Even though our April was rather cold and leaf development was a bit delayed, May will provide us with a forest canopy soon fully bedecked with leaves. Trees need a trunk to get them to the sunlight, and in forests there is competition for that crucial sunlight.

Roots offer stability, gather valuable nutrients and, of course, collect water needed for the trees to survive. Of course, leaves are necessary to capture sunlight and make food for the tree. Many “moons” ago I penned a column on identifying trees by their types of bark. Every tree of a species has the same bark to identify it.

An even easier way to identify a tree is by its leaves. Just as bark, each tree species has its own particular leaf. In deciduous trees, those that lose or shed their leaves completely each year, there are two basic leaf types. They are either simple leaves or compound leaves.

Most are familiar with maple trees (there are many types). Maple leaves have a single leaf growing from a pedicel (stem). These are an example of a simple leaf. Other trees such as walnuts or hickories have multiple small leaflets growing from a pedicel.

Simple leaves can be further identified by their leaf edges (margins). Some leaf edges have no indentations and are classified as entire leaves. Many, like a cherry, have fine-toothed edges and are classified as serrate (a serrated knife as a comparison) leaf margins. Some like a white oak have deep indentations on the margins and are known as lobed margins.

Another leaf identification aid is the way the veins course through the leaf. Maple leaves have palmate venation. Consider how your digits are arranged from the palm of your hand as a comparison. Some tree species have their veins running almost parallel, and hence, they are identified as parallel veined leaves. The other familiar venation type is pinnately veined. These leaves have a central vein with smaller veins branching off like the vanes of a bird’s feather.

Compound leaves have two main types. One, like a bird’s feather, have leaflets branching off the main leaf stem, like a sumac, walnut or ash leaf. The other is palmately compound. This compound leaf has a main leaf stem (petiole) with five blades originating from the stem. A hickory tree’s leaf is the best example of a palmately compound leaf. On your summer walks, take note of all the varieties of leaves our forests offer and enjoy.

Test Your Outdoor Knowledge: Last week I quizzed you on 11 warblers. Which one of these following warblers does not breed here in the Times News region? A. parula warbler, B. black and white warbler, C. Cape May warbler, D. Chestnut-sided warbler, E. American redstart.

Last Week’s Trivia Answer: Snowy owls migrate when their prey numbers drop in the Arctic. The short-eared owl and saw-whet owl migrate as well.

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.