Tree Finder: A Manual for the Identification of Trees by Their Leaves

Nature Study Guides

by May Theilgaard Watts

From the Finders series: Learn to identify trees by their leaves and needles with this key to native and commonly introduced trees of the United States and Canada east of the Rockies.

These pocket-sized Nature Study Guides describe plants and animals in easy-to-understand language. They include drawings, keys, terms, symbols, and glossaries. Each book covers a specific region.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Nature, Science, Field Guides, Biology, Plants

58 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1963

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hardly the definitive guide, but this book is SO HANDY! It has a very good collection of the most common trees & makes it very easy for even a novice to find out the name (both common & Latin) for an unknown, native tree. Some invasives (non-native) included, but again, only the most common ones. I carry one in my truck or in my back pocket most of the time. I identify 95% of the trees I see with this or at least get a good idea of what they are. Then I can use a better reference to figure out the exact one.

There is also Winter Tree Finder: A Manual for Identifying Deciduous Trees in Winter. Just as good & rounds this one out so season doesn't matter as much.

[Nitrorockets · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this in high school for my leaf collection project. I have since purchased this book for my children. I want them to be able to identify trees they ask about on our hikes. It is a wonderful book for all ages.

[MM · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book on the weekend and I LOVE IT!!!! IT'S THE BEST PURCHASE I'VE EVER MADE. sometimes it's hard to identify trees but at least I can narrow down to 2 or 3 types! This is a whole new world!! Trees are amazing SubhanAllah!!!!!!!

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sacrifices number of trees listed for portability.

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

To comply with the parental injunction to be productive or 'get a job' during the summers, I took a lot of summer school courses during high school. One, during the freshman year, was Biology. A textbook-based class, we were also assigned to build a leaf collection. The handy little guide was a great help in that regard.

[Sheryl McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book, so many times I've almost memorized it. It remains in my top 10 list of books that I would recommend to any teacher, parent, or curious person. It's inexpensive, yet very valuable. You can use this guide in North America, or other countries that have some of these plantings. I've given this book away so many times, I think there must be a trail of tree lovers all over the Midwest. You can buy this book for less money than you pay for most greeting cards.

[Jae · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a lil pocketbook with tree diagrams, close-ups of leaves all that. I enjoy carrying field guides around and learning about the diversity of the trees around me; it also helps me continue to plan the revitalization of our backfield.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this little book is an excellent resource for those who are new to tree identification or those who are new to using a dichotomous key. Good resource, could be better... but big points given to field guides that are easily carried.

In some places, things are not arranged logically, although I assume the author had their own version of logic, I was at times confused. You get used to it in a way once you catch those little nuances.

The information on differentiation between species is very minimal, but maybe just enough that it can be used in the field. It's also very lightweight, that's a huge plus when tromping through the forest.

The illustrations are quite minimal. The type font and color scheme are definitely of 1963... I'd love to see a modernized edition.

[Allyson G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good basic tree guide. If you are hoping for something more intensive, bring along a second guide.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

They were from the same series of books I used in the mid 70s. Excellent.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very basic, but it fits in my pocket and thus gets used more than my other guides.

[Dublin Von Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book would have been so useful in my youth. I wonder if one exists for trees on the west coast of the USA. What a great tool!

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is small enough to carry around outside. It's basic but helpful.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had always been my go-to book for tree identification. It's format is sort of a choose-your-own-adventure for tree identification. It's small enough to fit in your pocket and contains drawings rather than photographs.

I first used this book (along with Desert Tree Finder: a pocket manual for identifying desert trees) in a hands-on college course that had us trekking through the southwest on a 3-week camping trip. That class cemented in me a life-long love of trees. It's been a while since I did any tree-finding, but, lately, I've found myself NEEDING to identify trees when I walk by unfamiliar ones here and there. However, in my most recent tree-finding endeavors, I've been more disappointed with this book that I remembered from past use. Common trees are easy to identify with the book, but there are details that are lacking for other identification cases. Is it an ash or a hickory? Is it a buckeye or a chestnut? What type of beech is it? What in the world is the tree with the 5 radiating compound leaves and the purple flowers like a butterfly bush? I have had zero success in identifying trees with this book this week at home, in the park, and while camping. I think having photos rather than drawings would be helpful. It's nice that it fits in your pocket, but I'm ordering the National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America to replace it.

3.5 stars.

[Samrat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think I have the background knowledge to use this book. I'm never confident I've made the correct identification. I find the choices ambiguous and the drawings unhelpful. BUT this comes with a huge caveat: I'm new to the area and so all these plants are unfamiliar. I think that with a second reference book, with pictures, or an experienced friend, I'd find the work helpful.

[Cws]

J5821Wat

[Skinnypeterm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy-to-use and informative, even for a non-tree loving schlock like myself.

[carl theaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can narrow down most trees with this handy little ID guide.
A good gift for your favorite tree lover.

[Elyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used little book in general botany class. I think this book helps a lot to identify tree and is very useful.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiny but incredibly useful, this is a book that anyone unfamiliar with East Coast trees should carry with them whilst out hiking.