>>1429891Here's a tip: if you have a lot of trees in the same genus, look at leaf scars, buds, the petiole and also try smelling a twig after you scratch a small amount of bark away.
Leaf scars work great for White vs Green Ash and different Walnut trees. Cherry trees well always have glands on the petiole. Buds work well for almost all trees. Smelling a twig can be a sure way to ID Silver Maple and Yellow Birch. These are just a few examples. The first instinct is to use bark and leaves, which can be quick and easy. Some of these other traits will be useful for getting the trickier ones and also ID when there aren't any leaves.
