plant IDs Flashcards
1
Q
Douglas-fir
A
Pseudotsuga menziesii
2
Q
Grand fir
A
Abies grandis
3
Q
Subalpine fir
A
Abies lasiocarpa
4
Q
Pacific silver fir
A
Abies amabilis
5
Q
Englemann spruce
A
Picea engelmannii
6
Q
Sitka spruce
A
Picea sitchensis
7
Q
Lodgepole pine / Shore pine
A
Pinus contorta / Pinus contorta contorta
8
Q
Western white pine
A
Pinus monticola
9
Q
Ponderosa pine
A
Pinus ponderosa
10
Q
Western redcedar
A
Thuja plicata
11
Q
Western hemlock
A
Tsuga heterophylla
12
Q
Mountain hemlock
A
Tsuga mertensiana
13
Q
Bigleaf maple
A
Acer macrophyllum
14
Q
Red alder
A
Alnus rubra
15
Q
Vine maple
A
Acer circinatum
16
Q
Pacific madrone
A
Arbutus menziesii
17
Q
Black cottonwood
A
Populus trichocarpa
18
Q
Garry oak (Oregon white oak)
A
Quercus garryana
19
Q
Indian plum
A
Oemleria cerasiformis
20
Q
Quaking aspen
A
Populus tremuloides
21
Q
Himalayan blackberry
A
Rubus armeniacus (prev. Rubus discolor)
22
Q
Salmonberry
A
Rubus spectabilis
23
Q
Bitterbrush / antelope brush
A
Purshia tridentata
24
Q
Blueberries / huckleberries
A
Vaccinium spp.
25
Q
Big sagebrush
A
Artemisia tridentata
26
Q
Oregon grape
A
Berberis spp (prev. Mahonia spp.)
27
Q
Rubber rabbitbrush
A
Ericameria nauseosa
28
Q
Salal
A
Gaultheria shallon
29
Q
Ocean spray
A
Holodiscus discolor
30
Q
Sword fern
A
Polystichum munitum
31
Q
Bracken fern
A
Pteridium aquilinum
32
Q
Lady fern
A
Athyrium filix-femina
33
Q
Pseudotsuga menziesii
A
Douglas-fir
- Soft needles are about 1” long with a blunt tip. Green on top with 2 white bands below.
- Woody cones (3-4” long) hang down; have pitchfork-shaped bracts (mouse-tails)
- Buds are large and pointed with reddish-brown overlapping scales.
34
Q
Abies grandis
A
Grand fir
- Single band of needles: About 1” long; yellow-green on top surface of needles (no white bloom on upper surface)–whitish bands on undersides. Sets of needles flattened or “V” shaped. Needles are two distinct sizes, with alternating long and short needles.
- Fruit: Upright, cylindrical cones; 3-4” long; bracts shorter than scales. Fall apart when mature.
- Twigs: Terminal buds round and clustered, and covered with resin. Young twigs are greenish.
- Distribution: Extends across the Pacific Northwest from sea level to 5100 ft. (1600 m).
35
Q
Abies lasiocarpa
A
Subalpine fir
- Bushy needlesover twig: White lines both above and below the needle; about 1” long. Massed on the upper surface of the twig; very neat in appearance.
- Fruit: Cylindrical woody cones about 2-4” long at top of tree; purple. Fall apart when mature. Point up.
- Twigs: Terminal buds are small, round, and clustered; covered with resin.
- Distribution: Generally occurs at timberline in cold, humid climates in the Olympic, Cascade, and Rocky Mountains.
36
Q
Abies amabilis
A
Pacific silver fir
- crowded Needles over twig: Green on top and white underneath; about 1” long. Top needles point forward like ski jumpers; side needles are nearly perpendicular to the twig.
- Fruit: Large woody cones (3-6” long); cylindrical in shape; purple in color. Fall apart when mature.
- Twigs: Buds clustered at tip of branch are usually round, purple in color, and covered with pitch.
- Bark: Remains gray throughout its life. Resin blisters when young; scaly when older.
- Distribution: Grows from 1100-6600 ft (350-2000 m) elevation in the Pacific Northwest on southern and western exposures.
37
Q
Picea engelmannii
A
Englemann spruce
sharp needles, thin platey bark, distinct cones,
- 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.
- Twigs: Covered with distinct, square, raised pegs.
