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GUIDE

TO

ALASKA

TREES

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FOREST SERVICE

Agriculture Handbook No. 472
GUIDE TO

ALASKA TREES

by

Leslie A. Viereck, Principal Plant Ecologist

Institute of Northern Forestry

Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station

ÜSDA Forest Service, Fairbanks, Alaska

and

Elbert L. Little, Jr., Chief Dendrologist

Timber Management Research

USDA Forest Service, Washington, D.C.

Agriculture Handbook No. 472

Supersedes Agriculture Handbook No. 5

Pocket Guide to Alaska Trees

United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Service

Washington, D.C. December 1974
VIERECK, LESLIE A., and LITTLE, ELBERT L., JR.

1974. Guide to Alaska trees. U.S. Dep. Agrie., Agrie. Handb. 472,

98 p.

Alaska's native trees, 32 species, are described in nontechnical terms

and illustrated by drawings for identification. Six species of shrubs

rarely reaching tree size are mentioned briefly. There are notes on

occurrence and uses, also small maps showing distribution within the

State. Keys are provided for both summer and winter, and the summary of the vegetation has a map. This new Guide supersedes *Tocket

Guide to Alaska Trees'' (1950) and is condensed and slightly revised

from ''Alaska Trees and Shrubs" (1972) by the same authors.

OXFORD: 174 (798). KEY WORDS: trees (Alaska) ; Alaska (trees).

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number î 74—600104

Cover: Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)., the State tree and largest in

Alaska, also one of the most valuable.

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office

Washington, D.C. 20402—Price $1.35

Stock Number 0100-03308

11
CONTENTS

Page

List of species iii

Introduction 1

Studies of Alaska trees 2

Plan 2

Acknowledgments [ 3

Statistical summary . g

Geographic distribution 7

Local and rare species 7

Vegetation of Alaska „___ 8

Vegetation map 46

Keys for identification 14

Key to Alaska trees based mainly on leaves 15

Winter key to deciduous trees of Alaska 18

Guide to Alaska trees 20

Key to Alaska tree willows 53

Vegetative key to Alaska tree willows 54

Selected references 95

Index of common and scientific names 97

LIST OF SPECIES '

Page

Yew family (Taxaceae)

1. Pacific yew, Taxus brevifolia Nutt (LS~ST, C) « 20

Pine family (Pinaceae)

2. lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta Dougl. (ST-LT, C) 23

3. tamarack, Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch (ST-MT, I) ___ 26

4. black spruce, Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P. (ST-MT, I) ___ 28

5. *white spruce. Picea glauca (Moench) Voss (MT-LT, I-c)_ 29

6. ^Sitka spruce, Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr. (LT, C) 31

7. *western hemlock, Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. (LT,

C) 34

8. ^mountain hemlock, Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carr.

(ST-LT, C) 36

9. Pacific silver fir, Abies amabilis (Dougl.) Forbes (MTLT, C) 38

10. subalpine fir, Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. (ST-LT, C) _ 39

Cypress family (Cupressaceae)

11. ^western redcedar, Thuja plicata Bonn (LT, C) . 41

12. *Alaska-cedar, Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (D. Don)

Spach (MT-LT, C) 44

^ Size is indicated by letters: LT, large tree; MT, medium tree; ST, small tree;

LS, large shrub; MS, medium shrub; SS, small shrub; PS, prostrate shrub. General distribution is given as I, interior, and C, coastal, with small letter where

restricted, and R, rare. The 10 tree species producing nearly all the commercial

timber are indicated by an asterisk (*). Explanation under Statistical Summary,

page 6.

iii
Page

Willow Family (Salicaceae)

13. *balsam poplar, Populus balsamifera L. (MT-LT, I-c) 45

14. *black cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa Torr. & Gray

(LT, C) 48

15. ^quaking aspen, Populus tremu^oides Michx. (ST-MT, I) _ 50

16. Hooker willow, SaHx hookeriana Barratt (LS-ST, C) ___ 56

17. feltleaf willow, Salix alaxensis (Anderss.) Cov. (LS-ST,

I-C) 56

18. Bebb willow, Salix bebbiana Sarg. (LS-ST, I-C) 58

19. Scouler willow, Salix scouhriana Barratt (LS-ST, C) 61

20. Sitka willow, Salix sitchensis Sansón (LS-ST, Ï-C) 62

21. littletree willow, Salix arbusculoides Anderss. (LS-ST,

I-c) 64

22. Pacific willow, Salix lasiandra Benth. (LS-ST, I-c) 65

22.1. grayleaf willow, Salix glauca L. (MS-ST, I-C) 66

22.2. tall blueberry willow, Salix novae-angliae Anderss. (LSST, I) 66

22.3. Barclay willow, Salix barclayi Anderss. (MS-ST, I-C) _-_, 66

22.4. Richardson willow, Salix lanata L. ssp. richardsonii

(Hook.) A. Skwortz. (MS-ST, I-C) 66

22.5. diamondleaf willow, Salix pfanifolia Pursh ssp. pulchra

(Cham.) Argus (PS-ST, I-C) 68

Birch Family (Betulaceae)

28. '^paper birch, Betula papyrifera MarñK (ST-LT, I-C) 70

24. Sitka aider, Alnus sinuata (Reg.) Rydb. (LS-ST, I-C) _— 80

24.1. American green alder, Alnus crispa (Ait.) Pursh (MSST, I) 80

25. red alder, Alnus rubra Bong, (ST-MT, C) 82

26. thinleaf alder, Alnus tenuifolia Nutt, (LS-ST, I-C) 83

Rose family (Rosaceae)

27. Oregon crab apple, Malus diversifolia (Bong.) Roem.

(ST, C) 85

28. Greene mountain-ash, Sorbus scopulina Greene (MS-ST,

I-C) 86

28.1. European mountain-ash, Sorbus aucuparia L. (ST-MT,

C, introduced) 88

29. Sitka mountairi-ash, Sorbus sitchensis Roem. (MS-ST, C) .- 88

30. western serviceberry, Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt.)

Nutt. (MS-ST, I-C) 90

Maple family (Aceraceae)

31. Douglas maple, Acer glabrum Torr. var. douglasii

(Hook.) Dipp. (MS-ST, C) 92

Honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae)

32. Pacific red elder, Sambucus callicarpa Greene (LS-ST, C) - 93

IV
INTRODUCTION

**Guide to Alaska Trees" describes and illustrates the native

trees of the 49th State. It supersedes *Tocket Guide to Alaska

Trees" (Taylor 1929; Taylor and

Little 1950-), which is out-ofprint. It is largely condensed and

slightly revised from the handbook ''Alaska Trees and Shrubs"

(Viereck and Little 1972), which

contains nearly 100 additional

species of native shrubs, or

smaller woody plants.

This guide serves for identification of the native trees of Alaska

and to compile additional information, including distribution and

uses. It is a nontechnical reference for all who are interested in

trees, including foresters and

land-use planners, residents and

tourists, students and teachers,

scientists and conservationists. As

many northern species are widely

distributed, this guide should be

useful also in adjacent parts of

Canada and eastward.

Identification of the trees of

Alaska is not difficult, because

relatively few kinds grow in far

northern lands toward their limits. Most States contain within

their boundaries at least twice as

many native tree species as the 32

of Alaska. New residents and visitors will find some familiar trees,

as nearly all species grow wild

somewhere in the lower 48 States.

^ Names and dates in parentheses

refer to Selected References, p. 95.

Many publications on the forests and trees of Alaska have been

issued by the Forest Service.

Alaska was included in "Forest

Trees of the Pacific Slope" (Sudworth 1908). "Alaskans Forest Resource" (Hutchinson 1967) is a

report of the State's first forest

inventory, made as part of the

nationwide Forest Survey. "Characteristics of Alaska Woods"

(U.S. Forest Products Laboratory

1963) compiled information relating to the characteristics, distribution, and utilization of 11

commercially important species.

Forestry research in Alaska is

conducted by the USDA Forest

Service under the Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, with headquarters

at 809 NE. 6th Avenue., P.O. Box

3141, Portland, Oregon, 97208.

Following early studies in the

1920's, a project location established in 1948 has become the

Forestry Science Laboratory, P.O.

Box 909, Juneau, Alaska 99801.

Another project location at the

University of Alaska is the Institute of Northern Forestry, Fairbanks, Alaska, 99701.

The request in previous publications for additional data about

Alaska trees and shrubs, particularly their ranges, is repeated

here. This information can be sent

to the Institute of Northern

Forestry.
Studies of Alaska Trees

Many botanists and foresters

have studied the trees of Alaska.

Naturalists with the early exploring expeditions collected botanical

specimens, which w^ere named by

European specialists. A history of

the botanical exploration has

been prepared by Hultén (1940a).

Information about the trees of

the 49th State has appeared in

numerous publications. Selected

References (p. 95) lists many,

such as floras, monographs, and

lists, which have been helpful in

the preparation of this guide and

which may be consulted for further details. The most comprehensive references for identification

of the higher plants of Alaska are

the technical floras by Hultén

(1941-50, 1960, 1968) and by

Anderson (1959).

Foresters have long been active

in Alaska. Most of the valuable

coastal forest lands were designated as forest reserves between

the years 1892 and 1902. These

areas became the Tongass and

Chugach National Forests in

1907, 2 years after estabhshment

of the Forest Service in the

United States Department of Agriculture. The former has been

divided into the North Tongass

National Forest with headquarters in Juneau and the South

Tongass, in Ketchikan. Headquarters of the Chugach is at

Anchorage. Under multiple use

planning, these publicly owned

timberlands are managed for

orderly development of the many

resources so that the land remains

productive.

Plan

This condensed guide follows

'^Alaska Trees and Shrubs"

(Viereck and Little 1972), which

contains additional information

about the preparation of both

handbooks. The descriptive text

has the usual botanical arrangement by plant families. A brief

description is given for each plant

family and for each genus with 2

or more species. The species are

numbered in one series for ready

reference to drawings and maps.

For each species there are included: (1) Common and scientific

names, also other names in use;

(2) nontechnical description with

emphasis on identification, vegetative characters including size

and habit, leaves, twigs, buds,

bark, wood, and reproductive

characters, such as flowers and

fruits ; (3) notes including abundance, site, vegetation type, and

uses, such as wood, food, and

wildlife; (4) geographic distribution both within and outside

Alaska; (5) distribution map of

Alaska; and (6) drawing.

Common and scientific names of

trees are those accepted by the

Forest Service, U.S. Department

of Agriculture (Little 1953).

Scientific names of shrubs follow

conservative usage. Other widely

used names including synonyms

have been added.

