Common tree and shrub identification – these are a few of our favourite leaves!

On Monday Dr M attended a continuing professional development training session on trees and shrubs ID for ecology staff given by our resident Arboriculturalist trio Rob, James and Luke: AKA The Arb Boys!

The featured image above shows the Arb Boys and staff displaying their favourite leaves! From back row left to right: Dave with his Foxglove Tree (except Dave seems under the impression it’s actually a Fig leaf!), Rob with the leaf love of his life (see below), Victoria’s Rowan, Jess’s Red Oak, Emily’s Fig Leaf (a real one this time!), and Corin and her Maidenhair Tree, front row left to right: Luke up a Sweet Gum Tree, Rosy’s Beech and James’ English Oak (AKA Sharon)!

This was a lunchtime session and when we arrived, clutching sandwiches in our hot little hands, we found the latin names of more than two dozen genera written on Post-it notes and stuck around the room on the walls and windows.

Three large tables were strewn with leaves and twigs of a lot of trees (and I mean a lot, they had been very busy Arb boys indeed!).

Click the leaf image twice to see how lovely they look!

The leaves and twigs were arranged on the tables in no particular order and it was our job to match the twigs and leaves with the genus names!

There were ID books on hand, including a beautiful volume entitled “The book of leaves” to help us in our task.

When we had done our best, the Arb Boys went through the collection pointing out our successes and our errors and gave is some ID hot tips (Rob told us about his 2 furry foxes and 3 bold indians but that’s another story).

Finally we were all told to choose our favourite leaf and we formed an impromptu leaf chorus!

This is Rob with his favorite leaf, the Tulip tree (they both look very proud!).

Thanks to the Arb Boys for a great session!

Check out the video entitled “These are a few of our favourite leaves!” (which also reveals Dr M’s favourite leaf!).