tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10531373149625510002024-03-26T23:37:59.388-07:00Northwest Conifer ConnectionsKen Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-25797236353220928722023-08-20T21:52:00.012-07:002023-08-21T18:33:41.189-07:00The Giant Giant Sequoias of Washington County<p> Why are there so many large giant sequoias in Washington County? Clearly, these California natives didn’t grow here naturally. To solve this mystery, we will have to look back to the migration of European settlers to Oregon in the nineteenth century. John Porter was one of those immigrants. He came with his parents in 1847 and they established a farm north of Forest Grove. However, when young John heard about the California gold rush, he was off to California to make his fortune. As the saying goes, that didn’t pan out, but while traveling through the Sierra Mountains, he encountered some enormous trees. They were giant sequoias (<i>Sequoiadendron giganteum</i>). These trees are the largest single-stem trees in the world and among the oldest, living up to 3,000 years. It is no surprise that he was so awed by their size and beauty that he collected a large number of cones and brought them back to the farm in Oregon. He began planting the sequoia seeds that he brought back and growing giant sequoia seedlings. He started a nursery and featured the giant sequoias along with other plants. John Porter is responsible for most of the large giant sequoias now growing in Washington County, some of them now over 150 feet tall and over 150 years old. Here are a few notable ones.</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Porter Road Sequoias<br /><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZLpnebMFOe6aydMi8aIHlHScyidLG1oNSo84sIY6VGaQuAiSwhsqeXXoGDw6bcBhRnK5pl3X5zI9G2sW0uBa3ePWJiHRPdhwKKUtP5W6TiR12PSHvYJCL3VGkXZqL0m_yJ3n8JgZFWmNUo5PG3S6tr65KG1asPWqwegBANbQ4e_3Py2QbXN7aFNbnbPl/s1200/Porater%20RD%206536.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZLpnebMFOe6aydMi8aIHlHScyidLG1oNSo84sIY6VGaQuAiSwhsqeXXoGDw6bcBhRnK5pl3X5zI9G2sW0uBa3ePWJiHRPdhwKKUtP5W6TiR12PSHvYJCL3VGkXZqL0m_yJ3n8JgZFWmNUo5PG3S6tr65KG1asPWqwegBANbQ4e_3Py2QbXN7aFNbnbPl/w619-h412/Porater%20RD%206536.JPG" width="619" /></a></div><br /><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbIF1nbOjvcmLjdXqHpjy6ensqVNhp34smgnpoBxeFedvKy7ukSTch2--CPiq7JGMXWayH01S5s949U0Sa_vtZthnnNxe_1gp6845ieIZoewGJen6GWOf-0YROBr19OxB_nSrLTeOu8ySXaFWcpcgBgxV2DErl6pf9DoQUV72RRhrn_67BAO51R5cBI5W/s749/Google%20Maps.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="388" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbIF1nbOjvcmLjdXqHpjy6ensqVNhp34smgnpoBxeFedvKy7ukSTch2--CPiq7JGMXWayH01S5s949U0Sa_vtZthnnNxe_1gp6845ieIZoewGJen6GWOf-0YROBr19OxB_nSrLTeOu8ySXaFWcpcgBgxV2DErl6pf9DoQUV72RRhrn_67BAO51R5cBI5W/w167-h322/Google%20Maps.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View on Google Maps</td></tr></tbody></table><br />No doubt Porter Road was named after John Porter. He planted two rows of giant sequoias on the west side of the road on what must have been the location of his nursery south of Verboort. These sequoias are like a dense linear forest that stretches some 500 feet to the west. They are impressive not just for the immense size of each one, but for their number and extent as well. They are a living monument to his contribution to Washington County. It would be fitting if a large mansion stood at the west end of the trees. To find these trees, drive north from Forest Grove on Highway 47 and turn right on Porter Road. (Note: Porter Road is closed for the construction of a roundabout at Highway 47 until Sept. 30, 2023.)<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Visitation Church Sequoias</b> </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQRwDVZUgfvXtiWkv4G2szVTaeIx7Ma-UResNqRKN_-f1I8spv94VxfO9YQfFCIGUURnLs2rpOhVNvp4CsEcVsgfBy-xtGDP74m16IcD856Y6U1wZlPt5_T4mGFY8gqTzC6xSZ8w_QPLRBsnJ9JXOrNH0j-lrn1191f-H4rIC2yw6kjuHtrdZ9fnsj9d-/s1392/Visitation%20Church.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1392" data-original-width="1200" height="595" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQRwDVZUgfvXtiWkv4G2szVTaeIx7Ma-UResNqRKN_-f1I8spv94VxfO9YQfFCIGUURnLs2rpOhVNvp4CsEcVsgfBy-xtGDP74m16IcD856Y6U1wZlPt5_T4mGFY8gqTzC6xSZ8w_QPLRBsnJ9JXOrNH0j-lrn1191f-H4rIC2yw6kjuHtrdZ9fnsj9d-/w513-h595/Visitation%20Church.jpg" width="513" /></a></div><br />The community of Verboort is less than a mile north of the Porter Road sequoias. In 1883, John Porter gave the Visitation Church at Verboort several young giant sequoias. They were planted all around the new church building that was built that year. Fire destroyed the church in 1941 but the sequoias survived, and a new church was completed at the site in 1949. The giant sequoias have grown to be great trees that dwarf the church. The smaller giant sequoias growing near the church were planted in 1974.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaNv_vEWZzQsRjKX94ZRFho11sH7R8nQfGdIP7l-szb8r7a25NzMyVjkKp1J8G1iMGVYmKpSGyt2YceEmVIiyA_RWwtRYjWqfMAIP_T0wlVSf7cFo2N3Acpc-AjJMP8fLen-AN5hMpjs1KwB-xKYD-8EJhzFvk28-YuZrw8ru7WunGDboEwT0R7HU35qg/s1200/Visitation%20Church2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaNv_vEWZzQsRjKX94ZRFho11sH7R8nQfGdIP7l-szb8r7a25NzMyVjkKp1J8G1iMGVYmKpSGyt2YceEmVIiyA_RWwtRYjWqfMAIP_T0wlVSf7cFo2N3Acpc-AjJMP8fLen-AN5hMpjs1KwB-xKYD-8EJhzFvk28-YuZrw8ru7WunGDboEwT0R7HU35qg/w498-h331/Visitation%20Church2.jpg" width="498" /></a></div><p><b>Governor Withycombe Sequoia</b> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBxONUU7qKHfrCpATdK9whZuQ5b8gYO8XJTA0M5__R5gB42ltATrtAjTHZpRUQA7_UMYAcZIhnEIDMuQ9IJRZhAyq-VNCAtPI6XnKBlLfcCMBpC7cvWUtHuHcrKHlQQibWJdVds8P-scSHGtjrDjc-5LH1b_syGxqgaN9REwC5G6teIh0Dm-Yl67-NycD/s1686/Withycombe-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1686" data-original-width="1200" height="747" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBxONUU7qKHfrCpATdK9whZuQ5b8gYO8XJTA0M5__R5gB42ltATrtAjTHZpRUQA7_UMYAcZIhnEIDMuQ9IJRZhAyq-VNCAtPI6XnKBlLfcCMBpC7cvWUtHuHcrKHlQQibWJdVds8P-scSHGtjrDjc-5LH1b_syGxqgaN9REwC5G6teIh0Dm-Yl67-NycD/w532-h747/Withycombe-1.jpg" width="532" /></a></div><br />James Withycombe was the governor of Oregon from 1914 to 1919. He came to Oregon with his parents in 1871 when he was 17 years old. He purchased a farm south of Hillsboro in 1873 and married Isabel Carpenter on June 5, 1875. He planted this giant sequoia on their wedding day. You can see it growing 3 miles south of Hillsboro on the east side of Highway 219. Note the large limb on the west side that has been growing vertically and is vying to become the leader.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoqWOa8ntUBZGGqtk_lRFC-oBlBJF1xAQvn7llu3PU3reCGLBJJjnZIttOraAwXOAQC3p-5do857Za6kx3RlKC9M3Bo4_ohXjXn2ECyNjEVtmAaGTDBilZ4h8wNrgwI8MufirP-1snzSUya17fxh6VGsOPGVXhIQexEtKlk0DiwjjQPGrexb_xi_aqhiU/s1350/Withycombe-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="900" height="739" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoqWOa8ntUBZGGqtk_lRFC-oBlBJF1xAQvn7llu3PU3reCGLBJJjnZIttOraAwXOAQC3p-5do857Za6kx3RlKC9M3Bo4_ohXjXn2ECyNjEVtmAaGTDBilZ4h8wNrgwI8MufirP-1snzSUya17fxh6VGsOPGVXhIQexEtKlk0DiwjjQPGrexb_xi_aqhiU/w492-h739/Withycombe-2.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><p><b>Pacific Avenue Sequoia</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9X07hPHaMtQyFuf_C-XI-V2iCA6aW3LeUbL_S3xBbUy4fyPYOvlyGtXrJQ99z6PIzTpnJZ_d530_qd9KwX8DL5BoVTwX7V3cSeCIQmlkJcFVN8CyPnmO9IVN0-hfMlAc1y23QI6EERAq8xOuAItgeFUxcc1tgHEjvsfjZcYld6Auzgoz77cPxciOdwp0S/s1229/Pacific%20Ave.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="900" height="706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9X07hPHaMtQyFuf_C-XI-V2iCA6aW3LeUbL_S3xBbUy4fyPYOvlyGtXrJQ99z6PIzTpnJZ_d530_qd9KwX8DL5BoVTwX7V3cSeCIQmlkJcFVN8CyPnmO9IVN0-hfMlAc1y23QI6EERAq8xOuAItgeFUxcc1tgHEjvsfjZcYld6Auzgoz77cPxciOdwp0S/w516-h706/Pacific%20Ave.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><br />This massive giant sequoia is one for the record book. It is often listed as the largest giant sequoia in Oregon and is a State Heritage Tree. It is located at the corner of Pacific Avenue and B Street in Forest Grove. As you drive west through town on Pacific Avenue, you can see it looming over the city from several blocks away. It is one of over 100 giant sequoias towering over Forest Grove.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUc9yRS05SvpGx6lc-OmDHqHX1CvMc1Zs8YkL-CcKF3BB9nVkqggi26sN13xsDDkuMSfq7fxV7gjdNuAoU69v7Jy_RMtW7p92vEkqGNNsDfWh6WoxodRzEDOO_Fv2-tMvzop61gWDTY1QOVFUH9tx-ULtk3d0Lw5LUDKWAdjXNfN3OnZaO3ZvwirrysF4/s1200/Pacific%20Ave%20Trunk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUc9yRS05SvpGx6lc-OmDHqHX1CvMc1Zs8YkL-CcKF3BB9nVkqggi26sN13xsDDkuMSfq7fxV7gjdNuAoU69v7Jy_RMtW7p92vEkqGNNsDfWh6WoxodRzEDOO_Fv2-tMvzop61gWDTY1QOVFUH9tx-ULtk3d0Lw5LUDKWAdjXNfN3OnZaO3ZvwirrysF4/w578-h385/Pacific%20Ave%20Trunk.jpg" width="578" /></a></div><p><b>Hawthorne Street Sequoias</b> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYTyMlt028cuYugrw7WCd_31k3a87w-J4YFaELm_dgn4grM_2jwa4MU1FItRR8RraS3fD6zABdeIgWwekalSAxtqAWPzY0qkbeNPlcUWxB4hnNjrNX4xjHm5FY8L0GsdFubMCU8HEPkvp83ZyoD2BZLVE_r2z21q1HmaoXYZSwt36tIrNqewTyBjrn_sQ/s1350/Hawthorne%20St1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="900" height="919" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYTyMlt028cuYugrw7WCd_31k3a87w-J4YFaELm_dgn4grM_2jwa4MU1FItRR8RraS3fD6zABdeIgWwekalSAxtqAWPzY0qkbeNPlcUWxB4hnNjrNX4xjHm5FY8L0GsdFubMCU8HEPkvp83ZyoD2BZLVE_r2z21q1HmaoXYZSwt36tIrNqewTyBjrn_sQ/w612-h919/Hawthorne%20St1.jpg" width="612" /></a></div><br />Three large giant sequoias are growing in the front yard of the Historic Hinman House at 1651 Hawthorne St. in Forest Grove. One of them rivals the size of the Pacific Avenue Sequoia and was listed as the Oregon State Champion giant sequoia by the Oregon Department of Forestry. A plaque by the door of the Hinman House shows a build date of 1876, and I suspect that the giant sequoias here were planted around then.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHVbCUNnn08PFS3TtbOoH1Z3IEPDLtQpXuOPt-zFcUBfyS_5QFpxsZvhpWPuxYW3WVUNw5Ffzymc_kbVRFOxGVDK111tt6N97f6h_DcBrQDuZyOQx1uNzYnSqFhO0yB8tm1TB6KUZMqAjxNItga-qWrzd8bkP7h9rUpR8O54y_mNTHMtTNEAXsxVaO90X/s1200/Hawthorne%20st2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHVbCUNnn08PFS3TtbOoH1Z3IEPDLtQpXuOPt-zFcUBfyS_5QFpxsZvhpWPuxYW3WVUNw5Ffzymc_kbVRFOxGVDK111tt6N97f6h_DcBrQDuZyOQx1uNzYnSqFhO0yB8tm1TB6KUZMqAjxNItga-qWrzd8bkP7h9rUpR8O54y_mNTHMtTNEAXsxVaO90X/w620-h413/Hawthorne%20st2.jpg" width="620" /></a></div><p><b>Courthouse Sequoias</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRPhjiCqDYPvZs9Pf_SGUXlgj26echAryUPVHFGSUEHkX75QGMbOXN_2bXWNFYFBA8qzUmH8UfsfFopAKDlMO4wUrGBXhfy6_isAIkqVuk07NnbhkyfJ8KOjMyfdLztWyEYZvRG7g79OCw51UIeC_t82w21-M1ChQIFf9OipfQ-BFdXlDMMhhKHTCvtg6w/s1358/Courthouse1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="900" height="865" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRPhjiCqDYPvZs9Pf_SGUXlgj26echAryUPVHFGSUEHkX75QGMbOXN_2bXWNFYFBA8qzUmH8UfsfFopAKDlMO4wUrGBXhfy6_isAIkqVuk07NnbhkyfJ8KOjMyfdLztWyEYZvRG7g79OCw51UIeC_t82w21-M1ChQIFf9OipfQ-BFdXlDMMhhKHTCvtg6w/w573-h865/Courthouse1.jpg" width="573" /></a></div><br />It’s no doubt that these five giant sequoias in front of the Washington County Courthouse are the most celebrated sequoias in the County. They have a prominent location at the heart of Hillsboro at First and Main Street. They are best viewed from the south side of Main Street and tower over the Courthouse. However, they inspire the most awe when you stand underneath them and gaze up. John Porter planted these giant sequoias in 1880. They are another fitting memorial to the man who did so much to make Washington County the giant sequoia capital of Oregon. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYhm73RrcaQV-UWoZissmjewk6j39C80Roo6PprbpXlt0qZ7jCNAiWU_b5wB8p5ryokKKuEgH2twktUnIvDmttcVef_iJLysKgOGHg0p48dhu_lbYTcqyN7lGW9MBBO3M0zFO5iwyWSIo6vGhe78BrC4qOrzBpJlB-WNcIIPUqBcLDAq9aGCKdzyAjHBb/s1350/Courthouse2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="900" height="762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYhm73RrcaQV-UWoZissmjewk6j39C80Roo6PprbpXlt0qZ7jCNAiWU_b5wB8p5ryokKKuEgH2twktUnIvDmttcVef_iJLysKgOGHg0p48dhu_lbYTcqyN7lGW9MBBO3M0zFO5iwyWSIo6vGhe78BrC4qOrzBpJlB-WNcIIPUqBcLDAq9aGCKdzyAjHBb/w507-h762/Courthouse2.jpg" width="507" /></a></div><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoDkvr_AzqiTgf1GEE6WhmJhg-AMI4aBrHbVDbMFj57X6cxJGB9lH6F_FeMTgeD8Iobaq9GulqilnSy_l2aSCmBOmphZPRedTHm09pdjn3vabvjVmYOwYFuorV6HfTXLvtkKwa7rmpmhNmYWaqqlQZ6aJbkbwTuP599IEYCtsKSlpEyhOJke7MonZSmJ-/s1200/Trunk+Ken.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoDkvr_AzqiTgf1GEE6WhmJhg-AMI4aBrHbVDbMFj57X6cxJGB9lH6F_FeMTgeD8Iobaq9GulqilnSy_l2aSCmBOmphZPRedTHm09pdjn3vabvjVmYOwYFuorV6HfTXLvtkKwa7rmpmhNmYWaqqlQZ6aJbkbwTuP599IEYCtsKSlpEyhOJke7MonZSmJ-/w523-h348/Trunk+Ken.jpg" width="523" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The giant sequoias growing in Washington County are awesome trees, but they are just children compared to many of their older relatives growing in California. Imagine how large our local giant sequoias will be 2000 years from now.<br /><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><i>____________________________________________<br />See also</i></h4><p><a href="https://www.kgw.com/article/travel/destinations/grants-getaways/grants-getaways-washington-countys-land-of-the-giants/283-5f20e55b-de32-4e16-98fa-5627a8c9468c" target="_blank">Grant's Getaways: Washington County's Land of the Giants</a></p><p><a href="http://hillsboroherald.com/historic-courthouse-sequoias-a-monument-to-john-r-porter/" target="_blank">Historic Courthouse Sequoias A Monument To John R Porter</a></p><p><a href="https://www.monumentaltrees.com/en/usa-giantsequoia/oregon/" target="_blank">Monument Trees</a> </p><p><a href="HTTP://http://nwconifers.com/imports/giantsequoia.htm" target="_blank">Giant Sequoias in NW Conifers</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-12088661235528466772023-02-13T11:17:00.005-08:002023-02-13T12:08:29.156-08:00Favorite Things<p>Since I have a bit of a reputation for being a conifer geek, people sometimes ask me what my favorite tree is. Would you ask a mother which is her favorite child? With a similar attitude toward conifers, I can’t name a favorite. However, I do have some favorites among the different parts of trees. Here is my list of my favorite things about our local conifers.</p><p><b>Favorite Bark: Ponderosa Pine</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRx0t9xziOtMB_9rC38scHQVXOtaSFADQQSae__nMhOHZI1TmAg68KL4IcEplHIbaHSLNGghISCvlnG79fJJ_nrbvn-7eM1YZaETg86NZBrHjD4wPNoU4AXl1RiVUWnR1ruR5UjyIHArKv5WcfEvNXGVUB0RMHZ0bli5DYhcqGWasCsLKoCRrBKgjVw/s600/Ponderosa%20Bark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRx0t9xziOtMB_9rC38scHQVXOtaSFADQQSae__nMhOHZI1TmAg68KL4IcEplHIbaHSLNGghISCvlnG79fJJ_nrbvn-7eM1YZaETg86NZBrHjD4wPNoU4AXl1RiVUWnR1ruR5UjyIHArKv5WcfEvNXGVUB0RMHZ0bli5DYhcqGWasCsLKoCRrBKgjVw/w356-h237/Ponderosa%20Bark.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><br />Ponderosa pine bark is the clear winner, both for the striking golden color and the distinctive plates that appear to be covered with pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The bark is more colorful on older trees, most notably on large trees growing east of the Cascades. Climate may also influence bark color. <p></p><p><b>Favorite Needles: Noble Fir </b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkbycQsza9gFXWBTaRTUcQCUmlM0u0zLhAtDaRghsjX4mYT_P68-bR-FRcYoXf0kpDBNSRfJaiMCjaHaex0OIA0sIJmhPyne_sz0-1UBmCm6ccGvFOQZXLmDVfBaQQrI6yuDay6iTYuNOK0F3hSz_4WkUJ9GevQVZQ_QIwhPFsq8zcA5T5Hv-WrlmQA/s600/NobleTwigBottom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkbycQsza9gFXWBTaRTUcQCUmlM0u0zLhAtDaRghsjX4mYT_P68-bR-FRcYoXf0kpDBNSRfJaiMCjaHaex0OIA0sIJmhPyne_sz0-1UBmCm6ccGvFOQZXLmDVfBaQQrI6yuDay6iTYuNOK0F3hSz_4WkUJ9GevQVZQ_QIwhPFsq8zcA5T5Hv-WrlmQA/w362-h241/NobleTwigBottom.jpg" width="362" /></a></div><br />Firs have a reputation for well-ordered needles. Noble fir needles are the epitome of groomed order. They appear to be combed up and out from the twig. The curve where they attach to the twig is unique. The soft points are friendly and touchable. The color has a classy hint of blue. The red fir of California is similar to the noble fir. Where the two interbreed in southern Oregon, they are called Shasta red fir. <p></p><p><b>Favorite Cones: Jeffrey Pine</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1A8U5tbDnluEiqBQhdlT1Qvd3oN6C_VBarK9g8QXG_MTcfxo4Zxh4aBGCmkQE6yUgelDb-S2Vj8-vZ_jIKnf5uBJ4LC-CNXXov2wxpNwk1Qkolqw1bOmE4ys6EI4g0_QQ37mASgGy0uGOOVcJUvQnYq24kEAB9Jjm9FZnGFdMT8taLTKhgPz2espfyQ/s760/DSC_6265%20JeffCone.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="600" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1A8U5tbDnluEiqBQhdlT1Qvd3oN6C_VBarK9g8QXG_MTcfxo4Zxh4aBGCmkQE6yUgelDb-S2Vj8-vZ_jIKnf5uBJ4LC-CNXXov2wxpNwk1Qkolqw1bOmE4ys6EI4g0_QQ37mASgGy0uGOOVcJUvQnYq24kEAB9Jjm9FZnGFdMT8taLTKhgPz2espfyQ/w303-h383/DSC_6265%20JeffCone.JPG" width="303" /></a></div></div><br />The cones of the pines are larger than those of our other native conifers. The stiff, woody scales make them heavier and more substantive than those of other conifers. My favorite is the Jeffrey pinecone. Its woody scales and characteristic pinecone shape are similar to the ponderosa pinecone, but Jeffrey pinecones are notably larger than those of the ponderosa. The long prickles on the scales are usually bent back so you can safely pick up the cone. It is fascinating how the scales on pinecones grow in rows arranged in spirals. Jeffrey pine has 13 rows that spiral to the left. You can see 8 rows that spiral to the right. Both of these numbers are Fibonacci numbers. You can see this pattern on ponderosa cones as well. The next time you see a cone under a ponderosa, pick it up and check this out. Nature often develops growth patterns that are mathematically interesting.<p></p><p><b>Favorite Pollen Cones: Ponderosa Pine</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzNEYy__oLxutsCWpfSwYl8IhGAyHc1iFYCq2JOouAuCQDuzfzLBxa63RJ51Z3GipTUyEcGgZkXLfUOt9cSKSguvaWDdVyAJfFFWiBvOXG04aMKOco6ycExdnF6C0QJ-ERtKLdAdZCxTmvrI54ZnhRHApLuYw9bq4a7OOkt_FnCVfFG__WUgg8-6Cdw/s600/PonderosaPollen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzNEYy__oLxutsCWpfSwYl8IhGAyHc1iFYCq2JOouAuCQDuzfzLBxa63RJ51Z3GipTUyEcGgZkXLfUOt9cSKSguvaWDdVyAJfFFWiBvOXG04aMKOco6ycExdnF6C0QJ-ERtKLdAdZCxTmvrI54ZnhRHApLuYw9bq4a7OOkt_FnCVfFG__WUgg8-6Cdw/w392-h261/PonderosaPollen.jpg" width="392" /></a></div><br />Most pollen cones are hidden on the lower side of twigs. The pollen cones of ponderosa pines are prominently visible at the ends of branches. They are large, colorful and arranged like the petals of a flower. How could anyone not love them? <p></p><p><b>Favorite Smell: Incense Cedar</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzZUUTt45MlEg1T1B-wRMydArV0HFhFcoF8-7lI-DoFKazxIL6sZ2oTMShVNda9q-DOBkcitgje-N8_crstv1rVKSYH5ZTR5LsHgA-o8pMYjPb-YPkwj0zSlYqN-uOnsLSAu6RC8gpI7hWhtDuewsWMezblbqqOOd6F706cPbm9acW0rLJwBy-T_WEQ/s600/Incensetwig.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzZUUTt45MlEg1T1B-wRMydArV0HFhFcoF8-7lI-DoFKazxIL6sZ2oTMShVNda9q-DOBkcitgje-N8_crstv1rVKSYH5ZTR5LsHgA-o8pMYjPb-YPkwj0zSlYqN-uOnsLSAu6RC8gpI7hWhtDuewsWMezblbqqOOd6F706cPbm9acW0rLJwBy-T_WEQ/w386-h257/Incensetwig.jpg" width="386" /></a></div><br />If you have ever smelled the wood of Alaska cedar, you will forever be able to identify it by that smell. But it’s not a pleasant smell. On the other hand, incense cedar has a wonderful smell, as you might guess from its name. A few years ago, I was walking up a trail in Yosemite National Park to Yosemite Falls and encountered a wonderfully sweet smell in the trees. A park ranger told me that the smell was from incense cedar trees. It’s no wonder that people willingly spend large sums of money to buy chests made of incense cedar.<p></p><p><b>Favorite Shape: Subalpine Fir</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwAOGyJibU1hK7t7Z3QhLM0HmCe-uT0BorQp9FLNLD3phB2hA1C_eZaxBYGV2vDOskmiVR7apxoPAK5-DvDivE95JefxneOnT-L_SHmqpjJNUtMMnMn9iX7xXOIhZsmkNJlCr3r-QiPfNqcoHPE9H7W0HU-0bZlJTnRhbpCuYWc9IfarTabYzQQUdYw/s460/SubalpineFir.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwAOGyJibU1hK7t7Z3QhLM0HmCe-uT0BorQp9FLNLD3phB2hA1C_eZaxBYGV2vDOskmiVR7apxoPAK5-DvDivE95JefxneOnT-L_SHmqpjJNUtMMnMn9iX7xXOIhZsmkNJlCr3r-QiPfNqcoHPE9H7W0HU-0bZlJTnRhbpCuYWc9IfarTabYzQQUdYw/s320/SubalpineFir.jpg" width="139" /></a></div>Conifers are defined by their seed cones. Think about the general shape of most conifers. It is also a cone. It is an attractive shape, of course, but the spire shaped subalpine fir is extraordinary, reaching like the Eiffel Tower into the sky. It is the ideal design for life at high altitudes where the snowfall is deep in winter. Subalpine fir keeps its limbs short so the weight of the snow doesn’t break them. This practical design is the essence of its beauty.<p></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Favorite</b><b> Fruit: Pacific Yew</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-e-2tg8xPNPeoPfsIsk0x1ohTobhbFz3DzjXhp7dfWsTPxBdrHMUKZSC97aQRwwi3yMafwKKU3mcHhYBdFaWobxPP_ZlgKf7SBKNVwpUHZIIf3cBNoEUgyXmxfInO4ZGnxynRxYbYDntaEA_4TrMCWz2ukrUDk7NzJBbQ5N6-Zs9JB0p2ssTI1RijgA/s600/Yew-aril.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-e-2tg8xPNPeoPfsIsk0x1ohTobhbFz3DzjXhp7dfWsTPxBdrHMUKZSC97aQRwwi3yMafwKKU3mcHhYBdFaWobxPP_ZlgKf7SBKNVwpUHZIIf3cBNoEUgyXmxfInO4ZGnxynRxYbYDntaEA_4TrMCWz2ukrUDk7NzJBbQ5N6-Zs9JB0p2ssTI1RijgA/w377-h251/Yew-aril.jpg" width="377" /></a></div><br />We don’t expect conifers to have a fruit, and technically the little red berry-like arils on yews are cones. But the cones have just one scale that surrounds a single seed. The scale ripens to a plump, bell-shaped aril. These arils have a sweet flavor that birds love, which is how yew seeds are dispersed. However, the seeds inside are quite poisonous to humans. So I don’t love them for the taste but rather for their bright red color, a unique thing to see growing on a conifer.<p></p><p><b>Favorite Fall Color: Western Larch</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPFjkVOV4d6OrXWsAaCIkcVycQJe4rVW9xqIwOqT3rC5BRVsmN36333jhVc12-_vYQDyjS903ayGnGIGIW9YLlOxy_gL7lWHbDCwsG178jIxubdw8e8kLeROzoEF1yeQTJZsGSBH174YwVGzNGLWDtK_01lUulMjx4Vbn7Ra4FMmbiYL4blcBlmnPTw/s400/WLarchFall.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPFjkVOV4d6OrXWsAaCIkcVycQJe4rVW9xqIwOqT3rC5BRVsmN36333jhVc12-_vYQDyjS903ayGnGIGIW9YLlOxy_gL7lWHbDCwsG178jIxubdw8e8kLeROzoEF1yeQTJZsGSBH174YwVGzNGLWDtK_01lUulMjx4Vbn7Ra4FMmbiYL4blcBlmnPTw/s320/WLarchFall.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Most conifers are evergreen. However, a few species go out in a blaze of golden glory in the fall. The only Oregon native to do so is the western larch. In early November, the needles turn golden. By the end of December, they have all fallen to the ground. In spring, new needles burst out, making another striking display, this time of bright green.<p></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Favorite Non-conifer: Oregon White Oak</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRHhrmeQLWzjdhysts0z_4r7ROM9OEvK_rSuS5uoCHgbmilBjiXtvO5HNsNJTufXE0_JqdLEZ6a0Lti2-szLKv9LmLKMIgq83Dy8JB17s5OWdG0EyQsk5kvxHZGff4CysEAXghJyn4xy85S3d1W8H9JVICQS46yFCDng5SQBAOgA5lsBj1SgL5GVsrw/s600/Pagett%20Rd%20Oak.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRHhrmeQLWzjdhysts0z_4r7ROM9OEvK_rSuS5uoCHgbmilBjiXtvO5HNsNJTufXE0_JqdLEZ6a0Lti2-szLKv9LmLKMIgq83Dy8JB17s5OWdG0EyQsk5kvxHZGff4CysEAXghJyn4xy85S3d1W8H9JVICQS46yFCDng5SQBAOgA5lsBj1SgL5GVsrw/w442-h332/Pagett%20Rd%20Oak.jpg" width="442" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqthjV5_z202ur-h6LgAd5WFFxXYdu423zA05OvypvU3K3XivY9DSjpxVyT0gUMnnzNLj-TJAqbKFak4YMVFzjaDnsZD7wy32bHLT5GBHxQEUD9xTVbL74MDWUdSzPd0gRQdWFF8f9rTyQ77BvBLT3_xZR5IVHkUfpOjRUzYMREX7vEwDwpP5cZPGcyQ/s561/Oak%20Leaf.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqthjV5_z202ur-h6LgAd5WFFxXYdu423zA05OvypvU3K3XivY9DSjpxVyT0gUMnnzNLj-TJAqbKFak4YMVFzjaDnsZD7wy32bHLT5GBHxQEUD9xTVbL74MDWUdSzPd0gRQdWFF8f9rTyQ77BvBLT3_xZR5IVHkUfpOjRUzYMREX7vEwDwpP5cZPGcyQ/s320/Oak%20Leaf.