A number of common trees can be readily identified by their bark alone, including sycamore, birch, and shagbark hickory trees. Looking at Leaves. In examining leaves it is interesting and important to note the variety of ways in which they can differ. Some ways, like size, are obvious. Others can only be detected by careful observation.
Leaves can be smooth or hairy, shiny or dull.
They can have pointed lobes or rounded lobes. The number of lobes can vary. They may have a sawtooth edge or a smooth edge. They may have one central vein with other veins leading off it. They may have several main veins which radiate from a single point at the base of the leaf.