Descriptions and notes refer to

trees and shrubs growing in

Alaska. Measurements are in the

English system, but equivalents

in the metric system have been

added in parenthesis. Basic equivalents are: i/s inch (3 millimeters) ; % inch (1 centimeter) ;

1 inch (2.54 centimeters) ; 1 foot

(0.3048 meter); 3.28 feet (1

meter). A ruler with both inches

and centimeters appears on the

last page. Trunk diameters of

trees are measured at breast

height (41/2 ft. or 1.4 m.). Most

tree species attain larger heights

and diameters southward.
Geographie distribution within

Alaska, as known, is stated byplace names along the corners and

borders of the range. The larger

areas under management by the

Federal Government in 1974 are

listed because of special interest

to residents and visitors. Those

cited are South Tongass, North

Tongass, and Chugach National

Forests, under the Forest Service,

U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Mt. McKinley National Park and

Glacier Bay and Katmai National

Monuments are under the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Kodiak and

Aleutian Islands National Wildlife Refuges, Kenai National

Moose Range, and Arctic National

Wildlife Range are all under the

Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S.

Department of the Interior. General distribution beyond Alaska

has been added. A map of Alaska

showing these areas, as well as

most place names mentioned, appears on pages 4 and 5. Proposals

for additional Federal areas have

been submitted to Congress.

Because of space limitations,

the species distribution maps are

small, thus, distribution is not

shown in detail. The range is

mapped as continuous to the outer

boundaries. Small gaps within,

such as high mountains and

glacier-covered areas, are not

shown. Large tree species maps

are being published in '*Atlas of

United States Trees, Volume 2,

Alaska Trees and Common

Shrubs" (Viereck and Little

1974).

Each species is illustrated by

one or more line drawings. Most

show a leafy twig (or stem) with

both flowers and fruits, some also

winter twigs. The scales are indicated, mostly natural size or onehalf natural size.

Acknowledgments

Many persons, notably fellow

workers in the Forest Service,

have helped in the preparation of

this guide, **Alaska Trees and

Shrubs'' (Viereck and Little

1972), and earlier pubhcations.

Arland S, Harris, research forester, contributed much information on the trees of southeast

Alaska. Joan M. Foote, botanist,

aided in collecting and processing

specimens and checking many details. Suzanne Foster Manley,

former assistant botanist, drafted

the species distribution maps in

^'Alaska Trees and Shrubs,'' repeated here with slight revision.

The drawings are from **Alaska

Trees and Shrubs." Most were

from "Pocket Guide to Alaska

Trees" (Taylor and Little 1950)

and many appeared originally in

"Forest Trees of the Pacific

Slope" (Sudworth 1908). Nine

were made for the 1950 revision

by Leta Hughey. That of tamarack was by W. F. Wight (1908).

Two drawings of willows (Salix),

species numbers 16 and 20, were

from "The Willows of Alaska"

(Coville 1901). The cover drawing

is by Barbara H. Honkala, research botanist, who drafted the

vegetation map.

George W. Argus, National

Museums of Canada, Ottawa,

Ontario, assisted in identification

of willows (Salix), The floras and

other publications by Professor

Eric Hulten, Naturhistoriska

Riksmuseum, Stockholm, Sweden,

have been indispensable references. Lloyd A. Spetzman, botanist.

Agricultural Research Service,

U.S. Department of Agriculture,

made many valuable suggestions

and prepared a detailed vegetation map of Alaska that has been

followed largely in the smaller

map published here.
4
TERIOR —GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, WASHINGTON. D. C. 1954

National Forests, Parks, and Wildlife Refuges in Alaska in 1974. Proposals for

additional Federal areas have been submitted to Congress.
STATISTICAL SUMMARY

The native trees of Alaska total

32 species, as arranged by plant

families in the List of Species

under Contents (page iii) and as

described and illustrated in this

Guide. One introduced species is

included as naturalized also.

Six other species of shrubs (5

of willow, SaliXy and 1 of alder,

Almis) rarely reach tree size in

Alaska and are described briefly

(also illustrated in '*Alaska Trees

and Shrubs"). Five of these are

additions to the State tree list.

However, the number of native

tree species would be only about

20, if willows and others commonly shrubby w^ere omitted.

Trees are defined as woody

plants having one erect perennial

stem or trunk at least 3 in. (7.5

cm.) in diameter at breast height

(41/2 ft., 1.4 m.), a more or less

definitely formed crown of foliage, and a height of at least 12 ft.

(4 m.) (Little 1953). However,

large willows of tree size but with

several trunks from the same root

and shrubby species rarely attaining these dimensions are accepted

here as trees.

The native trees of Alaska belong to 17 genera in 8 plant families. Largest families are the

willow family (Salicaceae) with

15 species and the pine family

(Pinaceae) with 9. Largest genera

are willow (Salix), 12 species;

alder (Alnus), 4; and spruce

(Picea) and cottonwood-poplaraspen {Popuhis)y 3 each.

In the List of Species, size and

general distribution are summarized by letters for reference,

as in "Alaska Trees and Shrubs."

Trees and shrubs are distinguished as follows : LT, large tree,

more than 70 ft, (21 m.) high;

MT, medium tree, 30-70 ft, (9-

21 m.) high; ST, small tree, 12-

30 ft. (4-9 m.) high; LS, large

shrub, 6-20 ft (2-6 m.) high;

MS, medium shrub, 2-6 ft. (0.3-2

m.) high; SS, small or low shub,

0-2 ft. (0-0.6 m.) high; and PS,

prostrate or creeping shrub. General distribution is given as I,

interior, and C, coastal, with small

letter where restricted.

Only 12 tree species in Alaska

are classed as becoming large

(LT), that is, more than 70 ft.

(21 m.) high. Nine of these are

confined to the southeastern and

southern coastal forests, where 2

become very large. Sitka spruce

{Picea sitchensis) reaches a

height of 225 ft. (69 m.) and a

trunk diameter of 8 ft. (2.4 m.)

or more. Western hemlock (Tsiiga

heterophylla) attains 190 ft (58

m.) in height and 5 ft (1.5 m.)

or more in trunk diameter. A

giant black cottonwood (Popidus

trichocarpa) near Haines has a

massive trunk 32 ft. 6 in. (9.9 m.)

in circumference and a broken top

101 ft (30.8 m.) tall.

Five other species become

medium-sized trees (MT). The remaining 15 illustrated and the 6

shrubby species are small trees

(ST). Many are often seen as

shrubs, especially in unfavorable

sites.

Nearly all the commercial timber of Alaska is produced by 10

tree species, indicated by an

asterisk (*) in the List of Species.

Six are conifers and 4 are hardwoods. In the coastal sprucehemlock forests of southeastern

Alaska the 5 important conifers

are as follows: Sitka spruce

(Picea sitchensis), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensi'

ana), western redcedar (Thuja

plicoM), and Alaska-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis). The

lone commercial hardwood in

the southeast is black cottonwood

(Popidus trichocarpa). In the interior spruce-hardw^ood forests,
the commercially important species are white spruce {Picea

glauca) and 3 hardwoods, balsam

poplar (Populus balsamifera),

quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), and paper birch (Betula

papyrifera), . The number of tree species native in any area of Alaska is relatively small. Many localities have

fewer than 10 tree species, while

great expanses of tundra beyond

the tree line and above the timberline of mountains have none.

Geographical Distribution

All Alaska tree species range

southward across Canada to the

contiguous United States, except

4 usually shrubby species of willow (also 2 varieties of paper

birch). More than half grow wild

somewhere in California.

The tree species of Alaska generally can be separated into two

groups according to distribution

within the State corresponding to

the forest regions, as indicated in

the List of Species under Contents (page iii). Twenty are confined to the coastal spruce-hemlock

forests (C) of southeast Alaska,

several to the southern end. The

others are characteristic of the

spruce-hardwood forests of the interior (I), but most of these extend at least a short distance

southward to the Pacific coast

also. These two forest regions are

shown on the vegetation map

(between p. 47-48) and by maps

of the characteristic tree species,

white spruce {Picea glauca) of

the interior (I) and Sitka spruce

{Picea sitchensis) of the coast of

southeast Alaska (C).

The extensive spruce-hardwood

forests of interior Alaska are composed of only 3 coniferous tree

species, white spruce {Picea

glauca), black spruce (P. manana) , and tamarack {Larix laricina), and 3 hardwoods, balsam

poplar {Populus balsamifera),

quaking aspen (P. tremuloides),

and paper birch (Betula papyrifera), also a few species of willow

(Salix) and alder (Alnus) sometimes reaching tree size.

The 6 tree species of the interior forest just mentioned are

trans-continental in range, being

widely distributed in the northern coniferous forest ("north

woods/' boreal forest, or taiga)

from Alaska across Canada east

to Labrador and Newfoundland

and south into the Northeastern

States. Bebb willow (Salix bebbiana) is a small tree with similar

range.

Three tree species have a long

north-south distribution. Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and

black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) range south in the coastal

forests from Alaska to California

and beyond in mountains of northern Baja California, more than

30° of latitude. Quaking aspen

(Populus tre^nuloides), the tree

species with the greatest geographic extent in North America,

has a north-south range of about

48° from Alaska and northwestern Canada south to mountains of

Mexico.

Local and Rare Species

Several tree species are local or

rare in Alaska, where all reach

the northern limit of their ranges.

However, nearly all have a broad

distribution southward to other

States and would not be classed

as rare and endangered, that is,

threatened with extinction.

No tree species is confined to

Alaska, or endemic. One tree

variety, by some authors accepted

as a species, is restricted to

Alaska though not rare, Kenai

birch (Betula papyrifera var.

kenaica), Yakutat willow (Salix

amplifolia Cov.), for many years

regarded as a local species in the

Yakutat Bay region, has been

united as a synonym of Hooker
willow (Salix hookeriana), of the

Pacific coast from British Columbia to California.

Four tree species of southeast

Alaska are so rare and local that

they would not likely be seen without a special trip to the places

cited. One is Hooker willow (Salix

hookeriana)y already mentioned.

The others are conifers, Pacific

yew (Taxus bi^evifolia), Pacific

silver fir (Abies amabiUs), and

subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa).

Being scarce near their northern

limits, these species merit protection. All are found within South

Tongass or North Tongass National Forest, where small natural

areas could be established for special preservation.

Two tree varieties cross the

Rocky Mountains westward into

the coastal forests at the head of

Lynn Canal near Skagway and

Haines: lodgepole pine (Pinns

contora var. latifoUa) and western paper birch (Betula papyri'

fera var. co^rwiiitata), The latter

enters Alaska also at Hyder near

the southern end of the State.

Subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa)

appears at both areas also.

VEGETATION OF ALASKA

Alaska is a land of contrasts—

contrasts in climate, physical

geography, and vegetation. Containing 365.5 million acres (146

million hectares), Alaska has the

highest mountain in North America, as well as hundreds of square

miles of boggy lowlands. The climate varies from mild and wet to

cold and dry. Spanning nearly

1,300 miles (2,100 km.) of latitude

and 2,200 miles (3,500 km.) of

longitude, Alaska's vegetation

varies from the towering fastgrowing forests of the southeastern coast, through the low,

slow-growing boreal forests of the

interior, to the treeless tundra of

the north and west.

