INTRODUCTION

~Presented by Hank Reasoner - Retired Forester, Whatcom Farm Forestry Association

You are guest of Hampton Affiliates, owners of the treeseed orchard site.Trees of the forest all have common names. We will examine 3 common evergreen (conifers) and 3 deciduous.

Tree Names

Western Hemlock
Tsuga heterophylla

This species has become recognized as a really important tree. In coastal forests it is often found mixed with Douglas-fir or the true firs. It also occurs in sizable pure stands. It competes favorably in growth rate with the Douglas-fir but can withstand much more shading. The wood is used for lumber production and pulpwood mostly.

One characteristic of the Western hemlock is that the terminal leader droops. Western Hemlock has been designated the "State Tree of Washington."

Douglas-Fir
Pseudotsuga menziesii

Douglas-fir, also known as red fir, yellow fir, and Oregon pine, is the most important tree in the West. It is also the most important lumber species in the United States, and is used for cross-ties, piling, plywood, fuel, and Christmas trees.

There are two distinct forms of Douglas-fir. The coast form is larger with trees up to 300 feet tall and 6 feet in diameter. It is one of the fastest growing species in the United States. It grows in the Pacific slope forest often in extensive pure stands. The mountain form is an island tree found higher elevations and grows only moderately fast at best. At maturity trees will be up to 130 feet tall and 3 feet in diameter.

One characteristic of the Douglas fir is cones with three-lobed bracts extending beyond the cone scales.

Red Alder
Alnus rubra

Red Alder is generally considered to be the most important hardwood in the state. Used for furniture, pulpwood, and fuel wood, primarily, it is the only alder reaching commercial size.

Western Redcedar
Thuja plicata

Western redcedar is one of the important species in the state, and reaches its greatest sizes near the coast.

Practically all of the wooden shingles and shakes made in the United States are made of Western redcedar. It is also used extensively for poles, fence posts, boat building, interior finish, and lumber. Wood of this tree resists decay very well. Not only is the wood of the Western redcedar valuable, but the tree itself is a highly prized ornamental.

One characteristic of the Western redcedar is that their cones cluster like a swarm of bees on the branch ends.

Black Cottonwood
Populus trichocarpa

Black cottonwood is the largest of the hardwoods native to the state. This is also the principal cottonwood native to Washington. It is used for paper pulp, fuel and surface veneer on plywood.

The tree is a common companion of the state's undeveloped streams where it grows along the shorelines and forms limited pure stands on the surrounding bottomlands.

Leaves are alternate, simple usually ovate, finely crenate-serrate, rounded or heart-shape, rounded or heart-shaped at the base, stalk-rounded-dark green above, rusty brown to silvery below, and 3 to 4 inches long.

Buds are about 3/4 inch long with 6 or 7 visible scales, resinous, and with fragrant odor when crushed. Terminal buds somewhat larger than lateral ones.

Bigleaf Maple
Acer macrophyllum

Bigleaf maple is the most important maple native to Washington. Like red alder, it is used primarily for furniture and fuel wood. It is also a good street and shade tree.

This species grows rapidly and is found in mixture with Western Washington trees. It is used commonly for ornamental purposes also.

Leaves are opposite, simple, palmately (hand-like) five-lobed, terminal lobe often three-lobed, margins entire, heart-shaped at base, green above, paler below, 8 to 12 inches long, with stalk 10 to 12 inches long.