This mini guide will help you identify particular trees by the shape of their leaves. All the leaves discussed are found on the North American continent. Remember, these are all deciduous trees, which means that their leaves change color and fall off in the winter. Even though the leaves are green, they'll be different colors in the fall. The tiny green maps of North America near each leaf tell you where you can find the particular trees. To learn more about leaf shapes and types, check out the Types of Leaves page.

Let's begin by taking a look at two particular leaves from the Silver Maple, Acer saccharinum, and the Red Maple, Acer rubrum. The top leaf is from the Silver Maple which is found usually near the banks of ponds and lakes. It tolerates moderate shading from other trees around it. The Red Maple is found on the prairie edge and northeast part of the U.S. and Canada. The leaf surface is smooth and the teeth of the blade are irregular sizes.