The summary of the vegetation

of Alaska which follows has been

condensed from ''Alaska Trees

and Shrubs'' (Viereck and Little

1972). Likewise, the map, vegetation of Alaska, in the center

pages (between 47-48, legend on

46) has been adapted from the

colored map modified by the senior author for that publication.

This reduced and slightly simplified black-and-white map is reproduced also in the Atlas (Viereck and Little 1974). Six main

vegetation types are distinguished, as numbered below. Treeless bogs and shrub thickets have

been combined under other types

and are not mapped separately.

Of Alaska's great land surface,

approximately 119 million acres

(48 million hectares) are forested.

Of these, 28 million acres (11.2

million hectares) are classified as

"commercial forests." These great

timber reserves provide the basis

for one of the State's largest industries, and one that will continue to expand in size and importance as the timber demands of

the heavily populated areas of the

world increase. At present, most

of the State's timber production

is from the South Tongass, North

Tongass, and Chugach National

Forests, which contain 92 percent

of commercial forests of coastal

Alaska. Nearly all of the rest is

from other areas within the

coastal forests. But as timber demands increase, more and more

use will be made of the great timber reserves of the interior or

boreal forests.

In addition to the timber values, there are many other important uses of Alaska's forest and

tundra areas. Much of Alaska is

still wilderness, and the value of

8
undisturbed wild areas may someday far outweigh the potential

value for producing lumber and

pulp. An increasing number of

people look to Alaska for wilderness that is no longer present in

the more developed areas of the

world. Thus, it is important that

some areas of Alaska forests be

retained in their natural state.

Tourism in Alaska is an important and growing industry, based

primarily on scenic, wilderness,

and wildlife values.

The Alaska forests provide

many recreational opportunities,

including hiking, camping, fishing, and canoeing. In the National

Forests are extensive trails and

shelter systems that can be used

by the hiker, hunter, or canoeist.

The National Parks and Monuments provide the visitor with an

opportunity to see some of the

most spectacular forest and mountain scenery, while the Wildlife

Refuges and Ranges, although

primarily set aside for the protection and management of wildlife

species, also have campgrounds,

trails, and other recreational facilities. In the interior boreal forests, the Bureau of Land Management and the State of Alaska have

developed campgrounds, canoe

trails, and occasional hiking trails

through the forested and tundra

areas.

Of the forest species, the moose

is probably the most abundant and

widespread large mammal of the

interior forests; occasionally its

range extends into the coastal

areas. The moose survives the

winter primarily by browsing on

willows and other shrubs, especially in areas where the shrubs

are growing thickly following

forest fires, and in willow thickets

along the rivers. In coastal areas,

the blacktail deer feeds primarily

on blueberry and other shrubs

during the periods when the snow

covers the lower vegetation. In

the summer the deer feeds mainly

on the herbaceous plants that

grow in the openings in the

coastal forests. Even the caribou,

often considered a tundra animal,

spends the winters in the open

forested area adjacent to tree

line, especially where lichen

growth is abundant.

The forests of Alaska provide

more than timber to the people

of Alaska and the rest of the

United States. They offer wilderness, a place to hike, hunt, fish,

and areas to see and photograph

wildlife. They are important in

protecting our water resource,

and they furnish a habitat for a

large number of wildlife species.

Coastal Forests

The dense forests of western

hemlock and Sitka spruce, a continuation of similar forests along

the coast of British Columbia,

Washington, and Oregon, extend

about 900 miles (1,440 km.) along

the Alaska coast from the southeastern tip to Cook Inlet and

Kodiak Island. Commercial stands

occur from sea level to about

1,500 feet (460 m.) elevation, but

scattered trees rise to a timberline

at 2,000 to 3,000 feet (460 to 915

m.).

The coastal forests are characterized by steep rough topography. In many areas only a narrow band of trees exists between

the ocean and the tundra on snowclad mountains above. The scenic

grandeur of the region is unsurpassed. The narrow waterways

with steep forested slopes, the

rugged high mountains, and the

many glaciers reaching to the

coast through forested valleys

along with an abundance of

streams and lakes offer a wealth

of recreation values.

The climate is cool and cloudy

in summer, and the winters are

mild. Snowfall may be heavy in

some forested areas in the north-
ern part, but much of the high

precipitation falls as rain. Annual precipitation varies from as

much as 222 inches (5,640 mm.)

on the outside coast of the southeasternmost islands to 25 inches

(630 mm) at Homer on the boundary between coastal and interior

forests The mean annual temperature in the coastal forests ranges

from 46° F. (8° C.) at Ketchikan

to 37° F. (3° C.) at Cordova.

Summer temperatures range in

the upper 50's (13-16° C.) and

winter temperatures for the coldest month range from the low 20's

(-6° C.) tomidSO's (+2° C).

1. Sitka Spruce-Hemlock

Forests

In the southern part the coastal

forests are composed primarily of

western hemlock and Sitka spruce

with a scattering of mountain

hemlock, western redcedar, and

Alaska-cedar. Red alder is common along streams, beach fringes,

and on soils recently disturbed by

logging and landslides. Black cottonwood grows on the flood plains

of major rivers and recently deglaciated areas on the mainland.

Subalpine fir and Pacific silver fir

occur occasionally at tree line and

near sea level but are not abundant enough to be of commercial

value. Blueberries, huckleberry,

copperbush, devilsclub, and salal

are the most important shrubs.

Because of the heavy rainfall and

resulting high humidity, mosses

grow in great profusion on the

ground, on fallen logs, and on the

lower branches of trees, as well as

in forest openings.

In poorly drained areas at low

elevations, open muskegs of low

shrubs, sedges, grasses, and

mosses are common. These areas

are treeless or may have a few

scattered shrubby trees of shore

pine (lodgepole pine), western

hemlock, mountain hemlock,

Alaska-cedar, and Sitka spruce.

In the northern and western

sections of the coastal forest, the

makeup of the tree species

changes. Western redcedar is not

found north of Frederick Sound,

and Alaska-cedar drops out at

Prince William Sound. Cottonwood is extensive along some of

the glacial outwash rivers and becomes commercially important in

the Haines area and on the alluvial terraces to the west. Western

hemlock becomes of less importance westward but is found as

far as Cook Inlet. Only Sitka

spruce remains as the important

tree in the coastal forests west of

Cook Inlet and the lone conifer on

Afognak and Kodiak Islands.

Douglas-fir, which is characteristic of the coastal forests of Oregon, Washington, and southern

British Columbia, does not reach

Alaska.

Interior Forests or Taiga

The white spruce-paper birch

forest, extending from the Kenai

Peninsula to the south slopes of

the Brooks Range and westward

nearly to the Bering Sea, is called

the boreal forest or taiga—the

Russian equivalent. These forests

cover about 32 percent of the area

or about 106 million acres (42.4

million hectares). However, only

about one-fifth or 22.5 million

acres (9 million hectares) are

classed as commercial forest land.

Characteristic forest stands are

found in the Tanana and Yukon

Valleys. Here, in contrast to the

coast, climatic conditions are extreme. The mean annual temperature is 20 to 30° F. (—T'^ C. to

—1° C.) but winter temperatures

below —40° F. (-40° C.) are

common and the coldest month

averages —10 to -20° F. (—23°

to —29° C). In contrast, summer

temperatures may reach into the

90's (above 30° C), and the

warmest month of the year has an

average of 60° F. (16° C). Permanently frozen ground is of scat10
tered occurrence in the southern

part of the interior forests and

nearly continuous in the northern

sections. Although precipitation

is light, 6 to 12 inches (150 to 300

mm.) per year, evaporation is low

and permafrost forms an impervi»

ous layer so that bogs and wet

areas are common. Snowfall averages 55 inches (140 cm.) per year

at Fairbanks, and snow cover usually persists from mid-October

until mid- to late-April. Day

length is also extreme in the

boreal forest regions with nearly

24 hours of daylight available for

plant growth in June, but with

only a few hours of sunlight during the winter months. Forest

fires have always been an important aspect of the environment of

the Alaska interior forests. Even

now with modern fire detecting

and fighting techniques, more

than 4 million acres may burn in

a single dry summer.

The vegetation types in interior

Alaska form a mosiac of patterns

that is related in part to past fire

history, to slope and aspect, and

to the presence or absence of

permafrost. Most forest stands

are mixtures of two or more tree

species but are usually classified

by the dominant species.

2. Closed Spruce-Hardwood

Forests

White spruce type,—In general, the best commercial stands

of white spruce are found on the

warm, dry, south-facing hillsides

and adjacent to rivers where

drainage is good and permafrost

lacking. These stands are rather

open under the canopy but may

contain shrubs of rose, alder, and

willow. The forest floor is usually

carpeted with a thick moss mat.

On the better sites 100 to 200

year-old spruce with diameters of

10 to 24 inches (25 to 60 cm.) may

average 10,000 board feet per acre

(58 cubic meters per hectare).

Stands in which commercial white

spruce are dominant occupy 12.8

million acres (5.1 million hectares) in interior Alaska.

Quaking aspen type,—Following fire and a willow stage, fast

growing aspen stands develop in

upland areas on south facing

slopes. The aspen mature in 60

to 80 years and are eventually replaced by white spruce, except in

excessively dry sites where they

may persist. Occasionally aspen

stands also follow fire on well

drained lowland river terraces

and, in these situations, are usually replaced by black spruce in

the successional sequence. Stands

with aspen dominant occupy

about 2.4 million acres (960,000

hectares) in central Alaska.

Paper birch type,—Paper birch

is the common invading tree after

fire on east- and west-facing

slopes and occasionally on north

slopes and flat areas. This species

occurs either in pure stands or

more often mixed with white

spruce, aspen, or black spruce.

Shrubs may be similar to those

under aspen but usually Labradortea and mountain-cranberry are

more common. Paper birch may

be 60-80 feet (18-24 m.) tall and

have diameters up to 18 inches

(46 cm.), but an average diameter

of 8-9 inches (20-22 cm.) is more

common in the interior birch

stands. Stands dominated by

paper birch occupy about 5 million acres (2 million hectares) of

interior forests and are especially

widespread in Susitna Valley.

The balsam poplar type. Another tree species of importance

within the closed spruce-hardwood forest in interior Alaska is

balsam poplar, which reaches its

greatest size and abundance on

the floodplain of the meandering

glacial rivers. It invades sandbars

and grows rapidly to heights of

80-100 feet (24 to 30 m.) and

diameters of 24 inches (60 cm.)

