Dichotomous key tree worksheet Interactive Worksheet - Edform - Free Printable

Let me solve this step by step using the dichotomous key.

First, I need to identify each leaf (A–E) by following the key.

Leaf A:
- Step 1: Is it oval shaped? Yes → go to step 2
- Step 2: Is it shorter and narrow? Yes → Hickory
So A = Hickory

Leaf B:
- Step 1: Is it oval shaped? No (it’s more pointed/elliptical) → go to step 3
- Step 3: Does it have smooth edges? Yes → Sweetgum
So B = Sweetgum

Leaf C:
- Step 1: Is it oval shaped? No (it’s star-shaped with lobes) → go to step 3
- Step 3: Does it have jagged edges? Yes → Sugar Maple
So C = Sugar Maple

Leaf D:
- Step 1: Is it oval shaped? No (it’s elongated, not oval) → go to step 3
- Step 3: Does it have smooth edges? Yes → Sweetgum
Wait — but B is already Sweetgum. Let me double-check leaf D.
Looking again: Leaf D is long and narrow with smooth edges — yes, matches Sweetgum?
But hold on — let’s check step 4 options too. The key only branches at step 3: smooth → Sweetgum, jagged → Sugar Maple.
However, leaf D looks like a birch leaf: narrow, smooth-edged, with fine teeth? Actually, in many botanical keys, birch has *finely serrated* (jagged) edges — but this drawing shows very subtle teeth. Let me re-express the key clearly:

Key says:
- STEP 3:
3A: smooth edges → Sweetgum
3B: jagged edges → Sugar Maple

But then STEP 4 has:
- 4A: 4 veins on each side → Birch
- 4B: 5 veins on each side → Beech

Ah! I missed something: Steps 1 and 2 lead to Hickory. Steps 1→3 only apply if *not* oval. But after step 3, do we stop? Or do we go to step 4 only for certain leaves?

Wait — the structure implies that step 4 is only reached if you went through step 3B (jagged edges)? No, the table layout suggests step 4 is a separate branch — but actually, looking carefully, the key is hierarchical:

- Step 1 splits into 1A (oval → step 2) or 1B (star-shaped → step 3)
- Step 2 splits into 2A (shorter & narrow → Hickory) or 2B (Hickory?) — wait, both 2A and 2B say “Hickory”? That can’t be right.

Hold on — let me zoom in on the key table to read accurately.