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>I do have a favorite tree among the non-conifers. It is the Oregon white oak. It has been a favorite since my childhood. A large oak stood in front of the house on our farm. The oak is a symbol of strength, and the lobed leaf pattern is an iconic symbol for all trees. Unlike most trees that drop their leaves in the fall, the oak holds onto its leaves through the winter, perhaps another measure of its strength and tenacity. Oak trees were the site of many important historical events. One of these is the Treaty Oak at The Dalles, Oregon. It commemorates the signing of the 1855 treaty between the United States and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Finally, oak trees seem to be on friendly terms with ponderosa pines. You can often see them growing together, for example, in pine-oak woods at the east end of the Columbia Gorge and at oak-savannah sites in the Willamette Valley.<p></p><div>____________</div><div>P.S.</div><div>Thinking about your favorite things can be very therapeutic. It's even better to notice the beauty around you when walking in the woods. You can make your own list of favorite things. You might even write a song about them.</div>Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-16117952186682342482023-02-01T15:27:00.002-08:002023-02-13T12:51:55.836-08:00Are Trees Intelligent?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: left;">Recently, I made a posting here on the dangers of personification in nature writing (</span><a href="http://nwconifers.blogspot.com/2021/12/pernicious-personification.html" style="text-align: left;">here</a><span style="text-align: left;">). Now I want to consider the tendency we have to ascribe intelligence to trees and other plants. </span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCjPA4QKea9a41waQWcTtUBf7rxtpOzu6LvR4hdFdC86R0AWvO_wijIbGQM-h67YyPKtiryvHWsdsE8cq4CKH-nrERgyz4upZ8JuO_8sczfU1obINKAJkNisGjt_kwdqRga5Svg2H5uBDEw6VGSH_mW73bZ35xk8UyEWXXWzD_oD2Ro_gYgIrultgSw/s300/SilverCones2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCjPA4QKea9a41waQWcTtUBf7rxtpOzu6LvR4hdFdC86R0AWvO_wijIbGQM-h67YyPKtiryvHWsdsE8cq4CKH-nrERgyz4upZ8JuO_8sczfU1obINKAJkNisGjt_kwdqRga5Svg2H5uBDEw6VGSH_mW73bZ35xk8UyEWXXWzD_oD2Ro_gYgIrultgSw/s1600/SilverCones2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Trees do some amazing things. For example, consider what some conifers do when they are in danger of dying from disease or an infestation of insects or fungi. They will direct all their energy into the production of a huge cone crop. What an amazing strategy! Who would have thought that a tree could develop such a strategy to ensure the survival of its offspring. Survival is the key word here, which curiously explains why these trees react in this way. Genetic variability produced some trees that do this when under stress. Trees that do this have a better chance of survival. What appears to be intelligent behavior is simple natural selection.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I’ve seen several accounts of how slime molds can do amazing things that suggest they can behave in an intelligent manner, (for example <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/brainless-slime-molds/">here</a>). Suppose you construct a maze and place some slime mold in it. You give it some of its favorite food, oatmeal, and you place more oatmeal at the exit of the maze. As the slime mold grows, it will progress all through the maze. When it reaches the food, any slime mold in dead-end passages will stop growing. This looks like an amazing feat, and many popular descriptions characterize the slime mold as showing intelligence. However, scientists suggested the mechanisms that explain the behavior. Learning the mechanisms of how slime molds do what they do seems like learning how magicians do a trick. “Oh, that’s how you did it.” It takes the mystery out of it. It’s kind of a letdown, but we are no longer inclined to think that the slime mold is making intelligent choices. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJc2luwMbmY08plem8NiPlDHkFwsYeRXOCdqzV2Yg9VFtD7cZKeCPch4AbsJWCN0M5SOVUdfx2GMMhTDcCMRaSgn_UQt8frDPInujpo7dmcTTgJL96bIcRSwEcFraqOPlhzv6IPODpPZCS0dvey-26sf95F7cmmrPwqXMla4w_Tvj4NaiebYQ2_5vKRg/s391/Slime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="391" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJc2luwMbmY08plem8NiPlDHkFwsYeRXOCdqzV2Yg9VFtD7cZKeCPch4AbsJWCN0M5SOVUdfx2GMMhTDcCMRaSgn_UQt8frDPInujpo7dmcTTgJL96bIcRSwEcFraqOPlhzv6IPODpPZCS0dvey-26sf95F7cmmrPwqXMla4w_Tvj4NaiebYQ2_5vKRg/s320/Slime.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Suppose we construct a similar maze. But instead of slime mold, we will run water into the maze. The water will flow through the maze until it reaches the exit. No oatmeal needed. Like the slime mold, the water will stop flowing up the dead-end passages. However, in this case, we don’t think it is so amazing, because we understand the simple process of the flow of the water. It’s natural. In fact, water does this all the time in any landscape where it rains, for example, western Oregon. These mazes become streams and rivers. <p></p><p>Tree roots grow much like slime mold. They branch out gathering nutrients. The roots that are successful will grow more than others. The same is true above ground. The branches that receive more light will grow more than others. No surprise here. This is just how we would expect trees to grow. </p><p>It's a mystery when plants do surprising things that seem like intelligent behavior. Whenever scientists find something mysterious, they try to find an explanation for it. Once we understand the explanation, of course the behavior no longer seems mysterious. Once we’re in on the trick, we no longer think it’s magic. However, unlike learning a magic trick, this is not a letdown. Rather, as we gain a deeper understanding of how nature works, we experience even greater wonder. And once we understand the explanation for the phenomenon, it no longer seems surprising. In fact, we would be surprised if, for example, slime mold didn’t behave in the way that it does. When we understand the role of natural selection, it’s natural that trees put on a big cone crop when stressed. We would be surprised if they didn’t.</p><p>In many of these cases, what appears to be intelligent behavior is just that: appearance. It has a natural explanation. No intelligence needed. When we do the science to find the explanation, we have a richer understanding of nature.</p><p>We might say that what looks like intelligence would be better characterized as logic. But the logic is the logic of science. When we understand the processes and principles that are operating, it is, of course, logical that plants would act according to these principles.</p><p>Now you might say that all this assumes that we understand intelligence as a human attribute, something that requires a brain and higher levels of thinking and reasoning. As a matter of fact, the standard definition of intelligence refers to this very thing:</p><p>The ability to learn or understand from experience; ability to acquire and retain knowledge; mental ability. - Webster's New World College Dictionary</p><p>This may seem to be anthropomorphic, but it is our common understanding of intelligence. However, we recognize that many animals demonstrate a similar intelligence. They have demonstrated their ability to solve problems and learn from their experience of their environment. But why should we limit intelligence to animals? If plants can show what appears to be intelligent behavior, why not call that intelligence? After all, language is not static. As we learn more about plant behavior, we may come to see it as intelligent. </p><p>It is true that we think of intelligence as a human attribute. That is normal since we are human. But I would say that it is a mistake to force this description onto trees and other plants. As when considering personification in nature writing, this kind of anthropomorphism may not be appropriate.</p><p>Let’s think about why we consider animals to be intelligent. It is just because when we learn more about animal behavior, we see that they reason, socialize, and perhaps even use language like humans. In other words, when we understand them, we see that they possess the same kind of intelligence as we have. It’s just that their lives are very different from ours and we don’t, for example, understand their language. On the other hand, this is not what we see when we learn more about plants. What we see is processes that do not require intelligence. In amazing ways, plants have evolved to adapt to their environment without the need for intelligence.</p><p>We make the same distinction about ourselves. We can describe processes that happen in our bodies that are necessary for survival. The processes of the cardiovascular system, endocrine system, lymphatic system. All these amazing processes are essential for human life. However, we would not say that they show intelligence on our part. We are not even conscious of these processes. Similar biological processes in trees do not indicate intelligence either. </p><p>Finally, does calling plants intelligent add anything to our understanding? Does it suggest any new avenues of research or suggest to us any explanation of their behavior? I submit that it does not. We would do better to simply study the amazing processes that trees use to survive, thrive, and reproduce. </p><p>In fantasy writing, trees act with human intentions and powers of action and thought. It is often delightful, but it is good to remember that it is fantasy. The use of similar anthropomorphisms has become popular in some recent nature writing. Writers seem to think that this gives us an elevated view of nature and fills us with respect and awe. However, learning the details about the life of trees should fill us with wonder and awe. It’s better to simply observe them as they are without imposing the story of our existence upon them.</p><div><br /></div>Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-66449520969029769002022-08-20T11:38:00.208-07:002022-09-03T15:23:19.870-07:00Conifer Cones<p>What is a conifer? A dictionary will tell you the obvious: A conifer is a tree or shrub bearing cones. There are always exceptions, but this definition will work in most cases. Conifers are easy to identify, but so many conifers look alike that it is often difficult to identify the different species. The cones can be a useful way to identify each species. Many conifers drop their cones on the ground after dispersing the seeds. Some keep them on the tree for an extended time.</p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><b>Cones of common conifers in Northwest Oregon</b></span></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgHZ2c-x-X_LIot1wSpKS20BTZqu5iyvaq2s72MGD6pUV9KZkzWnIUCvN94lLe9ERv2YijdgQvhXgASj4XqC3Rh324mLyTNIyEw0mYyG1xRNy3Ji-TXFaSNseKNMX3VMYmlp2UFf041X0Va9eDzlfzh640LMUIkz2mlpwzuBHWw5q0YvqpmEHl5tbxSw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="309" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgHZ2c-x-X_LIot1wSpKS20BTZqu5iyvaq2s72MGD6pUV9KZkzWnIUCvN94lLe9ERv2YijdgQvhXgASj4XqC3Rh324mLyTNIyEw0mYyG1xRNy3Ji-TXFaSNseKNMX3VMYmlp2UFf041X0Va9eDzlfzh640LMUIkz2mlpwzuBHWw5q0YvqpmEHl5tbxSw=w284-h364" width="284" /></a><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Douglas fir</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Note the unique three-pointed bracts protruding from the scales.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwNfL8DYhhLRVmaN_8B8wssxInfxfGHVKD7_B2vbjEU2PypRrPSMsYh-J_TW4vOsgfh8A-GQNSGesjHKTS5JTO8JWKYg6SyZbBng-7qMvrrnCMk5gxUJOWEQBlQK7BX5HtPpqNd8k2pz9TuKsjOR1evt7jOIyiYP1T-LRP_Fl56gq4FaHocyUJvVEi7A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwNfL8DYhhLRVmaN_8B8wssxInfxfGHVKD7_B2vbjEU2PypRrPSMsYh-J_TW4vOsgfh8A-GQNSGesjHKTS5JTO8JWKYg6SyZbBng-7qMvrrnCMk5gxUJOWEQBlQK7BX5HtPpqNd8k2pz9TuKsjOR1evt7jOIyiYP1T-LRP_Fl56gq4FaHocyUJvVEi7A" width="320" /></a></div></b></span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Western hemlock</b></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdEjKc0prwvLqMqr8FJCJrgtbH-CEkDxIklUsd5oiXSf5u8ZBrSQfJ_fKVHIB1914o59nV1g-x5Vh4Nq5l5lapQMCPKk1JkO6lmdgEbKSIGumTeOc4nlEoubinGh95S60GF7EBCacVkjgZuNiAc6svBq2LEtFVyvasZmgj2UHILtsaH1IDstpjglwViA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdEjKc0prwvLqMqr8FJCJrgtbH-CEkDxIklUsd5oiXSf5u8ZBrSQfJ_fKVHIB1914o59nV1g-x5Vh4Nq5l5lapQMCPKk1JkO6lmdgEbKSIGumTeOc4nlEoubinGh95S60GF7EBCacVkjgZuNiAc6svBq2LEtFVyvasZmgj2UHILtsaH1IDstpjglwViA" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Western red cedar</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4rF9ItDqVMwqd_wfsB8yy-ASrQz9WVmCeWFP9bp6NWCzhmylDygLOrxxCRawBSrJIPQL0nR4lVNescnll8w0qP83tA6dOYOOhvdYTqKkrTTyD91qjK88FLqEgkE8ZyAETpDu3_DyH-OxXPhSPwY8HTNvPo_a4-PsYc5w_bw2KdCAr4pfPtsJa8Xn8_A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4rF9ItDqVMwqd_wfsB8yy-ASrQz9WVmCeWFP9bp6NWCzhmylDygLOrxxCRawBSrJIPQL0nR4lVNescnll8w0qP83tA6dOYOOhvdYTqKkrTTyD91qjK88FLqEgkE8ZyAETpDu3_DyH-OxXPhSPwY8HTNvPo_a4-PsYc5w_bw2KdCAr4pfPtsJa8Xn8_A" width="320" /></a></div><b>Ponderosa pine<br /></b><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhym9dL35i05Cwep3nOG9LPAxcB51BiGf8Bjm9uWLXyS8gNGuq7qN3PgOgaekyOSHu1fMIy6BiFaJJLqEjeWJYqioxYY8m91eZYjPBKc5e0WgF6sD4OAyJTOe8s2X95jw86s5jIyqIHrMc5-YFwV9Z2C6FDUQhAjQfiH7C4Pl32uwwvHrRCuV3ypN4orA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhym9dL35i05Cwep3nOG9LPAxcB51BiGf8Bjm9uWLXyS8gNGuq7qN3PgOgaekyOSHu1fMIy6BiFaJJLqEjeWJYqioxYY8m91eZYjPBKc5e0WgF6sD4OAyJTOe8s2X95jw86s5jIyqIHrMc5-YFwV9Z2C6FDUQhAjQfiH7C4Pl32uwwvHrRCuV3ypN4orA" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Grand fir</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaSOyvLznSOhbpbVMJYFHI0fFDS4oKS_iSQhKKNFichkhmksEbLuJae2oNZE4mQ_q2C7lMimYcauGLDGjs9S-lJq2ZEkBacAYoFReWLcxYQqFOp0ehz6SA1upZjovgEro3Ta7NbuO1Twqm4ZrXy6aZ9uFm595-JslL6SWiGM4tmLogFQYOtc2GZLbglw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaSOyvLznSOhbpbVMJYFHI0fFDS4oKS_iSQhKKNFichkhmksEbLuJae2oNZE4mQ_q2C7lMimYcauGLDGjs9S-lJq2ZEkBacAYoFReWLcxYQqFOp0ehz6SA1upZjovgEro3Ta7NbuO1Twqm4ZrXy6aZ9uFm595-JslL6SWiGM4tmLogFQYOtc2GZLbglw" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Noble fir</b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-small;">Noble firs grow above 2000 feet elevation. The firs don't drop their cones after they disperse their seeds. They drop the scales and seeds at the same time. So you're not likely to see fir cones on the ground. However, you may see the scales on the ground in the fall. You can distinguish noble fir from other firs by the protruding bracts on the noble fir cone scales. Other firs have shorter bracts.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBT3DxPNy_V9vhtsY3_7w0XApAFyeZXjbrN_y4LLGZNB4ELRFhKeu0Ai6YOKcsc2M9hmT0ZSbppC-om9-s1P5nK_3xp7yAvD7wkrnmI7XBIxZfWnl6dlOqUOlHwuNFda1pY3IfY1Io3-iSzpt3-sZXunf4P-vVbBR3d3_KBAjFsFJxe2Tr8zBiBt6EGQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="149" data-original-width="200" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBT3DxPNy_V9vhtsY3_7w0XApAFyeZXjbrN_y4LLGZNB4ELRFhKeu0Ai6YOKcsc2M9hmT0ZSbppC-om9-s1P5nK_3xp7yAvD7wkrnmI7XBIxZfWnl6dlOqUOlHwuNFda1pY3IfY1Io3-iSzpt3-sZXunf4P-vVbBR3d3_KBAjFsFJxe2Tr8zBiBt6EGQ" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Noble fir cone scale and bract</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhEaq4UzbqiNLb-GHS15Rd2x8k0_7dk5ZNJ2-r5byqgCb0dET4GnYj2zFzxA8zJYajD8yIdI1d0gozq94Ww_uLjhMkSON6ONra3GJtOoyj3iS4yvDyL46nK0UBTkCdGvwGPAecPX0jDx04-WY8ZPesX61M_x4_mt5hUn5SZPOCRLA-2FobEdRzEFpWdw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img alt="" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhEaq4UzbqiNLb-GHS15Rd2x8k0_7dk5ZNJ2-r5byqgCb0dET4GnYj2zFzxA8zJYajD8yIdI1d0gozq94Ww_uLjhMkSON6ONra3GJtOoyj3iS4yvDyL46nK0UBTkCdGvwGPAecPX0jDx04-WY8ZPesX61M_x4_mt5hUn5SZPOCRLA-2FobEdRzEFpWdw" width="306" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Grand fir cone scale and tiny bract</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>At the coast...</b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgATjyP2Yzw3uAGu2VjHolrgxWYaasrVpxdo5ZZ4hI4wWkiv5OHDcJIZhhoOUTwQfD8UDQc8G04fJtxOmDg-SvUqrL_mFzqJbg_ovXhJF6FyefCSQsnQdsDCTttfT09UGUzUh6Q0X5q0Ss2R-2uE7bYcuJ-VBL5HLnxGUakK3Ttjn69FNVDPKWGm6TKbQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="337" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgATjyP2Yzw3uAGu2VjHolrgxWYaasrVpxdo5ZZ4hI4wWkiv5OHDcJIZhhoOUTwQfD8UDQc8G04fJtxOmDg-SvUqrL_mFzqJbg_ovXhJF6FyefCSQsnQdsDCTttfT09UGUzUh6Q0X5q0Ss2R-2uE7bYcuJ-VBL5HLnxGUakK3Ttjn69FNVDPKWGm6TKbQ" width="263" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sitka spruce</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsJMllMxWP2xlT6jjbCBMw8A8NYuVL0zwaIaTtpH4HwPFgzDWpQ_HEDt1GzYAYGoFHF-EhcjOXjZ45zeZcz6WvqrCnJYAjIqN0UgJXuXrGuZd5GLCp2JzgKnQeKwhsKVv5fEwU6TSuAESwDTKT_nEqYqUh0-h0sxDkGhy8rxQjppzOGgg2EL9ZN2bxzw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsJMllMxWP2xlT6jjbCBMw8A8NYuVL0zwaIaTtpH4HwPFgzDWpQ_HEDt1GzYAYGoFHF-EhcjOXjZ45zeZcz6WvqrCnJYAjIqN0UgJXuXrGuZd5GLCp2JzgKnQeKwhsKVv5fEwU6TSuAESwDTKT_nEqYqUh0-h0sxDkGhy8rxQjppzOGgg2EL9ZN2bxzw" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shore pine (lodgepole pine)</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>Questionable cones...</b><br /><br /><div>Millions of years before flowering plants started growing tempting fruits to entice animals to distribute their seeds, conifers developed the same ability by growing succulent cones. For example, the scales on juniper cones merge to form a fleshy berry-like cone that attracts birds. Many bird species happily eat the berries and distribute the seeds of the juniper. Millions and millions of years later one animal species disrupted this cooperative system by using these juniper "berries" to flavor gin.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguhIW73NFObv1c288BorJGPSGSbnLwXKom5gWk397fPoSRGiNDkVCkUxOYrbRPaubIBqGLZIDiamqVnQBx2sN4q55SP-B5tbR2wIHvi3IrXNwpm69MTs9U-gUvwynEzCmH7bcxqUMhSTYUrkmZsWaSnQqd5wqBxhB_EONlL8Ta_B5MUmIH3Pt5uH9iGQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="320" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguhIW73NFObv1c288BorJGPSGSbnLwXKom5gWk397fPoSRGiNDkVCkUxOYrbRPaubIBqGLZIDiamqVnQBx2sN4q55SP-B5tbR2wIHvi3IrXNwpm69MTs9U-gUvwynEzCmH7bcxqUMhSTYUrkmZsWaSnQqd5wqBxhB_EONlL8Ta_B5MUmIH3Pt5uH9iGQ" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Western juniper</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Like juniper cones, Pacific yew cones don't look like cones at all. They have a single seed surrounded by a single sweet, fleshy scale. Also like juniper cones, birds distribute the seeds. Yew cones are usually called arils.</div><div><br /></div></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgF1nY0vdKhnNu6e9HAoEweoaQtSqZ5fQxqr2VtugbGlqO7GgmNQknWxsQkVLSG9hsLrAwS6JeNwR4E813Jr3EEWHB-NdSDIuu8tSosXl4nD2hqBZlv28tyZXUJfWwwmBY3_M24-E5g4L0jNYASW0PX_83FT5SDriLdAmt-HCxkMu87o18QK-JvTe8Olg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgF1nY0vdKhnNu6e9HAoEweoaQtSqZ5fQxqr2VtugbGlqO7GgmNQknWxsQkVLSG9hsLrAwS6JeNwR4E813Jr3EEWHB-NdSDIuu8tSosXl4nD2hqBZlv28tyZXUJfWwwmBY3_M24-E5g4L0jNYASW0PX_83FT5SDriLdAmt-HCxkMu87o18QK-JvTe8Olg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pacific yew</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Not a cone? Alder cones do look like tiny cones, but they are not conifers.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiopF9893fx2BAJBFt7j48wFRj_viuzTZc_N0d5zPzqj7csalML9zV-Kmk7Kog6AuDU5gWT-mFVK_XY3cg6UZpVCvgF3Di_O9VrA_B49Eap5OT8_AYMArYQeveOP4E_uGINe1mJclduU1Qgt4FjFlz5eIn-1i_JTneL1FfBScIm2EtdrZUXozqXAgyAcg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="320" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiopF9893fx2BAJBFt7j48wFRj_viuzTZc_N0d5zPzqj7csalML9zV-Kmk7Kog6AuDU5gWT-mFVK_XY3cg6UZpVCvgF3Di_O9VrA_B49Eap5OT8_AYMArYQeveOP4E_uGINe1mJclduU1Qgt4FjFlz5eIn-1i_JTneL1FfBScIm2EtdrZUXozqXAgyAcg=w283-h354" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Red alder</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div>Not a cone. This is what happens when tiny aphid-like insects (adelgids) attack new growth on a Sitka spruce</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoGNo89hBV34ShhQpIZ5kvJHibk2s8Ghi1S0P7La3kHb1kGJE6zT8DmmC4ZcdAKE898aMsD06yS31GQFGj0-YIDbgTej9Gvf8ninFkRYbYXGp4fGgelQmz8r-lbLS2yrHe6cXCjhM1JyX3SrWlsiCVKG8R7-TsRq8KXpzREF0qYXsklIh7RApaWIo0mg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="289" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoGNo89hBV34ShhQpIZ5kvJHibk2s8Ghi1S0P7La3kHb1kGJE6zT8DmmC4ZcdAKE898aMsD06yS31GQFGj0-YIDbgTej9Gvf8ninFkRYbYXGp4fGgelQmz8r-lbLS2yrHe6cXCjhM1JyX3SrWlsiCVKG8R7-TsRq8KXpzREF0qYXsklIh7RApaWIo0mg=w304-h309" width="304" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sitka spruce gall</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>See also</b></div><div>For a more complete list of native conifer cones, see <a href="http://nwconifers.com/taxons/cones.htm" target="_blank">Conifer cones at Northwest Conifers</a><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-22137789377363447712022-07-28T15:18:00.000-07:002022-07-28T15:18:16.610-07:00Focus on Jeffrey Pine<p><span face="Arial, sans-serif"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YSyi495VRA69zz4Jw9z4iBvOGy7TbHjy-dlsHHC69WUlyO5y_utNL8vq_fAcA8owMjfLnnclzD6mRNqfk6AP0u8ND4S83ywzc5F6Cot0gR1uU-uv3muSbhcTHsf_P5IiPE7eS0mk1qOjCl6x-_h8Yqe3k77rRiwJ41GGSbISufMEWEHPcU2OOJCV6w/s330/Jeffrey.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YSyi495VRA69zz4Jw9z4iBvOGy7TbHjy-dlsHHC69WUlyO5y_utNL8vq_fAcA8owMjfLnnclzD6mRNqfk6AP0u8ND4S83ywzc5F6Cot0gR1uU-uv3muSbhcTHsf_P5IiPE7eS0mk1qOjCl6x-_h8Yqe3k77rRiwJ41GGSbISufMEWEHPcU2OOJCV6w/s320/Jeffrey.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />You’re probably familiar with ponderosa pine. It is the iconic tree of the western
U.S., easily recognized by its distinctive, puzzle-piece, orange bark. Its cones
are also distinctive, egg shaped, 3 to 6 inches long, and notoriously armed with painful prickles. However,
if you travel to southwest Oregon, you may find what looks like a ponderosa
pine with cones that are twice the size of ponderosa cones. They may be as
large as 10 inches long. Congratulations, you have just discovered a Jeffrey
pine.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40V9Gk7CO4dqt0nNSn2CTak2dpnF47OYXEbbhfTjBwOp2lsMEe0rdGtbPwpOVsf_nsLHUyOeAGCy6PmgjtcKMjhErh1TiD0I1QdCZjcGTWvwPqb3xwB6JkYkP43zTL63L6E4gssaz1stH9zIosQbvRUK9hNxdzbLjnqqQAV0hQb8ovuXrNra-XJOjyQ/s300/JeffPonderCones.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40V9Gk7CO4dqt0nNSn2CTak2dpnF47OYXEbbhfTjBwOp2lsMEe0rdGtbPwpOVsf_nsLHUyOeAGCy6PmgjtcKMjhErh1TiD0I1QdCZjcGTWvwPqb3xwB6JkYkP43zTL63L6E4gssaz1stH9zIosQbvRUK9hNxdzbLjnqqQAV0hQb8ovuXrNra-XJOjyQ/s1600/JeffPonderCones.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />It's
no surprise that Jeffrey pine is a relative of ponderosa pine. Except for the
cone size they are often difficult to tell apart. The size isn’t the only
difference in the cones. Both have sharp prickles on the scales, but the
prickles on Jeffrey cones point inward when open, while Ponderosa prickles generally
point outward, just waiting for an unsuspecting hiker to pick up the cone. This
difference in prickle orientation has been noted by some as a telltale
difference between the two with this mnemonic device: Prickly ponderosa, Gentle
Jeffery. However, this is not a reliable distinction. The prickles on both trees
are variable. But here’s a better distinction: <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWb4HtRflYNzcD5Y--t3SiuN_9jWwW-fxZCOxnim4jnwJoapuh_eey9b7-BUshRAaitSwrVHatCCl_-FYy2_LzLEBwWFcqaPJAHpfmtWTNDYMJQnww7U9zw3kCkcR9dKWEpiVOS6KQyR4glsz6xF10wuSmW3LSLb8sDJXsWQ0warYXs_F9Ci17rXv_GQ/s300/JeffPrickles.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="300" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWb4HtRflYNzcD5Y--t3SiuN_9jWwW-fxZCOxnim4jnwJoapuh_eey9b7-BUshRAaitSwrVHatCCl_-FYy2_LzLEBwWFcqaPJAHpfmtWTNDYMJQnww7U9zw3kCkcR9dKWEpiVOS6KQyR4glsz6xF10wuSmW3LSLb8sDJXsWQ0warYXs_F9Ci17rXv_GQ/s1600/JeffPrickles.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>The prickles on ponderosa are
short and curved, while the prickles on Jeffery are longer and straight. Note that
if you are impaled by a Jeffery prickle, you may find that your finger is
trapped by the prickle and the scale below! It’s very painful and difficult to
remove.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">The
cones open when ripe and drop the large, winged seeds. They aren’t likely to
fly very far, but they are a favorite food of the Clark’s nutcracker, Steller’s
