![]() ![]() ![]() Lime leaves are heart shaped and delicate. It is known for its sweet smelling white-yellow flowers, that hang in clusters of two to five and that develop into round, oval fruits with pointed tips. How to identify: Common lime is a tall, broadleaf tree with dark green heart-shaped leaves which are are mostly hairless, except for cream or white hairs on the underside of the leaf between the joints of the veins. Although rare in the wild, it is commonly found in parks and along residential streets. Where to find: The sweet smelling lime is native to much of Europe. Common Lime ( Tilia x europaea) Lime tree by louis.quinzexv via Flickr The fungus appears as black blotches on the leaves and affected trees usually die within a couple of years. Look out for: Sadly, ash is also identified by a serious disease called ash dieback (or chalara) that is a substantial threat to the species. ![]() Ash leaves showing a small black bud at the base. The buds are a sooty black with upturned grey shoots. Leaves are pinnately compound, usually comprising three to six opposite pairs of light green, oval leaflets. ![]() The bark is pale brown and fissures as the tree ages. How to identify: Ash grows up to a height of 30–40m. Where to find: Ash is a common, widespread tree often found among British hedgerows and in many mixed deciduous woods in the UK. Ash ( Fraxinus excelsior) Ash tree by David Radcliffe via Flickr Their acorns grow in clusters that are attached directly to the outer twigs. Sessile oak leaves have a shorter stem and do not have lobes near the stem. Acorns grow singly at the end of a long stem. Pedunculate oak leaves have quite a short stem and more pronounced lobes at the bottom of the leaf. Look out for: If you aren’t sure whether you’re looking at a pedunculate oak or a sessile oak, there are a couple of things you can check for. Pedunculate oak leaves have smooth-lobed edges and acorns grow singly at the end of long stems. Acorns hang from the tree on long stalks. Leaves have familiar deep-lobed margins with smooth edges. It has grey bark when young which becomes darker brown and develops long vertical fissures as it ages. How to identify: The pedunculate oak is a large deciduous tree growing up to 40m tall. (Not to be confused with the sessile oak which is our other native species of oak – see below for tips on distinguishing between the two). It can be found across the country in both urban and rural areas. Where to find: Also known as common or English oak, t his ancient tree is one of Britain’s most iconic species, standing tall for hundreds of years. Pedunculate oak ( Quercus robur) Oak by Gedomaru via Flickr Ten common British trees and how to identify them: 1. It can be a bit more tricky if you’re looking in winter when the tree is bare, but there are several good books that will help you out (take a look at our recommended reading list at the bottom of this post for our top suggestions). By looking at the size and shape of the leaves/needles, the structure of the bark, and any other features present such as seeds, berries or flowers, you have a great chance of working out what the species is. The best time to identify a tree is when it is in leaf. In this blog we will focus on ten of our most common native trees and provide you with the key characteristics you need to look out for – soon you’ll be confident in recognising oak from elder and silver birch from ash. In the UK there are more than 60 native tree species, each with its own distinctive features that can help with identification. As such, trees are invaluable both to our environment and for human well-being. As well as providing homes and food for a wide range of wildlife, they also provide us with oxygen and clean air, and they help to conserve water and stabilise the surrounding soil. Trees are a vital part of our ecosystems and essential to all life. ![]()
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