11
before being replaced by white

spruce. Balsam poplar also occurs

in small clumps near the altitudinal and latitudinal limit of trees

in the Alaska Range and north of

the Brooks Range. Commercial

stands occupy 2.1 million acres

(840,000 hectares), primarily

along the Yukon, Tanana, Susitna,

and Kuskokwim Rivers. In the

Susitna Valley balsam popular is

often replaced in this type by

black cottonwood or by hybrids.

3. Open^ Low Growing

Spruce Forests

On north-facing slopes and

poorly drained lowlands, forest

succession leads to open black

spruce and bogs, usually underlain

by permafrost. The black spruce

are slow growing and seldom exceed 8 inches (20 cm.) in diameter

and are usually much smaller; a

tree 2 inches (5 cm.) in diameter

is often 100 years in age. The

black spruce comes in abundantly

after fire because its persistent

cones open after a fire and spread

abundant seed over the burned

areas. A thick moss mat, often

of sphagnum mosses, sedges,

grasses, and heath or ericaceous

shrubs usually make up the subordinate vegetation of the open

black spruce stands. Associated

with black spruce in the wet bottom lands is the slow-growing

tamarack. As with the black

spruce, it is of little commercial

value, seldom reaching a diameter

of more than 6 inches (15 cm.).

Near treeline the open spruce

forests consist of both black and

white spruce and frequently have

an understory of resin birch,

alder, and willow.

Treeless Bogs

Coastal areas, — Within the

coastal forests in depressions, ñat

areas, and on some gentle slopes

where drainage is poor, treeless

areas occur. The vegetation is

variable but most commonly consists of a thick sphagnum moss

mat, sedges, rushes, low shrubs,

and fruticose lichens. This type

is locally called ''muskeg.'' Often

a few slow growing, poorly

formed, shore pine, western hemlock, or Alaska-cedar are scattered on the drier sites.

Interior areas, — Within the

boreal forest are extensive bogs

where conditions are too wet for

tree growth. North of the Alaska

Range in the unglaciated areas,

they occur on old river terraces

and outwash, in filling ponds and

old sloughs and occasionally on

gentle north, facing slopes. They

are common south of the Alaska

Range, on the fine clay soils

formed in former glacial lake

basins and on morainal soils within the glaciated area. They are

also common on the extensive flat

areas of the lower Yukon and

Kuskokwim Rivers.

The vegetation of these bogs

consists of varying amounts of

grasses, sedges, and mosses, especially sphagnum. Often the surface has stringlike ridges.

Shrub Thickets

Coastal alder thickets,—Dense

thickets of shrubs occur in a number of sites in all the major vegetation zones in Alaska. In coastal

Alaska there are extensive alder

thickets between the beach and

the forest, between the treeline

and the alpine tundra meadows,

and extending from treeline

downward through the forest in

avalanche tracks and along

streams. The shrub thicket is also

common in southeastern Alaska

in the many clearcut areas. The

alder thicket is almost impenetrable as the boles of the shrubs

tend to grow horizontally as well

as vertically. To travel through

the thicket is even worse; the

spiny devilsclub and salmonberry

are frequently present. Beneath

12
the alders there is often a well

developed grass and fern layer,

as well as a number of herbs and

shrubs.

Floodplain thickets,—Another

major shrub type, floodplain

thickets, is found on the floodplains of the rivers. Although

somewhat different in species

composition, the type is rather

similar from the rivers of the

southern coastal areas to the

broad braided rivers north of the

Brooks Range. This type forms

on newly exposed alluvial deposits

that are periodically flooded. It

develops quickly and may reach

heights of 15 to 20 feet (4.5-6 m.)

in the south and central Alaska

and 5 to 10 feet (1.5-3 m.) along

the rivers north of the Brooks

Range. The main dominant shrubs

of this type are willows and occasionally alders.

Birch-aider-willow thickets,—

A third type of shrub thicket occurs near tree line in interior

Alaska and beyond tree line in

extensive areas of the Alaska and

Seward Peninsulas. It consists of

resin birch, alder, and several

willow species, usually forming

thickets 3 to 10 feet (1-3 m.) tall.

The thickets may be extremely

dense, or they may be open and

interspersed with reindeer lichens, low heath type shrubs, or

patches of alpine tundra.

Tundra

The low tundra vegetation can

be divided into three main types :

moist tundra, wet tundra, and alpine tundra. Within each of these

major types are mosaics of subtypes related to differences in

topography, slope, aspect, and

substrate.

4. Moist Tundra

Moist tundra occupies the foothills and lower elevations of the

Alaska Range as well as extensive

areas on the Seward and Alaska

peninsulas, the Aleutian Islands,

and the islands of the Bering Sea.

The type varies from almost continuous and uniformly developed

cottongrass (Eriophorum) tussocks with sparse growth of other

sedges and dwarf shrubs to stands

where tussocks are scarce or lacking and shrubs are dominant.

5. Wet Tundra

The wet tundra type as shown

on the vegetation map includes

also the low coastal marshes of

southern Alaska. The type is most

extensive along the coastal plain

north of the Brooks Range, the

northern part of the Seward

Peninsula, and on the broad

Yukon delta. It is usually found in

areas with many shallow lakes

and little topographic relief.

Standing water is almost always

present in the summer and in the

northern parts permafrost is close

to the surface. The vegetation is

primarily a sedge and cottongrass

mat, usually not in tussocks.

6. Alpine Tundra

In all the mountain ranges of

Alaska and on exposed ridges in

the airctic and southwestern

coastal areas, there is a zone of

alpine tundra. Much of this type

consists of barren rocks but interspersed between the bare rocks

and rubble are low mat plants,

both herbaceous and shrubby.

Dominant in this type in northern

areas and in the Alaska Range are

low mats of white mountain-avens

which may cover entire ridges and

slopes along with many mat forming herbs. In the southeastern

coastal mountains and the Aleutians, the most important plants

are the low heath shrubs, especially cassiopes and mountainheaths. On the Aleutian Islands

this type consists primarily of

crowberry, bog blueberry, mountain-cranberry, alpine-azalea, and

several dwarf willows.

13
KEYS FOR IDENTIFICATION

Most native trees of Alaska

can be identified easily by reference to the drawings, descriptions, and maps. If you know a

common name, consult the Index

of Common and Scientific Names

for page numbers, then match

your specimen with the drawings

and text. The List of Species

under Contents may be consulted,

if the family is recognized or if

the specimen resembles one previously named.

It is desirable to have flowers

and fruits or cones, as well as a

twig or stem with leaves. However, most trees can be identified

from foliage alone.

Many trees are evergreen and

can be identified readily at any

time of the year. For those plants

shedding their leaves, frequently

a few old leaves and fruits can be

found in winter either still attached or on the ground beneath.

In winter, twig and bud characters are useful. Maps may be used

to eliminate species not known to

grow wild where the specimen

was found.

Keys are provided to aid identification, both in summer, when

leaves, flowers, and fruits are

present, and in winter, when

twigs, winter buds, and bark are

used. Two here are: Key to

Alaska Trees Based Mainly on

Leaves and Winter Key to Deciduous Trees of Alaska. Also, each

genus with two or more tree

species has a key to its Alaska

species. For the willows (Salix),

the largest genus, there are two :

Key to Alaska Tree Willows and

Vegetative Key to Alaska Tree

Willows.

A key is an outline for identifying specimens or plants through

the process of elimination. This

device is a short cut to save time

in reading every description until

the one that agrees is found. The

species are divided into two

groups according to certain distinguishing characters, and each

group is divided successfully into

two smaller groups down to a single species at the end. The name

of a particular specimen is found

through selection, one by one, of

the group in which it belongs.

Like an outline, the keys are

indented. The two groups forming a pair of contrasting characters are designated by the same

letter, single and double, and

spaced one directly below the

other, usually not together. Step

by step, elimination proceeds from

left to right by selection of the

group to which the specimen belongs until the name is reached.

Species numbers are cited beside

each name for reference. Then

verification is made by comparison with description, illustration,

and map. If agreement is lacking

or doubtful, the steps followed in

the key may be retraced and different steps tried. With incomplete specimens, it may be desirable to check both groups of a

pair where the contrasting characters are absent or uncertain.

Emphasis is given to nontechnical and vegetative characters,

which are present over longer

periods than flowers or fruits,

also, to the larger parts. However,

a hand lens will be helpful.

The first step is to select the

proper key for the specimen.

Usually, the keys based mainly on

leaves and other vegetative characters are simpler and easier to

use than the winter keys. The

latter must depend largely upon

differences in twigs and buds.

Even in winter, enough old leaves,

flowers, and fruits may be found

for use of the main keys. Of

course, keys based largely on

leaves can be used throughout the

year for the evergreens.

14
For example, a tree specimen

with broad leaves would be identified with the Key to Alaska

Trees Based Mainly on Leaves.

First, both contrasting parts or

groups of the key, beginning with

the pair "A" and ^*AA,^' should be

read. The specimen with broad

leaves belongs under **AA," and

all the trees under '*A," having

needlelike or scalelike leaves, are

eliminated. Next, the lines "N"

and "NN" are read. If the leaves

and twigs are in pairs (opposite),

the specimen belongs under

"NN.'' Then, if the leaves have a

3 long-pointed lobes, the specimen

agrees with "j" instead of "jj"

and is a Douglas maple. Confirmation is made by comparison with

the description, illustration, and

map.

Keys to Alaska Trees Based Mainly on Leaves

A. Leaves needlelike or scalelike, evergreen (except in tamarack),

trees resinous (except in yew) ; seeds more or less exposed

and not enclosed in a fruit—conifers or softwoods (gymnosperms).

B. Leaves needlelike, flattened, abruptly pointed but not prickly, in

2 rows comblike with leafstalks extending down twig;

seeds single in scarlet juicy cuplike disk; rare in extreme

southeast Alaska 1. Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia)

BB. Leaves needlelike or scalelike, not as above; seeds borne on

scales of a cone.

C. Leaves needlelike, more than 14 in. (6 mm.) long, single, or

clustered.

D. Needles shedding in fall, 12-20 in cluster on short spur

twigs (also single on leading twigs)

3. tamarack (Larix laricina)

DD, Needles evergreen, single or 2 (sometimes 3) in a bundle.

E. Needles 2 (sometimes 3) in a bundle with sheath at base

—2. lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta)

F. Cones pointing backward, opening at maturity; generally low spreading tree of muskegs in coastal

forests

2a. shore pine (Pinus contorta var. contorta)

FF. Cones pointing outward, mostly remaining closed

many years ; tree often tall and narrow of inner

fiord forests at head of Lynn Canal (Skagway to

Haines)

2b. lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia)

EE. Needles single, without sheath at base.

G. Older twigs roughened by projections where needles

were shed.