jay, squirrels, and chipmunks. They will eat them or cache them for eating
later. Not all cached seeds are needed or remembered, so seeds that are cached
in the soil often become the next generation of Jeffrey pines. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Jeffrey
pine grows throughout the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Like many
conifer species that are native to California, the range of Jeffrey pine crosses
the border to a few locations in southwest Oregon. For example, you can find
them growing along Interstate 5 north of Grants Pass and along Highway 199 near
Cave Junction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Jeffrey
pine often grows in nutrient-poor soils where other species cannot grow. Does
this mean that it thrives in these conditions? Not so much, but it does better than
competing species. Jeffrey pine is smaller than ponderosa pine, growing to 130
feet or more.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FLliFcyuDj_V6VwlbAu1Octthnkr93nMkbluFflawMwHMdmk938pZ8ZvO9sziQggLMySytwTzA8YhWAbKn3xxg15OI19Hxj0dr_OL9cZC-LSNni4AkJDYryJGJ6ZleHjcKRgxtHnqwRwy48AySfKryEBdjUeMcwqjjfrjq9WURzVNVMGeQA0ovpBew/s599/JeffreyPonderosaNeedles.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FLliFcyuDj_V6VwlbAu1Octthnkr93nMkbluFflawMwHMdmk938pZ8ZvO9sziQggLMySytwTzA8YhWAbKn3xxg15OI19Hxj0dr_OL9cZC-LSNni4AkJDYryJGJ6ZleHjcKRgxtHnqwRwy48AySfKryEBdjUeMcwqjjfrjq9WURzVNVMGeQA0ovpBew/s16000/JeffreyPonderosaNeedles.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b></b><b>Jeffrey and Ponderosa Needles</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Like ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine has 3 needles per bundle. Ponderosa pine needles tend to be bunched at the ends of the branches. Jeff</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">rey pine retains its needles longer than ponderosa pine, so they typically remain farther along the branch.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbp8zKOa8XCMd3v6iJvOAMxVMk3K98TP59tZVv5g3yWfguCuVgB29n2BXWhI-gq2bTvlUn5RZQc4Lullh8z0tKt9JR4KNZ6gYlmVGyDSbPa3Tril_PTp2Jo_YI9EL16slRbIF8N-hfe3ONdIOwqGIhhNoWbT1GtbGujyFTuZCe-mTigvxe4kUtYus2Gw/s600/TwigAtHome.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbp8zKOa8XCMd3v6iJvOAMxVMk3K98TP59tZVv5g3yWfguCuVgB29n2BXWhI-gq2bTvlUn5RZQc4Lullh8z0tKt9JR4KNZ6gYlmVGyDSbPa3Tril_PTp2Jo_YI9EL16slRbIF8N-hfe3ONdIOwqGIhhNoWbT1GtbGujyFTuZCe-mTigvxe4kUtYus2Gw/s320/TwigAtHome.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br />For example, note this curious branch on a ponderosa pine in my yard. It looks like it did well some years and the needles remain, while the needles are missing from other years.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"></span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB35ttskdgKZ1aaaMiJ2iP7T_BZGc1_lb7hHlsocWdDv5cVk8A7Ufp4w_RUtNTG7Oc5hQXqDWW0odE0HlUUNdpSBoeFZVyI9uxT1izKQmxscFFf4cNgjWKq3Pn092cyM3M6pt-Q_YUsl39pgBRKHx3AVJRMiJz1scNt_192DIP_l1oumAT1dUYYswqKA/s320/JeffreyBark.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB35ttskdgKZ1aaaMiJ2iP7T_BZGc1_lb7hHlsocWdDv5cVk8A7Ufp4w_RUtNTG7Oc5hQXqDWW0odE0HlUUNdpSBoeFZVyI9uxT1izKQmxscFFf4cNgjWKq3Pn092cyM3M6pt-Q_YUsl39pgBRKHx3AVJRMiJz1scNt_192DIP_l1oumAT1dUYYswqKA/w188-h200/JeffreyBark.jpg" width="188" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Jeffrey pine bark</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Jeffrey
pine bark looks similar to ponderosa pine with flat plates shaped like the
pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. But Jeffrey pine bark is brown rather than orange. However, the bark on ponderosa pine can also look very much like Jeffery pine bark, especially on ponderosas growing in the Willamette Valley.
The bark is variously described as smelling like vanilla, lemon, or pineapple.
But ponderosa bark can smell like lemon, so smelling bark may not be a good way
to identify them. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfDfORadzb6Rp3Ab41KsT4aKf-1aO8DSkKYHMhfGrhKsSSFU7dFr04jHWcedMDylzv1Kwyc8hN6Z1GNmzOTWd2Ys3q0q__2Od5KdIq9k-rnMKINNaKWeTamHQ5I35dbm6R_woLvl3tbwM_jybzTC8tm4BfsP4A8O79tLAuhDxskpWbsbOVFkkOh4G9w/s580/PonderosaBark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="580" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfDfORadzb6Rp3Ab41KsT4aKf-1aO8DSkKYHMhfGrhKsSSFU7dFr04jHWcedMDylzv1Kwyc8hN6Z1GNmzOTWd2Ys3q0q__2Od5KdIq9k-rnMKINNaKWeTamHQ5I35dbm6R_woLvl3tbwM_jybzTC8tm4BfsP4A8O79tLAuhDxskpWbsbOVFkkOh4G9w/w516-h177/PonderosaBark.jpg" width="516" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ponderosa pine near Bend, OR --- Ponderosa pine near Portland</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Jeffrey
pine was named after Scottish botanist John Jeffrey, who discovered it in1852 growing
in the Shasta Valley in California. Other common names: western yellow pine and
bull pine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">The
wood is similar to ponderosa pine, and both are marketed as ponderosa pine or
yellow pine. Pine sap can be distilled to make turpentine, and ponderosa pine
was used to make turpentine in the eighteenth century.* However, if you try to
make turpentine from Jeffrey pine sap, the result is heptane, which is highly
flammable and explosive.** Be forewarned. If you think you want to make your own turpentine, be sure you know how to identify these two species. The best way to identify Jeffrey pine is by the size of its larger cones. And the safest way to get your turpentine is from a paint store.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">See
also<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><a href="http://nwconifers.com/sw/jeffrey.htm" target="_blank">NW Conifers</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><a href="*The Gymnosperm Database">*The Gymnosperm Database</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/AccidentSearch.search?acc_keyword=%22Heptane%22&keyword_list=on" target="_blank">**OSHAreports 10 people injured or killed by explosions or fires since 1988.</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><br /></p></div>Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-84038936170279152832022-02-17T13:41:00.006-08:002022-02-18T08:49:33.223-08:00The Great Douglas Fir Migration<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjELyZyWecVfMOUkKplCWt-b4KMdIz-72u_Ea7gk0evZ3U0xrYcNw7VF7vo3TzsqlX5UepJQNokq5ZeWfRXsWmJHfS0vQhyB492DRHJvvKnYWMBZgi9aUfvmghl4EkcfmzAjnCBwGk_Mhs94UVwJbqQ-PptTCxTXlig4ZUd44eEN1tEEwEAvY3SD8s01Q=s644" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="200" height="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjELyZyWecVfMOUkKplCWt-b4KMdIz-72u_Ea7gk0evZ3U0xrYcNw7VF7vo3TzsqlX5UepJQNokq5ZeWfRXsWmJHfS0vQhyB492DRHJvvKnYWMBZgi9aUfvmghl4EkcfmzAjnCBwGk_Mhs94UVwJbqQ-PptTCxTXlig4ZUd44eEN1tEEwEAvY3SD8s01Q=w151-h485" width="151" /></a></div>Thousands of years ago, people from Siberia migrated across the Bering Land Bridge, which connected Asia to North America. We don’t know if they were explorers looking for new land and opportunities, or if they were driven by famine or drought. They could have been escaping religious persecution like some of the Europeans who came to North America thousands of years later. In any case, it was an adventure, and the adventurers spread across all of North America and into South America.<p></p><p>Millions of years earlier, another migration crossed the Bering Land Bridge in the opposite direction. However, it wasn’t a migration of people. It was a migration of Douglas fir trees. The story of this migration starts in Mexico. The first Douglas fir originated in northern Mexico some 50 million years ago. Douglas fir is closely related to the larch, which evolved from the pines. Douglas fir either branched from the same pine ancestors or from the larch. In either case, the two took quite different forms, the larch becoming deciduous with bundles of needles, and Douglas fir growing evergreen needles that resemble those of the spruce and fir. </p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTEs0U-xj62PzceuNNYIG81dKp86W5R8YgmaflVAZFivqvcpxd_Vk23ts06f0p6Ix0PhBfi5g0rWanlGDT5SguOP2zNv0rdS3PvK1ItGq58xMSPl-YnVPAeVQqHCvUaR9MRi38tugv68htilSVkIOydNzTEEFZDZGCBbpo-TXQoE6jHtMhtaxkOj6u6A=s476" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="403" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTEs0U-xj62PzceuNNYIG81dKp86W5R8YgmaflVAZFivqvcpxd_Vk23ts06f0p6Ix0PhBfi5g0rWanlGDT5SguOP2zNv0rdS3PvK1ItGq58xMSPl-YnVPAeVQqHCvUaR9MRi38tugv68htilSVkIOydNzTEEFZDZGCBbpo-TXQoE6jHtMhtaxkOj6u6A=s320" width="271" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bigcone Douglas fir</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table>After its departure from the larch, Douglas fir began a long journey north, with some of them branching off to southern California to enjoy a warmer climate. They became a separate species we now know as bigcone Douglas fir (scientific name: <i>Pseudotsuga macrocarpa</i>). As both the scientific name and the common name imply, they have larger cones than the Douglas fir of the Pacific Northwest, although the trees are much smaller. Meanwhile, the trees that continued their migration north became what we know as Douglas fir (<i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i>). </p><p>Now we must stop and face this question: How can trees migrate? Unlike the strange, magical trees that destroyed the Orcs in “Lord of the Rings,” trees in our world remain rooted in one spot their entire lives. Yes, but their winged seeds can travel! They are adapted to do just that. Let’s suppose that in 100 years a tree grows to be 100 feet tall and produces seeds that are blown a conservative 200 feet from the tree. Thus, the forest would move 200 feet in 100 years, or on average, 2 feet per year. At that rate, it would take about 2500 years for the trees to migrate one mile. It may seem impossible for this forest to migrate all the way to Oregon, until you consider that it had millions of years to complete the trip. At this rate of one mile every 2500 years, the offspring of these seemingly immovable trees could be growing in Portland in less than 3 million years. Not content to linger in Portland, they continued right up the Pacific Coast to Alaska and across the Bering Land Bridge and south into Asia</p><p>Before they migrated very far, they faced another difficulty that might have stopped them before they even made it to Portland. The problem is this: As they migrated farther north, the climate changed. With these changes in the climate, the trees must adapt to the new environment. Douglas fir adapted to many changing conditions in their journey north to Alaska and then south into Asia. The journey was not without its setbacks. For example, they encountered a changing climate and several ice ages. And they required the right conditions for their seeds to germinate and survive. Douglas fir seeds germinate best in a seed bed of bare soil. Finally, they may have been stopped by open ocean at the Bering Strait, but at least once the Bering Land Bridge formed and allowed them to cross into Asia. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvNHJMTm4NI2Wpk3jJdlSlSpmZNEfGQN68lAYzm61zRoVSXzShK2bTFY4oGi7FDuWV0nzWkvI77roZ1gJXyYe9eJUIPsjxiv-5QCsrPV_iAI1WXuuDSDiOex15C0N8au6q6fXo7SvDlAMmJczXc-Uu4XEYZGv1VXJDIOZ5Lb0flU6DST2N3vpg4U2Spg=s600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvNHJMTm4NI2Wpk3jJdlSlSpmZNEfGQN68lAYzm61zRoVSXzShK2bTFY4oGi7FDuWV0nzWkvI77roZ1gJXyYe9eJUIPsjxiv-5QCsrPV_iAI1WXuuDSDiOex15C0N8au6q6fXo7SvDlAMmJczXc-Uu4XEYZGv1VXJDIOZ5Lb0flU6DST2N3vpg4U2Spg=w368-h245" width="368" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Douglas fir seeds with wings</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />As they moved south through eastern Asia, they adapted to the conditions in different locations, and developed into several new species, including one in Japan, one in Taiwan, and several in China:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Japanese Douglas fir (<i>Pseudotsuga japonica</i>), is limited to Japan. Like all of the Asian species of the genus, it is smaller than the Douglas fir of the Pacific Northwest, growing to 100 feet. The cones are also smaller, only 2 in. or less. This species grows only rarely on steep slopes up to 3600 feet elevation.</li><li>Formosan Douglas-fir, (<i>Pseudotsuga wilsonia</i>), grows mostly in Taiwan with a few locations in China. It is closely related to the Chinese species.</li><li>Several species of Douglas fir grow in China. Like the Japanese Douglas fir and Formosan Douglas fir, these species are smaller than those of North America and have smaller cones.</li></ul><p></p><p>Many other conifers have taken similar migrations from North America to Asia across the Bering Land Bridge including some of the true firs (Abies genus), spruce, and pines. And remember the ancient relatives of the Douglas fir, the larch? I suspect the larches took a similar journey, not only migrating to Asia, but to Europe as well. Here in North America, it appears that while migrating north, they also made a right turn and migrated to the East Coast and all across Canada. Some remained in central Alaska.</p><p>More recently and closer to home, Douglas fir has been adapting to different conditions here in western North America. Most notably, they have migrated north and south as well as up slope and down slope, with changes to the climate. Cold weather and glacial ice forced them south many times in the past thousands of years. When it warmed and the ice melted, they were able to migrate north again. Note that the glacial till left by the retreating glaciers was the ideal seed bed for the germination of Douglas fir seeds. </p><p>The Cascade Mountains have imposed an interesting split in the population of Douglas fir in the Pacific Northwest. As the saying goes in biology, “Absence makes the genes wander.” Whenever the members of a species are separated by a barrier, they will develop genetic differences. And if the environment is different in the separate populations, we will be able to see these differences as they adapt to the different conditions. </p><p>As everyone from Oregon and Washington knows, the climate west of the Cascades is mild and damp, well in truth, wet. On the other hand, east of the Cascades, it is dry and prone to temperature extremes and drought. As the separate populations of Douglas fir adapted to these different environments, they evolved into two distinct varieties, and we can now see the differences between them:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj48PdZjZj9qgXjAkrWVLghrTK2SkrPJLCn18cyZT6MqaQd59EKonVyMTNHou12RDGhvQGAhsE0bGN0gY7nB0B6oDmwHWazVzz9815EnUoHKUs0Vuw4zFpYFgit23i2SjPntAtbBQ61BiCkLDstJd2ixgVSQ3bEd-CuqnR4oz8Prbht_TNlSyKuBCJ9Jw=s396" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="309" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj48PdZjZj9qgXjAkrWVLghrTK2SkrPJLCn18cyZT6MqaQd59EKonVyMTNHou12RDGhvQGAhsE0bGN0gY7nB0B6oDmwHWazVzz9815EnUoHKUs0Vuw4zFpYFgit23i2SjPntAtbBQ61BiCkLDstJd2ixgVSQ3bEd-CuqnR4oz8Prbht_TNlSyKuBCJ9Jw=w229-h293" width="229" /></a></div>Coastal Douglas fir (<i>Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii</i>) now grows in western Oregon and Washington from sea level up to 5000 feet. It also grows along the coast of British Columbia and in the coastal mountains and Sierras of California. This variety grows faster and taller but is less drought tolerant. The needles are green, and the bracts on the cones lie flat on the scales.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibvw52DqQ8li3MdswZUshenaVawuWfT8HKtWn9hao2IAMu2JVxYDpi0Jr3TUOKj1KwwSDrwFUvaXXDSBotgxnDc6b8L6ZIlC_QodvptqkjEgh90ZyOfVjkOPxXG8tSEfHFdXuUZNyxjPSpptcepj9hU6Iinsj_Bi5q1wpQtu8LRJV_Ya_ClsUj3458Xg=s556" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibvw52DqQ8li3MdswZUshenaVawuWfT8HKtWn9hao2IAMu2JVxYDpi0Jr3TUOKj1KwwSDrwFUvaXXDSBotgxnDc6b8L6ZIlC_QodvptqkjEgh90ZyOfVjkOPxXG8tSEfHFdXuUZNyxjPSpptcepj9hU6Iinsj_Bi5q1wpQtu8LRJV_Ya_ClsUj3458Xg=s320" width="230" /></a></div>Rocky Mountain Douglas fir (<i>Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca</i>) grows between 2000 and 7000 feet from central Oregon to the northeast corners of Oregon and Washington, and up into Canada. It also grows throughout the Rocky Mountains up to elevations of 9700 feet, and up to 10,700 feet in Arizona and Mexico. The needles of this variety tend to be blue or gray compared to the coastal form. The bracts on the cones tend to protrude outward from the cones.<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>As the climate warms, we can expect Douglas fir to change as they try to adapt to new conditions. Or they may attempt to migrate to cooler locations, higher or northward. The problem they face is that the climate is changing quickly. Can the trees keep up? Trees do not adapt or move quickly. Some foresters and volunteers have tried to assist by planting seedlings in new locations where they can grow successfully. This may have some effect, but ultimately, we must stop doing the things that are causing climate change. Can we do that?<p></p><p>_________________</p><p><b>More Info</b></p><p><i>Douglas-fir: The Genus Pseudotsuga</i>, Denis P. Lavender and Richard K. Hermann. You can download the PDF <a href="https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/defaults/7s75dc85w?locale=en" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jse.12222" target="_blank">Intercontinental disjunctions between eastern Asia and western North America in vascular plants highlight the biogeographic importance of the Bering land bridge from late Cretaceous to Neogene by Jun Wen, Ze-Long Nie, and Stefanie M. Ickert-Bond. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 54:469–490.</a></p><p>See the following topics at The Gymnosperm Database by Chris Earl:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.conifers.org/pi/Pseudotsuga.php" target="_blank">Pseudotsuga</a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.conifers.org/pi/Pseudotsuga_menziesii.php" target="_blank">Pseudotsuga menziesii</a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.conifers.org/pi/Pseudotsuga_menziesii_menziesii.php" target="_blank">Pseudotsuga menziesii subsp. menziesii</a> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.conifers.org/pi/Pseudotsuga_menziesii_glauca.php" target="_blank">Pseudotsuga menziesii subsp. glauca</a></p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-41196992094898162212021-12-16T11:59:00.000-08:002021-12-16T11:59:56.678-08:00 Pernicious Personification<p>Four hobbits are riding their ponies on a shortcut through the Old Forest. But the Forest keeps hindering them, forcing them down, down into a valley where they rest by a river under a large willow tree. One hobbit, who is cooling his feet in the water, suddenly finds all of himself in the water. When another hobbit pulls him out, he says, “… the beastly tree threw me in! I felt it. The big root just twisted round and tipped me in.” The personification of trees is a theme that runs throughout The <i>Lord of the Rings</i>. Generally, personification runs through old myths, fables, and literature, especially fantasy. Anthropomorphism, attributing human intentions and characteristics to objects, is something we all do. I can’t tell you how many times a tree has stuck a root up and tripped me while hiking. We all understand that these attributions are not literal. </p><p>This kind of anthropomorphism also appears in nature writing. Some of this is innocent enough. It often adds some whimsy to the narrative and stimulates the imagination. Valerie Trouet does this in Tree Story, an engaging book on tree rings and what we can learn from them about climate, human history, and so much more. She talks about trees making wide rings when they are happy, but it’s clear that she doesn’t mean this literally. </p><p>On the other hand, some nature writers do take their anthropomorphism literally. This is when anthropomorphism runs amok. For example, a recent book has become a controversial example of this kind of writing. It is<i> The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate</i> by Peter Wohlleben. Just the title is enough to tell you where we are headed in this book. Inside, he talks about trees sending messages to their neighbors, tasting the saliva of insects, and screaming when they are thirsty. He defends these anthropomorphisms by saying that he wants to get his readers to value trees and treat them appropriately as beings with emotional lives. Surely we can see the value of trees just for what they are. And we will value them even more when we understand more about them, how they evolved, how they fit in an ecological system, and how they actually function in that system. We can see them as things of wonder and beauty without imposing human emotions onto them. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWUtFhq_q9vAy0oEzjvSloCdkqxXmmtMLUkTcu3d9kwc1oD9btK9VYzvYS4-FG_FFc0QKgASvhdVJ4eQ_x7HiBnAs0PuSX4KKPYcaQYhq17nK4iN92SfDsJwPx4ByE17f6y4Khfy3WQi9SjcbdiwJR0b2ZZEtfaRjB6SULwV9RR6b0wMgqvjxCP5ZB6Q=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWUtFhq_q9vAy0oEzjvSloCdkqxXmmtMLUkTcu3d9kwc1oD9btK9VYzvYS4-FG_FFc0QKgASvhdVJ4eQ_x7HiBnAs0PuSX4KKPYcaQYhq17nK4iN92SfDsJwPx4ByE17f6y4Khfy3WQi9SjcbdiwJR0b2ZZEtfaRjB6SULwV9RR6b0wMgqvjxCP5ZB6Q=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Suzanne Simard describes her study of the forests of British Columbia in her book, <i>Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest.</i> She tells of her studies of the complex relationship between trees and other life in the forest, especially the symbiotic relationship between tree roots and a network of mycorrhizal fungi. The fungi connect to the tree roots and branch out to collect nutrients for the trees. In return the trees send sugars to the fungi. This fungal network can connect to multiple trees and enable the transfer of nutrients from one tree to another. Simard has conducted important experiments on these relationships, especially on the transfer of nutrients from what she calls “Mother trees” to seedlings. She characterizes the Mother trees as talking to other trees. When experiments show that seedlings from the Mother tree thrive better than other nearby, unrelated seedlings, she characterizes this as Mother trees nurturing their young and says that Mother trees ‘recognize’ their own young. </p><p>The research is groundbreaking and fascinating. But here I want to focus on the personification. Does it further our understanding? I argue that it does not. On the contrary, it distracts from our understanding. That is why I call it pernicious. When I read about research like this, I want to know why it is that the close relatives thrive more than the distant ones. What is the mechanism that allows them to do so? I suspect that it may be related to how the trees and the fungi evolved together. But when I’m told that the Mother tree recognizes her young, that tells me nothing about what the process might be. I can’t even make sense of that. But you say, “what about the evidence?” Let’s be clear: The evidence does not support the conclusion: It does not follow from that fact that the closely related seedlings thrive that the Mother tree recognizes them. This explanation is very simply not an explanation at all. </p><p>Sometimes a metaphor can suggest a hypothesis that might lead to further investigation, but not in this case. Saying that the Mother tree recognizes her young misdirects us from any investigation of a possible relationship. Rather, we are directed to focus on the supposed intentions of the Mother tree and away from any investigation of the interactions between the roots and the fungal network.</p><p>I suspect that there is something in the genetic makeup of the tree and the fungi that might favor genetically similar seedlings. That is something we would want to investigate and would explain why the genetically distant seedlings might not thrive as well. However, when we don’t understand the behavior of trees, we may be inclined to think of some analogous human action and ascribe intention and intelligence to it. But our lack of knowledge of the process is not evidence for the claim that trees are intelligent or have intentions. Again, rather than explain, this Anthropomorphism misdirects us from our search for an explanation. </p><p>There are several lessons we can learn here:</p><p>First, beware of personifications given as explanations. They generally don’t explain.