If you need help identifying a tree

I posted this on another site that's almost all beginners, but it may help here, too.

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We're seeing more posts here asking us to identify a newly acquired tree. They're usually accompanied by a picture taken from some distance and more or less in focus -- often less. That makes it difficult.

The BEST way to ID what plant you have just bought is to ask the seller -- and write it down (or, on a nursery plant, keep the label). I'm amazed at how many people don't ask -- and why they'd buy a plant whose type they don't know.

But they don't. Therefore, if you want us to identify the plant in question here is what we need to do it right:

1. A picture of the entire plant, close enough to fill the frame of the picture. In focus, and correctly exposed (if you can't do this, DO NOT BOTHER US!). A plain background is mandatory!

2. A close up of a leaf (or needles -- which ARE leaves). Use the macro function on your camera. Take pictures of both side of the leaf. Again, in focus and correctly exposed.
2.a If you are photographing needles, include a close up of a couple of clumps of needles -- especially on pines because it is VERY important to know how many needles are in each bundle.
2.b. in junipers and similar species, try to take pictures of juvenile as well as adult foliage.

3. A medium close up of a branch with several leaves on it -- so we can see how the leaves are arranged on the branch. Lay the branch flat on a tabletop. Ditto focus and exposure.
3.a. If you have a flat bed scanner, you can scan the branch or leaves.

4. If this is a reasonably mature plant, a close up (macro again) of the bark. If this is a sprout or a seedling, do not bother with this part.

If you collected this tree from the "wild" be sure to tell us HOW wild it was. WE also need to know where you are from. Trees grow in very specific locations.

If for some reason, you can't take some of those pictures, be very clear in your descriptions: How many needles in each bundle? Are leaves opposite or alternate? Dark or light green. Glossy or dull? Smooth or hairy? Round, narrow, toothed, lobed, smooth edged?  Compound or single?

There are any number of good TREE ID books out there. Find one for your region. Then BUY it.  Learn to do your homework first.  And if you are one of the many who don't like books any more, there even are resources on the web that are reasonably accurate.  Do your homework!

Hope this helps!

I would add, in the US, take a branch, or the whole plant if it is small, to your nearest county extension agent. In another country, try to contact the nearest large plant nursery, or a university with an agriculture or botany department.
If anybody gives you a guess, Google on the name. There are pictures of almost any plant you can imagine on the Web.
Contact the nearest bonsai club. The American Bonsai Society, http://www.absbonsai.org/USAClubs.html, and Bonsai Clubs International, http://www.bonsai-bci.com/clubs~1.htm, have contacts for clubs all over the world.
Iris

One more thing . . . If you are trying to help someone ID a plant, please try to be accurate. If you do not know, it is no help for you to provide wild guesses. Better to remain silent.

Could we ask you not to put requests to identify trees on to this thread. Please start a new thread.

Thank you.