Identification of Cone-bearing Plants East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington
Identification of Cone-bearing Plants East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington
1B. Leaves not scale-, awl-, or needlelike.......Joint-fir (Gnetum or Mormon-tea) Family (Ephedraceae)
2A. Leaves needle-like.......Go to 4 (Pine Family: Pinaceae).
2B. Leaves scale-,or awl-like.......Go to 3.
3A. Leaves scale-like and sometimes awl-like (1/4 to 5/8") and sharp on younger twigs. Sprays are round in cross-section. Cone is round and fleshy, often green to purplish...........Cypress Family (Cupressaceae)
3B. Leaves mostly scale-like and not sharp. Sprays flattened. Cone is woody, either round or elongated.......
4A. Needles in clusters or bundles.......Go to 5.
4B. Needles appear singly on the stem (not clustered).......Go to 6.
5A. Needles in clusters greater than 10.......Larches
5B. Needles in clusters of 2 to 5.......Pines (The Genus Pinus)6A. Needles supported by tiny pegs. Older twigs (without needles) covered by tiny wood pegs.......Go to 7.
6B. Needles not supported by tiny pegs. Older twigs smoother, not covered by tiny wood pegs.......Go to 8.
7A. Pegs square, coarse on older twigs. Needles pointed and sharp.......Spruces (The Genus Picea)
7B. Pegs rounded, blunter. Needles blunt.......Hemlocks (The Genus Tsuga)
8A. Terminal buds (mid-summer to early spring) pointed. Cones with pitchfork scales.......Douglas Fir (The Genus Pseudotsuga)
8B. Terminal buds rounded.......Go to 9.
9A. Terminal buds clustered at tip of twig, buds often covered with pitch.......True Firs (The Genus Abies)
9B. Terminal buds appear singly at tip of twigs.......Go to 10.
10A. Needles greenish underneath. Top of tree does not droop to one side.......Pacific Yew (Taxaceae)
10B. Needles with whitish or silvery striping underneath. Top of tree ypically droops to one side.......Hemlocks (The Genus Tsuga)