</p><p>Try to read personifications as innocent figures of speech. Sometimes they are.</p><p>Ask yourself: Does the personification lead you to consider an explanation? If not…</p><p>Be curious. Dig deeper, look for further explanations, or try to think of other possible explanations.</p><p>Oh, one more lesson: If you ever see a large willow tree by a river, do not sit under the tree and dangle your feet in the water!</p><p>__________</p><p><b><i>See also</i></b></p><p><a href="http://theodd.website/2019/05/12/The-Hidden-Life-Of-Trees-Pitfalls-Of-Anthropomorphism.html" target="_blank">Pitfalls of Anthropomorphism: The Hidden Life of Trees</a></p><p><a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/bes2.1443" target="_blank">Facts or Fairy Tales? Peter Wohlleben and the Hidden Life of Trees</a></p><p><a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/suzanne_simard_how_trees_talk_to_each_other#t-1420" target="_blank">How Trees Talk to Each Other, Suzanne Simard - TED Tallk video</a></p><p><a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-whispering-trees-180968084/" target="_blank">Do Trees Talk to Each Other?</a></p><p><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/12/23/the-intelligent-plant" target="_blank">The Intelligent Plant - The New Yorker</a></p><p><br /></p>Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-87809747240016895022021-06-08T22:30:00.011-07:002021-06-22T22:01:43.739-07:00Focus on Redwoods<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvofvw9UNyGidMEiD25rGkQami2220OGrFt0VaTTrzzCsr2wSIPkSZsi2wGZ4dqD3pk4l6xAUL6ZHeHJF2vYDEk5_5resn1snxhKUReXT-B_-Gf72mQGVJkLxMvMMRrk9OBHscWcseS648/s440/Redwood.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="200" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvofvw9UNyGidMEiD25rGkQami2220OGrFt0VaTTrzzCsr2wSIPkSZsi2wGZ4dqD3pk4l6xAUL6ZHeHJF2vYDEk5_5resn1snxhKUReXT-B_-Gf72mQGVJkLxMvMMRrk9OBHscWcseS648/w211-h466/Redwood.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Redwood at Lady Bird Johnson Grove</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The California redwoods are the most impressive conifers in the Pacific Northwest. They are notably the tallest trees in the world. They grow straight and tall to a height of over 300 feet. The world's tallest tree is a redwood named Hyperion, discovered in 2006 in Redwood National Park. It is 379 feet tall. Redwoods reach maturity at 500 years. The oldest is over 2200 years old. These giant, ancient trees also have many other exceptional, unique features.<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuwW_F06Z708z1EuW66fcLAXBjzV9pcUIkMJY4qB6LpaqGN-6dlcFsjyW2qbNMCTsYtt4Y88sySHehRkC0bA8Cbn3ysI1oB7frU4tWO5Wmh2EJXhXfPN3U2ncyu6lQFvEnW9hxv_2t5fU/s600/RedwoodNeedle1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuwW_F06Z708z1EuW66fcLAXBjzV9pcUIkMJY4qB6LpaqGN-6dlcFsjyW2qbNMCTsYtt4Y88sySHehRkC0bA8Cbn3ysI1oB7frU4tWO5Wmh2EJXhXfPN3U2ncyu6lQFvEnW9hxv_2t5fU/s320/RedwoodNeedle1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Redwood needles are flat and lie flat on the twig like grand fir. But unlike grand fir, they point forward at an angle. Their growth pattern is optimized for growing in the shade. However, needles in the sun at the top look like the short leaves of the redwood’s cousin, the giant sequoia. When the old needles fall, the twig falls with the needles attached like two other relatives, the dawn redwood, native to China, and the bald cypress, native to the southeastern United States. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mXu58Q6nBVj2MCGvUmdUZKWVL1bI8hvkkoGbI3FN_3rxF_HQp1NRSW7D0otH_V6HhpBV5UzTZhmLlOknqCrlz8p7k76ydCrKUEOnTwoGFmmQCBJ5AzjUJzzBVu0HtQLbvcrnWn84dkk2/s600/RedwoodCone.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mXu58Q6nBVj2MCGvUmdUZKWVL1bI8hvkkoGbI3FN_3rxF_HQp1NRSW7D0otH_V6HhpBV5UzTZhmLlOknqCrlz8p7k76ydCrKUEOnTwoGFmmQCBJ5AzjUJzzBVu0HtQLbvcrnWn84dkk2/w428-h285/RedwoodCone.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />The small, egg-shaped cones look like miniature giant sequoia cones. They are hard and woody with scales that look like lips. It’s amazing that the tiny seeds inside can grow to be the world’s tallest trees. However, redwoods have a backup plan for reproduction. They have epicormic buds in their trunk and roots. As long as the tree is healthy, the tree suppresses the growth of these buds. If the tree falls or is burned in a fire, the buds can sprout and grow. Then they become cloned trees, growing in a row on a fallen tree or in a circle around a stump. If the top of the tree is killed by fire, buds can sprout and send up multiple shoots, creating a virtual treetop forest. Moss and even soil can become part of this arial ecosystem, where birds, mammals, and reptiles thrive. The tiny red tree vole spends its entire life living in the top of a large redwood, eating its favorite food, redwood needles. However, the life of the red tree vole may be short, because it's a favorite food of the spotted owl.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5B6WpYAKVOK5ahmI-XyLkbLKdW2zj2zpEVK6fLbtlSoEAShKRHYXe7NZdAifZ9xX0WpUu33XeS48aDi3hK3DPnIr0t1hL0Q4z7Mtia-5m64DMJ7E4KDmVHlaEfUQpu85kmGmr-39HrxO/s359/RedwoodBark.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="247" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5B6WpYAKVOK5ahmI-XyLkbLKdW2zj2zpEVK6fLbtlSoEAShKRHYXe7NZdAifZ9xX0WpUu33XeS48aDi3hK3DPnIr0t1hL0Q4z7Mtia-5m64DMJ7E4KDmVHlaEfUQpu85kmGmr-39HrxO/s320/RedwoodBark.jpg" /></a></div><br />The brown bark is similar to the bark of the giant sequoia, thick with deep furrows. It's quite soft to the touch, especially when wet. This thick bark is the redwood’s defense against fire and can be over 12 inches thick. <p></p><p>In Oregon, redwoods grow only on the extreme southern coast near Brookings. The northern-most sites are in two groves along the Chetco River. Redwoods extend from Oregon to the central California coast, but the tallest trees are in northern California. Redwoods once had a much larger distribution across North America and even Europe and Asia. You can see a petrified redwood stump at the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Colorado. </p><p>The redwood was initially classified in the genus of the bald cypress and given the name <i>Taxodium sempervirens</i> in 1824. In 1847 it was placed in a new genus, <i>Sequoia</i> and given its present scientific name, <i>Sequoia sempervirens</i>. <i>Sequoia</i> is named after Sequoyah, the Cherokee who created a writing system for the Cherokee language. <i>Sempervirens</i> means evergreen. </p><p>Most of the extensive redwood forests have been logged over the last 150 years. The largest living trees are now preserved in state parks and Redwood National Park. Managed redwood plantings on private land now produce the lumber for many uses. The wood is light, strong, and resists decay. Its beauty and color make it a favorite for siding, decking, fencing, and lawn furniture.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFHbqGldfN0ZWIV33h2jHnZSfMBOaWNKD99k81xAzUrc-Nj31Xz9dcM9G7d3Pyo8-gr-_yESNDb1pVOOfwJUmlXM0-bcCBdOPM5bLC4LQNA6r_Gdk-04UnjzetqLuvEco4yVIhnsMMesg/s600/DSC_0008S.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="600" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFHbqGldfN0ZWIV33h2jHnZSfMBOaWNKD99k81xAzUrc-Nj31Xz9dcM9G7d3Pyo8-gr-_yESNDb1pVOOfwJUmlXM0-bcCBdOPM5bLC4LQNA6r_Gdk-04UnjzetqLuvEco4yVIhnsMMesg/w579-h383/DSC_0008S.JPG" width="579" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Redwoods at Hoyt Arboretum</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />You can find a planting of 90-year-old redwoods at Hoyt Arboretum in Portland. To find some larger redwoods, go to Brookings on the southern Oregon Coast. To find the tallest redwoods, you’ll have to go on to California, where you can see them at <a href="https://www.nps.gov/redw/index.htm">Redwood National Park</a>, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm">Muir Woods National Monument</a>, <a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=413">Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park</a>, and other state parks along the California Coast.<p></p><p>Redwoods may have ranged farther north along the Oregon Coast. You can see a large stump of a redwood on the beach south of Waldport at what is often called Big Stump Beach. According to a recent study this stump likely grew in this location, rather than being deposited on the beach from the ocean. It is located ¼ mile north of the beach access at Wakonda Beach. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkyhxJwOG_8HQX112AGlvEAlxk3VSskWk6FPG4BqntDpbEsI6BpPZOY3ijROEtoRtwwLdDwEljlsRO-69w32AxwRxuePS2PSLApzJmrbgGyjVTjRvHIaAgwqwKqW2B-BgBq1FEacVBbo7/s600/DSC_1399s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="600" height="411" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkyhxJwOG_8HQX112AGlvEAlxk3VSskWk6FPG4BqntDpbEsI6BpPZOY3ijROEtoRtwwLdDwEljlsRO-69w32AxwRxuePS2PSLApzJmrbgGyjVTjRvHIaAgwqwKqW2B-BgBq1FEacVBbo7/w572-h411/DSC_1399s.JPG" width="572" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Redwood stump at Big Stump Beach</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>As the climate warms, more redwoods may be moving to Oregon, with the help of tree planting activists. Already, volunteers have planted some seedlings on the north slope of Humbug Mountain near Port Orford. These plantings may help combat the climate warming that led to the planting. A redwood forest stores more carbon per acre than any other ecosystem. So, planting more redwoods is an incredibly good idea.</p><p></p><p>______________</p><p><b>See also</b></p><p><a href="https://www.conifers.org/cu/Sequoia.php">Redwoods at the Gymnosperm Database</a> </p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoia_sempervirens">Redwood at Wikipedia</a> </p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicormic_shoot">Epicormic shoot at Wikipedia</a> </p><p><a href="https://www.nps.gov/flfo/index.htm">Florissant Fossil Beds</a> </p><p><a href="http://www.casingoregon.com/2019/02/mystery-in-sand-big-stump-beach.html">Mystery in the Sand: Big Stump Beach</a> </p><p><a href="https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.uoregon.edu/dist/7/3140/files/2014/11/2013-Gavin_Big-Stump_NWS-2g3xndu.pdf">Potential Late-Holocene Disjunction of Sequoia sempervirens on the Central Oregon Coast</a></p><p><a href="https://grist.org/climate-energy/could-clones-save-californias-endangered-redwoods-in-oregon/">Could clones save California’s endangered redwoods — in Oregon?</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-79902386798746250012020-11-25T08:10:00.002-08:002020-11-25T22:48:51.477-08:00Sugar Pine<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-l4ysqTMCQcXXuQ4EX3AH4jCSP0eR4EPmpE8-d-sAJrB6KAYMlFEDLDlZmFuPI5ZWK61wKV30AVq28dBChtQpM-Ynpew7c-DhCLB8dNK3CL1zNnXHCSnrLhokYVFli6j5oiS0X2OrWKGb/s480/SugarPine.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="200" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-l4ysqTMCQcXXuQ4EX3AH4jCSP0eR4EPmpE8-d-sAJrB6KAYMlFEDLDlZmFuPI5ZWK61wKV30AVq28dBChtQpM-Ynpew7c-DhCLB8dNK3CL1zNnXHCSnrLhokYVFli6j5oiS0X2OrWKGb/w175-h422/SugarPine.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><br />John Muir called sugar pine the “King of the Pines.” It is the tallest of all the pines and can grow to over 200 feet. You can easily recognize it by its super long cones, which are longer than the cones of any other conifer, up to 20 inches long. Unlike the curved cones of western white pine, sugar pine cones are mostly straight. They have large seeds, but the seeds have large wings, so they can float long distances on the wind.<p></p><p>Sugar pine is primarily a California tree, growing throughout the mountains of the state. However, it has made inroads into the Cascades of Oregon. Some grow as far north as the Mount Hood National Forest, east of the Bull of the Woods Wilderness. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5vZJzMLEJ2QB6myk0HQZQt1edKldEIMqXi1BgesDBIt09Z1vTkcNOPczj2Ua_FuCahzZiKu4wbfVOAro-4kh1AB4kA_8S7C0C24SuqD9KXUb753OxAHxp-idKuBQkoeTl_RE8HvpiXka/s600/SugarPineCone.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5vZJzMLEJ2QB6myk0HQZQt1edKldEIMqXi1BgesDBIt09Z1vTkcNOPczj2Ua_FuCahzZiKu4wbfVOAro-4kh1AB4kA_8S7C0C24SuqD9KXUb753OxAHxp-idKuBQkoeTl_RE8HvpiXka/s16000/SugarPineCone.jpg" /></a></div><br />Sugar pine is a white pine with needles growing in bundles of five. The needles are bluish-green, with stomatal bloom on all three sides. Like other white pines native to the Pacific Northwest, it has been decimated by white pine blister rust. Fortunately, foresters have found trees that are resistant to the disease. Sadly, most of the large sugar pines were cut down for lumber by 1950.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVq3B518XtDg77QRJiEyvG2fKp-0I0yN22HAbPMDPa6Z_9V4i-CS36jZpFuGdBoS1c4apnSJODj1vPQzrD_t8kwpARRmqbnboavU3iPmjX9qTYo0qWikjgoi-9yc7tSGLl8SchCtiYZMl/s360/SugarPineBark.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="260" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVq3B518XtDg77QRJiEyvG2fKp-0I0yN22HAbPMDPa6Z_9V4i-CS36jZpFuGdBoS1c4apnSJODj1vPQzrD_t8kwpARRmqbnboavU3iPmjX9qTYo0qWikjgoi-9yc7tSGLl8SchCtiYZMl/s320/SugarPineBark.jpg" /></a></div>Sugar pine is named after the sweet resin that oozes from wounds to the tree. According to John Muir, the sap is better than maple sap. He thought Native Americans ate it but Aljos Farjon* notes that they chewed it like chewing gum. Note to anyone wanting to eat it: It is also a laxative. However, Native Americans did eat the seeds, which are as large as the seeds of the stone pines. You can buy stone pine seeds at your local grocery, where they are sold as pine nuts. They are tasty, but likely to deplete your bank account.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjn29sgbYTWNn8em4BEQ2jljkvsJNTo3SIiUtwcMhHbpAgcYQvWSFg89-Y2cMc0HSuhSM_JYnSOgd8kvgNneS48ipSKgBzoFHkJDC0bBAiJyl3ItdF0cYofia2ZfedEWl6asaDzV7SYuJ-/s320/SugarPineTwig.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjn29sgbYTWNn8em4BEQ2jljkvsJNTo3SIiUtwcMhHbpAgcYQvWSFg89-Y2cMc0HSuhSM_JYnSOgd8kvgNneS48ipSKgBzoFHkJDC0bBAiJyl3ItdF0cYofia2ZfedEWl6asaDzV7SYuJ-/s16000/SugarPineTwig.jpg" /></a></div><br />David Douglas gave sugar pine its scientific name, Pinus lambertiana, named after British botanist Aylmer Bourke Lambert. Following the directions of a Native American, Douglas found a sugar pine October 26, 1826 and wrote this account of that adventure in his journal:<p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span>The large trees are destitute of branches, generally for two-thirds the length of the tree; branches pendulous, and the cones hanging from their points like small sugar-loaves in a grocer’s shop, it being only on the very largest trees that cones are seen, and the putting myself in possession of three cones (all I could) nearly brought my life to an end. Being unable to climb or hew down any, I took my gun and was busy clipping them from the branches with ball when eight Indians came at the report of my gun. They were all painted with red earth, armed with bows, arrows, spears of bone, and flint knives, and seemed to me anything but friendly. I endeavoured to explain to them what I wanted and they seemed satisfied and sat down to smoke, but had no sooner done so than I perceived one string his bow and another sharpen his flint knife with a pair of wooden pincers and hang it on the wrist of the right hand, which gave me ample testimony of their inclination. To save myself I could not do by flight, and without any hesitation I went backwards six paces and cocked my gun, and then pulled from my belt one of my pistols, which I held in my left hand. I was determined to fight for life. As I as much as possible endeavoured to preserve my coolness and perhaps did so, I stood eight or ten minutes looking at them and they at me without a word passing, till one at last, who seemed to be the leader, made a sign for tobacco, which I said they should get on condition of going and fetching me some cones. They went, and as soon as out of sight I picked up my three cones and a few twigs, and made a quick retreat to my camp, which I gained at dusk.**</span></p></blockquote><p> ____________</p><p><b>See also</b></p><p><a href="http://nwconifers.com/sw/sugarpine.htm" target="_blank">Sugar pine at Northwest Conifers</a></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_lambertiana" target="_blank">Sugar pine at Wikopedia</a></p><p>Conifers of the World, James Eckenwalder</p><p>*A Handbook of the World’s Conifers, Aljos Farjon</p><p>** <a href="https://www.conifers.org/pi/Pinus_lambertiana.php" target="_blank">Sugar pine at the Gymnosperm Database</a></p><p> </p>Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-1417194735872219312020-11-13T11:01:00.014-08:002020-11-15T13:28:58.472-08:00Bird Calls<p> One of the great gifts to hikers in the Pacific Northwest is the sound of birds in the forests. Even if you are not a dedicated birder, you can enjoy their chatter. However, you can enhance the experience if you can recognize the calls and songs of different birds. Bird songs are mostly heard in the spring and summer, so fall is a good time to focus on simple calls. Here are some of the calls of common birds heard in the forests of the Northwest. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAyLIcrNR6aguhOXMAlu7kn2VivTARW6HVM33F9q-JAosahirGaPjqbFLoSPSQ-I2XjFvBcZlfDg6Q2_a3W4iV-6cfWNzs5UfMguNk4fG8C7Fmc_RBWcq71UhtiM9tPMA00JFArJYaFoG/s330/Robin-5902.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="330" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAyLIcrNR6aguhOXMAlu7kn2VivTARW6HVM33F9q-JAosahirGaPjqbFLoSPSQ-I2XjFvBcZlfDg6Q2_a3W4iV-6cfWNzs5UfMguNk4fG8C7Fmc_RBWcq71UhtiM9tPMA00JFArJYaFoG/w241-h241/Robin-5902.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><b>American robin.</b> The American robin is a familiar sight in both cities and forests. It has a large vocabulary. The “tut,” “peak," and “whinny,”<b> <a href="https://nature-mentor.com/robin-calls/" target="_blank">here</a></b> are the most common calls. You will commonly see robins pulling earthworms from your yard.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptO2lKkkXIrEeFaQLt28anJI7g1kRsTNKtCfPvorqetfhIwL0wEd0-VYCngjEbn_b-HFU1h_R1MesfRrWwX6s0IO8whhgNdhEleoYGO-VmOpe_70az2_2hcuq2quQBtBS-DnMTrNunwee/s308/StellersJay7640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="308" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptO2lKkkXIrEeFaQLt28anJI7g1kRsTNKtCfPvorqetfhIwL0wEd0-VYCngjEbn_b-HFU1h_R1MesfRrWwX6s0IO8whhgNdhEleoYGO-VmOpe_70az2_2hcuq2quQBtBS-DnMTrNunwee/w238-h238/StellersJay7640.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><b>Steller’s jay.</b> Has a series of loud, harsh calls, often in conifer forests. The first three <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Stellers_Jay/sounds" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a> are common. They also imitate other birds, especially red-tail hawks, probably a good strategy to clear their territory of competing species. Steller’s jays eat conifer seeds, nuts, acorns, and berries. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpp3XkxsqhxGU4Dc0KCyl6GlD7m7doQ1nI5ZX4mhlGXJcoSBWTfVF5H9WDLEoO_RVnmOPDUW2GNNrewSqmXT4Ls0a2M50BV05jyrAOdv89Xz3I2wbmp-taokjwJPBp2R0HIPY3_7udbsP/s240/Flicker.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpp3XkxsqhxGU4Dc0KCyl6GlD7m7doQ1nI5ZX4mhlGXJcoSBWTfVF5H9WDLEoO_RVnmOPDUW2GNNrewSqmXT4Ls0a2M50BV05jyrAOdv89Xz3I2wbmp-taokjwJPBp2R0HIPY3_7udbsP/w240-h240/Flicker.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b>Northern flicker.</b> This <a href="https://www.bird-sounds.net/northern-flicker/?type1664" target="_blank"><b>call</b></a> is similar to the typical call of a Douglas squirrel. Like most woodpeckers, the northern flicker also drums on trees to communicate with other birds.<p></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIS70EikYh1JuQP849xTbWDd1s1ufNcV0nKg3rEux-J-UAx_70Bfgh-akuKOVeT90bxvuCwKUWPwS1YzsrZ_JMJoAwhRUYGrzeT8z7xFRdheZIRYyKLDxd_Kk-HxcX9b74ScWuNiQX6k0T/s240/PileatedWoody.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIS70EikYh1JuQP849xTbWDd1s1ufNcV0nKg3rEux-J-UAx_70Bfgh-akuKOVeT90bxvuCwKUWPwS1YzsrZ_JMJoAwhRUYGrzeT8z7xFRdheZIRYyKLDxd_Kk-HxcX9b74ScWuNiQX6k0T/s0/PileatedWoody.jpg" /></a></b></div><b><br />Pileated Woodpecker. </b>This large woodpecker has a loud “cuk cuk cuk cuk” <b><a href="https://www.bird-sounds.net/pileated-woodpecker/" target="_blank">call</a> </b>that echoes through the woods. You can recognize it by its bright red cap. “Pileated” is Latin for “capped.”<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgeGWZX5DhxpFTnRiSk0d3bwPmu3deKmdYvG8nMwbhnbzbiDlCwYmNZS1LpQ6xXotzFDTn3Ijket0OCxwhwREecHWQ0vp-Aka_g2a0giYjRHd48YDzvPi0en3yW-z0OSuDj1DScfIXvCI/s240/Crow2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgeGWZX5DhxpFTnRiSk0d3bwPmu3deKmdYvG8nMwbhnbzbiDlCwYmNZS1LpQ6xXotzFDTn3Ijket0OCxwhwREecHWQ0vp-Aka_g2a0giYjRHd48YDzvPi0en3yW-z0OSuDj1DScfIXvCI/s0/Crow2.jpg" /></a></div><b>Crows</b> are common in cities, often in large flocks, so its “caw” <b><a href="https://www.bird-sounds.net/american-crow/" target="_blank">call</a> </b>is all too familiar. <p></p><p>The common raven is larger and its <b><a href="https://www.bird-sounds.net/common-raven/?type699" target="_blank">call</a> </b>is deeper and more resonant. Its translation is “Nevermore.” Ravens are often seen in pairs.</p><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_e20Xd_jV1CumFQ7S6PMlE0fkWRCcf18fMPEWmUApCXys73g0s92kDftvcW82sYHJCtKv7J-qeb5qwokx1t3ADpbU3OHVAtHjMjhH-NCfF86S_S4nZbUdjWh0CX76ITNXLCGkym9PWn0/s240/ChickadeeCrop.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_e20Xd_jV1CumFQ7S6PMlE0fkWRCcf18fMPEWmUApCXys73g0s92kDftvcW82sYHJCtKv7J-qeb5qwokx1t3ADpbU3OHVAtHjMjhH-NCfF86S_S4nZbUdjWh0CX76ITNXLCGkym9PWn0/s0/ChickadeeCrop.jpg" /></a></div>Chickadee.</b> This is one of my favorite little birds, but it is very self-centered: It keeps saying its name, sometimes adding “dee dee dee” at the end. You may hear any of these, but the black-capped chickadee is the most common:<br /><b><a href="https://www.bird-sounds.net/black-capped-chickadee/?type1658" target="_blank">Black-capped chickadee</a><br /></b><a href="https://www.bird-sounds.net/chestnut-backed-chickadee/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Chestnut-backed chickadee</a> (pictured)<br /><a href="https://www.bird-sounds.net/mountain-chickadee/" target="_blank"><b>Mountain chickadee</b></a><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBY2tseYwJg2xoF7qOO6osxvnVUUhR6cQ25zh-cqv7EyHKQ3atgcnt6bqYadG0nHoVq9vW_iVqXnr6VTPbOl4I7wLMCM7VorzXWHIsMqaL0gQ5wMTpkU1XpJgqc2XXwTNsT8ZwQBgXblGv/s243/Nuthatch.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBY2tseYwJg2xoF7qOO6osxvnVUUhR6cQ25zh-cqv7EyHKQ3atgcnt6bqYadG0nHoVq9vW_iVqXnr6VTPbOl4I7wLMCM7VorzXWHIsMqaL0gQ5wMTpkU1XpJgqc2XXwTNsT8ZwQBgXblGv/s0/Nuthatch.jpg" /></a></div><b>Red-breasted Nuthatch.</b> Like the knights* who say “Nee,” this little bird also says “<a href="https://www.bird-sounds.net/red-breasted-nuthatch/" target="_blank"><b>Nee</b></a>,” but much more softly. Also, it never demands a shrubbery. You can see it walking down the trunk of trees eating small insects as it goes.<div><br /></div><div>*<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e2kaQqxmQ0" target="_blank"><i>Monty Python and the Holy Grail</i></a><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJDNKUGf83jHE9X94eibeqyCyrf0zPuPMpufo49eJs6QRHg6Qc_eoaOOAVlls5Frx1xkOFksprsNj5py3WdvMimSausXEoGVDzvTg0IqtfHpkGT6fLDVq_HAUd4vNA6sFs0RP27BTbYm3/s240/Towhee-5913.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJDNKUGf83jHE9X94eibeqyCyrf0zPuPMpufo49eJs6QRHg6Qc_eoaOOAVlls5Frx1xkOFksprsNj5py3WdvMimSausXEoGVDzvTg0IqtfHpkGT6fLDVq_HAUd4vNA6sFs0RP27BTbYm3/s0/Towhee-5913.jpg" /></a></b></div><b>Spotted Towhee.</b> This ground feeder looks similar to a robin, but it is slightly smaller. It seems to have a hearing deficiency, because it keeps saying, “<a href="https://www.all-birds.com/Sound/spot-towheemew.wav" target="_blank"><b>What?</b></a>” <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Walk quietly and listen for these birds when hiking in our forests. You may hear some friendly voices calling from the trees.