Western Hemlock

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

western hemlock and Pinaceae mountain hemlock in mountain hemlock Tsuga mertensiana Brewer spruce cones (left) northwest California and mountain hemlock (right) “droopy top” hemlocks and across the West decorate the high country Bark: varies from purplish brown to reddish brown (similar to Shasta red fir) but with deep, furrowed, more continuous rounded ridges Needles: 1/2”-3/4”, dark green to blue green, bluntly rounded, commonly with stomatal bloom on both sides; spirally arranged on twig imparting a star-like appearance Cones: 2”-5”, reddish brown turning brown with maturity; larger cones similar to Brewer spruce; can remain on tree year-round Habitat: Highest elevations on north face of mountains or cool streamside glades from 4000-9000 feet, upper elevation specimens can grow on south-facing slopes Pinaceae western hemlock Tsuga heterophylla star-like needle growth and small cones are a diagnostic character of this species this “nurse-log” phenomenon is a common sight in old-growth forests of coastal northwest Caifornia Bark: thin and slightly furrowed with long linear strips, varies from grey (outer) to dark red (inner); bases of large trees often buttressedNeedles : ¼” - ¾” similar to lower redwood needles, but shorter and less uniformly flat, splaying out from Range* map for: mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana) the branch at varying angles, dark green above with two white stomatal lines western hemlock ( ) below, glossy green below Cones: one inch and egg shaped with thin scales, Tsuga heterophylla scale length similar to the largest needles Habitat: cool and wet forest along * based on Little (1971),Griffin and Critchfield (1976), and Van Pelt (2001) Pacific Coast Range: North Coast; within 20 miles of the ocean with few excep- tions Michael Kauffmann | www.conifercountry.com www.conifercountry.comPlate 13 Range* map for: mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana) western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) * based on Little (1971),Griffin and Critchfield (1976), and Van Pelt (2001) Michael Kauffmann | www.conifercountry.com.

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Guide Alaska Trees
x5 Aá24ftL GUIDE TO ALASKA TREES %r\ UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE Agriculture Handbook No. 472 GUIDE TO ALASKA TREES by Leslie A. Viereck, Principal Plant Ecologist Institute of Northern Forestry Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station ÜSDA Forest Service, Fairbanks, Alaska and Elbert L. Little, Jr., Chief Dendrologist Timber Management Research USD A Forest Service, Washington, D.C. Agriculture Handbook No. 472 Supersedes Agriculture Handbook No. 5 Pocket Guide to Alaska Trees United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Washington, D.C. December 1974 VIERECK, LESLIE A., and LITTLE, ELBERT L., JR. 1974. Guide to Alaska trees. U.S. Dep. Agrie., Agrie. Handb. 472, 98 p. Alaska's native trees, 32 species, are described in nontechnical terms and illustrated by drawings for identification. Six species of shrubs rarely reaching tree size are mentioned briefly. There are notes on occurrence and uses, also small maps showing distribution within the State. Keys are provided for both summer and winter, and the sum- mary of the vegetation has a map. This new Guide supersedes *Tocket Guide to Alaska Trees'' (1950) and is condensed and slightly revised from ''Alaska Trees and Shrubs" (1972) by the same authors. OXFORD: 174 (798). KEY WORDS: trees (Alaska) ; Alaska (trees). Library of Congress Catalog Card Number î 74—600104 Cover: Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)., the State tree and largest in Alaska, also one of the most valuable. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402—Price $1.35 Stock Number 0100-03308 11 CONTENTS Page List of species iii Introduction 1 Studies of Alaska trees 2 Plan 2 Acknowledgments [ 3 Statistical summary .
