Map of Forest Types -- Instant Tree Finder Chart (evergreens)

Anyone who wants to identify and understand the native trees of the southern Rocky Mountains and neighboring country is welcome here. My hope is to offer a guide that is easier to use than other tree identification guides, and has more information about trees that many other guidebooks. I am writing for everyone who is interested in trees, or who wants to learn about them, especially anyone who is making a start. Every chapter includes descriptions of the trees, illustrations chosen to aid identification, and accounts of the role of the tree in both the natural environment and in human history.

This guide describes every kind of native tree of the southern Rocky Mountains, from Yellowstone to Santa Fe, including the mountainous forests and the surrounding shublands, plains, and deserts. This region is not biological province, it is a geographic region, yet there is some reason for treating the trees of this area together. Within the region there is a broad consistency in climatic regions and in the trees and tree associations found here, though granted there are significant variations and many regional ecosystems. As soon as you pass the boundaries of this region you encounter new kinds of trees and woodlands typical of large areas outside the southern Rockies.

An effort has been made to make tree identification as easy and unambiguous as possible. Tree identification is easy in the southern Rockies. The easiest features to uniquely identify a tree are carefully explained, with possible variations, for every tree. Also use the "Instant Tree Finder" for the evergreens which puts all essential distinctions on one page. The descriptions are for trees of the southern Rockies rather than trees from other regions with different climates where, for example, abundant moisture may alter the size and appearance from what is seen in the Rockies. Little botanical terminology is used. There are no botanical "keys" which require special knowledge.

Trees are by far the largest and most numerous large living organisms in North America. They have a significant influence on the ecosystems in which they live, and so help determine what other plants and animals can live there. They are a key part of the early human exploration and settlement of America by Indians and Europeans. The story of the early naturalists who first described these trees is as exciting as any in American history. These early naturalists were investigating plants and animals of the Rocky Mountains with the first exploring parties and fur trappers, long before military posts, civilian settlers, cowboys, and railroads.

Suggestions are very welcome. Please send email to swier@earthlink.net.

Table of Contents

The Evergreens Instant Tree Finder Chart (evergreens) Ponderosa Pine Pinyon Pine Lodgepole Pine Limber Pine Southwestern White Pine Whitebark Pine Bristlecone Pine Distinguishing the Pines Engelmann Spruce Blue Spruce White Spruce Distinguishing the Spruces Douglas-Fir Subalpine Fir Corkbark Fir White Fir Distinguishing the Firs The Junipers Rocky Mountain Juniper One Seed Juniper Utah Juniper Distinguishing the Junipers

The Broadleaf Trees Plains Cottonwood Narrowleaf Cottonwood Lanceleaf Cottonwood Rio Grande Cottonwood Black Cottonwood Balsam Poplar Quaking Aspen Peachleaf Willow, Crack Willow, and Pacific Willow Gambel Oak Boxelder Bur Oak The Small Broadleaf Trees Mountain Alder and Arizona Alder Water Birch Rocky Mountain Maple Wild Plum Chokecherry Netleaf Hackberry Bigtooth Maple New Mexico Locust Greene's Mountain-Ash Mountain-Mahogany Hawthorns Sandbar, Scouler and Bebb Willow Hoptree Single Lead Ash

Non-native Tree Invaders

Books on Trees and the Ecology of the Southern Rocky Mountains