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PNW conifers (that aren’t pines)
True firs (Abies)• Cones perch on the topmost branches.
• Leaves of most species are about 1" long and are highly aromatic. White bands on the underside but some have are green on top while others are blue-green to white.
• Twigs without needles have tiny, flat, circular leaf scars.
• Sometimes called ‘balsam fir’ Young stems have fragrant resin blisters.
• Well-adapted to snowy environments because their short, stiff branches and pointed tops shed snow without breaking
Leaf scars
Young bark has resin blisters
True firs of the PNW• Grand fir
• Pacific Silver fir
• Noble fir
• Sub alpine fir
Uses
• Resins and oils from the bark and foliage of true firs are used for a variety of products– perfumes – adhesives – pharmaceuticals – Christmas trees– Some attribute a healing effect to this
liquid.
Douglas Fir Psuedotsuga
• Not a ‘true-fir’
• Single yellow-green needles, about 1 inch long that encircle the stem and twist at the base with two white bands underneath.
• Cones up to 4 inches long, with pitchfork-shaped bracts protecting the seeds. Bark deeply furrowed on mature trees. Top erect.
Douglas fir uses• Most important lumber tree in the U.S.
• Used for plywood
• Christmas trees
• paper and paper products.
Spruces (Picea)• Needles: generally stiff and sharp; about 1" long
OUCH.• Each spruce needle springs from a tiny, woody
peg.• Cones: most have papery thin scales.• Bark: mostly thin and flaky.• Over 40 species, 2 of which are common in the
PNW– Engelmann– Sitka
Spruce use
• Musical instruments
• The Wright brothers Flyer
• Indoor construction
• Vitamin C
• Christmas trees
Sitka Spruce
• Needles: 1" long; sharp; yellow-green to blue green; often flat (difficult to roll between your fingers).
• Fruit: Woody cones; 1-4" long; hang down; very thin scales with jagged edges.
• Twigs: Each needle is borne on a square, raised, woody peg
Engelmann spruce
• Needles: 1" long; sharp; blue-green to green; all tend to point forward; are usually square in cross-section and therefore roll between the fingers; stink when crushed.
• Fruit: Woody cones about 2" long; hang down; very thin scales with jagged edges
Larch/Tamarack
• Needles are deciduous. turn yellow before they fall.1" long and typically grow in dense clusters(20-40) attached to short woody shoots (called spur shoots).
• Needles are soft to the touch--never sharp or spiny. Current-year needles are borne singly on slender pegs.
• Small, woody cones (1-2" long)
Larch uses• Snowshoes
• Ornamental trees
• Treat cuts, frostbite, laxative
Hemlock (Tsuga)
• Needles: generally under 1" long on a small, raised, rounded peg.
• Needles of some species are green on top with white bands beneath, while others have uniform color on top and bottom.
• Small cones (1-3" long).
• Trees have distinctive droopy tops and branches
Mountain Hemlock
• Needles: Between 1/2" and 1" long; blunt; green to blue-green in color; uniform color on all sides of a single needle; star-like appearance on short shoots.
• Cones 1-3" long; thin, rounded scales.
Western Hemlock• Needles: Short (under 3/4" long) and blunt; two
distinctly different sizes; green above and white underneath
• Cones small (about 1"); egg-shaped; thin, smooth scales.
• Twigs: Thin and droopy; have small, rounded pegs (leaf scars) on twigs with 1 needle arising from each peg.