</p><p>____________</p><p><b>More info</b></p><p><a href="https://www.audubon.org/news/a-beginners-guide-common-bird-sounds-and-what-they-mean" target="_blank">A Beginner’s Guide to Common Bird Sounds</a></p><p><a href="https://www.bird-sounds.net/alphabetical/" target="_blank">Bird Sounds.net</a></p><p><a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/how-to-learn-bird-songs-and-calls/" target="_blank">All About Birds</a></p><p><a href="https://www.thespruce.com/birding-by-ear-basics-387331" target="_blank">Birding by Ear</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-10456129670470525052020-10-27T22:07:00.001-07:002020-10-27T22:17:57.453-07:00Chipmunks<p>When walking in the woods, be sure to listen for the sounds of forest creatures. If you do, you may hear the high-pitched call of a chipmunk. It sounds similar to the excited call of a robin. You can hear the calls here:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkGHFxEh3Ig" target="_blank">Townsend’s chipmunk</a><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESJaPmfbius" target="_blank">National Geographic Guide to Chipmunk Noises</a></p></blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEh2WqWBzzJONDwVN9HT0hZu9fVoU8zNHC-1bJFUfL4Q1E3G3E23kaUzzkhfv54ALvA3akiOlHRwSB90JgScbQfo77cjPK3pxmTHkOI4bzlNSaAONKQtcSTGdWqEIm8Ej82zfqi4fJAjqd/s463/Chipmunk-3698.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="298" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEh2WqWBzzJONDwVN9HT0hZu9fVoU8zNHC-1bJFUfL4Q1E3G3E23kaUzzkhfv54ALvA3akiOlHRwSB90JgScbQfo77cjPK3pxmTHkOI4bzlNSaAONKQtcSTGdWqEIm8Ej82zfqi4fJAjqd/s320/Chipmunk-3698.JPG" /></a></div>Chipmunks are magical leprechauns of the squirrel family. If you have ever watched them, you cannot help but wonder at the movements of these sprites. They move so quickly, it is as if they don’t move at all, but disappear from one place and instantly reappear in another. Running is a series of these magical appearances. The other magic trick of chipmunks is stuffing nuts in their cheeks. Just when you think a chipmunk's cheeks are stuffed full, it stuffs another one in. Then in an instant, it is off to store the nuts in its burrow.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEk7-NI-SQtmQ9EkBKNpH8xmU3nyTHcPXvI88Vkbf3WkudEzQ3gkdalXtvA522xJK1jLmEjtczYIY06pp-jWxGiVZA21TSf12A148Lz03x3c8TdoV1N6P2x43g3rL7gyE717LtyrHjLzM/s332/Chipmunk2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="319" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEk7-NI-SQtmQ9EkBKNpH8xmU3nyTHcPXvI88Vkbf3WkudEzQ3gkdalXtvA522xJK1jLmEjtczYIY06pp-jWxGiVZA21TSf12A148Lz03x3c8TdoV1N6P2x43g3rL7gyE717LtyrHjLzM/w272-h284/Chipmunk2.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>Chipmunks are smaller than the Douglas squirrel. You can identify a chipmunk by the stripes on its back and the sides of its little face. Chipmunks live in our conifer forests and are adept at tree climbing. But they prefer to be near the ground and construct burrows underground. They feed on berries, nuts and seeds, but they don’t fatten up for hibernation like ground squirrels. Instead they store food in their burrow for winter. During their partial hibernation, they wake up from time to time to eat from their cache of stored food. In the spring, they emerge from the burrow at about the same weight as they were in the fall.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jgOHGgBpPSmiyJOjsPeInYCyTIGktvrn8s3iRTtSVRKNmllyQSNzD4r58LQjvhjcjn7YfX3T4a9SwDuxabO1eLFjwX2eRWcFeBNxmhkttLj5-GVOPbxBV6XKBDe1ZRuKiIttfvl2q1MK/s556/Chipmunk-3701.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jgOHGgBpPSmiyJOjsPeInYCyTIGktvrn8s3iRTtSVRKNmllyQSNzD4r58LQjvhjcjn7YfX3T4a9SwDuxabO1eLFjwX2eRWcFeBNxmhkttLj5-GVOPbxBV6XKBDe1ZRuKiIttfvl2q1MK/s16000/Chipmunk-3701.JPG" /></a></div><br />Three species of chipmunk are native to the Pacific Northwest:<p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The Townsend’s chipmunk (<i>Neotamias townsendii</i>) is the only species native to western Oregon and Washington. It’s about 10 inches long from its nose to the tip of its tail, about 3 inches shorter than a Douglas squirrel. At lower elevations, it is active throughout the year. You can see them in winter, perhaps munching on a fungus. All the photos here are of the Townsend's chipmunk.</li><li>The yellow pine chipmunk (<i>Neotamias amoenus</i>) lives from the summit of the Cascades to large areas of eastern Oregon and Washington. It’s about 8 inches long, 2 inches shorter than the Townsend’s chipmunk.</li><li>The least chipmunk (<i>Neotamias minimus</i>) lives east of the Cascades in Oregon and in central Washington. This chipmunk can survive in dry desert areas where no water is available. It’s nearly 8 inches long, slightly smaller than the yellow pine chipmunk.</li></ul><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDq-acZLeUe48JMDdu0N0egmZ-86Ynx33iupl-92-l5K8rpZv7otbjUZn9zpuTXiCdcVCWb0_8eQUk3DM1Un733qWa6ddwbt8YyfTrhC39Rvzx30q3tEOkhKUCGTKkap5qQ9xa1CJPX3k2/s720/ChipmunkLunch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDq-acZLeUe48JMDdu0N0egmZ-86Ynx33iupl-92-l5K8rpZv7otbjUZn9zpuTXiCdcVCWb0_8eQUk3DM1Un733qWa6ddwbt8YyfTrhC39Rvzx30q3tEOkhKUCGTKkap5qQ9xa1CJPX3k2/s16000/ChipmunkLunch.jpg" /></a></div><br />Listen for these chipmunks when you are hiking in the woods. When you hear one, stop and look carefully. You may see it scurrying around in the bushes or sitting on a fallen log. Perhaps you can catch the magic of its movements.<p></p><p>___________</p><p><b>More info</b></p><p>“Mammals of the Pacific States,” Lloyd G. Ingles, Stanford University Press.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipmunk" target="_blank">Chiipmunks on Wikipedia</a> </p><p> </p>Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-27628974898170695862020-10-22T08:04:00.003-07:002020-10-23T21:20:10.631-07:00Douglas Squirrel<p>Walking in the
conifer forests of the Pacific Northwest is always a visual feast, with so many
tall, awe-inspiring trees and an enchanting understory of diverse shrubs and wildflowers.
However, you will miss a wonderful part of the experience unless you are quiet
and listen. You can hear a chorus of various bird calls and songs. However, one
of the most intriguing calls is not from a bird at all. It is the melodic call
of the Douglas squirrel.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJyiFJ-eslAIx6El6inxYSg3UBmCTPlNBd0pHErir51amGz5gFnsNgigw7T1b4zJNmllMcw8m1gDDdYO0S4GJx-wY_ADnPY3rmdj1WbR_QDaTHVYW_ZVqdtnRmVjzjAVrbi-BSf-Z-Uu3/s395/Chickaree-1095.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJyiFJ-eslAIx6El6inxYSg3UBmCTPlNBd0pHErir51amGz5gFnsNgigw7T1b4zJNmllMcw8m1gDDdYO0S4GJx-wY_ADnPY3rmdj1WbR_QDaTHVYW_ZVqdtnRmVjzjAVrbi-BSf-Z-Uu3/s320/Chickaree-1095.JPG" /></a></div><br />The most frequent Douglas
squirrel call is similar to the call of a flicker. It is a short burst of high
frequency that quickly drops in frequency and volume: “Chee-you.” This call is
a warning that a predator is nearby. Maybe the squirrel has spotted you. When
really excited, it gives a rapid sequence of just “chee chee chee chee” sounds.
The other sound you will often hear is a long, continuous “cheecheecheecheechee.”
This is the Douglas squirrel’s intruder alert. These squirrels are territorial
and will defend the area around their nest and food cache. Perhaps it doesn’t
have a large vocabulary, but this string of loud squirrel profanity would give
any intruder pause. If you surprise a Douglas squirrel on the ground, it may
make an excited combination of variable sounds as it scampers up a tree. You can
hear the different sounds <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDO1JuCoAZs" target="_blank">here</a>. <p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Other sounds to
listen for: The scurrying of little squirrel feet scampering up a tree trunk.
Also, if you hear the sound of cones hitting the ground, chances are, there is
a Douglas squirrel dropping them from the top of a nearby tree.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUiJPvM1LSgDguSdRKv6tHRf2OZfyUpVo0AblkDqdI0TaWYl9QpSeqkXeznDyVk3jy5hZXdK_xyGxMzbUDJ3r0RYk9KJK1sKdjjyrjdMOTknlrQrHbvRiVQSoZkQ6fCh9QRJLQ7X6B7Ua/s720/Chickaree-3726.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="720" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUiJPvM1LSgDguSdRKv6tHRf2OZfyUpVo0AblkDqdI0TaWYl9QpSeqkXeznDyVk3jy5hZXdK_xyGxMzbUDJ3r0RYk9KJK1sKdjjyrjdMOTknlrQrHbvRiVQSoZkQ6fCh9QRJLQ7X6B7Ua/w472-h316/Chickaree-3726.JPG" width="472" /></a></div><br />The Douglas squirrel
is a small squirrel native to the conifer forests of the Pacific Northwest. In
summer, it is brown on top and orange underneath with a dark stripe on the side
between the top and bottom colors. In winter, the top is darker, and the color
below turns light gray. The dark stripe on the side fades in winter. The Douglas
squirrel is about 12 inches long, including its bushy tail, much smaller than
the western gray squirrel, and somewhat smaller than the two non-native squirrels
often seen in urban areas: the eastern gray squirrel and the fox squirrel.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLyX9wv3B_x_mvkuecMwbrVUBmq-me0jJAIOhx2avY41OfinX1OIbFNnXhwIQLT-v7Iyt8iPvbG1caP0a3AOh2gFejb3a6cY8YVsFKhTfl6QnoHlTkuNPTwCsjqpHmXm7E1SnjabEneKl/s480/Chickaree-7301.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="423" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLyX9wv3B_x_mvkuecMwbrVUBmq-me0jJAIOhx2avY41OfinX1OIbFNnXhwIQLT-v7Iyt8iPvbG1caP0a3AOh2gFejb3a6cY8YVsFKhTfl6QnoHlTkuNPTwCsjqpHmXm7E1SnjabEneKl/s320/Chickaree-7301.jpg" /></a></div><br />What the Douglas
squirrel lacks in size, it makes up in energy and personality. It races up and
down trees, takes flying leaps from branch to branch and tree to tree. Even
when it is still, it appears and sounds like a concentration of suppressed energy,
calling and flicking its tail. It is these birdlike calls that distinguishes
the Douglas squirrel from the larger squirrels. Their calls sound like the unremarkable
bark of a tiny dog.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The favorite game
of the Douglas squirrel is the chase. Juveniles start playing this game as soon
as they can be out of the nest, chasing each other up, down and around tree
trunks, leaping from branch to branch. It is good training for the adult chase,
which takes two forms. One is the intruder chase, which starts when an intruder
ignores the loud intruder call. The other is when a female leads a male on a
mating chase. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The Douglas
squirrel was a favorite of John Muir. He devoted an entire chapter to this
squirrel in “The Mountains of California.” He wrote that the Douglas squirrel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">… threads the tasseled branches of the pines, stirring their needles
like a rustling breeze; now shooting across openings in arrowy lines; now
launching in curves, glinting deftly from side to side in sudden zigzags, and
swirling in giddy loops and spirals around the knotty trunks; getting into what
seem to be the most impossible situations without sense of danger; now on his haunches,
now on his head; yet ever graceful, and punctuating his most irrepressible
outbursts of energy with little dots and dashes of perfect repose. He is,
without exception, the wildest animal I ever saw….<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Douglas squirrels
like mature forests with cone bearing conifers. The seeds inside the cones are
their primary food. A squirrel will get a cone, sit on a branch, deftly strip
the scales, and eat the seeds inside. In about two minutes, the squirrel will
be finished and drop the stripped cone core. The squirrels often have a
favorite spot for stripping cones, creating a large mound or midden of cone
scales below. Look for the tiny “cone cobs” in the midden. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaVKK3hfY5vFjg2Eqy_M4HkuMADEQ10NrLYNhZM4QsbLasUwn9UIAr5AaZGq5FUtTNh_nHlVhwZxYVPq5KJhH5EwXLyvXgVhmHaN3vPZiN896qD8Qcic9LB4moJ0Ml7Vi2LjRflY3jmz8/s800/ChickareeCone-s.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="800" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaVKK3hfY5vFjg2Eqy_M4HkuMADEQ10NrLYNhZM4QsbLasUwn9UIAr5AaZGq5FUtTNh_nHlVhwZxYVPq5KJhH5EwXLyvXgVhmHaN3vPZiN896qD8Qcic9LB4moJ0Ml7Vi2LjRflY3jmz8/w607-h453/ChickareeCone-s.JPG" width="607" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>A squirrel strips a cone, asks, "You looking at me?" And is off in a streak</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98m0meyxmZEJ6PbA5oesJfiG7IMZuJfSa3Tbw3qY4V9dXnKyu4nmQouGrTVr_ll6kUHYGI7oL4qbYbZzMmPW92gUfb7-0gaBtGW6ZB5Bk_HFmPWguhxZLxqf4WNyDEsz7tIj2KPLPm94f/s341/ChickoreeFungus.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="258" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98m0meyxmZEJ6PbA5oesJfiG7IMZuJfSa3Tbw3qY4V9dXnKyu4nmQouGrTVr_ll6kUHYGI7oL4qbYbZzMmPW92gUfb7-0gaBtGW6ZB5Bk_HFmPWguhxZLxqf4WNyDEsz7tIj2KPLPm94f/s320/ChickoreeFungus.jpg" /></a></div><br />Douglas squirrels
also eat fungi, and the seeds from maples and other broadleaf trees. In the
spring they feast on the tender new growth from a great number of trees,
including flowers, pollen cones, and conifer needles.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Douglas squirrels
do not hibernate. They must store food for winter. When they drop cones on the
ground, they will come down and carry them off to a hidden cache, usually under
a log or some other damp place. They do this in late summer or fall after the
cones are mature, but before they open and disperse the seeds. Timing is
critical. They must wait until the seeds inside are fully developed. And storing
cones with no seeds is, well, just pointless.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01nlyWHDBTV60RxIUcgx9Qe0fa4TCBX-bGIBtS4drEV4UoxOhyphenhyphenpTI9nAheJb_PCTXgO6x3EA5k0Iydm26hc2gPH0B1V3NvXGq4FeiJ7o7859ccpEt6iI8Vnder4bOW9ugiU1Xq6XENp2d/s361/Chickaree-crop.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="251" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01nlyWHDBTV60RxIUcgx9Qe0fa4TCBX-bGIBtS4drEV4UoxOhyphenhyphenpTI9nAheJb_PCTXgO6x3EA5k0Iydm26hc2gPH0B1V3NvXGq4FeiJ7o7859ccpEt6iI8Vnder4bOW9ugiU1Xq6XENp2d/w278-h400/Chickaree-crop.JPG" width="278" /></a></div><br />The scientific name
of the Douglas squirrel is <i>Tamiasciurus douglasii</i>, both named after David Douglas. It is native to the forests
of western Washington and Oregon. It also lives in southwest British Columbia
and northern California. Its cousin, the American red squirrel (<i>Tamiasciurus
hudsonicus</i>) is widely distributed across the rest of North America wherever
conifer forests grow, including eastern Washington and northeast Oregon. Both
species are sometimes called pine squirrels or chickarees. Although the range
of the two species does not overlap, curiously, the red squirrel lives on
Vancouver Island, while the Douglas squirrel populates the coast of mainland
British Columbia.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Be sure to listen
for these squirrels when you are hiking in the woods. If you hear one high in a
tree overhead, sit down and wait. It may come down for a closer look, and
possibly give you a sharp burst of squirrel profanity for invading its space.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">________________</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><b>More info</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p>Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-74121014390242392532020-10-04T17:01:00.005-07:002020-10-05T08:24:48.867-07:00Focus on Whitebark Pine<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgH1ApdlVdHu3epDWREMc5j9_df_APvyQoIQ_0PCQKQFxBPcmKxD0tA5o1hPX8eJkdSmuRGrylB3-1__EBOh_lzfR3V1g_O6def0v1m3CUeRTGPIOCcXggwOjqYSlUfd1n19OqWtbmUeA/s705/WhitebarkCrop.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="400" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgH1ApdlVdHu3epDWREMc5j9_df_APvyQoIQ_0PCQKQFxBPcmKxD0tA5o1hPX8eJkdSmuRGrylB3-1__EBOh_lzfR3V1g_O6def0v1m3CUeRTGPIOCcXggwOjqYSlUfd1n19OqWtbmUeA/w230-h404/WhitebarkCrop.JPG" width="230" /></a></div><br />Whitebark pine is a perfectly adapted alpine tree. It grows at or near the timberline throughout the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Since it doesn’t compete well with other conifers in wet or shady locations or on north facing slopes, you will find it in open, dry and sunny locations on ridgetops or south facing slopes. Whitebark pine is the only stone pine that grows in North America. The stone pines have large wingless seeds. Other stone pines grow in Europe, China and Korea. These edible seeds are called “pine nuts,” which you can buy in grocery stores if you can afford them.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8TsE63vLrMvf-4liQlnU4O-0dBUVq_VUgJde0r8ZQ7_Jibfl9Wxg-i9Uxzn_lCADNSnu6lYh8Hh1E2qkn8j8paGRWE9EGj9Y93bpP2-4-Qzg0GjAn_94l-65eYEYffX-oprSQR5FddDT/s600/WhitebarkPineTwig.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8TsE63vLrMvf-4liQlnU4O-0dBUVq_VUgJde0r8ZQ7_Jibfl9Wxg-i9Uxzn_lCADNSnu6lYh8Hh1E2qkn8j8paGRWE9EGj9Y93bpP2-4-Qzg0GjAn_94l-65eYEYffX-oprSQR5FddDT/w385-h256/WhitebarkPineTwig.jpg" width="385" /></a></div><br />You can identify whitebark pine by counting the number of needles in each bundle. Whitebark pine needles grow in bundles of five. Western white pine also has 5 needles per bundle, so it’s easy to confuse it with whitebark pine. However, if you see any cones, and can tell eggs from bananas, it’s easy to tell them apart. Whitebark cones are about the size and shape of eggs, while western white pine cones are about the size and shape of bananas.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEz8VrckaGAjU3Qyp5ha-eIlznU3KIfMYy_uZo6xHyGLuSxszswm3gbsW0btSA9EmNiUxmxkqu6_Nivp1pRpSLTXTaR9VYqGra2HHYUHIhjbeM-QEMm5UmVt7Ww2PnFwMoJdmEklRs7ubI/s600/WhitebarkCone.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEz8VrckaGAjU3Qyp5ha-eIlznU3KIfMYy_uZo6xHyGLuSxszswm3gbsW0btSA9EmNiUxmxkqu6_Nivp1pRpSLTXTaR9VYqGra2HHYUHIhjbeM-QEMm5UmVt7Ww2PnFwMoJdmEklRs7ubI/w388-h258/WhitebarkCone.jpg" width="388" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The most remarkable thing about Whitebark pine is its relationship to the Clark’s nutcracker. Unlike the cones of most other native pines in the Northwest, which open and disperse their winged seeds, white bark pine cones remain on the tree and do not open when they mature. This is where the eating habits of the Clark's nutcracker play an essential role in the life cycle of the Whitebark pine. These birds easily pull apart the cones to get the seeds and bury them in the ground for eating later. Or perhaps they fancy themselves as tree planters. It’s just that they often get hungry and return to eat some of the seeds. In either case, they don’t eat all of the seeds they “plant,” so some of them germinate and continue the life cycle of the pines. This paradigm case of mutualism benefits both the nutcrackers and the whitebark pines. However, nutcrackers don’t get all of the whitebark seeds. They are also a favorite of Steller’s jays, Douglas squirrels, golden-mantled squirrels and chipmunks.<p></p><p>By the way, the feeding habit of nutcrackers is why you seldom find any whitebark pine cones on the ground, just cone fragments left by the nutcrackers. This can make it more difficult to tell a whitebark pine from a western white pine. If you are at the timberline, it’s probably a whitebark. If it’s a small tree, it may not be producing cones yet, so good luck. Looking at the needles may help. Whitebark needles are green, while western white pine needles are blue-green.</p><p>The scientific name of whitebark pine is <i>Pinus albicaulis</i>. The common and scientific names describe the whitebark pine. Albicaulis means "white stemmed." To remember the name, think of it as the "Albino-bark Pine." Other common names: Pitch pine, scrub pine, and creeping pine. John Muir called it "Dwarf Pine."</p><p>If you go looking for whitebark pine, you may be disappointed. Like other white pines, whitebark pine has been decimated by white pine blister rust. You can see their ghostly, white forms still standing in large areas, for example, above Mount Hood Meadows. White pine blister rust is a disease caused by an Asian fungus, which was introduced to North America over 100 years ago. It has caused serious damage to the white pines all across the U.S. In the Northwest, white pine blister rust has infected large areas of whitebark pine. The fungus first attacks the needle, then the branches, and eventually the trunk of the tree.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-N5wHC762JjNmRwFZ-7aSYK7zHu8qVIoI26KBCZ2ZqLT5pRXJWVjJRkIsyH71a3DEutSgTj2bMojG22U0J3utyp6hjUIgP4aeVNf9B_UW6eW6qC5nVOVQ9Vuz1DwMTRZS2zBuyO_9hRU/s320/Dorena905.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="320" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-N5wHC762JjNmRwFZ-7aSYK7zHu8qVIoI26KBCZ2ZqLT5pRXJWVjJRkIsyH71a3DEutSgTj2bMojG22U0J3utyp6hjUIgP4aeVNf9B_UW6eW6qC5nVOVQ9Vuz1DwMTRZS2zBuyO_9hRU/w435-h289/Dorena905.JPG" width="435" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Whitebark pines tested for resistance to blister rust.<br />Some survive, others, not so much.</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />White pine blister rust has a fascinating life history. It requires two host species to complete its life cycle. One is a white pine. The other can be a variety of plants from the <i>Ribes</i> genus, locally, usually shrubs like currants and gooseberries. The infected shrubs infect the trees, and the trees in turn infect more shrubs. If you remove one of the hosts, the fungus cannot reproduce. Years ago, the Forest Service sent out summer workers to clear affected areas of the shrubs necessary to complete the life cycle of the fungus. Unsurprisingly, that effort failed. More recently, efforts have been underway to develop genetic strains of whitebark pine that are resistant to the disease. For details on this effort, see this post on the <a href="http://nwconifers.blogspot.com/2016/11/" target="_blank">Dorena Genetic Resource Center</a>. <p></p><p>Whitebark pines just don’t seem to be able to catch a break. Recently, the mountain pine beetle has attacked large areas of whitebark pine. More outbreaks are likely as winters become warmer allowing pine beetles to survive in areas where they were once killed by cold winters. Due to the decline in whitebark pine from blister rust and beetles, it is now listed as an endangered species on the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/39049/2885918" target="_blank">IUCN Red List</a>. Climate change may prove to be the biggest challenge to the survival of whitebark pine.</p><p>Whitebark pines may need our help to survive the assault of these enemies. They are an important member of the alpine ecosystem, providing food for nutcrackers and shelter to other birds and mammals, and contributing to the beauty of the high mountain environment. We can help them survive by supporting efforts to combat blister rust, and by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.</p><p>If you want to see some whitebark pines, here are some locations that are easy to get to: Above Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood, on the rim above Crater Lake, and at the top of the Mount Howard tram at Wallowa Lake.</p><p>_______</p><p><b>More info</b></p><p><a href="http://nwconifers.com/nwhi/whitebarkpine.htm" target="_blank">Northwest Conifers: Whitebark Pine</a> </p><p><a href="https://www.conifers.org/pi/Pinus_albicaulis.php" target="_blank">Gymnosperm Database: Pinus albicaulis</a> </p><p><a href="https://www.npsoregon.org/kalmiopsis/kalmiopsis12/timberlines.pdf" target="_blank">Our Threatened Timberlines: The Plight of Whitebark Pine Ecosystems</a> </p><p><br /></p>Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-67713153658267707602020-09-20T21:03:00.008-07:002020-09-22T22:36:27.220-07:00Focus on Western White Pine<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOid4Y9ibgvd4BxRc0bT1eTmbrVTSD466c2KMbtdYP8zrdhL-LgVcnejo7z8yMJzlX5BJPd9qpYfVqmCwuC37LuE3xHSOIxtPg8-lkHhxO4MZtC7ZCllcrcnWgqNr42lmI49Lp_0ZufyB/s426/WWhitePineCone.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOid4Y9ibgvd4BxRc0bT1eTmbrVTSD466c2KMbtdYP8zrdhL-LgVcnejo7z8yMJzlX5BJPd9qpYfVqmCwuC37LuE3xHSOIxtPg8-lkHhxO4MZtC7ZCllcrcnWgqNr42lmI49Lp_0ZufyB/s320/WWhitePineCone.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Western white pine doesn’t have the charm and stature of ponderosa
pine with its golden bark and lofty height, but this white pine does have many
subtle, attractive qualities. It grows straight and tall when given a chance, sometimes
to a height of nearly 200 feet. The needles grow in bundles of five and have a
