Key to Wisconsin Conifers


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1. Leaves in clusters of 2 - many

2. Leaves in clusters of 2-5

Pinus (pine)

2. Leaves usually in clusters of 10 or more on short lateral shoots, or scattered singly along young shoots

Larix (larch, tamarack)

1. Leaves solitary, not clustered

3. Leaves opposite, scalelike or needlelike

4. Branchlets flattened; leaves all scalelike; cones woody and dehiscent

Thuja (arborvitae, white cedar)

4. Branchlets essentially rounded; leaves can be of two kinds - scalelike or needleshaped; cones berrylike, bluish

Juniperus (juniper, red cedar)

3. Leaves alternate or in a tight spiral, mostly needlelike

5. Leaves 4-sided, relatively rigid and not flexible

Picea (spruce)

5. Leaves flattened and 2-sided, soft and flexible

6. Leaves not conspicuously decurrent [leaf base not attached for length up stem]

7. Leaves of two types, spreading lateral leaves and small appressed leaves; twigs minutely pubescent

Tsuga (hemlock)

7. Leaves all of one type; twigs glabrous

Abies (fir)

6. Leaves conspicuously decurrent [leaf base attached for some length up stem giving green appearance to stem]

Taxus (yew)

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