petraea
Similar to Pedunculate Oak but more slender; greyish to pale purplish and often rather knobbly; buds buffish brown, ovoid and rather scaly.
BEECH Fagus sylvatica
Slender and greyish brown, zigzagging at nodes; buds extremely slender and pointed, and orange-brown.
COMMON ALDER Alnus glutinosa
Curved and yellowish grey, hairless with pale lenticels; buds purplish brown, mealy, ovoid and stalked, the result looking rather club-like.
GARDEN AND PARK TREES THAT ARE SOMETIMES NATURALISED
ALTERNATE BUDS
CULTIVATED APPLE Malus domestica
Greyish, slightly hairy and often rather knobbly, irregular and gnarled-looking; buds pointed, with greyish woolly hairs.
COMMON PEAR Pyrus communis
Rather straight and shiny reddish brown; usually spineless (Wild Pear similar but spiny). Buds tiny, brown and pointed.
PLUM Prunus domestica ssp. domestica
Rather straight and reddish purple, downy at first but soon smooth; buds small, ovoid and clustered.
CHERRY PLUM Prunus cerasifera
Rather straight, greenish and hairless; buds tiny, ovoid and clustered.
LONDON PLANE Platanus × hispanica
Greenish and usually slightly curved; buds alternate, conical, smooth and green, tinged reddish.
COMPARING LEAVES OF COMMON TREES AND SHRUBS
Although somewhat variable, leaves are probably the most useful features for identifying a tree. Regardless of age or growing position, the leaves of most species have a set of characteristics unique enough to allow separation from even closely related trees. The following leaves from common native and widely naturalised trees and shrubs will allow naturalists to put a name to most species found growing in their local hedgerows and woodlands.
SIMPLE LEAVES, WITH ENTIRE (OR MINUTELY TOOTHED) MARGINS
| BEECH Fagus sylvaticaOval and pointed, to 10cm long, with a wavy margin and a fringe of silky hairs when freshly open. Fresh green when newly emerged, dark green in summer, orange-brown in autumn. |
| ALDER BUCKTHORN Frangula alnusBroadly oval, to 7cm long, with up to 9 pairs of veins, curving towards the margin. Glossy green above and paler below, turning lemon-yellow in autumn, or redder if exposed to bright sunlight. |
| ALDER Alnus glutinosaStalked and noticeably rounded, to 10cm long, usually with a notched apex and a wavy margin; 5–8 pairs of veins with long hairs in axils on underside of leaf. |
| DOGWOOD Cornus sanguineaOval and pointed, with 3–4 pairs of prominent veins. If a leaf is snapped and the 2 halves are gently pulled apart, stringy latex appears where veins were broken and connects 2 halves of leaf. Leaves become a rich, deep red in autumn. |
| WILD PRIVET Ligustrum vulgareShiny, oval and opposite, up to 6cm long. Semi-deciduous. |
| COMMON PEAR Pyrus communisOval to elliptical, to 8cm long; margins with minute teeth, and leaves smooth and almost glossy when mature. |
SIMPLE LEAVES, WITH TOOTHED MARGINS
| BLACKTHORN Prunus spinosaOval and pointed at tip, to 4.5cm long, petiole 1cm long; upper surface smooth and dull green, lower surface downy along the prominent veins. |
| BUCKTHORN Rhamnus catharticaOvate or nearly rounded with a short pointed tip, to 6cm long and 4cm wide, finely toothed around margin, glossy green above and pale below. Conspicuous veins on upper surface converging towards tip of leaf. In autumn leaves turn yellow. |
| SPINDLE Euonymus europaeusOvate, to 10cm long, with a pointed tip and sharply toothed margins. A rich shade of purple-orange in autumn. |
| WILD CRAB Malus sylvestrisOvate to obovate, up to 11cm long, smooth above and below when fully open. |
| CULTIVATED APPLE Malus domesticaElliptical and rounded at the base with a slightly pointed tip, to 13cm long; slightly downy above and normally very downy below. |
| WILD CHERRY Prunus aviumOvate with a long pointed apex and forward-pointing irregular teeth on margins; upper surface smooth and dull, lower surface downy on veins. Petiole 2–5cm long, with 2 glands near leaf junction. |
| BIRD CHERRY Prunus padusElliptical to elongate, to 10cm long, finely toothed on margins and tapering at tip; tough, dark green above and slightly blue-green below. |
| CHERRY PLUM Prunus cerasiferaOvate, tapering at base and tip, to 7cm long; margins with numerous rounded teeth and underside with downy veins. Petiole 1cm long, pinkish, grooved. |
| CHERRY PLUM Prunus cerasifera var. atropurpureaIdentical to ordinary form of Cherry Plum except that leaves are maroon from spring onwards. |
| PLUM Prunus domestica ssp. domesticaOvate, up to 8cm long, with toothed margins, a smooth green upper surface and a downy lower surface. |
| SILVER
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