blue-green color. The cones have a distinctive banana shape and are longer than
any other Northwestern conifer except sugar pine cones. The gray bark breaks
into rectangular plates on large trees. Another distinctive feature is the sticky
resin on the cone scales. You will often see cones on the ground under a
western white pine, and if you pick one up, don’t be surprised if you have sticky
fingers. You were warned.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRn8to1w96ePCAnZKOj4lB1JK1iy4cPkM-JcdKXSA0oAa8tpRaoSUM7MgFpe6iASSKjWMC2auLpsZVudlaK2g7JGwxAmappAY4lHxSHwylFs8qPGgZwLOGSqHv9ZvsAFb_bE_4iWHL1OgB/s300/WWhiteNeedles.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="128" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRn8to1w96ePCAnZKOj4lB1JK1iy4cPkM-JcdKXSA0oAa8tpRaoSUM7MgFpe6iASSKjWMC2auLpsZVudlaK2g7JGwxAmappAY4lHxSHwylFs8qPGgZwLOGSqHv9ZvsAFb_bE_4iWHL1OgB/s0/WWhiteNeedles.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMihzChH1rUVK0Clrkgw37pbrM9nRxgG7ZQ8ri5pvnMieBbXOpIJ3C1MqSb15-JRnJgEgQaYI54GzOmNVr9q34wh4lPYw26FMvna5I2P6YWRJK7pf7fQVHy914FbfpIpNr-EQ8Pxj7LSU/s376/WWhitePineMap-s.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="200" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMihzChH1rUVK0Clrkgw37pbrM9nRxgG7ZQ8ri5pvnMieBbXOpIJ3C1MqSb15-JRnJgEgQaYI54GzOmNVr9q34wh4lPYw26FMvna5I2P6YWRJK7pf7fQVHy914FbfpIpNr-EQ8Pxj7LSU/w183-h343/WWhitePineMap-s.gif" width="183" /></a></div>The scientific name of western white pine is </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Pinus monticola</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">,
named by David Douglas after he found it growing on Mount St. Helens</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">.</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">
The species name is Latin for “mountain dweller,” and that is where you can
find it, growing throughout the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. It grows in
the Cascades and in the Coast Range at elevations of 3000 to 5000 feet. In
Washington and British Columbia, it grows right down to sea level. It also
grows in northeast corners of Oregon and Washington, and in northern Idaho. It
is the state tree of Idaho, where it’s sometimes called “Idaho pine.” In
California, it grows in the Siskiyous and Sierras.</span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLKH_BcwQpfOrFNrhkc-PBWWBxDL2WaJTNytf_fB5KLwR2Pxwv-8GZXWoA0m3Cck1XpAhQaPC8jjxYlPHPtWBgdXmbjGcQt4XFy7yZI5xbL73shJf_xyjZ0DCDEGnIh5hPRFyG7_2M4HW/s470/WWhitePine.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="200" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLKH_BcwQpfOrFNrhkc-PBWWBxDL2WaJTNytf_fB5KLwR2Pxwv-8GZXWoA0m3Cck1XpAhQaPC8jjxYlPHPtWBgdXmbjGcQt4XFy7yZI5xbL73shJf_xyjZ0DCDEGnIh5hPRFyG7_2M4HW/w250-h590/WWhitePine.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>You may be surprised to find western white pines growing in
the Coast Range of Oregon, but you can find some in the higher
elevations. Some young ones grow in the Tillamook Forest near the top of the Storey Burn Trail, west of Storey Burn Road. In Portland, you can see several large
western white pines at Hoyt Arboretum. They are growing along the Bristlecone
Pine Trail. They are easy to identify by the labels on the trees and the banana-shaped
cones on the ground. Again, don’t pick them up if you don’t want sticky fingers.</div><div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Western white pine was once abundant in its range, but disease
and logging have greatly reduced its numbers. As with many other white pines,
the bane of western white pine is white pine blister rust, a fungus introduced in
North America from Europe over 100 years ago. Although the extensive stands of western
white pine have been decimated by blister rust, the species has developed some
resistance to the disease, and the Forest Service has a program for breeding
rust-resistant trees. For more information, look <a href="http://nwconifers.blogspot.com/2016/11/dorena-genetic-resource-center-visit.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Bark beetles also attack western white pine, especially after they have been
weakened by blister rust.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoK3X9mTUN0QqkCCzr2XpK9s46B7UjkNnxy4DMRPk7jWpUovBpBaM4MKzLfLU2OKdoUNcYpIIqzonEStgs1lUiDDzsqSl3nG2jRF965r6vmYIskWqfEva3Lju9fAKnSJ4TC66a6LBpoPn/s320/WWhitePineBark.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoK3X9mTUN0QqkCCzr2XpK9s46B7UjkNnxy4DMRPk7jWpUovBpBaM4MKzLfLU2OKdoUNcYpIIqzonEStgs1lUiDDzsqSl3nG2jRF965r6vmYIskWqfEva3Lju9fAKnSJ4TC66a6LBpoPn/s0/WWhitePineBark.jpg" /></a></div><br />Western white pine wood is described as nonresinous — no
surprise, since it seems to send all that sticky resin to the cones. The wood
is soft, straight and stable in character, which make it desirable for making
moldings and window and door frames. The wood is light, attractive, and easy to
work, making it ideal for wood carving. In the past, it was the primary source
of match sticks.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQpGDVzCxXzOn8jS7NwLSQnMdRmUHrr4mLGBvaAGIcAiNfx0il3KYk5RRSi1VX2kykEFaeqDb1i7si9hsGwrROumzhck7updX8AaUc2Kc5VWx4_FDZLmXP1TL57ZQSoP2hAYpdbaxYsug/s600/WWhitePinePollen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQpGDVzCxXzOn8jS7NwLSQnMdRmUHrr4mLGBvaAGIcAiNfx0il3KYk5RRSi1VX2kykEFaeqDb1i7si9hsGwrROumzhck7updX8AaUc2Kc5VWx4_FDZLmXP1TL57ZQSoP2hAYpdbaxYsug/s320/WWhitePinePollen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pollen cones</span></b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />There appear to be few genetic differences between western
white pines in different locations in the Pacific Northwest. So you can collect
seeds from one habitat or elevation and successfully grow them elsewhere. The
trees can readily adapt to different growing conditions. However, California
populations do seem to be genetically distinct from those in the Northwest. The California
trees are more resistant to white pine blister rust.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">More info<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://nwconifers.com" target="_blank">Northwest Conifers</a><br /><a href="https://www.conifers.org/pi/Pinus_monticola.php" target="_blank">Gymnosperm Database</a> <br /></span><a href=" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_white_pine" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a><br /><a href="https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_1/pinus/monticola.htm" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">USDA: Silvics of North America</a><br /><a href="https://www.coniferousforest.com/western-white-pine.htm" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Coniferous Forest</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p> <span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p></div>Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-21665360269317550002020-09-02T20:58:00.001-07:002020-09-12T09:53:31.454-07:00Alpine ConifersThe timberline in the mountains is a special place for conifers. Below the timberline, the trees grow tall. Visitors walk among the large trunks in deep shade under the canopy high above. However, at the timberline, the conifers are transformed into a completely different form. The timberline is often a park-like area that conifers share with grasses, shrubs and wildflowers. If the towering trees in the forests below remind us of the pillars of a great cathedral, the trees at the timberline elicit visions of heaven. Indeed, when the wildflowers bloom in summer, the streets there are paved with gold, as well as blue, red, and white wildflowers.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh331BwzI2tO0mcFXVfMy5O58f9_NOdv5w12xoxfzVfYSicTkeEPx8X0DBPLhfeWm1q1BRX1aenxyiSxa65fig2fr1cm05m7JvUZvVYqCyc34-cuN8mLa5wIGeMdl5dYmHiwPA4T7OkivBE/s512/McNealPtMeadow-s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="McNeil Point" border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh331BwzI2tO0mcFXVfMy5O58f9_NOdv5w12xoxfzVfYSicTkeEPx8X0DBPLhfeWm1q1BRX1aenxyiSxa65fig2fr1cm05m7JvUZvVYqCyc34-cuN8mLa5wIGeMdl5dYmHiwPA4T7OkivBE/s16000/McNealPtMeadow-s.jpg" title="McNeil Point" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">McNeil Point on Mount Hood</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPip9DVXY9sY0ph8okz_jtN1lHYV1DECc6FKIGuN1dG17v6zUxDr_nfOqsc4qXgod9yAbPPJI3ITNXKFKZmWjc0D1ImAWYyvjaiBk-KsLf859P3HG7b0etX_V0ruH_LO3Gjw4xvs0rFNn/s623/DSC00767Crop.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="400" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPip9DVXY9sY0ph8okz_jtN1lHYV1DECc6FKIGuN1dG17v6zUxDr_nfOqsc4qXgod9yAbPPJI3ITNXKFKZmWjc0D1ImAWYyvjaiBk-KsLf859P3HG7b0etX_V0ruH_LO3Gjw4xvs0rFNn/w320-h498/DSC00767Crop.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mountain hemlock</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Yet, the beauty of these trees is forged in adversity. It is a wonder that conifers can survive at these high elevations where they can be completely covered in deep snow, where they can be blasted with ice crystals in fierce winds, and where their branches and even their roots can be frozen by severe winter temperatures. To survive here they must adapt. The short branches of subalpine fir and Pacific silver fir keep them from breaking when covered in snow. Mountain hemlock branches are bendable and small trees that are covered with snow bend to the ground and pop back up in summer. The drooping branches of Alaska cedar just don’t collect much snow. On the other hand, many species depend on deep snow to protect their roots from freezing. The snow also protects trees from high winds that would blast them with ice crystals.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDMePonteWtS4BjaQIrUUAC_SCVSDcmuKhpwpBCw0QfSlI7sZDn_Xz7c-I2l8swVhyphenhyphenRGMQqAPSrnmDgSZ2lwO0T71GKHTiUzjnQG-HkVq-EhZE4gcKVAbF0U3BowprQIMb_htsBnqOMBe/s600/DSC_3129SubAlpineCrop.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDMePonteWtS4BjaQIrUUAC_SCVSDcmuKhpwpBCw0QfSlI7sZDn_Xz7c-I2l8swVhyphenhyphenRGMQqAPSrnmDgSZ2lwO0T71GKHTiUzjnQG-HkVq-EhZE4gcKVAbF0U3BowprQIMb_htsBnqOMBe/s0/DSC_3129SubAlpineCrop.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Subalpine f</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">ir</span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The conifers that can survive these harsh conditions often grow in small clumps with just one or two larger trees, surrounded by a thicket of small trees. At the highest elevations, these conifers may grow in a stunted, krummholz form, often unrecognizable from their tall relatives below.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZjCW_TLr7EHqEUjIx-tklUhFLK4Ex1sQogQxpz7EA2PH3aOCyg-SYbR7NEb2RajNtjWAMM2uE7yXI17uQym4ePaMRyjH5pnPjTkxsiLr1G4xQC-CeS9WvTKF7srZ_V-Ol_v5aZ8mlxQf/s600/Hem%2526WBPineCrop.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZjCW_TLr7EHqEUjIx-tklUhFLK4Ex1sQogQxpz7EA2PH3aOCyg-SYbR7NEb2RajNtjWAMM2uE7yXI17uQym4ePaMRyjH5pnPjTkxsiLr1G4xQC-CeS9WvTKF7srZ_V-Ol_v5aZ8mlxQf/s0/Hem%2526WBPineCrop.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mountain hemlock and whitebark pine</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28Wo7uLmG_KJNPy7jjrJY64YOZOugYlQtYzuImQM9pUiL91liIq9eZ6YEBiFkYNkBcyT_qaQ_mtO7se-SZcts8sR73YW99bDWuzOsYpLWVnWUTgD_l_fDokod2DnduqvVbj52plQoKj00/s1600/WhitebarkCrop.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="401" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28Wo7uLmG_KJNPy7jjrJY64YOZOugYlQtYzuImQM9pUiL91liIq9eZ6YEBiFkYNkBcyT_qaQ_mtO7se-SZcts8sR73YW99bDWuzOsYpLWVnWUTgD_l_fDokod2DnduqvVbj52plQoKj00/s320/WhitebarkCrop.JPG" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Whitebark pine</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In his book, Timberline, Stephen Arno explains how these alpine conifers survive the extreme conditions at the timberline. Curiously, the winter conditions are not the limiting factor for these trees. Summer is the critical time when conifers must prepare for the winter. They must have enough time in the brief summer to put on new growth and for the new growth to become mature. Arno describes this maturation process as “hardening off of shoots.” This hardening enables the new growth to survive the winter. (Arno, p. 57)<br />
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Contrary to common sense, it is not only the cold of winter that is destructive to alpine conifers. It is also … wait for it … heat. Conifers prepare for cold weather in the fall when temperatures begin to drop below freezing. If needles do not mature in the summer, they can be damaged by frost. But warm weather can dry out the new growth in winter, especially when it is windy or sunny. This drying or “winter desiccation” can be fatal to needles that have not had a chance to mature in summer. This hardening protects the needles, enabling them to retain their moisture. You can look at damaged needles and tell whether they were damaged by frost or winter desiccation. Frost damaged needles shrivel and then turn black. Needles damaged by winter desiccation turn orange-brown. (Arno, p. 58)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1FtaNlg8klgnWN29euxnGcsIkrVHjR2xPOeGRFLPxJReYDGEWKXH5nYk08SjWW5HBXsbb1YsY6eL-utFHtZT_qblSPcDm9_91IGHweC7KWZKO9dy3cizZv0Gj3SmxeZ_1IrQHN8gg01c/s600/MtRainier.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1FtaNlg8klgnWN29euxnGcsIkrVHjR2xPOeGRFLPxJReYDGEWKXH5nYk08SjWW5HBXsbb1YsY6eL-utFHtZT_qblSPcDm9_91IGHweC7KWZKO9dy3cizZv0Gj3SmxeZ_1IrQHN8gg01c/s0/MtRainier.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mount Rainie</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">r</span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The factor that determines the upper elevation limit for conifers is not how cold the winters are. Rather, it is how cold the summers are. Summer must be warm enough and long enough for new growth to become hardened to survive both frost and desiccation.<br />
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Late summer is a great time to visit alpine areas. The snows have melted, and wildflowers are taking advantage of their brief summer and blooming in abundance. These parklands of life living on the edge are unmatched in stunning beauty themselves. Also, the view there is often framed by picturesque, snow-capped mountain peaks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3B65j7PDXf4jKM8Ew4H_RqIJktJ6YBsbbwgZ0vgUGo3q-fRT9GQIw_T7AjULnH0C28org18sZh8bhZnCYepER2-XMAzKGu-39R1LSuXZL_BOB_IZFFlAIApvHPToJPDBP1wz6WbH1UczZ/s600/ParadisePark.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3B65j7PDXf4jKM8Ew4H_RqIJktJ6YBsbbwgZ0vgUGo3q-fRT9GQIw_T7AjULnH0C28org18sZh8bhZnCYepER2-XMAzKGu-39R1LSuXZL_BOB_IZFFlAIApvHPToJPDBP1wz6WbH1UczZ/s0/ParadisePark.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mount Hood</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The most common conifers at the timberline are mountain hemlock, subalpine fir and whitebark pine. Look closely on the ground, too. You may see a mat of common juniper. To identify all the trees you find at the timberline, print this page: <a href="http://nwconifers.com/nwhi/alpine.htm" target="_blank">Alpine Conifers</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsqZGxpT7fD80QjiZwtqKtNFzx7wY1W4IPzkixZDMkz0869PVAwvKOhVJhbZL6mNdAs4D9NZeYM8_dKAY-lKfJf9SsClIqfjGX2rzVWsOuZ2oHWXWUn8CX5lPJQhLDzy23NbJuuNWR5z2/s600/CommonJuniper-s.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsqZGxpT7fD80QjiZwtqKtNFzx7wY1W4IPzkixZDMkz0869PVAwvKOhVJhbZL6mNdAs4D9NZeYM8_dKAY-lKfJf9SsClIqfjGX2rzVWsOuZ2oHWXWUn8CX5lPJQhLDzy23NbJuuNWR5z2/s0/CommonJuniper-s.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Common junipe</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">r</span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-24200656460121641992020-07-06T19:01:00.005-07:002020-07-09T07:56:30.968-07:00Focus on Port Orford Cedar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QOAQhl7bz4I5Ja82bIoCGkfC8ecBc30ERiald65HFpv521FklGxDCJcaCX0Osh_dJCqgre-vyn04cdbgWLKrQj3Rg2yT4_RhUQur-AhcNEeuDOwgNZMwXCMOhNbbEjn941ACX-QkFVP_/s1600/PortOrford.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QOAQhl7bz4I5Ja82bIoCGkfC8ecBc30ERiald65HFpv521FklGxDCJcaCX0Osh_dJCqgre-vyn04cdbgWLKrQj3Rg2yT4_RhUQur-AhcNEeuDOwgNZMwXCMOhNbbEjn941ACX-QkFVP_/s320/PortOrford.JPG" width="168" /></a></div>
Port Orford cedar is a large, attractive tree native to southwest Oregon. The leaves are small, flat scales, often with a white X pattern on the lower surface. This pattern is unique for cedars of the Pacific Northwest. The cones are round and woody, similar to Alaska cedar and many cypress cones. The bark is brown with flat ridges and furrows, becoming thick on old trees. The thick bark helps the tree resist fire. However, the bane of Port Orford cedar is a fungus that attacks the roots. The remaining stands not cut down for lumber have been decimated by this root rot, which arrived in the native forests in the early 1950’s.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMQ2hTmtjK4ItrFc_qf1q3l9uNv0zyc6oDb-8sm3sGdGD_Xde_E2bDX-7no2xXxonROOQMCT1slWBvSudqypGpMuUpYjCyEIj4S8HNJ_YMZOJ4N_NJ2_BkJ85IuGpd69nD4PsgcnPQ9DK/s1600/PortOrf.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMQ2hTmtjK4ItrFc_qf1q3l9uNv0zyc6oDb-8sm3sGdGD_Xde_E2bDX-7no2xXxonROOQMCT1slWBvSudqypGpMuUpYjCyEIj4S8HNJ_YMZOJ4N_NJ2_BkJ85IuGpd69nD4PsgcnPQ9DK/s1600/PortOrf.gif" /></a></div>
Many conifers in the Pacific Northwest have a large range, sometimes extending to Alaska or California. Port Orford cedar? Not so much. It is confined to a small area along the Pacific Coast from Coos Bay, Oregon to the Klamath River in California, extending to 5000 feet in the Siskiyou Mountains. However, they may have had a greater range at one time. Or maybe some made a run to the north. They are still growing in a small area near Florence, Oregon. You can see some at the Darlingtonia State Natural Site, north of Florence.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_l9mx3kN5UFVT5QOQV_ZasdB6ycqtbcm8XblUCXlbyVRQDT7CUR80q036ug1iMoObILgYHEotMYmsPxQEjE7fDojVxyrmSoK62ceak1DGItQcKcBQhIc-7LRA1uoi4IK9SJaUinNo5tJ/s1600/PortOrfordCones.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_l9mx3kN5UFVT5QOQV_ZasdB6ycqtbcm8XblUCXlbyVRQDT7CUR80q036ug1iMoObILgYHEotMYmsPxQEjE7fDojVxyrmSoK62ceak1DGItQcKcBQhIc-7LRA1uoi4IK9SJaUinNo5tJ/d/PortOrfordCones.jpg" title="Port Orford cedar cones" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Port Orford cedar cones</b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A fire in the early 1950’s burned a wide area of Portland’s Forest Park in the vicinity of Saltzman Road. During replanting, several locations were replanted with Port Orford Cedar for some reason (probably because native seedlings were in short supply due to replanting in the Tillamook State Forest). You can find these Port Orford cedars growing in Forest Park along the Wildwood Trail at miles 14.3 and 16.6. More grow at the top of the Dogwood Trail and above Leif Erikson Drive near the junction with the Cleator Trail. Hoyt Arboretum has a few Port Orford cedars, but many have succumbed to the root fungus. Infected trees first show brown leaves in the lower branches.Two healthy ones remain along the Lookout Trail. Most of the specimens along the Redwood Trail have been lost, but some new ones that are resistant to the root disease have been planted there. These seedlings came from the <a href="http://nwconifers.blogspot.com/2016/11/dorena-genetic-resource-center-visit.html" target="_blank">Dorena Genetic Resource Center</a>, which has been working with Oregon State University to research and grow Port Orford cedars that are resistant to the root disease.<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sign on the Redwood Trail at Hoyt Arboretum</b></td></tr>
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Spring is a good time to look for Port Orford cedars, when their distinctive, pollen cones appear. They are small, like most pollen cones in the cypress family, but their bright red color is striking and unique.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Port Orford cedar pollen cones</b></td></tr>
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The scientific name of Port Orford cedar is <i>Chamaecyparis lawsoniana.</i> The species name, <i>lawsoniana</i> was named after nurseryman Peter Lawson of Scotland, who distributed cultivars throughout Europe. Port Orford cedar is one of the most cultivated conifers, with over 500 varieties. They display an amazing variety of colors, forms, and sizes. <br />
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Current uses of the wood are similar to western red cedar. The whitish wood is strong and resists rot, making it a desirable alternative to western red cedar. It became popular in Japan because of its similarity to hinoki cypress (<i>Chamaecyparis obtusa</i>), one of the five sacred trees of Japan and an important tree used in Japanese architecture. However, limited supply and popularity in Japan have forced up the price of Port Orford cedar to levels among the highest for any Northwest tree.<br />
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</div>Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-92149842024126722632020-06-22T21:33:00.001-07:002020-06-22T21:33:47.709-07:00Focus on Alaska Cedar<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqG7ZaH9KmYJLa3QjKUC-Q0UhUGNFd0B1Ch17Om7atvJ07wvB9_4Y4ndJvK8ZJV51-hL8QiY50TYLvWWUncMoZoeub9_eKP9L8MRuXGpeQnkywOezKAfy8KiJHr27OzF55bogB8BtI0G1/s1600/AlaskaCedar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqG7ZaH9KmYJLa3QjKUC-Q0UhUGNFd0B1Ch17Om7atvJ07wvB9_4Y4ndJvK8ZJV51-hL8QiY50TYLvWWUncMoZoeub9_eKP9L8MRuXGpeQnkywOezKAfy8KiJHr27OzF55bogB8BtI0G1/s400/AlaskaCedar.jpg" width="181" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Years ago, I
was working for a home builder in The Dalles, Oregon. At one point, the local
lumber yard delivered a load of 2 X 4 Alaska cedar decking. As the load dropped
to the ground, we noticed that the wood was a curious yellow color. Closer
inspection revealed that the wood had a smooth, waxy surface and a distinctive,
unpleasant smell. Some years later, while hiking on the south side of Mt. Rainier,
I saw what looked to me like an Alaska cedar. To be sure, I stuck a knife blade
into the trunk. Sure enough, when I pulled it out and smelled the blade, it smelled
just like the 2 x 4 decking. It’s not often that it’s possible to identify a
tree by its odor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Alaska cedar is
an attractive narrow tree, easily recognized by its distinctive drooping
branchlets. The leaves are scaled with pointed tips that can be prickly. The
small round cones are distinctive for conifers of the Cascades, although they look
similar to those of Port Orford cedar, which grows along the south coast of
Oregon. The bark is gray, and the stringy strips are often detached, giving it a
scruffy look. When looking for Alaska cedar, don’t forget to also use your nose.
When crushed, the leaves also have an unpleasant smell.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Alaska cedar
grows in the upper elevations of the Cascades and Olympic Mountains. You can
also find it throughout Southeast Alaska, where it grows down to sea level. In
colder regions, it grows where there is deep snow, which protects its shallow
roots from freezing. Ironically, the warming climate may cause freeze damage to
the roots, as snowpacks become thinner. If you drive to Government Camp on Mt.
Hood, you can see some Alaska cedar growing in town. You are likely to see Alaska
cedar growing in urban areas, where its attractive, weeping form is desirable
for plantings as an ornamental. A number of them are growing at Portland’s Hoyt
Arboretum along Fischer Lane. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">The wood of
Alaska cedar is strong and resists rotting. Sometimes called yellow cedar, the wood
is light yellow and turns brighter yellow when wet. The native people of Canada's west coast
and Southeast Alaska made canoe paddles, bows, and many other tools and
implements from Alaska cedar. Today it is used to make furniture, boats, window
frames, shingles, and siding. You can find beautiful carvings of Alaska cedar
in gift shops in Southeast Alaska.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">The scientific
name of Alaska cedar is <i>Callitropsis nootkatensis</i>, formerly <i>Chamaecyparis nootkatensis</i>.