[Show full text]
Species of Alaska Scolytidae: Distribution, Hosts, and Historical Review
1. ENTOMOL. Soc. BRIT. COLUMBIA 99. DECEMBER 2002 83 Species of Alaska Scolytidae: Distribution, hosts, and historical review MALCOLM M. FURNISS UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO, MOSCOW, ID 83843. EDWARD H. HOLSTEN U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOREST SERVICE, FOREST HEALTH PROTECTION, ANCHORAGE, AK 99503 MARK E. SCHULTZ U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOREST SERVICE, FOREST HEALTH . PROTECTION, JUNEAU, AK 99508 ABSTRACT The species of Scolytidae in Alaska have not been compiled in recent times although many of them are included in earlier broader works. The authors of these works are summarized in a brief history of forest entomologists in Alaska. Fifty-four species of Alaskan Scolytidae are listed (23 species in the subfamily Hylesininae and 31 in the subfamily Scolytinae) belonging to 24 genera (II in Hylesininae and 13 in Scolytinae). Th ey in fest IS species of trees and shrubs of which 10 are conifers (host to 48 species of Scolytidae) and 5 are angiosperms (host to 6 species of Scolytidae). Fifty species are bark beetl es that inhabit phloem and four species are ambrosia beetles that live in sapwood. All are species native to Alaska. Keywords: Bark beetles, Scolytidae, conifers, angiosperms, Alaska INTRODUCTION The biographic regions of Alaska reflect the great expanse of that state, extending over a wide range of latitude, longitude, and elevation. In broad terms, these regions are characterized by a relatively mild and moist coastal climate, particularly in the southeast and coastal south-central areas; an extensive drier, colder climate in interior and northern Alaska; and numerous mountain ranges that attain the highest elevation on the continent.
[Show full text]
“VANCOUVER ISLAND” NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL Glaucidium Gnoma Swarthi Original Prepared by John Cooper and Suzanne M
“VANCOUVER ISLAND” NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL Glaucidium gnoma swarthi Original prepared by John Cooper and Suzanne M. Beauchesne Species Information British Columbia The Vancouver Island Northern Pygmy-Owl is Taxonomy endemic to Vancouver Island and possibly the adjacent Gulf Islands (AOU 1957; Campbell et al. Of the seven subspecies of Northern Pygmy-Owl 1990; Cannings 1998). currently recognized in North America, three breed in British Columbia including Glaucidium gnoma Forest regions and districts swarthi that is endemic to Vancouver Island and Coast: Campbell River, North Island, South Island adjacent islands (AOU 1957; Cannings 1998; Campbell et al. 1990; Holt and Petersen 2000). Ecoprovinces and ecosections Glaucidium gnoma swarthi is noticeably darker than COM: NIM, NWL, OUF, QCT, WIM other subspecies; however, there is some uncertainty GED: LIM, NAL, SGI in the validity of swarthi’s status as a subspecies (Munro and McTaggart-Cowan 1947; Godfrey Biogeoclimatic units 1986). Taxonomy of the entire G. gnoma complex CDF: mm requires further examination as there may be two or CWH: dm, mm, vh, vm, xm more species within the complex (Johnsgard 1988; MH: mm, mmp, wh Holt and Petersen 2000). Broad ecosystem units Description CD, CG, CH, CW, DA, FR, GO, HP, MF, SR The Northern Pygmy-Owl is a very small owl Elevation (~17 cm in length). It has no ear tufts and has a In British Columbia, Northern Pygmy-Owls (not relatively long tail. A pair of black patches on the G. gnoma swarthi) nests have been found between nape is a distinguishing feature. 440 and 1220 m although individuals have been Distribution recorded from sea level to 1710 m (Campbell et al.
[Show full text]
Phylogeny and Biogeography of Tsuga (Pinaceae)
Systematic Botany (2008), 33(3): pp. 478–489 © Copyright 2008 by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists Phylogeny and Biogeography of Tsuga (Pinaceae) Inferred from Nuclear Ribosomal ITS and Chloroplast DNA Sequence Data Nathan P. Havill1,6, Christopher S. Campbell2, Thomas F. Vining2,5, Ben LePage3, Randall J. Bayer4, and Michael J. Donoghue1 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8106 U.S.A 2School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469-5735 U.S.A. 3The Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 U.S.A. 4CSIRO – Division of Plant Industry, Center for Plant Biodiversity Research, GPO 1600, Canberra, ACT 2601 Australia; present address: Department of Biology, University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennesee 38152 U.S.A. 5Present address: Delta Institute of Natural History, 219 Dead River Road, Bowdoin, Maine 04287 U.S.A. 6Author for correspondence ([email protected]) Communicating Editor: Matt Lavin Abstract—Hemlock, Tsuga (Pinaceae), has a disjunct distribution in North America and Asia. To examine the biogeographic history of Tsuga, phylogenetic relationships among multiple accessions of all nine species were inferred using chloroplast DNA sequences and multiple cloned sequences of the nuclear ribosomal ITS region. Analysis of chloroplast and ITS sequences resolve a clade that includes the two western North American species, T. heterophylla and T. mertensiana, and a clade of Asian species within which one of the eastern North American species, T. caroliniana, is nested. The other eastern North American species, T. canadensis, is sister to the Asian clade. Tsuga chinensis from Taiwan did not group with T.
