Showing posts with label Evergreen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Evergreen. Show all posts
Western hemlock tree
Giant Cedar near Elk River Idaho
Near the small town of Elk River, Idaho is the largest tree in North America east of the Cascade -Sierra Crest. The tree is a Western Red Cedar that is 18 feet in diameter at breast hight and 177 feet tall. The sign near the tree identifies it as the "Giant Cedar" but I have also seen it called the "King Cedar". This tree is estimated to be about 3000 years old.
Part of the reason for this trees great size is the fact that it has a small stream that literally flows right under it. The ground around the tree is rather boggy which is probably why a deck like platform has been built leading up to and around the tree. The platform is several feet off the ground. One of the interesting things about this tree is that it has wheelchair access. The trail from the parking area is paved right up to where the platform starts.
The trail that leads to the Giant Cedar takes you by a number of other very large Western Red Cedar trees that from a small grove of surviving giants. There are a good dozen trees that range in girth from 4 to 8 feet. Laying right next to the Giant Cedar is a large nurse log of a tree that must have been similar in size to the Giant. There is a small new cedar tree growing right up out of the side of the nurse log.
Looking up into the branches of th Giant Cedar is an interesting view as can be seen in the image below. There are a lot of dead branches on the tree but it is still very much alive.
The image below help to show the immense size of this tree at its base. Remember that the platform is about 2 feet off the ground. 
This tree is a bit difficult to find. We were aided by the kind folks at the Elk River Lodge in Elk River who gave us a small map with instructions on how to find the tree. The distance from Elk River to the Giant Cedar is about 10-11 miles on a well kept forest service road. There is also some great camping sites along the road that takes you up to the King Cedar. Also nearby is the Perkins Cedar Grove at Morris Creek.
Check out the BIG STUMP of another giant Cedar tree of years gone by.
Sandarac - tetraclinis articulata
The Sandarac tree (species: Tetraclinis articulata) is a small to medium size evergreen tree native to the western Mediterranean with a notable presence in the Atlas mountains of Morocco. It is the national tree of Malta. The leaves of the Sandarac are scale like and similar to those of the Thuja although the two are not related. The Sandarac is the only tree in it´s genus (tetraclinis).
The Sandarac "cones" are small green ball like in shape and measure less than one centemeter across. When they mature they turn brown and open with four petal like sides.
From a distance this tree species can look a lot like a pine tree but when examined up close it is easily distinguished apart by its thin scale like leaves that do not grow as needles but rather branch out from one another as in the image below.
There are several commercial uses for the Sandrac. The Arabs are said to have used the resin from this tree as a incense. Today it is the source of a resin that is also called Sandarac that is used to make varnish. Sandarac gum resin can be purchased on Ebay. In the Atlas mountains this tree is cut down in search of burr wood for wood carving. Often this is done by repeatedy cuting the tree back every number of years for coppice regrowth. One problem with this, however is that the presence of livestock feeding on the coppice regrowth can kill the tree altogether. It is also used to make liquor.
The image below is a 19th century illustration by Koehler in his work Medicinal Plants 1887. This image is now in the public domain.
Oriental Arborvitae or Biota - Platycladus orientalis
The Oriental Arborvitae tree or "Biota" (species name: Platycladus orientalis) is a common ornamental evergreen tree that is originally native to Northwest China. This tree used to be thought to belong to the "Thuja" genus but is not considered to be the only species in the genus "Platycladus".
This tree can be distiguished from other similar trees in the Juniper and Cypress families by the unique shape of its cones which appear to have a series of horn like scale tips that are curved. As can be appreciated in the pictures above and below the scale like leaves of the oriental arborvitae are not sharp and pointy like some of the Junipers that look similar.
Another distiction of this species is that its foliage gives off very little scent. The drawing below dates from 1870 (public domain) and was drawn by Philipp Franz von Siebold and Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini. In the name "oriental arborvitae" oriental refers to the fact that it is from China and arborvitae is latin for "tree of life" refering to the fact that this tree is slow growing and long lived.
The sign below from the University of Malaga botanical garden illustrates the fact that this tree is still classified by some as pertaining to the Thuja genus.
Mediterranean Cypress - Cupressus sempervirens
The Mediterranean Cypress tree (species: Cupressus sempervirens) is known by many common names which include; Common Cypress, Italian Cypress, Graveyard Cypress, Tuscan Cypress, Funeral Cypress, Pencil Pine or Spanish Cypress. The Latin name "sempervirens" can be divided into two parts "semper" - always or ever and "virens" - green. Thus the term can be translated as "evergreen".
Seed cones
Polen cones at the terminal ends of the scale like leaves.As can be deduced from several of the common names of this tree species the "Graveyard" or "Funeral" Cypress is closely associated with cemeteries and mourning. This can possibly be traced back to the Greek myth of Apollo and Cyparissus but the truth of the matter is that many cemeteries in Southern Europe are graced with these trees. The Cypress and the Yew are by far the most common trees in Mediterranean cemetaries.
Scale like leavesThe Mediterranean Cypress has been cultivated as an ornamental tree for thousands of years. It was the Romans who began to spread the cultivation of this tree throughout the Roman empire. It was prized for its columnar shape (although this tree species is not always straight and thin). It is also the source of strong durable wood that was used by the Phoenicians and Cretans used the wood for building ships and by the Egyptians who used it to make sarcophagi.
