Can You Match the Leaf to the Tree?

Tasha Moore

Image: Pixabay / StockSnap

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.

During the Christmas holiday, you will usually find plenty of which tree's edible nuts roasting on an open fire?

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.

Which tree that bears this leaf also goes by the name "Buttonwood"?

The veins of the Sycamore leaf sprout from a single point. Native Americans relied heavily on the Sycamore tree, especially for medicinal purposes.

Which tree is associated with this leaf and is a symbol for the state of New Jersey?

The Northern Red Oak, or Quercus rubra, grows as tall as 90 feet in open spaces. Its grown branches form a shapely rounded crown.

What type of tree grows this leaf? The largest of its kind grows in North Dakota.

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.

Which tree bears this leaf and has the scientific name Pinus strobus?

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.

This leaf is associated with which tree that has flat needles and yields some of the smallest cones of its classification?

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.

Which tree produces leaves that are oval-shaped with saw-toothed edges?

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.

Which "red" tree grows needles, one per node?

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.

These leaves grow from which tree, named for the sound its branches often make when they fall to the ground?

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.

This leaf is grown from which tree that has these three subspecies: American Sweet, Narrowleaf and Prairie?

Crab apple trees produce the sweet and spicy fruit used to make jellies, apple cider and preserves. Over 30 species of crab apple exist.

Which tree produces this leaf and contains alkaloids that are poisonous to humans?

There are many horticultural varieties of the European Yew. Japanese Yew, Irish Yew and Evergreen Yew are among the most popular.

"Lyall Larch" is another name for the type of larch tree that produces this leaf.

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.

"Field Elm" is another name for which tree that produces this leaf?

The wood of the elm tree is water resistant and quite durable. It is commonly used to make boats, furniture and coffins.

The leaf of this tree is said to resemble a turkey's foot.

The Turkey Oak tree grows up to about 30 feet tall. Its reddish-gray dense bark is often used for fuel.

The pine tree that produces this leaf is also called "Arizona Longleaf Pine."

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.

The needles of which fir tree have silvery bottoms?

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.

Which tree blooms this beautiful leaf and doesn't grow as tall as the other gum trees listed here?

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.

Which tree bears this leaf and is also known as "Moluccan sau"?

The Batai tree is native to Southeast Asia. It is a fast-growing tree that flourishes in wet forests.

Which tree sprouts this leaf and is native to Yugoslavia and northern Italy?

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.

This leaf of which "big" tree is also called "Bull-bay"?

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.

What is the name of the "black" tree that grows heart-shaped leaves?

The Black Poplar tree is native to the United Kingdom. Its soft-textured wood is often used to manufacture toys and artificial limbs.

Which of these poplar trees sprouts this leaf and is also called "Balm-of-Gilead"?

The branches of the fragrant Balsam Poplar tree are weak. The tree is native to Northern North America.

This leaf belongs to which tree that has thorns on its branches?

The Common Hawthorn tree grows as a small tree or a shrub. It produces small fruits and leaves with serrated edges.

Which juniper tree produces this leaf and is also called "Drooping Cedar" or "Weeping Juniper"?

Mexican Juniper trees exist mainly in parts of Mexico and Guatemala. The tree's leaves secrete an oil that is highly flammable.

This leaf belongs to which tree that has a bark covered with wart-like bumps?

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.

Which chestnut tree has this leaf and can live up to 700 years?

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.

The tree that produces this leaf is also called "American Linden."

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.

Of all the choices, which tree's leaves or leaflets grow the longest?

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.

The flat stem of the leaf from which tree is turned at a right angle?

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.

The tree that bears this leaf is the only beech tree of these choices that is native to Europe.

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.

This leaf belongs to which tree native to Australia?

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!

Which tree produces this leaf and is native to the Western Mediterranean region?

The Holm Oak tree is also called the Holly Oak tree. It typically grows 30 to 60 feet in both height and width.

The leaves of which California tree produce an oil that may be harmful to humans?

All parts of the California Laurel tree contain a camphor-like oil, especially the leaves. The volatile oil is an irritant and an insecticide.

The leaves of which tree are greener than the other choices?

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.

The leaves of which tree remain green in autumn before they fall?

Certain cultivars of the European Ash tree turn yellow before they fall in autumn. This tree produces green flowers in the spring.

Which hemlock tree is actually a Douglas Fir tree?

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.

Which walnut tree is also called a "Texas Walnut"?

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.

Which tree grows leathery evergreen leaves?

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.

Which tree bears this leaf and is known as "p'e'can" among the Lakota people?

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.

This leaf belongs to which signature tree of the southern United States?

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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