The classification of this conifer has been the subject of much recent
discussion and indecision among botanists. Other proposed genus names include
<i>Xanthocyparis, Cupressus</i> and <i>Hesperocyparis.</i> The species name, <i>nootkatensis</i>, is
derived from the name of the Nootka people of Vancouver Island. <a href="http://oregonflora.org/checklist.php#" target="_blank">Oregon Flora</a> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">shows <i>Callitropsis nootkatensis</i> as the
name. Other common names include yellow cedar, Nootka cypress, yellow cypress,
and Alaska cypress. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Note: Like the other
cedars of the Pacific Northwest, Alaska cedar is not a true cedar. That is, its
genus is not <i>Cedrus</i>, the genus of the true cedars from the Middle East and
Himalayas. Some writers indicate this by writing the name as
"Alaska-cedar."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><b>More Info</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.conifers.org/cu/Cupressus_nootkatensis.php">https://www.conifers.org/cu/Cupressus_nootkatensis.php</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupressus_nootkatensis">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupressus_nootkatensis</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-92121836431033159882020-06-09T21:21:00.001-07:002020-06-10T11:41:48.807-07:00Focus on Incense Cedar<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">My first encounter with incense
cedar wasn’t a sighting. It was a smelling… of trees in Yosemite Valley below
Yosemite Falls. Walking through the trees there, I noticed the pleasant aroma and
asked a ranger what it was. He told me I was smelling incense cedar. With such
an overpowering aromatic presence, this tree is well-named. These aromatic
qualities have contributed to its wide use in cedar chests and closets. Its resistance
to decay makes it a good choice for siding and other outdoor uses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">You may not realize it, but you
have most certainly used small amounts of incense cedar. It has been the
preferred wood for making pencils for many years. However, planting incense
cedar as an ornamental is surely more noble than its use in pencils. Its slow
growth and beauty make it a preferred landscaping tree. Incense cedar displays
bright pollen cones in the fall. You often see them on branchlets in Christmas wreaths.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Leaves and pollen cones</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Incense cedar has small, flat
scale-like leaves forming overlapping, long, wedge-shaped joints. The leaves
are often described as forming the shape of a wine glass, but beer drinkers
would swear that they are shaped like a beer glass. This pattern, often
outlined in white, is distinct to incense cedar. The foliage forms flat sprays
that often have a vertical orientation, unlike western red cedar, which has
drooping sprays with a horizontal orientation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The reddish-brown bark looks similar
to western red cedar, but it is deeply furrowed on large trees. The best way to
identify incense cedar is by its unique cones if any are present. The differences
that distinguish incense cedar leaves and bark from other cedars may be subtle,
but incense cedar cones are unmistakably unique. They are shaped like a duck's
bill, and when they mature, they open, looking like an open bill with its
tongue sticking out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjNj0nBVoWhe_8wxF7Z3E-JH7wu82JJu4ZbqOC_3FehncB4OeWoQGOF4keehX4pbcFELuDTijCac9Tr23t-dfzWMWRtQhJvtWHPr0VuzZkHhnoFNTEcNetBMZF-vajcGD_5mXfANltBz9/s1600/IncenseCones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="600" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjNj0nBVoWhe_8wxF7Z3E-JH7wu82JJu4ZbqOC_3FehncB4OeWoQGOF4keehX4pbcFELuDTijCac9Tr23t-dfzWMWRtQhJvtWHPr0VuzZkHhnoFNTEcNetBMZF-vajcGD_5mXfANltBz9/s320/IncenseCones.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cones</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">ncense cedar is primarily a California tree, growing in the mountains throughout the length of the state.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"> But some grow in the Oregon Cascades north to the south slopes of Mt. Hood. None
are native to the Washington Cascades, at least, not yet. As the climate warms,
they may be headed north. While our other cedars in the Pacific Northwest (western
red cedar, Alaska cedar, and Port Orford cedar) favor wet areas, incense cedar tolerates
dry conditions. It is moderately shade tolerant, but less so than our other
native cedars. You can find incense cedar growing in the southern parts of the
Mt. Hood National Forest. As you travel south in the Cascades, they become more
common, also growing in the coastal mountains of southwest Oregon. If you want
to see incense cedar in the Portland area, several were planted at Hoyt
Arboretum along the connector trail between Bray Lane and the Redwood Trail.
More are growing along the Marquam Trail, west of the Vietnam Memorial.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The scientific name of incense cedar
is <i>Calocedrus decurrens. Calocedrus</i> means "beautiful cedar." <i>Decurrens</i>
describes how the leaves extend down the stem. The English form of the word is
"decurrent."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Note that the cedars native to
North America are not true cedars. That is, they do not belong to the genus <i>Cedrus</i>,
the genus of the cedars from the Middle East and Himalayas. Common names often
can be misleading. However, did you notice that <i>cedrus</i> is embedded in
the genus name of incense cedar? Even the scientific name suggests a close
relationship to the genus <i>Cedrus.</i> Scientific names can be misleading,
too.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
________________<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>See also</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://nwconifers.blogspot.com/2015/06/new-world-cedars.html" target="_blank">New World Cedars</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://nwconifers.blogspot.com/2015/06/focus-on-western-red-cedar.html" target="_blank">Western Red Cedar</a></span></div>
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<br />Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-6043512696816320782020-05-25T20:24:00.001-07:002020-06-04T11:26:22.908-07:00Focus on Mountain Hemlock<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjzVUuzyVuaT8iSF7EcloEdhgp8dmtUZopYyXFmjvBZWGS7I36B8BfV6ekZTK8mQZ58_gt7oqet-ZPs-eLgpjyIRqOru7vPQSOF4ziFKvcFZ3ZdtSYgq29NhAJjhlWx5cQWuPmEm94AOg/s1600/MtHemlockStars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjzVUuzyVuaT8iSF7EcloEdhgp8dmtUZopYyXFmjvBZWGS7I36B8BfV6ekZTK8mQZ58_gt7oqet-ZPs-eLgpjyIRqOru7vPQSOF4ziFKvcFZ3ZdtSYgq29NhAJjhlWx5cQWuPmEm94AOg/s1600/MtHemlockStars.JPG" /></a></div>
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“My God. It’s full of stars.” This is what Dave Bowman exclaimed when he looked into the monolith orbiting Jupiter in the classic science fiction movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. If he had looked at a mountain hemlock, he might have said the same thing. The needles at the tips of the twigs often look like tiny stars with bright blue-white beams of needles radiating out from a point. The needles of other hemlocks tend to lie flat and have white stomatal bands only on the lower surface.<br />
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With complete disregard to any sense of order, the needles of mountain hemlock point in all directions. The needles are short like Western Hemlock, but they have white stomatal bands on both sides of the needle, often giving it a bluish color. The leader at the top of the tree curves and droops over like Western Hemlock. The cones of mountain hemlock are also distinctive. They are about two inches long, three times the size of other hemlocks. In fact, mountain hemlock is so different from other hemlocks that some botanists once thought that it was a hybrid between hemlock and spruce.<br />
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<i>Tsuga Mertensiana</i> is the scientific name of mountain hemlock. <i>Tsuga</i> is the Japanese name for hemlock. The species name, <i>mertensiana</i>, comes from Karl H. Mertens, a German botanist, who first collected specimens in southeast Alaska while on a Russian expedition in 1827.<br />
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Mountain Hemlock grows in the higher elevations of the Cascades and Olympic Mountains, often at the timberline with subalpine fir and whitebark pine. Below the timberline, it sometimes grows in pure stands of large trees. However, at the timberline, it often remains a dwarf, creeping shrub, where winter snow flattens it to the ground. In these park-like settings, the hemlocks also grow in clumps, which contain one or more old, large trees and several young trees. The range of mountain hemlock extends into the High Sierras of California, where it grows at higher elevations, the northern Rocky Mountains, and along the coast of Alaska to Anchorage, where it grows down to sea level.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRAgU1HIieelJCa4EBEQoHBtZ-bIJsFx8MQFmtnWdeXv2DpYzh2c-vLYNRuLE4z3la4itp7v8hIx9oboiOKW5i1e_qj1OfDA-nn4OpQQzgil2vKPrb6StJuipmUA8A5J9dE4oVDv7Scky/s1600/MtHemlock-GnarlRidge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRAgU1HIieelJCa4EBEQoHBtZ-bIJsFx8MQFmtnWdeXv2DpYzh2c-vLYNRuLE4z3la4itp7v8hIx9oboiOKW5i1e_qj1OfDA-nn4OpQQzgil2vKPrb6StJuipmUA8A5J9dE4oVDv7Scky/s1600/MtHemlock-GnarlRidge.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mountain hemlock at Gnarl Ridge</b></td></tr>
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As you gain elevation when hiking in the mountains of Oregon, you will see mountain hemlocks growing among the western hemlocks, starting at about 3500 feet elevation. By the time you reach 4500 feet, the western hemlocks give way to mountain hemlocks. However, you don’t have to drive up to the mountains to find mountain hemlocks. You can see them planted as ornamentals in urban areas. Look for the bluish color and the drooping top. They thrive even at lower elevations, but grow slowly, which makes them a fitting landscaping tree.<br />
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Mountain hemlock has little value as lumber. However, it is an important factor in watershed protection, a fact not lost on people in Portland, which gets its water from Bull Run Lake near Mt. Hood. The water from Bull Run is renowned for its purity, thanks to the mountain hemlock and other trees in the forest above the lake. We can also appreciate the scenic beauty of mountain hemlocks growing in and around grassy alpine meadows. You can see them at Paradise on the south slope of Mount Rainier, at Elk Meadows east of Mount Hood, in Jefferson Park on the north side of Mount Jefferson, and in the Three Sisters Wilderness.<br />
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John Muir was impressed by the contrast between its delicate appearance and its ability to thrive in the harshest conditions, spending the long, cold winter at the timberline under many feet of snow. “No other of our alpine conifers so finely veils its strength. Its delicate branches yield to the mountains' gentlest breath; yet is it strong to meet the wildest onsets of the gale,—strong not in resistance, but compliance, bowing, snow-laden, to the ground, gracefully accepting burial month after month in the darkness beneath the heavy mantle of winter…. Thus warmly wrapped they await the summer resurrection. (The Mountains of California, Ch 8 “The Forests”) Curiously some observers have noted that mountain hemlocks may need the protection of all this snow. The roots may freeze in cold environments where there is little snowfall. Heavy snowfall can insulate these delicate roots. John Muir called the mountain hemlock “... ineffably beautiful, the very loveliest of all the American conifers.” (The Yosemite, Ch. 6) Mountain hemlock is one of my favorites, too. Look for them the next time you’re up in the mountains or shopping at a local nursery.<br />
<br />
<b>See also</b><br />
<a href="http://nwconifers.blogspot.com/2015/04/focus-on-western-hemlock.html" target="_blank">Focus on Westerm Hemlock</a><br />
<br />
<b>More info on mountain hemlock</b><br />
<a href="https://www.conifers.org/pi/Tsuga_mertensiana.php" target="_blank">Gymnosperm Database</a><br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsuga_mertensiana" target="_blank">Wikiipedia</a>Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-18824624024723368922020-05-21T11:48:00.000-07:002020-05-23T20:40:49.025-07:00Focus on Hemlocks<div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW137798300" style="background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "segoe ui", "segoe ui web", arial, verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text1;">Hemlock trees are not the source of the
poison hemlock that killed Socrates. They are not poisonous and not even
related to poison hemlock, but the foliage looks similar, and crushed needles
have a similar smell. This, no doubt, led European settlers of North America to
call these trees hemlocks. The scientific name of the hemlock genus is <i>Tsuga</i>,
which also has a curious origin. Rather than the usual Latin name, <i>Tsuga</i>
is the Japanese name for Japanese hemlock. In the nineteenth century, hemlocks
were first classified as a pine, then as a fir, and later as a spruce. After
the discovery of Japanese hemlock, hemlocks were assigned to the genus <i>Tsuga</i>.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text1;">Hemlocks are in the pine family
(scientific name: Pinaceae) and are unique in the family. They have a
distinctive drooping leader at the top of the tree. Hemlocks also have the
smallest cones in the pine family. They can tolerate growing in the shade of other
large trees for years. However, hemlocks can grow to enormous size and eventually
dominate other trees in the forest. Although they can grow in the shade of
Douglas fir for hundreds of years, in the normal succession of a Douglas fir
forest, the hemlocks will eventually prevail, forming the canopy of the mature
forest.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Western hemlock</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text1;">At least nine species of hemlock grow
in North America and Asia. Curiously, they are absent from Europe. Four species
are native to North America, with two of them in the Pacific Northwest, western
hemlock and mountain hemlock. They are important commercial trees, used to make
lumber, plywood and pulp for paper. However, the beauty of their drooping form
and delicate branchlets far exceeds their usefulness as lumber. And pulp? How
degrading. Their purpose is better served by horticulturists, who have
developed many popular cultivars. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsZKeL6VTIxp4kfRzqyXPpbXlb5MsgnbUG25qNJc1XS8ev_dhtV0XOiGJlnrt-j-p8CKWi_m6SY_Jj5acw3ZTCpJQPTij1-LQVum9qwHpZp_UdXzHYfHpgI2XZc1eQt2spJx2g-zQrMpV/s1600/MtHemlockTwig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsZKeL6VTIxp4kfRzqyXPpbXlb5MsgnbUG25qNJc1XS8ev_dhtV0XOiGJlnrt-j-p8CKWi_m6SY_Jj5acw3ZTCpJQPTij1-LQVum9qwHpZp_UdXzHYfHpgI2XZc1eQt2spJx2g-zQrMpV/s400/MtHemlockTwig.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mountain hemlock</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text1;">Hemlock needles are short and usually
flattened on the twig, but they have a tendency to deviate from their flattened
position. The needles are dark on top with two white lines on the lower
surface. The cones are usually less than an inch long, and the scales are thin
and rounded. Mountain hemlock is an exception to these characteristics, with
bluish needles that make no pretense about lying flat, surrounding the twig in
all directions. Also, the cones are over achievers, being twice as large as
other hemlock cones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVF7_t9qzrgUsEgDm1ZLulwdUvGX9BbWAR-UHecluS5bGwA-KT4nAyC6mQteB2T8nl0B15GkKyNeWs67AhQt-JL9fjHX-tiW6rB04lciVMWcXtxo6ToR7Q2sqCt7kU2i82DFTtNk35j8Pg/s1600/WHemlock-ElkMt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVF7_t9qzrgUsEgDm1ZLulwdUvGX9BbWAR-UHecluS5bGwA-KT4nAyC6mQteB2T8nl0B15GkKyNeWs67AhQt-JL9fjHX-tiW6rB04lciVMWcXtxo6ToR7Q2sqCt7kU2i82DFTtNk35j8Pg/s640/WHemlock-ElkMt.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Western hemlock at Elk Mountain</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Hemlocks flourish in wet, cool
environments. They can tolerate a heavy snowpack, not with strength, but by
bending. They will spring back when the snow melts in the spring. On the other
hand, one thing they do not tolerate is drought. Unless you live east of the
Cascade Mountains, a hemlock would be a graceful addition to your yard, whether
it is a cultivar or one of our natives. </span><span style="font-size: 12px;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>More info</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.conifers.org/pi/Tsuga.php" target="_blank">Tsuga at conifers.org</a></span><br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsuga" target="_blank">Tsuga in Wikipedia</a></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-83431719349919196792019-12-06T22:05:00.000-08:002019-12-06T22:11:32.502-08:00Conifers By Genus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Many people who love nature and hiking in the woods of the <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific Northwest</st1:place> like to identify the individual species
of the flowers, birds, trees, and other plants and wildlife they see there.
However, learning all these names can be a taxing task that requires time and a
backpack full of nature books. Someone asked me recently to identify not a
particular species, but just how to identify a tree as a fir. This seems like a
good way to start learning the conifers. So here is an overview of the conifers
of the Northwest that can help you ID each genus.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Firs </b>– <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Abies<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKaut6DVQYFv9wJk16A_4UoP03TxM_3HAm4gQ6tXz0JG-kLhC_ikprcJUkk0IdQenadnj3Dym3EQkqATmuTgdtXyDa2sE7r4j95NqszVlu8BLx5Kb6Lkbz9Oi0_Zjy5QoIaAcdnTZCD_g/s1600/SilverCones2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKaut6DVQYFv9wJk16A_4UoP03TxM_3HAm4gQ6tXz0JG-kLhC_ikprcJUkk0IdQenadnj3Dym3EQkqATmuTgdtXyDa2sE7r4j95NqszVlu8BLx5Kb6Lkbz9Oi0_Zjy5QoIaAcdnTZCD_g/s1600/SilverCones2.jpg" /></a></div>
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The cones of the firs are perched on the top of the upper
branches, and fall apart at maturity when they disperse their seeds. So you
seldom see any fir cones lying under the trees. Look for the cones in the tree
tops in the summer. The bark is smooth with resin blisters on younger stems and
has furrows between smooth plates on larger trunks. The needles have an
orderly, groomed look, usually flattened or curved upwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the needle tips of Northwest firs are
soft and not prickly. Finally, when the needles fall off, they leave round,
flat scars on the twig. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Abies</i> is the
scientific name of the genus, from the Latin <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">abeo</i>, which means "to rise."</div>
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<st1:place w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Douglas</b></st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> fir </b>– <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pseudotsuga</i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaJ8YligHAuPOobNSaitysDNnITboVoDotCjOKAE07qA9eddlW_dWoKw8ddT1NqMdRrkWzK9FwB21qE3lAn5cicbMym2gOQas1HU0TogNo_Nbx9bOcLXzxRTbpaeAbBh8cTSDnIMEjjGP/s1600/DouglasTwig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaJ8YligHAuPOobNSaitysDNnITboVoDotCjOKAE07qA9eddlW_dWoKw8ddT1NqMdRrkWzK9FwB21qE3lAn5cicbMym2gOQas1HU0TogNo_Nbx9bOcLXzxRTbpaeAbBh8cTSDnIMEjjGP/s320/DouglasTwig.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now, what about Douglas fir? It is very different from the
firs described above, and its unique features make it easy to identify. The
thin needles stick out in all directions from the twig like a bottle brush.
Although their appearance is similar to that of spruce needles, the Douglas fir
needle tips are soft, unlike the sharp spruce needles. Finally, look at the
buds if there are any. Douglas fir has unique buds that are long and pointed,
unlike the short, rounded buds on the true firs.</div>
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Douglas fir cones are the only ones you will find in the
Northwest with three-pointed bracts sticking out of the scales.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike the true firs, the cones hang down
rather than standing up on the branch. Also unlike the true firs, the Douglas
fir drops its cones to the ground intact. When you see these unique cones on
the ground, you know that you are standing near to a Douglas fir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can usually identify a large Douglas fir
by the bark alone. On large trees, the thick bark is deeply furrowed, more than
any other tree in the region. The color is gray to brown and usually brown at
the bottom of the furrows. The scientific name, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pseudotsuga</i>, tells you that the Douglas fir is in a different genus
from the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Abies</i> genus of the firs. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pseudotsuga</i> means “false hemlock.” </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hemlocks </b>– <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tsuga</i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZIii-dGwHdQTQoWiHOf0vYjQi4Qvh2pxDprFt7dXQXd2Dc1IKd08kGmHBMvl2phAxEVTR1LHsANz3ZWB1I-yWwLpsJZuGiX3xccZ2b87yiFKOKOy0wlQEOPC7Mid7wyjKiANWTUENSoz/s1600/WHemlockCones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZIii-dGwHdQTQoWiHOf0vYjQi4Qvh2pxDprFt7dXQXd2Dc1IKd08kGmHBMvl2phAxEVTR1LHsANz3ZWB1I-yWwLpsJZuGiX3xccZ2b87yiFKOKOy0wlQEOPC7Mid7wyjKiANWTUENSoz/s320/WHemlockCones.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Western hemlock</b></td></tr>
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The Northwest has two species of Hemlock. It is easy to
distinguish them from other native conifers by their short, flat needles and by
the drooping leaders at the top of each tree. The cones have rounded scales
like Douglas fir, but don't have bracts protruding from them. The scientific
name, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tsuga</i>, is the Japanese word for
hemlock tree.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pines </b>– <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pinus</i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBouwUdniEP80cmdkoCFjyJIFwBfwk4eqBMQp6BEnUs-bz_sCXrM5Aq_1yUiYefn5kMMmYRy4SubsqtGEwQkfrS4BknEj-_MvROVid30YCeIN-xoItJqqxvnDCgAqQr1DjtOvsm2Ekqjp/s1600/WhitebarkCone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBouwUdniEP80cmdkoCFjyJIFwBfwk4eqBMQp6BEnUs-bz_sCXrM5Aq_1yUiYefn5kMMmYRy4SubsqtGEwQkfrS4BknEj-_MvROVid30YCeIN-xoItJqqxvnDCgAqQr1DjtOvsm2Ekqjp/s320/WhitebarkCone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Although pines are the most common conifer throughout the
world, they don't compete as well in the climate of western <st1:state w:st="on">Oregon</st1:state>
and <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Washington</st1:place></st1:state>
where forests are dark, damp, and dense. You will find them high in the
mountains in more open forests and east of the Cascades summit where the
weather is dry. Pines have long needles that grow in bundles of two to five.
The cones are the largest you will find in the Northwest. Unlike the thin
scales on hemlock and spruce cones, pine cones have thick, woody scales. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pinus</i>, of course, means "pine
tree." </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spruces </b>– <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Picea</i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEwkijjYnIr79XdmH813ceRt61cN68fEuWNhi0uaOOUtlG4-So9uK0TGM7fAM1dsSw7w0hM48vrBQE_lVDjA0cLj7J9wg6zmwCZxlf2MejXCmuUyUuhk6AhlCdz2UdJAkmBeKIcomw8Kl/s1600/SitkaTwig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEwkijjYnIr79XdmH813ceRt61cN68fEuWNhi0uaOOUtlG4-So9uK0TGM7fAM1dsSw7w0hM48vrBQE_lVDjA0cLj7J9wg6zmwCZxlf2MejXCmuUyUuhk6AhlCdz2UdJAkmBeKIcomw8Kl/s320/SitkaTwig.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Spruces are easy to identify. The needles look like
Douglas fir needles, but the points are sharp. Also, each spruce needle grows
on a small peg. These unique pegs remain even after a branch loses its needles.
The cones have paper-thin scales that tend to come to a point. The bracts are
not visible. The bark is gray and breaks into small scales on large trees. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Picea</i> is derived from the Latin for
"pitch."</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Larches </b>– <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Larix</i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GMSLczL9OdAj7LTfr3JLlVG8ZtdM_9IYSqKN79fQEyoj0XEw_0wpqtNWdvEoMjh-psBwQ5Ck60316cdxeIU8oNe8fYi6eHUrIu1Nr8_zNXnVNAU9LtcQs356yJxydRUw69VJFCj_p2O1/s1600/WLarchTwig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GMSLczL9OdAj7LTfr3JLlVG8ZtdM_9IYSqKN79fQEyoj0XEw_0wpqtNWdvEoMjh-psBwQ5Ck60316cdxeIU8oNe8fYi6eHUrIu1Nr8_zNXnVNAU9LtcQs356yJxydRUw69VJFCj_p2O1/s320/WLarchTwig.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unlike most conifers, larches are deciduous, dropping their
needles in the fall. The needles grow in bundles like the pines, and have about
25 needles per bundle. The needles usually grow on a distinctive little spur
twig. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Larix</i>, translates from Latin to
"larch."</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cedars<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCK2vn2xpGuH3-Kpw-DiksnG5doe8H5jhZ3aZBXB8r-UTLjmJz-07eunFXBaNYIYMBGLz5MdMYJ0wybhJxiuLHujC3T0ztb-rac4Ju9_7O8MB7ZsTPWXCMXIFigeNpNc3NhFkk47XydEdN/s1600/WRedCedarTwig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCK2vn2xpGuH3-Kpw-DiksnG5doe8H5jhZ3aZBXB8r-UTLjmJz-07eunFXBaNYIYMBGLz5MdMYJ0wybhJxiuLHujC3T0ztb-rac4Ju9_7O8MB7ZsTPWXCMXIFigeNpNc3NhFkk47XydEdN/s320/WRedCedarTwig.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The cedars of North America are very different from the
"true cedars" (genus <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cedrus</i>)
of the <st1:place w:st="on">Himalayas</st1:place> and the Mediterranean region.
These cedars and all of our native conifers above belong to the pine family. All
our native cedars belong to the cypress family. They are easy to distinguish
from other native conifers because they all have flat, scale-like leaves,
unlike the needles found on other conifers.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yews </b>- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Taxus</i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Pacific Yew (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Taxus
brevifolia</i>) is our only native species of the yew family. Pacific yews have
short, flat, needles that spread out on opposite sides of the twig in flattened
rows. They are dark green on top and lighter green below. The needles are about
1 inch long, but become shorter near the tip of branchlets. Pacific Yew bark is
smooth and purple or red-brown. It is often covered by a peeling, papery gray or
brown layer.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Families<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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If you find identifying each native genus too daunting, you
can always fall back to just identifying the families. There are only three
families of conifers native to <st1:place w:st="on">North America</st1:place>:</div>
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<ul>
<li>The yew family – trees with needles and smooth, purple bark.</li>
<li>The pine family – other trees with needles.</li>
<li>The cypress family – cedars with flat leaves and junipers
with awl-shaped leaves.</li>
</ul>
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For information on the individual species, see <a href="http://nwconifers.com/taxons/families.htm" target="_blank">Overview at Northwest Conifers</a>.</div>
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<br />Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-17550639140221030652019-10-27T22:13:00.012-07:002023-03-12T21:34:26.584-07:00Willamette Valley Ponderosa Pine<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ponderosa pine near Sisters, Oregon</b></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><p class="MsoNormal">Most of us in the Pacific Northwest are familiar with the ponderosa
pine. Just the mention of it brings to mind its long needles and distinctive,
golden bark. But where do you picture these pines growing? Most likely it’s east
of the Cascade Mountains, perhaps around Bend. So, it might surprise you to find
out that ponderosa pine is also native to Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The
ponderosas of the Willamette Valley are adapted to the wet conditions found
west of the Cascade Mountains. Even more surprising, these natives are better
adapted to wet areas than the Douglas firs that grow in the valley. I remember
that we had two large ponderosas growing in a particularly wet area on the farm
where I grew up northwest of Eugene. Although I didn’t know a ponderosa from a
pond-lily at the time, I remember the distinctive look of these trees.<o:p></o:p></p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Willamette Valley ponderosa<br />at Tualatin Hills Nature Park</b></td></tr>
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The ponderosa pines that grow west of the Cascades and on
the west slopes of the Sierras in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:state>
have been classified as a separate subspecies, sometimes called “Pacific
ponderosa pine” (scientific name: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pinus
ponderosa </i>subspecies <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">benthamiana</i>).
Those that have adapted to the wet conditions of the <st1:placename w:st="on">Willamette</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype> are often called “<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Willamette</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place> ponderosa pine.” Studies of ancient pollen show that these pines have been present in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Willamette</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place>
for over 7,000 years. </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Willamette Valley ponderosa pines have long needles growing in bundles of three, like other varieties of ponderosa pine. The bark and cones also look similar. The needles and cones of the subspecies are a little shorter, and the bark is not as thick, but none of these differences are definitive. The key difference is that Willamette Valley can thrive in wet locations in the Willamette Valley. That alone indicates that they are clearly genetically different from the other trees of the benthamiana subspecies. Some have suggested giving them official status as a separate variety, with the name <i>Pinus ponderosa</i> variety <i>willamettensis</i>. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Before European settlement in the 1850’s, ponderosas grew in scattered locations all over the Willamette Valley, mostly in wet, boggy areas along with ash, and on hillsides with white oak or Douglas fir. Like the ponderosas east of the Cascade Mountains, the
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Willamette</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place> natives depend on frequent fires
to eliminate competing conifers. These naturally occurring fires would burn up
the grasses, shrubs and other competing conifers like Douglas fir and grand
fir. But the thick bark on the ponderosas enabled them to survive these fires.
