 This key can help you identify 69 of the most common native trees found in Alabama. Keys such as this one, which is based on a series of choices between two statements, are called dichotomous keys. This key was designed for use during the growing season. Therefore, leaf characteristics are the primary features used for identification. So let's go out to the truck and see what samples we've collected from around the house. The first thing we're going to talk about is leaf tops. The first thing we're going to talk about is the simple leaf. One simple leaf is what it is. Then you've got your compound leaf. This whole thing right here is the leaf. This, these little leaflets make up the entire leaf. Then you've got your twice poundly compound leaf. This whole thing is the leaf. These are the leaflets. They all make up the single leaf. One more we can talk about this in the, we don't have a bug eye, but you see the pomately compound leaf. It all starts from one point there. Your leaflets coming out. That's the one more leaf type you might have in your yard. Now we're going to show you a leaf arrangement. You have alternate and opposite. Tell them what alternate is there. This is an example of an alternate leaf. They're not on the same side of the leaf. They're not quite the opposite of each other. They're alternate. Then you have opposite leaves. They're right across from each other, across the stem. Now we're going to talk about some of the leaf shapes. We have a heart shaped right here in front of us. Heart shaped. Linear shaped, which would be a willow oak. That is a linear shape, kind of a long slender leaf. Spatula shaped, which is a water oak. See how it's kind of spatula shaped. Then you have bell shaped, which would be your southern red oak. That is your bell shaped right there. It's serrated on the edges, you see that? We have needle-like leaf shapes. They're like your pine tree here. And a star shape. That is a, there you see the sweet gump. Now we're going to talk about leaf edges. Drew, tell us what you've got here. The first one we have right here is smooth. There's no mortgages on the edge of the leaf right there. The second one we have is double serrated. There's a double saw blade right there inside the leaf. The next one is just a single serrated leaf like that. And then we have lobed. It's common in most oak trees. The leaf shape there is a lobed. This is a wide oak. You can see the lobed right there. And then we have unload, which would be like a black cherry like this right here. Also what you can do is you can write in your journal. They talk about it every week about all the benefits we get from trees. And how trees and animals, you know, it's kind of a symbiotic relationship. What do the trees get from having birds and squirrels around? And what do the birds and squirrels get from the trees? But find out what your trees are in your backyard and have fun doing it.