[Show full text]
Vegetation of the Douglas-Fir Region
Vegetation Of The Douglas-Fir Region Purchased by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture J. F. Franklin, Chief Plant Ecologist, PNW Forest and Range for official use. Experiment Station, U.S. Forest Service, Corvallis, Oregon Reprinted from "Forest Soils of the Douglas-Fir Region,": a book developed by the members of the Northwest Forest Soils Council; published in 1979 by Washington State University Cooperative Extension; compiled and edited by Paul E. Heilman, Harry W. Anderson, and David M. Baum gartner. Copies of this book may be purchased from: Conference Of- fice, Cooperative Extension, WSU, Pullman, WA 99164 CHAPTER IV VEGETATION OF THE DOUGLAS-FIR REGION Jerry F. Franklin The Douglas-fir region of western Washington and array of potentially productive tree species as alternatives or Oregon and northwestern California is one of the most associates to Douglas-fir. densely forested areas of the world. It represents maximal development of the temperate coniferous forest. The region These large. long-lived species dominate dense forests is well known for the extensive areas dominated by Douglas- rather than occurring as isolated individuals. Consequently. fir, with climax forests of western hemlock and western old-growth ecosystems in this region have the greatest bio- redcedar, and coastal "rain forests" of coast redwood and mass accumulations of any plant formations in the temperate Sitka spruce. In this chapter I will attempt to outline major zone and, probably, the world. Coast redwood stands are, of compositional, structural, and successional features of these course, the star of the show with biomass accumulations of varied and productive forests.
[Show full text]
Western Hemlock Is an Important Corn- Mercial Softwood Species in the Western United States and Canada
-,.------. A 13.31:H 37/984 Forest An American Wood Service Western United States Department of Agriculture Hemlock FS-240 Western hemlock is an important corn- mercial softwood species in the Western United States and Canada. Thc largest stands are found in the humid coastal regions of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. The wood is used for structural lumber, molding, roof decking, veneer, and paper. 42j (_o /1)'79o5 'EQLI4Gua 9 3V . F-308993 DEP. A iThiÀ '--ìJc2'J £FRA MY ¿) '4 An American Wood Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) James M. Cahill' Distribution Western hemlock grows along the Pacific coast from the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska to northwestern California (fig. 1). Inland from the coast, it is found on the western slopes and upper eastern slopes of the Cascade Range of Washington and as far south in Oregon as the Siskiyou Mountains. Farther inland, western hemlock grows on the west side of the Continental Divide from just east of Prince George, British Columbia, south through north- em Idaho and northwestern Montana. About 80 percent of its distribution in the Rocky Mountains is in British Columbia. The fastest growing stands are found in &O the humid coastal regions of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska, and on the lower slopes of the Cascade Range in Washington and . Oregon. In the Rocky Mountain region, dry summers limit western hemlock to primarily northerly slopes and moist creek bottoms. I o Western hemlock is usually subordinate in stands that include Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) and Douglas-fir o ioo 200 300 I (Pseudotsuga menziesii), but it I.! I sometimes dominates and is in III,I'i, i-,- found o zoo 400 E pure stands in coastal areas.
[Show full text]
Distribution and Habitat Associations of the Northern Pygmy-Owl in Oregon
AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Dawn M. Sater for the degree of Master of Science in Wildlife Science presentedon May 21. 1999. Title: Distribution and Habitat Associations of the Northern Pygmy-owl in Oregon. Redacted for Privacy Abstract approved: Eric D. Forsman I conducted acoustic lure surveys of northern pygmy-owls (Glaucidium gnoma)on transects that were systematically placed in forested areas throughout the state of Oregon. My objectives were to determine if pygmy-owlswere associated with particular forest types, ecoregions, or with large-diameter dominant overstory trees. I also examined temporal variation in response rates. All analyses accounted for decreases incounts of owls with increasing day of the surveyseason (P = 0.01) and with increasing time after sunrise (P = 0.06).Counts were highest in Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine and mixed conifer-hardwood forests, intermediate in mixed conifer, deciduousand high elevation forests, and lowest in western juniper (P= 0.0003). Even after accounting for forest type, numbers of owls detected variedamong ecoregions (P = 0.002). Counts of owls increased with the average diameter ranking ofdominant overstory trees (P = 0.000 1). Also, diameters of dominant treeswere greater at survey points where owls were detected than at survey points whereno owls were detected P = 0.008), and greater in the actual stands from which owls responded than around thesurvey points from which owls were detected (P = 0.0001). My data suggest that widespread decreases in large-diameter trees, or the late-successional forests in which such trees are most abundant, may reduce numbers of northern pygmy-owls. However, this finding needs to be viewed in the context that my surveys also show that the pygmy-owl is a well-distributed and fairly common forest bird in Oregon and is not limited to late-successional forest.
