You may want to categorize your tree into one of the following groups, as you begin the identification process. Broadleaf trees have flowers that develop fruit. Their seeds are often inside their fruit. Interestingly enough, the Saguaro cactus is classified as a broadleaf tree because of the characteristics of its fruit. Needleleaf trees form their fruit inside a cone.
Most palms have no branches, only large bunches of leaves at the top.
Some produce dates or coconuts. The cycad looks like a palm, but the seeds are in cones. Tree ferns look like palms, but they have no seeds. The Ginko has leaves like large green fans. When God created plant life on the third day of the creation week, He chose to grace our planet with the beautiful trees we see today.