H. Needles sharp-pointed, stifiF, without leafstalksspruce (Picea),

I. Needles 4-angled.

J, Twigs hairy; needles mostly less than 1/2 in. (12

mm.) long, resinous; cones egg-shaped or

nearly round, mostly less than 1 in. (2.5

cm.) long, curved down on short stalks, remaining on tree .

4. black spruce (Picea mariana)

JJ. Twigs hairless; needles more than V2 in. (12

mm.) long, with skunklike odor when

15
crushed; cones cylindric, 1^^-21/2 in. (3-6

cm.) long, falling at maturity

5. white spruce (Picea glauca)

IL Needles flattened but slightly keeled —

6. Sitka spruce {Picea sitchensis)

HH. Needles blunt, soft and not stiff, with short leafstalks—hemlock (Tsuga).

K. Needles flat, appearing in 2 rows, shiny dark green

above, with 2 whitish bands (stomata) on

lower surface

7. western hemlock {Tsiiga heterophylla)

KK. Needles half-round and keeled or angled beneath,

crowded on all sides of short side twigs, blue

green, with whitish lines (stomata) on both

surfaces

_ 8. mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana)

GG. Older twigs smooth—^fir (Abies),

L. Needles shiny dark green on upper surface and silvery white with many lines (stomata) on lower

surface ___ 9. Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis)

LL. Needles dull dark green with whitish lines (stomata) on both surfaces

10. subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa)

CC. Leaves scalelike, usually less than i/g in. (3 mm.) long,

crowded, forming fanlike or flattened sprays.

M. Leafy twigs flattened; leaves flattened and curved, not

spreading 11. western redcedar (Thuja plicata)

MM. Leafy twigs 4-angled or slightly flattened ; leaves pointed,

spreading

12. Alaska-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis)

AA. Leaves broad and flat, shedding in fall (deciduous) ; trees nonresinous; seeds developed from a flower and enclosed in a

fruit—flowering plants (angiosperms).

N. Leaves and twigs arranged singly (alternate).

0. Leaves not divided into leaflets (simple).

P. Leafstalks (petioles) mostly less than i/^ in. (12 mm.) long;

leaves mostly more than twice as long as broad, with

edges finely toothed or without teeth ; winter buds covered by a single scale—willow (Salix),

Q. Leaf edges without teeth or only sparsely and indistinctly

toothed.

R. Leaves rounded at base, broadly elliptic, becoming hairless on both sides

16. Hooker willow (Salix hookeriana)

RR. Leaves tapering or short-pointed at base, narrower,

with hairs on lower surface,

S. Lower surface of leaves covered by dense hairs, appearing silvery, white, or gray.

T. Leaves thick, lower surface with dense white

woolly hairs

17. feltleaf willow (Salix alaxensis)

TT. Leaves thin, lower surface with dense straight

hairs, silvery silky hairy

20. Sitka willow (Salix sitchensis)

16
SS. Lower surface of leaves visible through less dense

hairs.

U. Leaves thick, nearly hairless above ; hairs on lower

surface short and stiff, at least some red,

giving reddish hue

19. Scouler willow {Salix scouleriana)

UU. Leaves thin, hairy on both sides; hairs longer,

not reddish

18. Bebb willow {Salix bebbiana)

QQ. Leaf edges finely and distinctly toothed from base to

apex.

V. Leaves 1-3 in. (2.5-7.5 cm.) long, mostly short-pointed

at both ends

21. littletree willow {Salix arbusculoides)

VV. Leaves 2-5 in. (5-12.5 cm.) long, long-pointed, mostly

rounded at base

- 22. Pacific willow {Salix lasiandra)

PP. Leafstalks (petioles) mostly more than 14 in. (12 mm.)

long (often shorter in alder) ; leaves less than twice

as long as broad, with edges finely or coarsely toothed ;

winter buds with 2 or more scales exposed.

W. Leaf edges finely toothed with curved and rounded teeth

—cottonwood, poplar, aspen {Populus).

X. Leaf blades nearly round, less than 2 in. (5 cm.) long;

leafstalks fattened

15. quaking aspen {Populus tremuloides)

XX, Leaf blades longer than broad, 2i/^-5 in. (6-12.5 cm.)

long ; leafstalks round.

Y. Seed capsules pointed, hairless, 2-parted*; leaves pale

green and brownish beneath; tree of interior

forests

17. balsam poplar {Populus balsamifera)

YY. Seed capsules rounded, hairy, 3-parted; leaves

whitish beneath; tree of coastal forests

— 14. black cottonwood {Populus triehoearpa)

WW. Leaf edges coarsely toothed with sharp-pointed teeth,

Z. Leaf edges doubly toothed with teeth of 2 sizes.

a. Leaf edges not lobed; bark papery and peeling off,

white, brown, or pinkish—23. paper birch

{Betula papyrifera).

b. Leaves long-pointed, usually wedge-shaped at base ;

bark usually white in age; interior Alaska

- 23b. Alaska

paper birch {Betula papyrifera YSíY. humilis)

bb. Leaves mostly short-pointed.

c. Leaves thin, mostly rounded at base; bark usually reddish brown; northern part of

southeast Alaska 23a, western paper

birch {Betula papyrifera var. commutata)

cc. Leaves thick, wedge-shaped or rounded at base,

with white hairs on toothed edges; bark

usually dark brown or gray ; southern and

southern interior Alaska 23c. Kenai

birch {Betula papyrifera var. kenaica)

17
aa. Leaf edges wavy or shallowly lobed; bark usually

gray and smooth, not papery nor peeling off—

alder (Alnus).

d. Leaves yellow green above, shiny on both sides and

especially beneath, sticky when young, edges

with relatively long-pointed teeth

24. Sitka alder (Alnus sinuata)

dd. Leaves dark green above, dull, not sticky when

young, edges with short-pointed teeth.

e. Leaves thick with edges curled under slightly,

with rusty hairs along veins beneath .

25. red alder (Alnus rubra)

ee. Leaves thin with edges flat, finely hairy or

nearly hairless beneath

26. thinleaf alder (Alnus tenuifoUa)

ZZ. Leaf edges with uniform teeth.

f. Leaves short-pointed, sometimes 3-lobed

27. Oregon crab apple (Malus diversifolia)

ff. Leaves rounded at apex 30. western

serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifoUa)

00. Leaves divided into 7-17 leaflets (compound), the leaflets attached along extended leafstalk and shedding with it—

mountain-ash (Sorbus).

g. Leaflets mostly 11-15, short-pointed, edges toothed nearly to

base.

h. Leaflets becoming hairless

^_ 28. Greene Mountain-ash (Sorbus scopuUna)

hh. Leaflets white-hairy beneath; naturalized tree

_ 28.1. European mountain-ash (Sorbus aucuparia)

gg. Leaflets mostly 9 or 11, rounded or short-pointed at apex,

edges not toothed in lowest third

29. Sitka mountain-ash (So7^bus sitchensis)

NN. Leaves and usually twigs in pairs (opposite).

i. Leaves with 3 long-pointed lobes, irregularly or doubly toothed

31. Douglas maple (Acer glabrum var. douglasii)

ii. Leaves divided into 5 or 7 leaflets (compound), finely toothed

32, Pacific red elder (Sambucus callicarpa)

Winter Key to Deciduous Trees of Alaska

A. Twigs with many wartlike, blackish spur twigs about Vs in. (3

mm. ) long ; upright brown cones usually present ; trees with

pointed crown 3. tamarack (Larix laricina)

AA. Twigs, without spur twigs or with longer spurs ; trees with

spreading, usually rounded crown.

B. Winter buds, leaf-scars, and twigs arranged singly (alternate).

C. Winter buds covered by a single scale willow

(Salix ; the species not readily distinguished in winter)

CC. Winter buds with 2 or more scales exposed,

D. Winter buds usually resinous or sticky, shiny, brown, longpointed; lowest bud-scale centered over leaf-scar—

cottonwood, poplar, aspen (Populus).

E. Winter buds 14 in. (6 mm.) or less in length, slightly or

not resinous .

15. quaking aspen (Populas tremuloides)

18
EE. Winter buds %-l in. (10-25 mm.) long, very resinous.

F. Tree of interior forests

13. balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera)

FF. Tree of coastal forests -

14. black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa)

DD. Winter buds not resinous or sticky (slightly so in Sitk^

alder) ; lowest bud-scale at side of bud.

G. Winter buds mostly stalked (slightly in No. 52), with the

3 exposed scales meeting at edges (overlapping in

No. 52) ; old, hard, blackish cones or conelike fruits

usually present—alder (Alnus),

H. Cones with long stalks more than Y^ in. (12 mm.) long,

mostly longer than cones

24. Sitka alder (Alnus sinuata)

HH. Cones with short stalks less than l^ in. (12 mm.)

long.

L Cones i/^-l in. (12-25 mm.) long

25. red alder (Alnus rubra)

II. Cones less than 14 in. (12 mm.) long

26. thinleaf alder (Alnus tenuifolia)

GG. Winter buds not stalked, composed of overlapping

scales ; fruits not conelike.

J. Winter buds 14 in. (6 mm.) or less in length; bud-scales

with few or no hairs.

K. Twigs with many small whitish dots (lenticels and

resin) ; bark papery, peeling off

23. paper birch (Betula papyrifera)

KK. Twigs with few inconspicuous dots (lenticels) ;

bark not papery.

L. Winter buds blunt-pointed, dark brown; twigs

coarse, gray or brown, often with dense gray

hairs near tip, with short side twigs or spurs

_27. Oregon crab apple (Malus diversifoUa)

LL. Winter buds sharp-pointed, purple ; twigs slender,

reddish purple, shiny, hairless, without short

side twigs or spurs 30. western serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)

JJ. Winter buds large, usually more than % in. (10 mm.)

long; inner exposed bud-scales densely hairy—

mountain ash (Sorbus),

M. Winter buds with whitish hairs.

N. Winter buds reddish brown, inner scales with

whitish hairs at tip

28. Greene mountain-ash (Sorbus scopulina)

NN. Winter buds densely covered with whitish hairs ;

naturalized tree 28.1. European mountain-ash (Sorbus aucuparia)

MM. Winter buds with rusty brown hairs

29. Sitka mountain-ash (Sorbus sitchensis)

BB. Winter buds, leaf-scars, and usually twigs in pairs (opposite).

0. Twigs slender, reddish, with small dark red buds

31. Douglas maple (Acer glabrumvar, douglasii)

00. Twigs stout, gray, with large gray buds

32. Pacific red elder (Sambucus callicarpa)

19
GUIDE TO ALASKA TREES

YEW FAMILY

(Taxaceae)

The seed plants with seeds

partly exposed (gymnosperms),

not enclosed in fruits, are represented in Alaska by 3 families of

conifers or softwoods, the yew

family (Taxaceae), the pine family (Pinaceae), and the cypress

family (Cupressaceae). The Alaska examples are evergreen (with

1 exception) trees and shrubs

with narrow or small leaves resembling needles or scales. Pacific

yew {Taxus brevifolia Nutt.), the

Alaska member of the yew family, is distinguished by the brown

seeds borne singly in a scarlet,

juicy, cuplike or berrylike disk,

by the flat, pointed, nonresinous

needles in 2 rows, and by the

twisted leafstalks extending down

the twig.

