Louis County and may actually be an introduced occurrence. Pittosporum tobira (Australian Laurel, Japanese Pittosporum) Brachychiton acerifolius (Flame Tree) Euphorbia serpens (Matted Sandmat) Myrtus communis (Myrtle) Plant identification by their leaves. or when attempting to learn more about plant identification. Sycamore is a large tree with a massive trunk, a broad, open, irregular crown, and large, crooked, spreading, white branches.

tripetala), which has been recorded from only a single location in St. If you know the type of plant you are attempting to identify, find the category (Trees and Shrubs, Flowering and Nonwoody, or Aquatic) in the tabs below Plant Identification.

Our only other 'native' magnolia is umbrella magnolia ( M. In Missouri trees, we find opposite, alternate, and in a few cases, whorled arrangements. Leaves: The arrangement of leaves on the stem is one of the most basic differentiating characteristics. Similar species: Several species of magnolias are cultivated in Missouri. For trees, we identify characteristics of their leaves, flowers, fruit, twigs, and bark. Twigs are stout, red to brown, hairy and shiny at first, brown to gray and smooth later pores small, numerous bud at tip about ½ inch long, densely hairy.įlowers April–May, at the tip of the twig, solitary, slightly fragrant, cup-shaped, upright, smooth, with 6 petals petals greenish yellow, 2–3 inches long, broadest near the tip stamens numerous flower stalk ¾–1½ inches long.įruits August–October fruit a cucumber-shaped cone composed of a tightly packed cluster of dried fruits, red to brown, 2–3 inches long, often curved, smooth seeds red, each hanging by a thread after fruit splits open, globe-shaped, flattened. Leaves are alternate, simple, scattered along the stem, 5–10 inches long, 2½–6 inches wide margin lacking teeth, wavy upper surface yellow-green, lower surface paler, somewhat hairy.īark is dark brown to gray, with thin, long grooves separated by narrow, scaly ridges. Cucumber magnolia is a medium-sized tree with rather slender branches and a dense, pyramidal crown.

Missouri tree leaf identification guide