- Distribution: Grow in the high elevations of the Cascades and Rocky Mountains. Northern populations occur from 3200-8700 ft. (1000-2600 m) elevation
38
Q
Picea sitchensis
A
Sitka spruce
- Needles: 1” long; sharp; yellow-green to blue green; often flat (difficult to roll between your fingers). Some needles on a twig point sideways while others point forward. Needles tend to look green above and blue-green to white below.
- 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.
- Distribution: Grows in a narrow coastal zone from southern Alaska to northwestern California at low elevations.
39
Q
Pinus contorta
A
Lodgepole pine
hard cones, 2 short, twisted needles, needs fire to germinate, cones stay on
- Needles: Two needles per bundle (clustered); 1-3” long; commonly twisted (contorted).
- Fruit: Small, egg-shaped cones (1-2” long), often with a prickle at the end of each scale. May remain closed on the tree for years.
- Bark: Thin, dark, and flaky.
- Distribution: Abundant in the northern Rocky Mountains and Pacific Coast region. Grow from 0-11,500 ft. (0-3600 m). Those along the coast are commonly called shore pine.
40
Q
Pinus monticola
A
Western white pine
5 needles, soft cone, drops cones
- Needles: Occur in bundles of 5; 2-4” long; white lines on 2 sides of each 3-sided needle.
- Fruit: Woody cones, 5-12” long (smaller than sugar pine cones); slender and curved. Cone scales are thin and often curve up on the end.
- Bark: Dark; broken into small squares or rectangles on older trees (smooth on young trees). Bark often “ringed” where a whorl of branches once grew.
- Distribution: Occurs in southern British Columbia, the northwestern states, and the Sierra Nevada of California. In the northern portion of their range, the trees grow from sea level to 2500 ft. (750 m).
41
Q
Pinus ponderosa
A
Ponderosa pine
2-3 long needles, hard cone, fire tolerant (but not req’d), drops cones
- Needles: Occur in bundles of 3 (rarely 2); 5-10” long; tufted near the ends of branches (needles are held only 2-3 years).
- Fruit: Egg-shaped cone; 3-5” long (much smaller than Jeffrey pine cones); each scale has a straight, stiff prickle that sticks out.
- Bark: Flakes off in shapes like jigsaw puzzle pieces. Older trees have a distinct yellow or orange color (not red like Jeffrey pine).
- Distribution: Occurs in the Pacific Coast mountain ranges, throughout the Rocky Mountains, and into northern Mexico. Grows from sea level to 9000 ft. (2800 m).
42
Q
Thuja plicata
A
Western redcedar
- Needles: Scale-like (decussate) and appressed to twig. Green above with a white butterfly pattern below (look closely at the second photo).
- Fruit: Small, woody cones about 1/2” long; grow upright on twig. Shaped like tiny rose buds or the bowl of a smoker’s pipe.
- Bark: Thin, reddish-brown, and stringy. Had many uses for the Northwest Indians.
- Distribution: Grows in areas of abundant precipitation, high humidity, and cool summers. Grows from sea level to 4000 ft. (1200 m) west of the crest of the Cascades, but to 7000 ft. (2150 m) in the Rocky Mountains.
43
Q
Tsuga heterophylla
A
Western hemlock
- Needles: Short (under 3/4” long) and blunt; two distinctly different sizes; green above and white underneath each needle; most needles appear to arise from the sides of the twigs.
- Fruit: Small, woody cones (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.
- Distribution: Primarily found in the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest. Occurs from sea level to 7400 ft. (2250 m).
44
Q
Tsuga mertensiana
A
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.
- Fruit: Woody cones 1-3” long; thin, rounded scales.
- Twigs: Moderately stout; many short shoots; terminal branch tips have a natural bend; have small, rounded pegs (leaf scars) on twigs with 1 needle arising from each peg.
- Distribution: Grow on exposed ridges and slopes in the Pacific Northwest, and in the mountains of British Columbia and Idaho. Found at altitudes up to 11,000 ft. (3300 m).
45
Q
Acer macrophyllum
A
Bigleaf maple
- Size: Grows to 100’ tall and 4’ in diameter.
- Leaves: Simple, opposite, and deciduous. Very large. Palmately lobed (5 lobes) with the central lobe having a distinct “waist.” Long leaf stalk with milky sap.
- Fruit: Double samaras in long clusters; samaras joined at right angles; hairy seeds.
- Twigs: Buds and branchlets are opposite.
- Bark: Grayish or reddish-brown; interlacing ridges and furrows.
