Forestry B/C

[FueL]

Leaves of Eastern Cottonwood is much larger than Fremont Cottonwood.

The thing is, you can't tell size just from looking at a picture (unless they give you a reference point). There's a similar problem with distinguishing an Eastern Redbud and Northern Catalpa - the leaves are the same shape, but the catalpa's are double the size.

[linnfrase]

The redbud and the catalpas are actually fairly different in shape. Personally I would be much more worried about telling the difference between the catalpas and not between the redbud and the catalpas.

[PacificGoldenPlover]

Leaves of Eastern Cottonwood is much larger than Fremont Cottonwood.

The thing is, you can't tell size just from looking at a picture (unless they give you a reference point). There's a similar problem with distinguishing an Eastern Redbud and Northern Catalpa - the leaves are the same shape, but the catalpa's are double the size.

Well, I take the zenist approach and say that it was a horrible question to ask, and most teams will probably miss it anyways.
The only actual ID mark I know is that SOMETIMES, Eastern Cottonwood has base angles that are much larger than fremont (like this):

Though that is not always seen on Eastern Cottonwood, to the best of my knowledge, it is never seen on Fremont, which tends to have smaller base angles.

[flyingwatermelon]

Help with differentiating between birches and (plums and cherries)

[135scioly]

Does anyone know how to differentiate between pin and black oak? My state is tomorrow. Thanks!

[tuftedtitmouse12]

Does anyone know how to differentiate between pin and black oak? My state is tomorrow. Thanks!

Pin Oak is more thinner, sharper points. Also if you look at the venation, the veins for Pin are aligned, while Black has alternating.

[tuftedtitmouse12]

Okay, for the IL Division B States test, it was quite difficult. It was nice with the living specimens they provided, but it was Stations. Each was allotted 2 minutes. One station was crazy, you had to identify 9 trees during that time. But most were one or two identifying things, the main questions were on ecology, like which trees grow with the tree you identified, etc. It was quite challenging, but I thought was well written for a test.

[Teal]

Forestry state test for WA was remarkably easy.

[qwertyuioplkjhgfdsa]

I'm having a lot of trouble with sweet birch vs. yellow birch vs. american hornbeam vs. eastern hophornbeam... Any tips anybody? thanks.

[pihi]

I think yellow birch has the yellow flowers while sweet birch has longer/slimmer reddish/orangish flowers...Don't quote me on it though...