with each bud covered with ⨇ bud scales of number …

no scales, but covered by dense dark ⫴ hair
     pawpaw  Asimina triloba  or
 1  scale, like a hat
     willow  genus Salix  or
 2  scales  or

 4+ scales,
     bud length <4 × width  or

5–6 scales,
     bud length >4 × width  or
  8   scales,
     bud length >4 × width, very long (2½ cm) (1 in), angled away from twig :

 4+ ⨇ scales, bud length <4 × width

terminal buds larger than side buds,   <13 mm (<½ in)
terminal buds larger than side buds, 13–19 mm (½–¾ in), tapering gradually, twigs=stout

terminal buds not noticeably larger than side buds

Terminal buds larger than side buds, <13 mm (<½ in)

buds=green or red;  bud scars have 1 vascular bundle scar;        twigs=​green, aromatic,[?] taste like root beer
sassafras  Sassafras albidum
buds=not green;      bud scars have >1 vascular bundle scar (may be small);  twigs=not green

5–6 ⨇ scales, bud length >4 × width

buds=about 1 cm (½ in), near twigs
downy or common serviceberry  Amelanchier arborea

  8   ⨇ scales, bud length >4 × width, very long (2½ cm) (1 in), angled away from twig

bark=light gray, very smooth, often w/carved graffiti;  in North American rich forest
American beech  Fagus grandifolia
bark=light gray
🇪🇺 European beech  Fagus sylvatica

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🏠︎ 🌳︎🍃︎ broadleaf branches, ╟ alternate, list of attributes, no catkins, no thorns