Leaves broad and flat, never needle-like or scale-like, simple,
alternate, neither toothed nor lobed.
1. Most or all of the leaves more than six inches long.
2. Leaves long-tapering to the base; winter buds elongated, about ⅛
inch long, covered with reddish-brown hairs _Asimina triloba_
2. Leaves rounded or only short-tapering to the base; winter buds
either ½ inch long and white-hairy, or rounded and yellow.
3. Leafstalks usually more than 1½ inches long, hairy; buds nearly
round, yellow _Nyssa aquatica_
3. Leafstalks usually less than 1½ inches long, smooth; buds
elongated, white-hairy _Magnolia acuminata_
1. Most or all of the leaves less than six inches long.
4. Leafstalks with milky sap; twigs usually bearing small spines
near the point of the leaf attachment _Maclura pomifera_
4. Leafstalks without milky sap; twigs not spiny.
5. Leaves spicy-aromatic when crushed, twigs green
_Sassafras albidum_
5. Leaves not spicy-aromatic when crushed; twigs usually not
green.
6. Leaves distinctly asymmetrical at base, usually obviously
3-nerved from the base.
7. Leaves usually at least twice longer than broad, rounded at
the base _Celtis laevigata_
7. Leaves usually less than twice longer than broad, more or
less heart-shaped at the base _Celtis tenuifolia_
6. Leaves symmetrical at the base, with a single main vein.
8. Leaves heart-shaped at the base, about as broad as long
_Cercis canadensis_
8. Leaves rounded or tapering to the base, longer than broad.
9. Many of the leaves clustered near the tips of the twigs.
10. Leaves abruptly short-pointed at the tip
_Nyssa sylvatica_
10. Leaves tapering to the tip.
11. Veins of leaf deeply impressed, strongly arching
toward the tip of the leaf; fruit a berry
_Cornus alternifolia_
11. Veins of leaf not deeply impressed nor strongly
arching toward the tip of the leaf; fruit an acorn.
12. Lower surface of leaves hairy; leafstalk usually
hairy; leaves usually one inch wide or wider
_Quercus imbricaria_
12. Lower surface of leaves smooth except for the
veins; leafstalk usually smooth; leaves usually
less than one inch wide _Quercus phellos_
9. Leaves not clustered near the tips of the twigs.
13. Leaves usually with 10 or more pairs of veins;
leafstalks often 1½ inches long or longer
_Nyssa aquatica_
13. Leaves usually with 6-8 pairs of veins; leafstalks
rarely as long as 1½ inches.
14. Leaves abruptly contracted to a short point at the
tip.
15. Leaves usually about twice as long as broad; fruit
an orange berry about 1 inch in diameter
_Diospyros virginiana_
15. Leaves usually less than twice as long as broad;
fruit a blue berry up to ½ inch in diameter
_Nyssa sylvatica_
14. Leaves gradually tapering to the tip
_Rhamnus caroliniana_