Video:What Are the Types of Lobed Hardwood Leaves?

Transcript:What Are the Types of Lobed Hardwood Leaves?

Hi, I'm Meghan Field, an air quality specialist in California with a forestry and natural resource background. I'm here today for About.com to talk to you about the different types of lobed hardwood leaves.

Examples of Unevenly Balanced Lobed Hardwood Leaves

There are two different types of lobed hardwood leaves: unevenly balanced, and balanced. Let's look first at the lobed hardwood leaves that are unevenly balanced. These can often be found on mulberry and sassafras trees. When looking at these leaves, you'll notice that the lobes don't match up to each other on either side of the leaf's veins. In other words, they aren't symmetrical, which is what makes them unbalanced.

Telling Hardwood Trees From Softwood Trees

Just a tip: You may be wondering how to tell the difference between a hardwood tree and a softwood tree. Softwood trees are typically conifer trees, like pines. They tend to have needles and grow much faster than hardwoods. You'll find that hardwood trees are usually broad leaved and lose their leaves during the winter months.

Examples of Balanced Lobed Hardwood Leaves

The second category of lobed hardwood leaves is balanced, which you can find on maples, sycamores, and oaks. With balanced lobed hardwood leaves, the lobes on each side of the main vein of the leaf will be almost identical to each other. It's simply this symmetry that makes them balanced. Lobed hardwood leaves are easy enough to find, but determining if they are balanced or unbalanced will require some investigation. Fortunately, a quick glance should give you the answer.

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