1. PACIFIC YEW

{Taxus brevifolia Nutt.)

Other name: western yew.

Small tree or large shrub of extreme south end of southeast

Alaska, to 20-40 ft. (6-12 m.)

tall, with straight conical trunk

2-6 in. (5-15 cm.) or rarely 18

in. (45 cm.) in diameter at breast

height, with open crown or horizontal or drooping branches.

Leaves (needles) in 2 rows, i/4-

34 in. (12-20 mm.) long, flat,

slightly curved, stiff or soft,

abruptly pointed but not prickly,

shiny yellow green above, pale

green beneath, not resinous. Petioles yellow, extending down the

slender twigs, twisting to produce

an even, comblike arrangement of

needles. Bark purplish brown,

thin, scaly, ridged, and fluted.

Wood bright red with thin light

yellow sapwood, fine-textured,

heavy, hard, elastic.

Pollen and seeds on different

trees (dioecious). Seeds single, %

in. (1 cm.) long, brown, exposed

at apex but partly surrounded by

a thick scarlet, juicy, cuplike disk

or "berry."

Southward, the strong, durable

wood is used for poles, bows,

canoe paddles, and cabinet work.

However, in Alaska the trees are

too scarce to be commercially important. The plants could serve as

ornamentals.

The seeds are poisonous when

eaten, causing vomiting, diarrhea,

and inflammation of urinary ducts

and the uterus. Also, yew foliage

is poisonous when browsed by

livestock. However, the juicy scarlet ^'berries" around the seeds are

not toxic.

Pacific yew is rare and local in

the extreme south end of southeast Alaska, near sea level on poor

sites and in canyons. It is scattered in understory of the coast

forest of western redcedar, western and mountain hemlocks, and

Sitka spruce. The irregular distribution may be related to dispersal

of the seeds by birds. Growth is

slow. Another species of yew has

been introduced in southeast

Alaska as an ornamental shrub

and hedge plant

Pacific yew has been found in

Alaska only on a few islands near

Ketchikan These include Annette,

Dog, Cat, Mary, Bold, and

Gravina Islands. Also southern

end of Prince of Wales Island

north to Kasaan Island in Kasaan

Bay. Probably rare in nearby

areas. South Tongass National

Forest. Pacific coast region from

Alaska and British Columbia

south through western Washington to central California and in

mountains to Idaho and northwestern Montana.

20
PINE FAMILY

{Pinaceae)

Conifers, or softwoods, are economically the most important

group of trees in Alaska. Many

have tall straight trunks and narrow crowns, except where dwarfed

near the limits of tree growth.

However, the 2 native species of

juniper are low shrubs. These

narrowleaf evergreens make up

nearly all the trees of the coastal

forests of southeast Alaska and

most of the timber of the interior

Figure 1.—Pacific yew (Taxus hrevifolia)j natural size.

forests. They furnish nearly all

the State's lumber, pulpwood,

building logs, and other wood

products.

These cone-bearing trees are

resinous softwoods with needlelike or scalelike evergreen leaves

with seeds exposed in cones, usually hard and woody. Pollen is

borne in small male cones usually

on the same plant, and true

flowers and fruits are lacking.

Alaska's conifers are classified in

3 plant families, yew family

(Taxaceae), pine family (Pinaceae) with needlelike leaves, and

scalelike leaves. Members of the

yew family have seeds borne

singly in a scarlet juicy cuplike

disk, rather than in a cone, and

may not be true conifers.

21
Figure 2a.—Shore pine (PíWMS contorta

var. contorta), natural size.

The pine family (Pinaceae) is

well represented in Alaska by 5

genera and 9 species of trees with

narrow, mostly long needles The

cones have many cone-scales, each

bearing 2 long-winged seeds at its

base. Characters of the 5 genera

and names of their Alaska species

are summarized here for ready

identification.

Larch {Larix), the only Alaska

conifer shedding its leaves in fall

and leafless in winter. One species,

tamarack (L. laricina (Du Roi)

K. Koch), with slender flexible

needles borne 12-20 in a cluster

on short stout spur twigs (or single on leading twigs).

Pine (Pinus), 1 species, lodgepole pine (P. contorta DougL),

with 2 varieties. Needles 2 in a

bundle or cluster with sheath at

base, relatively long and stiff.

Cones one-sided, with many prickly cone scales.

Spruce {Picea), 3 species,

black, white, and Sitka spruce.

Needles sharp-pointed and stiff,

either 4-angled or flattened and

slightly keeled, extending out on

22
all sides of twig. There is no leafstalk, but each leaf is attached on

a small stalklike or peglike projection of the twig. Older twigs without needles are rough because of

these projections. Cut branches of

spruce and hemlock shed their

needles promptly upon drying.

The cones hang down. (In the

preparation of botanical specimens, immersion of freshly cut

twigs in boiling water for a few

minutes before pressing reduces

shedding of needles.)

Hemlock (Tsuga), 2 species,

western and mountain hemlock.

Needles short, blunt, soft and not

stiff, flat or slightly keeled, with

short leafstalks, spreading in 2

Figure 2b.—Lodgepole pine (^Pinus contorta var. latifolid)^ natural size.

rows or curved upward. As in

spruce, the older twigs are slightly

rough from the peglike projections. The cones hang down.

Fir (A&ies), 2 species, Pacific

silver fir and subalpine fir.

Needles fiat and without leafstalks, often spreading in 2 rows

or curving upward. Older twigs

smooth with round leaf-scars.

Cones upright in highest branches

of the narrow pointed crowns. As

the cone-scales fall from the axis

at maturity, old cones are not

found on or under the trees.

2. LODGEPOLE PINE

(Pinus contorta DougL)

Other names : scrub pine, tamarack pine.

The general description and

range of this species are followed

23
by similar notes for the 2 varieties in Alaska. Small to large evergreen, resinous tree of southeast

Alaska, 20-75 ft. (6-23 m.) tall

and 8-32 in. (20-81 cm.) in trunk

diameter, with crown rounded

spreading or narrow pointed.

Leaves (needles) 2 in a bundle

with sheath at base, 1-21^ in.

(2.5-6 cm.) long, relatively long

and stiff, often twisted, yellow

green to dark green with whitish

lines (stomata). Twigs stout,

orange when young, becoming

gray brown and rough. Winter

buds short-pointed, of many narrow red brown scales. Bark gray

to dark brown, scaly, thin or becoming thick. Wood resinous or

pitchy, coarse-textured, straightgained (scrubby trees with spiral

grain), moderately lightweight,

moderately soft. Heartwood light

yellow to yellow brown, sapwood

narrow and whitish.

Cones 1 to few, almost stalkless, egg-shaped, one-sided, 11/4-2

in. (3-5 cm.) long, light yellow

brown, with many prickly cone

scales, maturing in 2 years, persistent, opening or remaining

closed many years. Seeds brown,

about % in. (15 mm.) long, including the long broad wing.

Alaskans only native species of

pine is not important for lumber

because of its mostly small size

and limited occurrence. The wood

is used for poles and fuel. The

sweet orange-flavored sap served

the Indians as a delicacy, fresh

or dried. In the vicinity of Fairbanks, the inland variety has been

introduced as a fast growing

hardy shade tree.

Wood of lodgepole pine of the

Rocky Mountain region is suitable

for pulping for papers and fiberboard. Other uses are lumber,

railroad ties, mine timbers, and

poles, posts, and fuelwood. The

lumber is mostly for rough construction, occasionally for boxes,

siding, finish, and flooring.

This species including 3 geographic varieties has a broad

range from southeast Alaska, central Yukon, and southwestern

Mackenzie, south in mountains

and along coast to Colorado, Utah,

and California; also local in

northern Baja California.

Key to the 2 Alaska Varieties

Cones pointing backward, opening at maturity ; generally low spreading tree of muskegs in coastal forests

2a. shore pine {Pinus contorta var. contorta)

Cones pointing outward, mostly remaining closed many years: tree

often tall and narrow of inner fiord forests at head of Lynn Canal

Skagway to Haines)

2b. lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia)

2a. SHORE PINE

(Pinus contorta Dougl. var.

contorta)

Other names: lodgepole pine,

scrub pine, tamarack pine.

Shore pine, the common pine

through southeast Alaska, is often

a low spreading or scrubby tree

20-40 ft. (6-12 m.) high and

8-12 in. (20-30 cm.) in trunk

diameter. However, it sometimes

becomes 75 ft. (23 m.) tall and

18-32 in. (45-81 cm.) in diameter. Cones pointing backward on

twig, opening at maturity in

October-November but remaining

attached.

24
Figure 3.—Tamarack (Larix laricina)^

natural size. Winter twigs at bottom.

The dwarf coastal form is common in open muskegs of peat moss

and on benches near lakes. Intolerant of shade, it grows in open

stands as a scrub pine, straight

when young but gnarled in age,

with large branches extending almost to the ground. On the poorest sites, it is often like a prostrate

shrub. It is best developed and

largest in the better-drained

borders between muskeg and hemlock or hemlock-redcedar stands.

Occasionally the trees are pioneers of rapid growth after infrequent fires or logging or on outwash sand and gravel.

This coastal variety ranges

throughout southeast Alaska

north to the head of Lynn Canal

at Haines and to Glacier Bay and

Dixon Harbor. The northwestern

grove is an area of several square

miles on rolling muskegs about 15

miles (24 km.) east of Yakutat,

25
where the trees of poor form

reach 40 ft. (12 m.) in height and

1 ft. (30 cm.) in trunk diameter.

South Tongass and North Tongass

National Forests, Glacier Bay

National Monument. Pacific coast

from British Columbia to northwestern California.

2b. LODGEPOLE PINE

(Pinus contorta var. latifolia

Engelm.)

Other names: Rocky Mountain

lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta

ssp. latifolia (Engelm.) Critchfield.

The Rocky Mountain or inland

variety of lodgepole pine reaches

the State only in the vicinity of

Skagway and Haines. This mostly

tall form with narrow crown becomes 50-75 ft. (15-23 m.) high

and 8-12 in. (20-30 cm.) in trunk

diameter here and somewhat

larger southward. Cones hard,

heavy, pointing outward, mostly

remaining closed many years,

opening after a forest fire to release seeds. However, in Alaska

some cones open at maturity.

The Rocky Mountain variety of

lodgepole pine can be added to the

list of Alaska trees, though not

mentioned in botanical references.

