Can anyone show me what a box elder leaf looks like

[Jim Ketron]

Hello everyone is this a box elder I looked it up but no good pics to look at. This limb has the cluster of whirlybirds but it only has a 3 leaf on it but some of the same trees beside of it has 5 ?
any info?
Jim

http://www.woodworkersweb.com/modules/gallery/albums/albuq78/IM000693.sized.jpg

[Brian Hale]

Try this link

http://www.mattoon.k12.il.us/Riddle/tieintrees/Box%20Elder%20Leaf.html

The tell-tail signs are the 2 "thumbs" on the first pair of leaves

Brian

[Martin Shupe]

That's boxelder...the dead give away is the opposite branching.

MADCapBigHorse all have opposite branching...

Maples
Ashes
Dogwoods
Caprifoliaceae
Bignoniaceae
Horse Chestnuts

Good thing for you...if the branching was alternate, you might have been looking at poison ivy!

Boxelder can have 3 or 5 leaflets. Can't remember which is more common.