Read this article on shrub identification of leaf, and get the different types of leaf anatomy for various shrubs. Take a look, and enrich your knowledge.

Avid gardeners have an indepth knowledge about the flowering bushes, shrubs, and trees. They can easily differentiate between the species by observing the anatomy. A bookish knowledge on plant physiology is not the sole way to understand the different types of plant species. You can also master the art through experience in gardening, and by developing a keen interest towards the different categories of trees, shrubs, and bushes. Thus, you can select varieties for the landscape in your house, and ornament your garden with beautiful plants.

The theory of classification of the plant kingdom has divided shrubs and trees separately. Shrubs, being much shorter than trees, are also known as bushes. Their height ranges from 15-20 ft, having multiple stems with bushy appearance. The height depends on growing conditions, and those lower than 5 meters are also known as subshrubs. They develop dense, leafy foliage clipped as topiary, and their branches and stems tend to grow very close to each other. Different types of shrubs can be classified on the basis of the leaves, stems, fruits, barks, and branches. A few respond well when pruned regularly. The foliage density ranges from mild to dense.

Shrub leaf identification

This is simple if you are acquainted with the basic anatomy of leaves. The factors that help are:

• Shape
• Texture and color
• Bases and tops
• Margins
• Arrangement of the leaves

Leaves are of different shapes. They can be narrow and long, while others can be palmate-shaped, or like an open hand. Japanese maple has palmate-shaped leaves, while willow trees have long, narrow ones. The different shapes for the apex of leaves are:

• acuminate
• acute
• emarginate
• bristle
• obtuse
• mucronate
• truncate

However, before understanding the anatomy of leaves you should have a sound knowledge about the different types of shrubs and bushes. Leaf margins are classified as:

• crenate
• dentate
• entire
• serrulate
• lobed
• undulated
• spined
• serrate
• doubly serrate

Identification is also carried out by the shape of the leaf base. Leaf bases can be:

• obtuse
• cordate
• rounded
• cuneate
• unequal
• truncate

You also have to observe the attachment point of the stem with the base to figure out the actual shape of the leaf base. The edges of the leaves could be smooth or bumpy. Understanding the arrangement of the leaves is also an important aspect for identifying shrubs. The common types of leaf arrangements are:

• alternate
• opposite
• spiral
• whorled

Most importantly, you must possess the ability to distinguish the types on the basis of leaf shape. Shapes vary from lanceolate to obcordate, oblanceolate, tulip, ovate, and obovate. Leaf type is also one of the anatomical features that help in identification of shrubs, and they are of the following types:

• Needled
• palmate
• pinnate
• scaled
• double pinnate
• simple

The table below shall teach you how to recognize the most common types of shrubs that people usually plant in their garden.

Common Types of Shrubs and Their Identification

*You can click on the image to enlarge and preview them better.
Examples of Shrubs Anatomy of Leaves Leaf Sample Image Scots Pine, European Larch Long, thin, paired, clusters Dog Rose, Elder, Rowen, Ash Separate leaflets, compound leaves Sycamore, Field Maple, Hawthorn,
London Plane, Guelder Rose, Ivy Hand-shaped, lobed Lombardy, Poplar, Silver Birch Triangular, oval Alder Oval, blunt tip Holly Rigid spines, oval Yew Flat, long, spread out Hazel, Goat Willow, Aspen, Wayfaring Tree Rounded, oval Common Lime Heart-shaped, oval Buckthorn, Dogwood Oval, curved veins Horse Chestnut Compound, hand-shaped Oak Lobed edges, blunt, oval Crack Willow, Almond, Wild Cherry Long, oval
These were some simple guidelines for shrub identification by their leaves. Observe the plants in a nursery, or search for images from the Internet, before planting them in your garden.