[Show full text]
Growth and Yield of Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock at Cascade Head Experimental Forest, Oregon
United States Department of i Agriculture Growth and Yield of Sitka Forest Service Pacific Northwest Spruce and Western Forest and Range Experiment Station Research Paper Hemlock at Cascade Head PNW-325 September 1984 Experimental Forest, Oregon Stephen H. Smith, John F. Bell, Francis R. Herman, and Thomas See Authors STEPHEN H. SMITH was a graduate student, College of Forestry Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. He is now with Potlatch Corporation, Lewiston, Idaho. JOHN F. BELL is a professor, Forest Management, College of Forestry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. FRANCIS R. HERMAN is a mensurationist, retired, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fairbanks, Alaska. THOMAS SEE was a graduate student, College of Forestry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. He is now with Continental Systems, Inc., Portland, Oregon. Abstract Summary Smith, Stephen H.; Bell, John F.; Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Herman, Francis R.; See, Thomas. Carr.) and western hemlock (Tsuga Growth and yield of Sitka spruce heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) are the and western hemlock at Cascade principal components of the Pacific Head Experimental Forest, Oregon. Northwest coastal fog belt type (Meyer Res. Pap. PNW-325. Portland, OR: 1937) or the Picea sitchensis zone U.S. Department of Agriculture, (Franklin and Dyrness 1973) found Forest Service, Pacific Northwest along the Oregon and Washington Forest and Range Experiment Sta- coasts. The tremendous potential for tion; 1984. 30 p. rapid growth and high yield of the Sitka spruce-western hemlock type A study established in 83-year-old, ranks it among the most productive even-aged stands of Sitka spruce coniferous types in the world.
[Show full text]
Tsuga Mertensiana (Bong.) Carr
Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carr. Family: Pinaceae Mountain Hemlock The genus Tsuga contains about 14 species native to North America [4] and southern and eastern Asia [10]. The word tsuga is the Japanese name for the native hemlocks of Japan. The word mertensiana is named for Karl Heinrich Mertens (1796-1830), German naturalist and physician, who discovered it at Sitka, Alaska. Other Common Names: Alpine hemlock, alpine spruce, berg-hemlock, black hemlock, mountain hemlock, Olympic fir, Pacific Coast hemlock, Patton's hemlock, Patton's spruce, Prince Albert's fir, tsuga de California, tsuga de Californie, tsuga de l'ouest, tsuga de Patton, tsuga di California, vastamerikansk berg-hemlock, weeping spruce, westamerikanische hemlocktanne, western hemlock, western hemlock spruce, Williamson's spruce. Distribution: Mountain hemlock is native to the Pacific Coast region from southern Alaska (Kenai Peninsula) southeast through southeastern Alaska and western British Columbia and south in the mountains from western Washington to western Oregon, and the Sierra Nevada to central California. Also in the Rocky Mountain region from southwestern British Columbia south to northeast Oregon, northern Idaho and northwest Montana. The Tree: Mountain hemlock trees reach heights of 50 to 150 feet, with diameters of 1 to 5 feet. A record is reported at 113 feet tall, with a diameter of 88 inches. General Wood Characteristics: The heartwood is near white, sometimes with a purple tinge, while the sapwood is somewhat lighter. It is moderately light in weight and moderate in strength, hardness, stiffness and shock resistance. Trees may contain wetwood and/or have ring shake. The wood is intermediate in nail holding ability and has a tendency to split when nailed.