Cypress oil has a woody, slightly spicy and refreshing masculine smell. The oil is colorless to very pale yellow in color and watery in viscosity.
The Island of Cypress derives its name from this tree and according to at least one legend the Cross the Jesus was crucified on was made of the wood of the Mediterranean Cypress.
Bark of a mature Cypress tree
This tree species is also used in the cultivation of Bonsai trees.
Bonsai Garden Secrets
"Bonsai Gardening Secrets" is an easy to understand quick-start guide that'll show you how to create stunningly beautiful Bonsai trees
Norway Spruce - Picea abies
The Norway Spruce tree (species: Picea abies) is native to most of Europe from the Pyrenees mountains north to Norway and east all the way to Russia and the Balkans. It is widely used as a Christmas tree as it is fairly easy to grow in a wide variety of growing conditions. It is also comercialy exploited for its wood which sometimes sold under the names "Baltic Whitewood" and "White Deal".{1} It is a soft wood that is used in paper production as well as in inexpensive furniture.
This tree species is also widely planted in parks and gardens as an ornamental tree. Among is many cultivars are; Pyramidata, Pendula, Inversa, Cupressina, Viminalis, Tuberculata, Argentea, Finedonensis, Laxa, Cincinnata and Cranstonii. In some regions that tree can reach heights of up to 45 meters (147 feet).
The top image above of the complete Norway Spruce tree was taken in southern Germany near the Black Forrest. The rest of the images were taken in the small ski resort town of "La Molina" that is a few hours drive north of Barcelona, Spain.
The cones of the Norway Spruce are long and thin (they get a bit wider at full maturity when the scales open up to release the seeds). Most of the cones that I have seen are 4-6 inches in length. They are the longest of the Picea genus.
Common names for this tree in other languages; Spanish- Picea común or Picea de Noruega, French - épicéa commun, Italian - picea comune, German - Fichte.Check out a Norway Spruce tree in Madrid that has been taken over by green parrots.
1. Arboles de España y de Europa, David More and John White, Ediciones Omega. 2003.
Christmas trees in Europe
1. European Silver Fir
The European Silver Fir (Abies Alba) has the distinction of being the first tree species used as a Christmas tree. It is similar to the Nordmann fir except that its needles spread out horizontally. It is native to south central Europe.
2. Nordmann Fir
The Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana) is currently one of the Christmas tree favorites in Europe. It is valued for its beautiful conical shape, its resistance to drought (does not drop is needles as fast as most) and for the fact that its needlles have a pleasant color and are not sharp.
3. Norway Spruce
The Norway Spruce (Picea abies) is another common Christmas tree that is popular due to the fact that it is easier to grow and thus more affordable. Its needles are short and not very sharp although the branches tend to be not as stiff as the firs and its overall shape is not as attractive as the firs.
4. Blue Spruce
The Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) is not native to Europe but has been widely planted and is commonly used as a Christmas tree. It is prized for its blue-green color, its conical shape and its beauty. On the down side it can have sharper needles (not always).
5. Scots Pine
The Scots Pine (Pinus Sylvestris) is one of the few pine tree species that are used at Christmas trees both in Europe and in North America. It has shorter needles than most pines and can have a good conical shape when young.
6. Spanish Fir
The Spanish fir (Abies pinsapo) is rare and thus not used as often for a Christmas tree. It does have a splendid beauty and a great conical shape when young. It is also fairly drought resistant and has stiff branches with short stiff needles. The needles can be a bit sharp however.
Looking for a new Christmas tree ornament idea? Check out these "Nativity Scrolls"
Nordmann Fir - Abies nordmanniana
The Nordmann Fir tree (species name: Abies nordmanniana) is a popular Christmas tree species because of its dark green color, its dense foliage, its rounded needles and its drought resistance which keeps the needles from falling off too soon.
This fir tree species that also goes by the names Caucasian fir or Turkish fir is an evergreen coniferous tree native to the mountains from Turkey to the Rusian Caucas region. I took these photographs in the small ski resort town of "La Molina" in the Pyrenees mountains of Catalunia, Spain. The altitude at this location is 1700 meters above sea level.
As you can see from these images the needle like leaves have a different color pattern on the top and the bottom of the leaves. On the top side they are a solid dark green while on the bottom side they have two whitish lines down each side (another way to describe it is that there are white on the bottom with a dark treen border and a green line down the middle of the flat leafe. These leaves were about 2cm long. Notice also that the leaves are rounded on the ends and even have a slight apex like notch as the ends of some of the leaves.
The cones of this fir species grow at the top of the tall trees but I was able to find a shorter tree with cones where I could get close enough to get a few good images. From what I have read these cones change color as they mature. These young cones had an almost dark blue-green color. The lighter brown colored "exserted bracts" are another distinctive feature of this tree.
The scales of these cones detach and fall off while the stem of the cone remains in the tree. Notice also that these cones grow quite vertical and straight. It is quite common to see a good number of these empty stems on the branches near the top of these trees.
The bark of the Nordmann fir is light gray in color and fairly smooth with blister like bumps.
For a fir tree that is native to Spain check out the "Spanish fir - Abies pinsapo".
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