Trees of Western North America (Princeton Field Guides)
Richard Spellenberg, Christopher J. Earle, Gil Nelson
Language: English
Pages: 560
ISBN: 0691145806
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
Covering 630 species, more than any comparable field guide, Trees of Western North America is the most comprehensive, best illustrated, and easiest-to-use book of its kind. Presenting all the native and naturalized trees of the western United States and Canada as far east as the Great Plains, the book features superior descriptions; thousands of meticulous color paintings by David More that illustrate important visual details; range maps that provide a thumbnail view of distribution for each native species; "Quick ID" summaries; a user-friendly layout; scientific and common names; the latest taxonomy; information on the most recently naturalized species; a key to leaves; and an introduction to tree identification, forest ecology, and plant classification and structure. The easy-to-read descriptions present details of size, shape, growth habit, bark, leaves, flowers, fruit, flowering and fruiting times, habitat, and range. Using a broad definition of a tree, the book covers many small, overlooked species normally thought of as shrubs, as well as treelike forms of cacti and yuccas. With its unmatched combination of breadth and depth, this is an essential guide for every tree lover.
- The most comprehensive, best illustrated, and easiest-to-use field guide to the trees of western North America
- Covers 630 species, more than any comparable guide, including all the native and naturalized trees of the United States and Canada as far east as the Great Plains
- Features specially commissioned artwork, detailed descriptions, range maps for native species, up-to-date taxonomy and names, and much, much more
- An essential guide for every tree lover
Leaves Opposite, Pinnately Compound Leatherleaf Ash, p. 368 Lyontree, p. 426 Lyontree, p. 426 Barreta, p. 458 Sierra Bladdernut, p. 520 Leaves Alternate, Palmately Compound or Trifoliolate African Sumac, p. 148 Berlandier Jopoy, p. 458 Boxelder, p. 506 Common Hoptree, p. 460 Oregon Ash, p. 374 Mountain Torchwood, p. 456 Leaves Alternate, Pinnately Compound Terminal Leaflet Usually Absent Blue Elderberry, p. 130 01 TWNA pp001-025.indd 24 Guayacán, p. 538 Anacacho Orchid-tree, p. 232
bearing leaves in alternating pairs or whorls of 3. leaf Most seedlings bear sharp needles up to 10 mm long, jutting out from the twig. All of our species except Common Juniper, when they grow to sapling size lose most or all of their needle leaves and grow leaves shaped like small scales, 1–3 mm long and about as wide, that cover the twig. Important characteristics of these scale leaves include their size relative to twig thickness, whether or not they overlap, the presence of a visible gland or
of pine and another 1 or 2 species of juniper. The principal pines involved are Twoneedle Piñon, Singleleaf Piñon, and Mexican Piñon. The piñon–juniper woodland is of great ecological importance, because the dominant trees create a structure that produces habitat diversity, retains snow cover and 24/03/2014 08:34 pinAceAe: pine FAmily 87 Texas piñon open cone 3 2 cone Twoneedle piñon cone 2 seed open cone enhances soil moisture, and provides an important food source (pine nuts and
juniper berries) for TexAs Piñon 02 TWNA pp026-111.indd 87 many species of birds, mammals, and insects. All of the piñon pines have a symbiotic relationship with the birds (members of the jay family) that gather, cache, and eat their seeds, and upon which the trees are completely dependent for seed dissemination. A cottage industry that involves gathering piñon “nuts” and selling them along roadsides is common in the Southwest. Twoneedle Piñon 24/03/2014 08:34 88 Pinaceae: Pine Family
resinous glands. Blade 3–7 cm long, 2.5–5 cm broad; petiole 2–3 cm long. flower Male catkins slender, 4–9 cm long, in groups of 2–4; female catkins pendulous, 2–4 cm long, catkin scales with the central lobe very short and bluntly pointed, the lateral lobes longer and rounded. Apr.–Jun. fruit Tiny winged samara, the wings much broader than the seedlike body. HABITAT/RANGE Introduced from Europe; established in ne. U.S., naturalized in B.C. and Wash.; roadsides, bog margins, disturbed sites,