Canadian Trees
The Engleman Spruce
(Picea englemanni)
The Engleman Spruce is commonly found in the interior
wet belt region of British Columbia. It is an evergreen
having four-sided sharp needles. In addition, the Engleman
Spruce bears a 4 to 5 centimetre long cone. The Engleman
Spruce can reach a height of 50 m and can grow to a
thickness of over 1 m. It has a life expectancy of 300 or
more years. Engleman Spruce thrive in deep, moist loamy
soils. It prefers a climate that is cool and damp. The
Engleman Spruce and White Spruce are nearly exactly alike
except for the cones. In both species, the top limbs tend
to curve upwards while lower branches droop. It is also a
special resource since it provides a good source of pulp for
paper making because of its extra long fibres. Of course,
as is the case with most trees, the Engleman Spruce can fall
victim to diseases and pests such as:spruce budworm, spruce
bark beetle and armillaria, a fungus which produces the
edible honey mushroom.
Western Hemlock
(Tsuga Heterophylla
)
The Western Hemlock is commonly found at low elevations
up to 1500m in the coastal and interior wet belt regions of
the Pacific Northwest of North America. It is an evergreen
having flat, blunt needles with two silver lines running the
length of the underside. In addition the Western Hemlock
bears a 2 cm long cone with narrow rounded scales. The
Western Hemlock can reach a height of more than 50m and can
grow to a thickness of between 60 and 100cm. It has a life
expectancy of 250 years. Western Hemlocks thrive in soil
that is loamy and damp. It prefers a cool, damp climate.
The Western Hemlock is easily recognized in the bush because
of its drooping leader or top. Young trees often grow out
of fallen logs or stumps. It is also a special resource
since it provides many types of lumber, panelling and high
quality pulp. Of course, as is the case with most trees,
the Western Hemlock can fall victim to diseases or pests
such as armillaria and hemlock looper.
Western Red-Cedar
(Thuja Plicata)
The Western Red-Cedar is commonly found at low
elevations below 1500m in the damp coastal and interior
regions of the Pacific Northwest of North America. It is an
evergreen having flattened, glossy, green, scale-like leaves
arranged on slender twigs in fan-like sprays. In addition
the Western Red-Cedar bears 1-2cm long cones with tough
leathery scales which have small sharp points near the tips.
The Western Red-Cedar can reach a height of more than 60m
and can grow to a thickness of 2m, often much more in prime
old growth stands. It has a life expectancy of several
hundred years with some reaching ages of more than 800.
Western Red-Cedars thrive in moist, rich soils, shallow moss
bogs and old river and creek beds. It prefers a wet, cool
climate. The Western Red-Cedar was a valued resource for
the native peoples of the Pacific Northwest. It provided
them with wood for homes, canoes and carvings such as totem
poles. The bark was used in making clothes and baskets. Even medicines were derived from this tree. Because it does
not easily rot, it is also a special resource nowadays. It
provides shakes, shingles, poles, lumber for outdoor
projects and fragrant woods for specialty purposes. Of
course, as is the case with most trees, the Western Red-
Cedar can fall victim to diseases or pests such as root and
heart rot.
Alpine Fir
(Balsam, Subalpine Fir, and
Abies Lasiocarpa)
The Alpine Fir is commonly found at higher elevations
from 600 m to timber line in mountainous regions of western
North America from the Yukon in the north to New Mexico in
the south. It is an evergreen having 2 cm long, bluish-
green needles with rounded, notched tips. In addition the
Alpine Fir bears a 6-10 cm long cone which is deep purple
when ripe. These are borne sitting upright, only at the top
of the tree. The Alpine Fir can reach a height of 33 m
and a thickness of 75 cm but is often stunted near tree
line. The Alpine Fir thrives in soil that is deep and well
drained. The Alpine fir's boughs tend to droop and extend
down to the ground where it sometimes will take root. This
is the tree which is often seen, snowcovered in photographs
of subalpine landscapes. The Alpine fir is also a special
resource since it provides food for many species of animals
including grouse, deer, elk and bighorn sheep. It is of no
real commercial importance. Of course, as is the case with
most trees, the Alpine Fir can fall victim to diseases or
pests such as the balsam bark beetle.
Research by:
George Winingder's 4th grade class
Arrow Heights Elementary School
Box 2155
Revelstoke, BC, Canada V0E 2S0
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