The earliest inhabitants of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Willamette</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place> understood this
and used it to their advantage, setting fires to clear brush and other
conifers. This maintained open ponderosa woodlands good for hunting. The
European settlement of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Willamette</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place> changed all that. These
newcomers cut down the trees for lumber and other uses, turning the woodlands
in the valley into farmland. A sawmill was built in 1853 at Monroe, south of Corvallis, where there was a good supply of ponderosa pine. Sustainable forestry wasn’t a thing at that time. Soon all the nearby pines were cut down, and the mill closed. It wasn’t long before there were few ponderosas growing anywhere in the Willamette Valley. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Willamette Valley pines<br />at the Oregon Garden</b></td></tr>
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<o:p>Recently,</o:p> researchers wanted to see if they could
restore ponderosas to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Willamette</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place>. Plantings of
east-side and west-side ponderosas on a test site near <st1:city w:st="on">Corvallis</st1:city>
determined that the east-side trees did not grow well in this wet environment. Any successful restoration would
have to use seeds of ponderosas native to the valley. In the 1990’s researchers
began collecting seeds from various <st1:placename w:st="on">Willamette</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype> locations and growing trees in
a seed orchard near <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">St. Paul</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Oregon</st1:state></st1:place>. The seed orchard has provided seeds for restoration and planting in parks and other locations where the trees can thrive. Not much restoration has been done, but you can now find them here and there in parks.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The best location I’ve found for mature <st1:placename w:st="on">Willamette</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype> ponderosa pines is the <st1:placename w:st="on">Tualatin</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Hills</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Nature</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype> in <st1:city w:st="on">Beaverton</st1:city>. There are large ponderosas scattered here and there all over the park. Just look for the long needles on the trail and then look up. You’ll likely see a large ponderosa. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpNN3ScnkEG6eRVFtZwAtSA4h3iaN7ZDXH9AX8-PHPw2XS3p9PovSiVQ4Ic-l8AT9h6XlIDGNto_rvqOoYacrip0dx7I7eutTF8dvE3BmqvXLanfMC98KrInxfh-iNhPgOb1-l1c_Fk1p/s1600/DSC_1729crop.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="600" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpNN3ScnkEG6eRVFtZwAtSA4h3iaN7ZDXH9AX8-PHPw2XS3p9PovSiVQ4Ic-l8AT9h6XlIDGNto_rvqOoYacrip0dx7I7eutTF8dvE3BmqvXLanfMC98KrInxfh-iNhPgOb1-l1c_Fk1p/s640/DSC_1729crop.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pine-Oak woods at the Oregon Garden</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:placename w:st="on">Willamette</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype> ponderosa pines have been
planted in many other parks in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Portland</st1:city></st1:place>
area. For example, <st1:placename w:st="on">Cooper</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Mountain</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Nature</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype> and the Tualatin River National
Wildlife Refuge have plantings of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Willamette</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place> natives. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The <st1:placename w:st="on">Rediscovery</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Forest</st1:placetype>
at the <st1:placename w:st="on">Oregon</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Garden</st1:placetype>
in Silverton has a section of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Willamette</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place> ponderosa pine.
These were planted in neat rows in 2002. For comparison, some east-side
ponderosas are planted next to them. Nearby, more ponderosas were planted with
Oregon white oak, showing how these trees grew together 150 years ago forming a
pine-oak savannah. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpuS9T7tY4S1WQd8vQQTtoHiYvZolxfmUdaC9wE9dizXoII_V9CLrIO7EIuKfDldT81CEdi8IZO_Ff-bNDCcEzE1uB5C-Zs1w-88bnEdbEEWGG7dxvAArknE_FIGEmn2-rqGT8bRJOhnK0z7jJ4gbZx2yIMyqWs3NqJpmJ-SLwPYtSGDNU9tgjljW4w/s708/Willamette%20Ponderosa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="708" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpuS9T7tY4S1WQd8vQQTtoHiYvZolxfmUdaC9wE9dizXoII_V9CLrIO7EIuKfDldT81CEdi8IZO_Ff-bNDCcEzE1uB5C-Zs1w-88bnEdbEEWGG7dxvAArknE_FIGEmn2-rqGT8bRJOhnK0z7jJ4gbZx2yIMyqWs3NqJpmJ-SLwPYtSGDNU9tgjljW4w/s320/Willamette%20Ponderosa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Locations of Willamette Valley Ponderosa from Oregon Flora</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLJA0tzaXusffnxYz-vLeJZu_0wSLEPicWfE6L8a_EOQk-WjEXgYCYz6cgFrnt3c0rZwZMPh2eyfx-WUrvjv5y2oTCV3p-g8kbwpdjZQrUjPxOA9H2ojWZ2Jl29RIEE3OvYdyp8z68nKQ/s1600/DSC02589crop.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLJA0tzaXusffnxYz-vLeJZu_0wSLEPicWfE6L8a_EOQk-WjEXgYCYz6cgFrnt3c0rZwZMPh2eyfx-WUrvjv5y2oTCV3p-g8kbwpdjZQrUjPxOA9H2ojWZ2Jl29RIEE3OvYdyp8z68nKQ/s320/DSC02589crop.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ponderosa at Hagg Lake</b></td></tr>
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On a recent hike at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Henry</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Hagg</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Lake</st1:placetype></st1:place> south of Forest Grove, I was
surprised to see a few ponderosas growing along the trail. Keep your eyes open
when you are hiking on local trails in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Willamette</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place>.
You may see a <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Willamette</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place> ponderosa pine. If
the bark doesn’t have the bright colors of the ponderosas east of the Cascades,
be patient. This only appears on very old trees. Enjoy these stately trees as
they grow older. You may see the brightly colored bark in about 75 years.</div>
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<b>More info</b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.westernforestry.org/wvppca/pre2008/rediscovery_forest_pine_demo.htm" target="_blank">Rediscovery Forest Pine Demonstration Area</a> at <st1:placename w:st="on">Oregon</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Gardens</st1:placetype></div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><br /></st1:placetype></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.westernforestry.org/wvppca/" target="_blank">Willamette Valley Ponderosa Pine Association</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://oregonflora.org" target="_blank">Oregon Flora</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.conifers.org/pi/Pinus_ponderosa.php" target="_blank">Ponderosa pines at the Gymnosperm Database</a>Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-36911059530742763102019-05-30T22:47:00.000-07:002019-05-31T09:02:52.194-07:00Conifers in Spring<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8q3vo8C0X7LcdvKFdHYJ2Wz-UwXhsYWfrWAI9Tl4wUPzWBG7y2SqMui-buKRUmbY47Hgam81rjhNcGuoeceN-hYelMX9At76NUpjzltHf3FYbXOSdugW6bfgn2Q7NvTNlDal0-LJ7DXY/s1600/DouglasFir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8q3vo8C0X7LcdvKFdHYJ2Wz-UwXhsYWfrWAI9Tl4wUPzWBG7y2SqMui-buKRUmbY47Hgam81rjhNcGuoeceN-hYelMX9At76NUpjzltHf3FYbXOSdugW6bfgn2Q7NvTNlDal0-LJ7DXY/s320/DouglasFir.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Douglas fir</b></td></tr>
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What are conifers doing in spring? Why is it that no one notices? Well, I suspect that it is because there is too much competition from more glamorous plants like tulips and trilliums. Not even the humming birds and bees seem to pay any attention to the conifers, not that we should blame them. The conifers don’t advertise and don’t offer any nectar. Apart from the stiff competition from flowering plants, why is it that we don’t notice the growth changes of conifers in spring? I think there are primarily two reasons. One reason is that most conifers are evergreen. When deciduous trees put out new leaves the change is transformative. You can’t help but notice the difference between the naked winter branches and the burst of bright green leaves.<br />
Conifers do put out new leaves in spring, but it’s just a little bit more of the same. You might notice that the new needles on a fir are a little brighter than the old ones, but you would be excused if you didn’t notice any difference at all. The other reason is that the “flowers” that grow on conifers are often very small. You might be looking at a branch at arm’s length and not even see them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UA5Yn-RChlakEp6sJ9lMlO0vG5KlZ3nxjZywdXQZjqKK3DqTrQeHFlnztSQ9TEq0VDiTmpRkYzjj8WjpI8hddtZW30CjJZkIAc3qWEycLTEozzOYoTkGZ268hUC_U-YvXsdCc6dcwLl2/s1600/GrandFir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UA5Yn-RChlakEp6sJ9lMlO0vG5KlZ3nxjZywdXQZjqKK3DqTrQeHFlnztSQ9TEq0VDiTmpRkYzjj8WjpI8hddtZW30CjJZkIAc3qWEycLTEozzOYoTkGZ268hUC_U-YvXsdCc6dcwLl2/s320/GrandFir.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Grand fir</b></td></tr>
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The needles on conifers don’t last forever. To maintain their status as an evergreen, the needles only have to last over a year. Most last for several years. But they generate new needles every year. You can see the buds in early spring. Each bud contains a bundle of needles. At budburst, the needles pop out in this bundle. In many conifers, the needles remain in this bundle. In others, the needles are distributed along the twig as it grows. However, not all conifers are evergreen. Some lose their needles in the fall, like most flowering trees. For example, the larches are bare all winter and burst out in a glorious display of bright green needles in the spring.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAN3j4o4WemD4sYsC4byfdApoaSCF7aEmeyinsDqSTzqlv5bZ8ZkZI2dnnvwZyX4fvNCFgZJQcFeXftJjWlu6giqY8D3CJ4eNksvqDU_FoIljtIhiBlyJeDg_pg3-5iLc83-r6o0fd7wOS/s1600/WHemlock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAN3j4o4WemD4sYsC4byfdApoaSCF7aEmeyinsDqSTzqlv5bZ8ZkZI2dnnvwZyX4fvNCFgZJQcFeXftJjWlu6giqY8D3CJ4eNksvqDU_FoIljtIhiBlyJeDg_pg3-5iLc83-r6o0fd7wOS/s640/WHemlock.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Western hemlock</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1ybFaNVgAfaFCdNKHqHhBROHZdgFnUVd9mefdVnA70CFppXR7O5Oy5yU_Xe4jqXrOJx1rIhyphenhyphenpK2_SYZd6Mdi-uOrtX3Xu7w1fSHSiOTxZa1NfArkPqfjl8OjDCirBlic7lSJz4WJmhUr/s1600/WRedCedar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1ybFaNVgAfaFCdNKHqHhBROHZdgFnUVd9mefdVnA70CFppXR7O5Oy5yU_Xe4jqXrOJx1rIhyphenhyphenpK2_SYZd6Mdi-uOrtX3Xu7w1fSHSiOTxZa1NfArkPqfjl8OjDCirBlic7lSJz4WJmhUr/s320/WRedCedar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Western red cedar</b></td></tr>
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Most conifers develop buds during the winter. Western red cedar is an exception. New leaves just start growing at the leaf tips.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPqCR7TRLApzrcfkaDETCgXmTdVlnWulhwX3w_Wq8Gn2cjttU73fj6KAfH-HJMsZoUMbXuCdhsCCNW35a6Nrn8gudlGpDYTYSxiaDO21rWa8IJGHa1iFuRkp56QUQcf7hErNE5ZsPpZ1u/s1600/WHemlockCones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPqCR7TRLApzrcfkaDETCgXmTdVlnWulhwX3w_Wq8Gn2cjttU73fj6KAfH-HJMsZoUMbXuCdhsCCNW35a6Nrn8gudlGpDYTYSxiaDO21rWa8IJGHa1iFuRkp56QUQcf7hErNE5ZsPpZ1u/s320/WHemlockCones.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Western hemlock cones and pollen cones</b></td></tr>
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The defining characteristic of conifers is that they produce cones. It is noteworthy the conifers produce two kinds of cones: The female seed cones and the male pollen cones. We are familiar with the seed cones. Some of them are quite large. However, the pollen cones are often tiny, some of them the size of a pea, some much smaller.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGG4M4riAFSVjQUHdh7l1_A-aci62ckAc9pXPKGPKgxvsau89CwFFdJYUpctWlDga_qM5rxmvdSjfsLO5AAvzqcq4NZc3M1n24l_TejYiwFHyKI0WLIzo2htdNuhPGIKOl5vqi4Z_ASC8/s1600/WRedCedarCones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGG4M4riAFSVjQUHdh7l1_A-aci62ckAc9pXPKGPKgxvsau89CwFFdJYUpctWlDga_qM5rxmvdSjfsLO5AAvzqcq4NZc3M1n24l_TejYiwFHyKI0WLIzo2htdNuhPGIKOl5vqi4Z_ASC8/s320/WRedCedarCones.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Western red cedar cones and pollen cones</b></td></tr>
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Most conifers produce seed cones and pollen cones on the same tree. It’s no surprise that this presents a problem for the offspring, just as interbreeding does for other organisms. Conifers have developed several strategies for avoiding self-pollination, for example, growing seed cones at the top of the tree and pollen cones in the lower branches, or having pollen cones that mature at a different time from the seed cones.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJdilm3nHwTeR3C0Dt2Kf9GlTTuX2XqTl81NkISOSrpoU_OJAD-QQ15UFifn_qkvVq_ZTYLU-0NG9yrywNLVtlBf6JeLgsv7EEcmVjguQk2-cSY4XAynBn1lE-aVDUe0oFwRQbLgw0TZT/s1600/SilverFir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJdilm3nHwTeR3C0Dt2Kf9GlTTuX2XqTl81NkISOSrpoU_OJAD-QQ15UFifn_qkvVq_ZTYLU-0NG9yrywNLVtlBf6JeLgsv7EEcmVjguQk2-cSY4XAynBn1lE-aVDUe0oFwRQbLgw0TZT/s640/SilverFir.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pacific silver fir pollen cones before and after pollen release</span></b></td></tr>
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Many conifers produce pollen cones when they are young and seed cones when they are older. A few conifers, for example, all of the yews, take a more radical approach: They produce seed cones and pollen cones on separate trees, making self-pollination impossible.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oOKK8hPrg9Vk3KI_LhrfZlCYBjyhPD9POJSeaHsAobx5mWKg0PL8OWX-WS7iWPX_2jBnQ6INY2LUvvWF4P1TddZ_8zLFAFnKL8KDg2F8tS3jFkgBW50yWM3XBqyX6U-wtNCukcsILL8E/s1600/DSC02556POCedar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oOKK8hPrg9Vk3KI_LhrfZlCYBjyhPD9POJSeaHsAobx5mWKg0PL8OWX-WS7iWPX_2jBnQ6INY2LUvvWF4P1TddZ_8zLFAFnKL8KDg2F8tS3jFkgBW50yWM3XBqyX6U-wtNCukcsILL8E/s640/DSC02556POCedar.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Port Orford cedar cones</b></td></tr>
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Even though seed cones can be quite large, in spring when pollination happens, they are quite small, sometimes no larger than the pollen cones. As they grow, early on they develop hard woody scales that protect the seeds inside. On the other hand, pollen cones are quite delicate. They only have to last long enough to generate the pollen, which is contained in tiny sacs. When the pollen cones are mature, these sacs burst open and release the pollen.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmott6990AuQOUd8c0xzotV96wLsoWxOOQ3vQ92Yf-5ShWyGrOSgT8s0LD2XYdCoiExzoj18eZ-waxOCVYReGOocaTv9LQVd9S70YjPVkHhIu-84TzwBmC4iSG29U07KVoizMc3Bh2cOWs/s1600/PonderosaPine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="900" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmott6990AuQOUd8c0xzotV96wLsoWxOOQ3vQ92Yf-5ShWyGrOSgT8s0LD2XYdCoiExzoj18eZ-waxOCVYReGOocaTv9LQVd9S70YjPVkHhIu-84TzwBmC4iSG29U07KVoizMc3Bh2cOWs/s320/PonderosaPine.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ponderosa pine pollen cones</b></td></tr>
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Pollen in other trees is distributed mostly by insects. This explains all those colorful flower advertisements that plants create to attract the insects. Humming birds are attracted to the flowers, too. Since conifers don’t produce flowers, how does the pollen get distributed to the seed cones? The answer is wind. When the pollen cones release the pollen, the wind carries it to the seed cones. As you can imagine, this isn’t an efficient way to manage pollination. Most of the pollen never makes its way to a seed cone. This is why conifers distribute copious amounts of pollen. You can often see clouds of yellow pollen drifting from pine trees on a windy spring day. You may also see a small cloud of pollen if you reach up and tap a cluster of mature pollen cones.<br />
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See also<br />
<a href="http://nwconifers.blogspot.com/2014/04/conifer-pollination.html" target="_blank">Conifer Pollination</a><br />
<a href="http://nwconifers.blogspot.com/2014/05/more-pollen.html" target="_blank">Pollen Allergies</a><br />
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Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-80519970642536605092019-02-09T14:02:00.000-08:002019-02-09T14:08:39.286-08:00The White Pines<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <i>Pinus</i> genus has more species than any other genus of conifers, by one count 114, and by any calculation, too many to keep track of. So it’s no surprise that taxonomists have divided the pines into two subgenera. One group, subgenus Pinus, is typically called the hard pines. Natives of the Pacific Northwest in this group include lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, and Jeffrey pine. The other group, subgenus Strobus, is called the soft pines or white pines. The white pines of the Northwest include western white pine, whitebark pine, sugar pine, and limber pine. Since all of the white pines have needles that grow in bundles of five, they are also called five-needle pines. This is a good thing to remember, because it is how you can distinguish them from the other native pines, which have two or three needles per bundle.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2_uQ68VSwDt-lnApgxCZ1TICuHigxQD9T2USTJPjvzZT_CR7QVRTacG8NgXvShpc2bSsvfaMJOuYVS2hxemKWmwLMGUHPDgd5CfRiW7v9PBwPIX101FUTPE8h8fPvrpSzGVfcWS4F6tA/s1600/WWhitePineCone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2_uQ68VSwDt-lnApgxCZ1TICuHigxQD9T2USTJPjvzZT_CR7QVRTacG8NgXvShpc2bSsvfaMJOuYVS2hxemKWmwLMGUHPDgd5CfRiW7v9PBwPIX101FUTPE8h8fPvrpSzGVfcWS4F6tA/s320/WWhitePineCone.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Western white pine</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is the difference between hard pines and soft pines? These descriptions refer to the wood. We usually think of hard woods as the wood from flowering trees, for example, oaks and maples. However, some conifers produce relatively harder woods than others. Fir and hemlock wood is fairly soft. The wood of white pine is moderately soft. White pine has been used for construction, although much of the white pine forests of North America have been cut down. Eastern white pine was once the preferred tree for the masts of sailing ships in the British Navy. In fact, the British went around marking suitable white pines for the exclusive use of the King. Unmarked white pines were put to other uses, including house construction. The light color and moderate softness of white pine make it a good choice for window frames and other finish lumber. It is easy to carve, mill or sand, and retains its shape. Whether painted or stained, it finishes well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Western white pine (<i>Pinus monticola</i>) is the most common native white pine of the Pacific Northwest. It can grow to over 200 feet tall and has cones that are larger than eastern white pine (<i>Pinus strobus</i>). Both trees have cones with a characteristic banana shape, but those of western white pine are also about the size of a banana. However, the sugar pine (<i>Pinus lambertiana</i>) is the granddaddy of the white pines. In fact, it is the tallest of all the pines. The tallest sugar pine is in Yosemite National Park and is over 270 feet tall. Just as notable, the sugar pine has the longest cones of all the conifers, up to 19 inches long. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7L9XPWo9yT3Fd6p9X_YN9sbnj8HHkturjo_epYO4swUs1MuvYRSiI24_m8-uRwkvejPJvdSjuob0-O9L6-JdoRLKB4UPaHRef5rKwAPVZ-ADzOUzU_LuTuGJrNCHTdjvjBCWIk0BsaJa/s1600/SugarPineCone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7L9XPWo9yT3Fd6p9X_YN9sbnj8HHkturjo_epYO4swUs1MuvYRSiI24_m8-uRwkvejPJvdSjuob0-O9L6-JdoRLKB4UPaHRef5rKwAPVZ-ADzOUzU_LuTuGJrNCHTdjvjBCWIk0BsaJa/s1600/SugarPineCone.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sugar pine</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />If you frequent the higher elevations of the Cascades, you will meet another, very different white pine. The whitebark pine (<i>Pinus albicaulis</i>) that grows here is not large in stature, but these pines are a very important food source for some very important birds, if the amount of noise the birds make is any measure of their importance. These birds are the Clark’s nutcracker and the Steller’s Jay. The cones of other native white pines open and distribute their winged seeds when they mature. Not so with whitebark pine. These cones remain closed on the tree until a nutcracker or jay comes along to pry the cone open and extract the seeds. They eat the seeds or hide them to eat later. The relationship between whitebark pine and the Clark’s nutcracker is such a close one that whenever you hear a Clark’s nutcracker, you can be sure that whitebark pine is nearby. This relationship between the two is a symbiotic one. The nutcrackers get some food. The pines benefit by getting the birds to distribute their seeds to places where they can germinate. No doubt, this is not the intention of the birds, but they don’t remember where they “planted” all those seeds, despite the fact that researchers extol their memory capabilities. Not even a genius can remember everything. That is why whitebark pine has spread all over the cascades. Either that or the nutcrackers just hide more whitebark pine seeds than they can eat. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whitebark pine</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Similar species of white pines grow all over the Northern Hemisphere. Mexican white pine (<i>Pinus ayacahuite</i>) is closely related to eastern white pine. Other species, called the stone pines, have large edible seeds like the whitebark pine, including Italian stone pine (<i>Pinus pinea</i>) and Swiss stone pine (<i>Pinus cembra</i>). Those expensive pine nuts you see in the grocery store may have come from these European species, but more likely they are Korean pine (<i>Pinus koraiensis</i>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">White pine blister rust is a disease caused by an Asian fungus species, which was introduced to North America over 100 years ago. It has caused serious damage to the white pines all across the U. S. In the Northwest, white pine blister rust has infected large areas of whitebark pine. Efforts are now underway to develop genetic strains that are resistant to the disease. <a href="http://nwconifers.blogspot.com/2016/11/dorena-genetic-resource-center-visit.html" target="_blank">More information</a>.</span></div>
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Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053137314962551000.post-79569396308822557222018-11-24T19:36:00.000-08:002018-11-24T19:36:06.727-08:00The Larch<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJvmmiwHnltkdb6w7kl-tzqHrn6Qb2-ZNMk1m9Zxg_uGHkLukpYRQpUL6_m1Q3UJplAXHi_FoHyEdhbX01NIbHo3J_x9XgJ8l7PznahNuf9FuKDwoYDOwTaWmEFPnNVrQzKPbtLfmJFOq/s1600/DSC_0250s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJvmmiwHnltkdb6w7kl-tzqHrn6Qb2-ZNMk1m9Zxg_uGHkLukpYRQpUL6_m1Q3UJplAXHi_FoHyEdhbX01NIbHo3J_x9XgJ8l7PznahNuf9FuKDwoYDOwTaWmEFPnNVrQzKPbtLfmJFOq/s320/DSC_0250s.JPG" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Western Larch by Highway 35</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We usually think of conifers as evergreen trees, and most conifers are evergreen. However, some conifer species are notable exceptions. They are deciduous. That is, they drop their needles in the fall and grow a new crop each spring. Most of these deciduous conifers are larches. Ten species of larch grow in the Northern Hemisphere, three are native to North America, and two grow in the Pacific Northwest. Western Larch (scientific name, <i>Larix occidentalis</i>) is the most common larch in the Northwest and the only larch native to Oregon. You may not notice the larches on your summer hikes in the Cascade Mountains, but in November, when the needles turn golden-yellow, they stand out like trees on fire. You can see them along Oregon Highway 35 north of Mount Hood Meadows.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, you may wonder, why do larches drop their needles in the fall? Other conifers growing nearby seem to survive the winter cold just fine with their needles intact. These conifers have adapted to the cold by moving water out of the cells in the needles, leaving a concentrate that acts like antifreeze, or by purifying the water in the cells so ice crystals can’t form even at temperatures well below freezing. The larches have adapted a completely different strategy. They just drop their needles in the fall and grow new ones in the spring. This enables larches to survive some of the coldest temperatures of any of the conifers, growing high in the mountains and in the northern latitudes of North America and Siberia.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Western larch</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It takes a lot of energy to grow new needles every year. However, since the needles only have to last one season, they don’t need to be strong and durable. So less energy is needed to grow them. As a result, you will notice that larch needles are much more delicate than those of evergreen conifers. The same is true of the leaves on trees. Note how the evergreen leaves are thick and stiff compared to the delicate leaves on deciduous trees.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgrIinX0unUGthH1urSrYHMmAXlBACfu3bnTvUopG8vYWepLmeWJNJqD7WcgqzALX62lB4i6No-m8mV3_nsmy8AkvFCBFwrcmRb6XPNKHVgmcNuhiQtRJm6VSoySfGwkD4pQecrmiHBAN/s1600/WLarchTwig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgrIinX0unUGthH1urSrYHMmAXlBACfu3bnTvUopG8vYWepLmeWJNJqD7WcgqzALX62lB4i6No-m8mV3_nsmy8AkvFCBFwrcmRb6XPNKHVgmcNuhiQtRJm6VSoySfGwkD4pQecrmiHBAN/s320/WLarchTwig.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Western larch needles</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">L</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">arches are easy to identify. The needles grow in bundles like a pine with about 25 needles in each bundle. In the Cascades, Western Larch grows mostly on the east side of the Cascade summit at elevations up to 6000 feet. It also grows in the mountains of northeastern Oregon and Washington, and in northern Idaho and western Montana.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alpine larch (<i>Larix lyallii</i>) grows at elevations higher than Western Larch, near the timberline in the North Cascades in Washington. It also grows in the Rocky Mountains of Idaho, Montana, and Canada. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Western larch is an important timber tree. The wood is nearly as strong as Douglas fir and is used for framing and finishing. Western larch is also a popular firewood in the Northwest. It is often called “tamarack” by wood cutters, a common name for the other North American larch (<i>Larix laricna</i>), which grows in the northeast United States, across Canada, and in central Alaska.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Japanese larch at Hoyt Arboretum</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">November is the time of the year to look for larches, when they display their fall colors. To see the larches at Hoyt Arboretum in Portland, start at the Visitor Center and walk west on the Fir Trail.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">________</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>See Also</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://nwconifers.blogspot.com/2015/11/" target="_blank">Fall Conifer Colors</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://nwconifers.blogspot.com/2017/01/how-do-conifers-survive-cold.html" target="_blank">How Do Conifers Survive the Cold?</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://nwconifers.com/nwhi/wlarch.htm" target="_blank">Western Larch at Northwest Conifers</a></span><br />
<br />Ken Dennistonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02260273693541192370noreply@blogger.com6