Identification: Trees and Saplings with Short Needle Leaves, but Various Differences and Similarities - PART 2

Discussion in 'Pacific Northwest Native Plants' started by jason9v, May 9, 2019.

  1. jason9v

    jason9v Active Member

    Messages:
    88
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Vancouver
    ... Continued from PART 1

    Plant 6's needles are sparser and somewhat irregular, similar to the leaves of Plant 3. But, compared to Plant 3, Plant 6's centre stem is much more straight. Perhaps Plant 6 is a different species from all of the preceding plants?

    Plant 6

    Plant 22 - 6A.jpg Plant 22 - 6B.jpg

    Plant 7's tufts of leaves are flatter than the tufts seen in all the preceding plants. Perhaps Plant 7 is a different species from all the preceding plants?

    Plant 7

    Plant 22 - 7A.jpg Plant 22 - 7B.jpg

    Plant 8 has flatish tufts of leaves, similar to Plant 7. Perhaps Plant 8 is the same species as Plant 7?

    Plant 8

    Plant 22 - 8.jpg

    Do you know what all of these plants are?

    Jason
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2019
    Michigander likes this.
  2. Michigander

    Michigander Active Member

    Messages:
    238
    Likes Received:
    50
    Location:
    Detroit, Michigan, USA
    Thank you, from all the rest of us who thought we were ~special~ because we are unable to be sure of ID's with the "aid" of field manuals.
     
    jason9v likes this.
  3. Heathen

    Heathen Active Member

    Messages:
    60
    Likes Received:
    23
    Location:
    Victoria
    Perhaps a few generalities will help. Keep in mind that siblings don't always look alike ;)
    Spruces in general, will give real meaning to the word "needle." Very sharp and stabby. Branches tend to stick straight out, like your picture #1.
    True firs will have a tiny notch in the end of each needle. Douglas fir is not a true fir, so it has no notches. Grand fir, which I would suspect some of your pictures are, has the flatter needle arrangement, and will have the notches in the end.
    Douglas firs can be rather irregular. Some branchlets are flattish, some more round. They have a generally soft and fluffy appearance.
    Hemlocks have the flat branchlets, but no notches in the needles, and they have a generally more "droopy" appearance than the Grand fir. The leader (very top growth) of a western hemlock is flopped over. Needles are a bit more irregular in length than grand fir.
     
    Daniel Mosquin, wcutler and jason9v like this.
  4. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,509
    Likes Received:
    537
    Location:
    Britain zone 8/9
    Plant 6 - Mountain Hemlock Tsuga mertensiana.
    Plants 7 & 8 - Pacific Silver Fir Abies amabilis.
     
    Daniel Mosquin and jason9v like this.

Share This Page