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?
Yellow Birch
Butternut
American Chestnut
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 bears this leaf and has the scientific name Pinus strobus?
White Spruce
White Ash
White Oak
Eastern White Pine
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?
Eastern Redcedar
Eastern White Pine
Eastern Hemlock
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?
American Larch
American Elm
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.
"Lyall Larch" is another name for the type of larch tree that produces this leaf.
American Larch
Japanese Larch
Alaska Larch
Alpine Larch
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.
The pine tree that produces this leaf is also called "Arizona Longleaf Pine."
Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine
Loblolly Pine
Apache 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?
Fraser Fir
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?
Sweetgum
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 sprouts this leaf and is native to Yugoslavia and northern Italy?
Norway Spruce
Austrian Pine
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"?
Bigtooth Aspen
Big Laurel
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.
This leaf belongs to which tree that has a bark covered with wart-like bumps?
Winterberry
Sugarberry
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?
Yellow Chestnut Oak
Sweet Chestnut
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."
American Basswood
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.
The flat stem of the leaf from which tree is turned at a right angle?
Trembling Aspen
Largetooth Aspen
Bigtooth Aspen
Quaking Aspen
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 leaves of which tree are greener than the other choices?
Monterey Cypress
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.
Which walnut tree is also called a "Texas Walnut"?
White Walnut
Arizona Walnut
Little 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.
This leaf belongs to which signature tree of the southern United States?
Northern Scrub Pine
Eastern Larch
Sweetbay Magnolia
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.