- Distribution: Bigleaf maple grows on the west side of the Cascades and Sierras from British Columbia through most of California. It prefers moist, well-drained soils
46
Q
Acer circinatum
A
Vine maple
- Size: Generally under 20’ tall with multiple stems several inches in diameter.
- Leaves: Simple, opposite, deciduous. Palmately lobed with 5-9 lobes (usually 7). Average 2”-4” in diameter. Circular outline.
- Fruit: Double samaras that resemble an airplane propeller.
- Twigs: Opposite buds and branchlets. Twigs often end in 2 buds.
- Bark: Smooth with a greenish tinge.
- Distribution: Vine maple grows throughout the Pacific Northwest. It likes damp places and fairly good soil.
47
Q
Alnus rubra
A
Red alder
- Leaves: Simple, alternate, and deciduous; egg-shaped; 3”-6” long; margins doubly serrated and tightly rolled under; veins very straight.
- Fruit: Small brown woody “cones” about 1” long.
- Twigs: Young twigs are triangular in cross-section. Buds are borne on short stalks.
- Distribution: Found in cool, moist environments below 2,500 ft. west of the Cascades.
48
Q
Arbutus menziesii
A
Pacific madrone
- Size: Grows to 100’ tall and 6’ in diameter.
- Leaves: Simple, alternate, evergreen. Oblong; 3”-5” long. thick and leathery; dark green above and light green below. Edges smooth or finely serrated.
- Fruit: Small (pea sized), round, orange-red, berry-like fruit with a pebbly texture.
- Twigs: Stout; smooth; may be green , orange, or reddish-brown.
- Bark: Flakes off in scales or strips; outer bark is orange or reddish-brown; inner bark may be bright green.
- Distribution: found along the western parts of California up into Canada and in the northern parts of Idaho and northeastern Oregon.
49
Q
Populus trichocarpa
A
Black cottonwood
- Size: Grows to 200’ tall and 6’ in diameter.
- Leaves: Simple, alternate, deciduous. Triangular; 3”-6” long (but sometimes much larger); green above and white below, often with rusty markings. Margins are smooth or with rounded teeth.
- Fruit: Round capsules on a string; contain numerous tiny cottony seeds.
- Twigs: Stout. Terminal buds are cigar-shaped, sticky, and smelly.
- Bark: Smooth and gray on young trees. Furrowed and ridged on mature trees.
- Distribution: Black cottonwoods are found from southeast Alaska into Baja California and from the Pacific to the Dakotas. But for much of its range, it only grows along rivers and streams, avoiding the hot, dry territory they travel through.
50
Q
Populus tremuloides
A
Quaking aspen
- Size: Small tree growing to 80’ tall and 2’ in diameter. Short lived.
- Leaves: Simple, alternate, deciduous. Ovate to round; 2”-3” in diameter; green above and paler below; edges smooth or with rounded teeth. Petioles long and flat.
- Fruit: Cone-shaped capsule with cottony seeds.
- Bark: Greenish-white when young. May turn dark and furrowed with age.
- Distribution: quaking aspen grows in more states than any other tree. However it is only found in scattered areas of Oregon. It occurs in our upper Cascades and eastward.
51
Q
Quercus garryana
A
Garry oak (Oregon white oak)
- Size: Grows to 80’ tall and 3’ in diameter. Has a rounded crown when open-grown.
- Leaves: Simple, alternate, deciduous. Pinnately lobed with 7-9 rounded lobes; lobes often irregular. 3”-6” long and 2”-5” wide.
- Fruit: Acorn with shallow cap; about 1” long.
- Twigs: Stout; several buds clustered at tip; fuzzy buds. Pit is star-shaped.
- Bark: Grayish; may be shaggy or have shallow ridges and fissures.
- Distribution: Oregon white oak occurs throughout the Siskiyou Mountains, but seldom ventures west of the Coast Range summit. Only along the Columbia Gorge does it venture into eastern Oregon.
52
Q
Oemleria cerasiformis
A
Indian plum (osoberry)
- among the first plants to leaf out, flowers early in the spring.
- reaches a height of 1.5–5 m
- has lance-shaped leaves 5–12 cm long.
- fruits are edible and resemble small plums which are dark blue when ripe. Indigenous peoples of the Americas include osoberry in their diets, make tea of the bark, and chew its twigs to use as a mild anesthetic and aphrodisiac.