This inland variety differs from

shore pine in being generally a

taller tree with narrow crown and

thinner scaly bark, in having

slightly longer needles, and in the

slightly larger, heavier, closed

cones which point outward on the

twig rather than backward.

This variety of lodgepole pine

crosses the Coast Range from

Canada into Alaska only in the

vicinity of Skagway and Haines

and Chilkat River at the head of

Lynn Canal near the northernmost end of southeast Alaska. It

forms stands in the mixed forest

with Sitka spruce, western paper

birch, and subalpine fir (also from

the Rocky Mountains) and in the

inner fiords down to sea level.

North Tongass National Forest.

Also northward in Yukon Territory along Yukon River and tributaries near Dawson to within

50 miles (80 km.) of the Alaska

border. East to southwestern Mackenzie and south through western

Alberta and British Columbia and

in Rocky Mountains to Colorado

and Utah.

3. TAMARACK

{Larix laricina (Du Roi)

K, Koch)

Other names: Alaska larch,

eastern larch, hackmatack; Larix

alaskensis W. F. Wight, L,

laricina var. alaskensis (W. F.

Wight) Raup.

Small to medium-sized deciduous tree 30-60 ft. (9-18 m.) high,

with straight tapering trunk 4-

10 in. (10-25 cm.) in diameter,

occasionally to 75 ft. (24 m.) tall

and 13 in. (33 cm.) in diameter,

horizontal branches extending

nearly to ground, and thin pointed

crown of blue green foliage.

Leaves (needles) shedding in fall

(deciduous), in crowded clusters

of 12-20 on short stout spur twigs

or branches or single on leading

twigs, %-l in. (1-2.5 cm.), very

narrow, slender and flexible, 3-

angled, blue green, turning yellow

before falling in early autumn.

Twigs long, stout, dull tan, hairless, with many short stout spur

twigs to 14 ill- (6 mm.) long, bearing crowded raised leafscars, becoming blackish and rough. Winter buds small, round, about YIQ

in. (2 mm.) long, covered by many

short-pointed overlapping scales.

Bark dark gray, smoothish, thin,

becoming scaly and exposing

brown beneath. Wood light brown,

hard, heavy, elastic.

26
Cones curved upright on short

stalks along horizontal twigs,

rounded, %-% in. (1-1.5 cm.)

long, dark brown, composed of

about 20 rounded, finely toothed

cone-scales, opening in early

autumn and remaining attached

in winter. Seeds light brown, i/^

in. (12 mm.) long, including long

broad wing.

Tamarack is the only Alaska

conifer shedding its leaves in winter. It is scattered in muskegs and

various moist soils of the interior

in open stands with paper birch,

black spruce, alders, and willows.

Occasionally it forms dense stands

on ñood plains with black spruce

and white spruce. Where it does

occur naturally on upland well

drained sites, its growth rate may

be equal to that of white spruce ;

one stand in the Tanana Valley

has produced trees 13 in. (33 cm.)

in diameter in 100 years.

The durable, strong wood is

used to some extent for poles, railroad ties, and fenceposts.

Interior Alaska tamarack is restricted to drainages between

Brooks Range on the north and

Alaska Range on the south. Locally abundant along Tanana

River but scattered along Yukon

and Kuskokwim Rivers and up

Koyukuk River to Allakaket but

not north to the limit of trees.

West to Unalakleet River, which

drains into Norton Sound, and to

Napaimiut on the lower Kuskokwim River. Mt. McKinley National Park. There are broad gaps

separating the Alaska trees from

the main range from Yukon Territory eastward, except for 2 records from near the Alaska-Yukon

Border. From Alaska, Yukon Territory, and District of Mackenzie

east across Canada along northern limit of trees to Hudson Bay,

Labrador, and Newfoundland,

south in Northeastern United

States to New Jersey, Illinois,

and Minnesota (local in Maryland

and West Virginia), and northwest to northeastern British Columbia.

The Alaska trees were named

as a separate species, afterwards

reduced to a variety and to synonymy. The slight differences in

cone-scales and their bracts seem

insufficient for retention of a separate name.

SPRUCE (Picea)

Spruce trees have short leaves

(needles) spreading on all sides of

twig, mostly 4-sided or slightly

flattened, sharp-pointed and stiff,

shedding promptly on drying.

Twigs become rough from peghke bases of leaves. The cones

hang down.

Key to the 3 Alaska Species

Leaves (needles) 4-angled, with whitish lines (stomata) on all sides.

Twigs hairy; needles mostly less than 1/2 in. (12 mm.) long, resinous; cones egg-shapped or nearly round, mostly less than 1 in.

(2.5 cm.) long, curved down on short stalks, remaining on tree

4. black spruce (Picea mariana)

Twigs hairless ; needles more than 1/2 iïi- (12 mm.) long, with skunklike odor when crushed; comes cylindric, 1^/4-21/^ in (3-6 cm.)

long, falling at maturity 5. white spruce (Picea glauca)

Leaves (needles) flattened but slightly keeled, with 2 whitish bands

(stomata) on lower surface; twigs hairless; cones cylindric,

2-33^ in. (5-9 cm.) long, falling at maturity

6. Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis)

27
4. BLACK SPRUCE

(Picea mariana (Mili.)

B.S.P.)

Other names: bog spruce,

swamp spruce.

Evergreen resinous tree of interior forests, usually small and

15-30 ft. (4.5-9 m.) high, and

3-6 in. (7.5-15 cm.) in trunk diameter, with narrow pointed

crown. Often a shrub 10 ft. (3 m.)

or less in height. Sometimes a

medium-sized tree to 50-60 ft.

(15-18 m.)^ tall and 9 in. (23 cm.)

in trunk diameter, the maximum

height measured 72 ft. (22 m.).

The branches are short, sparse,

and often slightly drooping at

ends. Leaves (needles) shortstalked, spreading on all sides of

twig, 1/4-% i^- (6-15 mm.) long,

4-angled, pointed, stiff, ashy blue

green, with w^hitish lines (stomata) on all sides. Twigs slender,

hairy, covered with very short

reddish hairs, becoming brown

and rough from peglike bases of

leaves. Bark thin, composed of

gray or blackish scales, brown beneath, the cut surface of inner

bark yellowish. Wood yellowish

white, light-weight, soft, fine-textured, with growth rings very

narrow to almost microscopic.

Cones curved downward on

short stalks, small and short, eggshaped or nearly round, %-li4

in, (1.5-3 cm.) long, dull gray or

blackish, remaining on tree several years and often conspicuously

clustered in tree tops ; cone-scales

rigid and brittle, rounded, and

slightly toothed. Seeds brown,

about 1/^ in. (12 mm.) long including large wing.

Black spruce is characteristic of

cold wet flats, muskegs, northfacing slopes, silty valley terraces,

and lake margins in the sprucebirch interior forests up to an altitude of 2,000 ft. (610 m.), locally

to 2,700 ft. (823 m.). Extending

to tree line on gentle damp slopes,

such as northern side of Alaska

Range. Dense pure stands are frequently on wet area bums. Clusters of black spruce are common,

because the lower branches take

root to form a ring of small trees

around the central parent tree.

Besides its usually different

habitat and smaller size with

more compact branching, black

spruce is distinguished from

white spruce by the shorter and

blunter needles, hairy twigs, and

smaller cones with brittle, slightly

toothed cone-scales curved down

on short stalks and remaining attached several years. The twigs of

black spruce are reported to be

tougher and gummier also. These

2 species of the interior forests

can be distinguished also in the

seedling stage by the finely

toothed leaf margins in white

spruce and absence of teeth in

black spruce. Logs and tree

trunks can be identified by inner

bark color, yellowish in black

spruce and whitish in white

spruce. Annual growth rings of

black spruce wood are narrower

also.

The wood is of slight importance for lumber because of the

small size of the trees. Occasionally the logs are cut along with

white spruce for cabins. The trees

are important as fuel, especially

in stands killed by fire, remaining

standing and well preserved for

several decades. Southward black

spruce is a popular Christmas

tree.

Interior Alaska north to southern slopes of Brooks Range but

at lower elevations and not as far

north as white spruce. West to

upper Kobuk River and to Elim at

base of Seward Peninsula; reported only to Kaltag on Yukon

River and the Stoney River on

Kuskokwim River. Southwest at

base of Alaska Peninsula to Bristol Bay at Naknek. South of

Alaska Range in Susitna Valley,

28
Figure 4.—^Black spruce (Picea mari"

ana)^ natural size.

Cook Inlet and Kenai Peninsula

south to Homer, and Copper River

basin south to Tonsina. Not in

southeast Alaska. Chugach National Park, Kenai National

Moose Range. East across Canada

near northern limit of trees to

Hudson Bay, Labrador, and Newfoundland, south to New Jersey,

Minnesota, Manitoba, and British

Columbia.

5. WHITE SPRUCE

(Picea glauca (Moench)

Voss)

Other names: western white

spruce, Canadian spruce, Alberta

spruce, Picea glauca var. alberUaná (S. Brown) Sarg.; Porsild

spruce, P. glauca vat, porsildii

Raup.

White spruce, the most important tree of the spruce-birch interior forest, is a medium-sized to

large tree 40-70 ft. (12-21 m.)

high and 6-18 in. (15-46 cm.) in

trunk diameter. On the best sites

it reaches 80-115 ft. (24-35 m.)

and 30 in. (76 cm.), but at timberline it becomes a prostrate shrub

with a broad base below the snowcover line. Crown pointed and

usually very narrow and spirelike, sometimes broad and conical.

composed of slightly drooping

branches with upturned ends and

many small drooping side twigs.

Leaves (needles) short-stalked,

spreading on all sides of twig but

massing on top near ends, V2-%

in. (12-20 mm.) long, 4-angled,

sharp-pointed, stiff, blue green,

with whitish lines on all sides;

leaves and twigs with skunklike

odor when crushed. Twigs slender,

hairless, orange brown, becoming

rough from peglike bases of

leaves. Bark thin, gray, smoothish

or in scaly plates, the cut surface

of inner bark whitish. Wood almost white, the sapwood not

easily distinguished, moderately

lightweight, moderately soft, of

fine and moderately uneven texture, with growth rings easily

seen in cross-sections.

Cones nearly stalkless, hanging

down, cylindric, ll^-2l/2 in. (3-6

I cm.) long, shiny light brown,

29
falling at maturity; cone-scales

thin and flexible, margins nearly

straight and without teeth. Seeds

brown, about % in. (10 mm.)

long, including large wing.

