascade of small creamy-white, lemon-scented flowers that emerge from June through September.
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