53
Q
Rubus armeniacus (prev. Rubus discolor)
A
Himalayan blackberry
- stiff, evil thorns
- hexagram stem
54
Q
Rubus spectabilis
A
Salmonberry
- general: erect, largely unarmed, branching, to 4m tall, from branching rhizomes, often forming dense thickets; twigs zigzag, hairless, w/ scattered prickles; bark golden-brown, shredding
- leaves: alternate, deciduous, usually w/ 3 leaflets, dark-green, sharpy toothed
- flowers: pink to red to reddish-purple, large (~4cm), 1-2 or up to 4, on short branches
- fruits: yellow or reddish, mushy raspberries
- ecology: moist to wet places, stream edges; low to subalpine
55
Q
Purshia tridentata
A
Bitterbrush / antelope brush
- a deciduous shrub growing to a height of 1–5 metres
- has slender three- to five-lobed leaves 5–20 mm long.
- a nitrogen fixing plant.
- flowers: pale yellow, with five petals 6–8 mm long, and darker yellow anthers.
- fruit: a cluster of dry, slender, leathery achenes 0.6–2 cm long.
56
Q
Vaccinium spp.
A
Blueberries / huckleberries
57
Q
Artemisia tridentata
A
Big sagebrush
Sagebrush is a coarse, many-branched, pale-grey shrub with yellow flowers and silvery-grey foliage, which is generally 0.5–3 m tall. A deep taproot 1–4 m in length, coupled with laterally spreading roots near the surface, allows sagebrush to gather water from both surface precipitation and the water table several meters beneath. Big sagebrush that is over a meter tall is an indicator of arable land, because it prefers deep, basic soils. Sagebrush is generally long-lived once it makes it past the seedling stage, and can reach ages of over 100 years.
58
Q
Berberis spp (prev. Mahonia spp.)
A
Oregon grape
- erect, rhizomatous, evergreen, stiff-branched shrub, to 60cm tall; leaves like holly, bark and wood yellowish
- fruits: edible blue berries (~1cm), few large seeds, whitish bloom, elongated clusters
59
Q
Ericameria nauseosa
A
Rubber rabbitbrush
- 2’ to 8’ perennial shrub; reproduces from seeds and root sprouts
- produces pungent-smelling, golden-yellow flowers. Flower heads are made up of 5 small, yellow, tubular disk flowers, and occur in umbrella-shaped terminal clusters
- Leaves, depending on the subspecies, are long and narrow to spatula-shaped. Both the flexible (rubbery) stems and the leaves are greenish-gray with a soft felt-like covering.
60
Q
Gaultheria shallon
A
Salal
- Leaves: simple, alternate, waxy, stiff
- Leaf Margins: slightly serrated
- Stems: reddish color
- Evergreen, understory shrub especially Douglas fir, Western hemlock, Sitka Spruce
- Requires lots of rain
- Shade tolerant
- Fire resistant
- Edible dark blue berries and young leaves are efficient appetite suppressants
- Leaves and berries used for dyes
61
Q
Holodiscus discolor
A
Ocean spray
- Predominately West coast, but does occur inland in places
- Small alternate leaves 5–9 cm long and 4–7 cm broad, shallowly lobed (coarsely toothed), hairy
- White flowers
- Browsed by cattle, deer, elk, snowshoe hares and dusky-footed wood rats
- Provides cover for birds, mammals and tree frogs
- Dry to moist open sites
- Very hard wood
- Used for arrow shafts, digging sticks
62
Q
Polystichum munitum
A
Sword fern
- Evergreen ground cover fern
- Pinnately compound lance shaped fronds
- Fronds composed of alternate leaflets (pinnae) with a ‘thumb’ at the base
- Round, brownish spore structures on back of fronds
- Shade or in small openings within moist coniferous forests
- Moderately moist to moist soil conditions with low to moderate nutrient value
- Provides important forage for elk, deer and black bear
- Indicator of moist forest habitat types, deep soils, high quality sites for black cottonwood and Douglas-fir
63
Q
Pteridium aquilinum
A
Bracken fern
- Branching triangular fronds, doubly pinnate
- Temperate and subtropical regions around the world
- Fronds die back in winter
- Spores along edges of leaflets
- Well drained moist soils
- Fire adapted
- Toxic to livestock
- Contains carcinogenic compounds
64
Q
Athyrium filix-femina
A
Lady fern
- Fronds arising from a central point as a clump
- Damp, shady woodland environments
- Fronds are very dissected, being 2-3 times pinnate
- Spores are borne inconspicuously along the leaf
- Eaten by grizzly bears and elk
