Comments on: Help me find a Q/A-based tree identification guide.

Question: Help me find a Q/A-based tree identification guide.

Pastabagel — Thu, 10 May 2007 08:52:19 -0800

Please help me find a PDF or other free printable document that I can take with me to identify trees using a YES/NO question and answer format.

As a child, I recall receiving an nth generation photocopy of a 4-5 page guide for identifying deciduous and coniferous trees. What made this guide unique was that it walked you through a series of questions you could answer by looking at the tree, branches, and leaves. (Also, what do you call this identification method, a knowledge tree?)

It used the same approach used here (About.com) and here (Arbor Day Foundation), but those aren't presented in a way that can be printed. I also need it for this weekend, so the $3.00 ones the Arbor Day foundation sells won't get here in time.

I would guess that there is a PDF of something similar somewhere, but web searches yield nothing but sites like those linked here.

Any ideas?

By: Loto

Loto — Thu, 10 May 2007 08:58:34 -0800

I can't help much with the actual guide, but the kind of document you are describing is similar to a flowchart, so maybe that could narrow down your search parameters.

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Thu, 10 May 2007 08:59:45 -0800

Not time to find it for you, but I suggest searching for "tree dichotomous key pdf" or similar. Good luck!

By: ObscureReferenceMan

ObscureReferenceMan — Thu, 10 May 2007 09:04:21 -0800

Not quite what you're looking for, but maybe if you had web access on your phone/PDA you could use it...
http://www.inspire.net/trees/

By: caddis

caddis — Thu, 10 May 2007 09:08:12 -0800

Really, just take along a Peterson guide. It's not free, unless you borrow it from the library, but it's packed with info and easy to carry.

By: Pastabagel

Pastabagel — Thu, 10 May 2007 09:16:21 -0800

Holy internets, it's called a 'dichotomous key'! You learn something new every day. I still haven't found a pdf one yet, but this search is definitely better - just goes to show you how important knowing the proper terms can be.

Caddis, I have the peterson guide, but the purpose of this is for young kids to be able to use it as well as me, and to develop their observational skills.

By: oneirodynia

oneirodynia — Thu, 10 May 2007 10:06:00 -0800

Try this:

http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/leaf/Adobe/key.pdf