[Show full text]
Western Hemlock Is an Important Com- Mercial Softwood Species in the Western United States and Canada
Forest Service Western An American Wood United States Department of Agriculture Hemlock FS-240 Western hemlock is an important com- mercial softwood species in the Western United States and Canada. The largest stands are found in the humid coastal regions of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. The wood is used for structural lumber, molding, roof decking, veneer, and paper. F-308993 An American Wood Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) James M. Cahill1 Distribution Western hemlock grows along the Pacific coast from the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska to northwestern California (fig. 1). Inland from the coast, it is found on the western slopes and upper eastern slopes of the Cascade Range of Washington and as far south in Oregon as the Siskiyou Mountains. Farther inland, western hemlock grows on the west side of the Continental Divide from just east of Prince George, British Columbia, south through north- ern Idaho and northwestern Montana. About 80 percent of its distribution in the Rocky Mountains is in British Columbia. The fastest growing stands are found in the humid coastal regions of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska, and on the lower slopes of the Cascade Range in Washington and Oregon. In the Rocky Mountain region, dry summers limit western hemlock to primarily northerly slopes and moist creek bottoms. Western hemlock is usually subordinate in stands that include Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), but it sometimes dominates and is found in pure stands in coastal areas. The pure western hemlock forest is a true climax type and follows the subclimax types of Sitka spruce and Douglas-fir west of the Cascades and western white pine (Pinus monticola) in the northern part of its inland range.
[Show full text]
Western Hemlock Tsuga Heterophylla
Mountain Loop Conservancy Fact Sheet: Western Hemlock Tsuga heterophylla Range: The Western hemlock ranges from the coastal areas of northern California northward to south central Alaska. It grows in all but the wettest and driest areas west of the major mountain ranges in the region. The Western hemlock also occurs in the wetter parts of the Rocky Mountain System in southeast British Columbia, northeast Washington, northern Idaho, and northwest Montana. It grows in low to middle elevations up to 3,000 feet (900 m). In Washington State, Western hemlock often grows in association with Douglas-fir and western red cedar. “Droopy” tops of Western hemlock Identification: Western hemlock grows to a height of 200 feet (60 m) and average 4 feet (1.2 m) in diameter. Trees can reach an age of 500 years. They have long limbs that gracefully sweep downward. Trees can be identified from a distance by their “droopy” top-most leader branch. The foliage is also distinctive. The needles are of unequal lengths, short, flat, and blunt. The bark is a dark, rich brown color and becomes thick and furrowed as it ages. The 1 inch (2.5 cm) long cones hold 30-40 seeds. Seeds can germinate in a wide variety of soils and habitats. Unique characteristics: Unlike other conifers in its range, Western Hemlock thrives in shade. Seedlings do not need an open area created by fire or other disturbances to grow. Young tree seedlings of Western hemlock commonly grow on “nurse logs”. Its dense growth in mature stands will not allow enough light through for other species to grow.
[Show full text]
Tsuga Mertensiana (Bong.) Carr
Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carr. Family: Pinaceae Mountain Hemlock The genus Tsuga contains about 14 species native to North America [4] and southern and eastern Asia [10]. The word tsuga is the Japanese name for the native hemlocks of Japan. The word mertensiana is named for Karl Heinrich Mertens (1796-1830), German naturalist and physician, who discovered it at Sitka, Alaska. Other Common Names: Alpine hemlock, alpine spruce, berg-hemlock, black hemlock, mountain hemlock, Olympic fir, Pacific Coast hemlock, Patton's hemlock, Patton's spruce, Prince Albert's fir, tsuga de California, tsuga de Californie, tsuga de l'ouest, tsuga de Patton, tsuga di California, vastamerikansk berg-hemlock, weeping spruce, westamerikanische hemlocktanne, western hemlock, western hemlock spruce, Williamson's spruce. Distribution: Mountain hemlock is native to the Pacific Coast region from southern Alaska (Kenai Peninsula) southeast through southeastern Alaska and western British Columbia and south in the mountains from western Washington to western Oregon, and the Sierra Nevada to central California. Also in the Rocky Mountain region from southwestern British Columbia south to northeast Oregon, northern Idaho and northwest Montana. The Tree: Mountain hemlock trees reach heights of 50 to 150 feet, with diameters of 1 to 5 feet. A record is reported at 113 feet tall, with a diameter of 88 inches. General Wood Characteristics: The heartwood is near white, sometimes with a purple tinge, while the sapwood is somewhat lighter. It is moderately light in weight and moderate in strength, hardness, stiffness and shock resistance. Trees may contain wetwood and/or have ring shake. The wood is intermediate in nail holding ability and has a tendency to split when nailed.
[Show full text]