PNW conifers (that aren’t pines)

True firs (Abies)• Cones perch on the topmost branches.

• Leaves of most species are about 1" long and are highly aromatic. White bands on the underside but some have are green on top while others are blue-green to white.

• Twigs without needles have tiny, flat, circular leaf scars.

• Sometimes called ‘balsam fir’ Young stems have fragrant resin blisters.

• Well-adapted to snowy environments because their short, stiff branches and pointed tops shed snow without breaking

Leaf scars

Young bark has resin blisters

True firs of the PNW• Grand fir

• Pacific Silver fir

• Noble fir

• Sub alpine fir

Uses

• Resins and oils from the bark and foliage of true firs are used for a variety of products– perfumes – adhesives – pharmaceuticals – Christmas trees– Some attribute a healing effect to this

liquid.

Douglas Fir Psuedotsuga

• Not a ‘true-fir’

• Single yellow-green needles, about 1 inch long that encircle the stem and twist at the base with two white bands underneath.

• Cones up to 4 inches long, with pitchfork-shaped bracts protecting the seeds. Bark deeply furrowed on mature trees. Top erect.

Douglas fir uses• Most important lumber tree in the U.S.

• Used for plywood

• Christmas trees

• paper and paper products.

Spruces (Picea)• Needles: generally stiff and sharp; about 1" long

OUCH.• Each spruce needle springs from a tiny, woody

peg.• Cones: most have papery thin scales.• Bark: mostly thin and flaky.• Over 40 species, 2 of which are common in the

PNW– Engelmann– Sitka

Spruce use

• Musical instruments

• The Wright brothers Flyer

• Indoor construction

• Vitamin C

• Christmas trees

Sitka Spruce

• Needles: 1" long; sharp; yellow-green to blue green; often flat (difficult to roll between your fingers).

• Fruit: Woody cones; 1-4" long; hang down; very thin scales with jagged edges.

• Twigs: Each needle is borne on a square, raised, woody peg

Engelmann spruce

• Needles: 1" long; sharp; blue-green to green; all tend to point forward; are usually square in cross-section and therefore roll between the fingers; stink when crushed.

• Fruit: Woody cones about 2" long; hang down; very thin scales with jagged edges

Larch/Tamarack

• Needles are deciduous. turn yellow before they fall.1" long and typically grow in dense clusters(20-40) attached to short woody shoots (called spur shoots).

• Needles are soft to the touch--never sharp or spiny. Current-year needles are borne singly on slender pegs.

• Small, woody cones (1-2" long)

Larch uses• Snowshoes

• Ornamental trees

• Treat cuts, frostbite, laxative

Hemlock (Tsuga)

• Needles: generally under 1" long on a small, raised, rounded peg.

• Needles of some species are green on top with white bands beneath, while others have uniform color on top and bottom.

• Small cones (1-3" long).

• Trees have distinctive droopy tops and branches

Mountain Hemlock

• Needles: Between 1/2" and 1" long; blunt; green to blue-green in color; uniform color on all sides of a single needle; star-like appearance on short shoots.

• Cones 1-3" long; thin, rounded scales.

Western Hemlock• Needles: Short (under 3/4" long) and blunt; two

distinctly different sizes; green above and white underneath

• Cones small (about 1"); egg-shaped; thin, smooth scales.

• Twigs: Thin and droopy; have small, rounded pegs (leaf scars) on twigs with 1 needle arising from each peg.