White spruce is the commonest

tree of interior Alaska, occuring

from near sea level to tree line at

about 1,000-3,500 ft. (305-1,607

m. ). The tree line is lowest in the

north and west and on north-facing slopes and highest in the

southeast interior and on southfacing slopes. This species is

found in mostly open forests, usually with paper birch or in pure

stands. In a few places, such as

the Chugach National Forest, it

extends to tidewater. Although

not exacting as to site, this species

grows best on well drained soils

on south-facing gentle slopes and

sandy soils along the edges of

lakes and rivers. It forms the

tallest forests along the large

rivers, where running water

thaws the soil. It is seldom found

where permafrost is close to the

surface. White spruce often replaces balsam poplar along the

river floodplains and also invades

the open forests of birch and

aspen that follow fire. The trees

have average growth rate, attaining an age of 100-200 years at

maturity.

Alaska trees commonly have

very narrow crowns and short

broad cones and have been referred to a western variety (western white spruce, var. albertiana

(S. Brown) Sarg.). In contrast

the trees of the typical variety,

for example, in the Lakes States

and Northeast, have broader

conical crowns. Another western

variation scattered in Alaska has

smooth bark with resin blisters

(as in ñr) and relatively broad

crown (Porslid spruce, var.

porsildii Raup).

On Kenai Peninsula, where this

species meets Sitka spruce, hybrids or intermediate trees occur,

as noted under that species. Natural hybrids between white spruce

and black spruce apparently are

very rare in interior Alaska. One

intermediate tree identified as a

hybrid was discovered among

trees of these two species on the

north edge of Tanana Valley

about 250 miles (400 km.) eastsoutheast of Fairbanks, at about

1,800 feet (550 m.) elevation.

White spruce is used extensively in interior Alaska for cabin

logs, peeled and in natural form,

sawed flat on 3 sides, or milled on

lathes into uniformly round logs

having diameters of 6, 8, or 10

inches (15, 20, or 25 cm.). Large

numbers of pilings and rough timbers from interior Alaska have

been transported to the North

Slope for construction of oil

drilling platforms. Timbers for

bridges and corduroy roads are

other uses. A small quantity is cut

for fuel also. This species supplies

much of the lumber sawed in interior Alaska, also dimension material for buildings in light and

medium construction. Early uses

included flumes, sluice boxes, and

boats.

In Canada, white spruce is the

most important commercial tree

species and the foremost pulpwood. Uses include scaffolding

planks, paddles and oars, sounding boards in musical instruments, shop fittings, agricultural

implements, kitchen cabinets,

boxes, cooperage, shelving, veneer, and plywood. The seasoned

wood is almost tasteless and odorless and well suited for food containers.

The range of white spruce

through interior Alaska corresponds to that mapped for the

spruce-birch interior forests,

north and west to the limit of tree

growth but not in the southeast.

In the northeast to Firth River

and its tributary Joe Creek on the

Arctic slope and north to south

30
Figure 5.—^White spruce iPicea glauca),

natural size.

slopes of Brooks Range and northwest to Noatak River near Chukchi Sea. West to upper Fish River

on Seward Peninsula, Unalakleet,

Mountain Village on Yukon

River, Holitna River on Kuskokwim River, and reaching Bristol

Bay coast at Dillingham on

Nushagak Bay. Also south of

Alaska Range from Susitna Valley to Cook Inlet and northern

Kenai Peninsula and east to

Copper River Basin. Chugach National Forest, Mt. McKinley National Park, Katmai National

Monument, Kenai National Moose

Range, Arctic National Wildlife

Range. East across Canada near

northern limit of trees to Hudson

Bay, Labrador, and Newfoundland, south to New York, Minnesota, Montana, and British Columbia, also local in Black Hills.

6. SITKA SPRUCE

(Picea sitchensis (Bong.)

Carr.)

Other names: tideland spruce,

yellow spruce, western spruce, silver spruce, coast spruce.

Sitka spruce is the largest and

one of the most valuable trees in

Alaska, also the State tree. Large

to very large evergreen tree to

160 ft. (49 m.) in height and 3-5

ft. (0.9-1.5 m.) in trunk diameter,

infrequently to 200-225 ft. (61-

69 m.) and 7-8 ft. (2.1-2.4 m.) or

31
more. From the much enlarged or

butressed base, the tall straight

evenly tapering trunk rises to an

open pointed broad conical crown

with horizontal branches. Leaves

(needles) standing out on all sides

of twig, flattened and slightly

keeled, %-l in. (15-25 mm.)

long, sharp-pointed, dark green,

the upper surface slightly keeled

or angled and with 2 whitish

bands (stomata), lower surface

rounded or slightly keeled and

sometimes with few whitish lines.

Twigs stout, stiff, hairless, light

brown to dark brown, becoming

rough from peglike bases of leaves.

Bark gray and smoothish on small

trunks, thin, becoming dark

purplish brown with scaly plates,

the inner bark whitish with brown

dots. Wood moderately hghtweight, moderately soft, of fine

and moderately even texture, and

usually very straight grained.

Sapwood nearly white and heartwood light reddish brown.

Cones short-stalked, hanging

down, cylindric, 2-31/4 in. (5-9

cm.) long, light orange brown,

falling at maturity; cone-scales

long, stiff, thin, rounded and irregularly toothed. Seeds brown,

about 1/2 in. (12 mm.) long, including large wing.

Sitka spruce forms more than

20 percent of the hemlock-spruce

coastal forests of Alaska and also

occurs in pure stands. It grows

more rapidly and to larger size

than v/estern hemlock and is more

light-requiring. The largest old

growth trees in southeast Alaska

have trunk diameters exceeding

8 ft. (2.4 m.) and ages of 500-750

years or more. Many years ago

there was reported a giant I41/2

ft. (4.4 m.) in trunk diameter

measured 6 ft. (1.8 m.) above the

ground, but further information

including the locality is lacking,

(The national champion Sitka

spruce, at Forks, Wash., is somewhat larger, approximately 17.9

ft. (5.4 m.) in trunk diameter and

248 ft. (75,6 m,) in height,) Westward on the Chugach National

Forest, the trees are smaller, averaging 80 ft. (24 m.) in height,

11/1 ft. (45 cm.) in diameter, and

about 200 years in age. At Afognak and Kodiak Islands there are

pure stands of Sitka spruce, the

only conifer. On Kodiak Island

near the southwestern limit, this

tree is reported to be migrating

westward during the past few

centuries.

This species extends from sea

level to the timberline up to about

3,000 ft. (914 m.) in the coastal

mountains but grows mainly at

altitudes below 1,500 ft (457 m.).

However, dwarf plants have been

seen as high as 3,500-3,900 ft.

(1067-1189 m.) on unglaciated

rocky outcrops (nunataks) projecting above the Juneau Ice Field.

In bare or open areas, such as

at Glacier Bay, the bushy trees

often propagate by layering. The

lowest branches touch the ground,

become partly covered up, develop

roots, and then turn upward to

form separate trees. Sprouts from

stumps have been observed also.

Small groves of Sitka spruce

trees were planted as early as

1805 by Russians at Unalaska,

near the eastern end of the treeless Aleutian Islands and far outside the tree limits. These trees

are still growing and have produced cones. Younger trees are

absent, perhaps because of grazing. Several plantings have been

made also on other Aleutians

Both the common and scientific

names honor Sitka Island, now

Baranof Island, where the southeast Alaska town of Sitka is located.

Sitka spruce produces highgrade wood pulp, the best on the

Pacific coast. The wood with that

of western hemlock is extensively

used in manufacture of newsprint. This species is also the prin32
cipal saw-timber tree of southeast

Alaska and is made into all the

usual forms of lumber. The highgrade lumber from the large clear

trunks has many uses. It is the

most important wood for airplane

and glider construction, and in

World War II was utilized especially in British mosquito bombers. Other important uses are

oars, ladders and scaffolding, and

Figure 6.—Sitka spruce (Picea sitcheri'-

sis)^ three-fourths natural size.

boats, particularly racing sculls.

Resonant qualities, large size, and

uniformity make the wood valuable for piano sounding boards.

Much low-grade lumber is made

into packing boxes for the Alaska

salmon industry. Other uses are

general construction, food containers, shelving, and kitchen furnishings. Alaska has about twofifths of the total supply of this

species and seven-eighths of the

United States supply.

The range of Sitka spruce is the

same as the hemlock-spruce

coastal forests of southeast and

southern Alaska. Throughout

southeast Alaska north to head of

Lynn Canal at Skagway, Glacier

Bay, and Yakutat Bay. West

33
along coast of southern Alaska to

Prince William Sound, Kenai

Peninsula, and west side of Cook

Inlet. Along southern coast of

Alaska Peninsula southwest to its

westernmost limit at Cape Kubugakli near southern boundary of

Katmai National Monument. Also

Afognak Island and eastern half

of Kodiak Island, where it is the

only conifer. South Tongass,

North Tongass, and Chugach National Forests, Glacier Bay National Monument, Kenai National

Moose Range, Kodiak Island National Wildlife Refuge. From

Kodiak Island and southern

Alaska southeast along Pacific

coast to northwestern California.

On Kenai Peninsula there are

natural hybrids between white

spruce and Sitka spruce (Picea

glauca X sitchensis; Lutz spruce,

Picea X häzii Little). The hybrid

is a tree 55-70 ft. (17-21 m.) high

and 1-11/2 ft. (30-45 cm.) in

trunk diameter. Hybrid trees are

recognized by their leaves and

cones intermediate between those

of the parent species. The leaves

are slightly 4-angled, less so than

in white spruce and are near Sitka

spruce in the whitish upper surfaces. The cones are intermediate

in size or small as in white spruce.

Cone-scales are short as in

white spruce but like Sitka spruce

in being thin, light brown, and

irregularly toothed. These hybrids are found on Kenai Peninsula where the ranges of the two

species meet and overlap slightly

and may be sought elsewhere

along the border between the

coastal and interior forest types.

HEMLOCK (Tsuga)

Hemlock trees have very slender leading twigs or leaders

which are curved down or nodding. The leaves are short needles,

flat or half-round, blunt, soft, and

not stiff, with short leaf-stalks,

shedding promptly on drying.

Twigs are very slender, becoming

roughened by peglike bases after

leaves fall. The cones are stalkless

and usually hang down.

Key to the 2 Alaska Species

Leaves (needles) flat, appearing in 2 rows, shiny dark green above,

with 2 whitish bands (stomata) on lower surface; %-l in. (1.5-

2.5 cm.) long _ 7. western hemlock {Tsuga heterophylla)

Leaves (needles) half-round and keeled or angled beneath, crowded on

all sides of short side twigs, blue green, with whitish lines (stomata) on both surfaces; cones cylindric, I-2V2 in. (2.5-6 cm.)

long 8. mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana)

7. WESTERN HEMLOCK

(Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.)

Sarg.)

Other names: west coast hemlock (lumber), Paciñc hemlock;

formerly Tsuga mertensiana auth.

Large evergreen tree becoming

100-150 ft. (30-46 m.) tall and

2-4 ft. (0.6-1.2 m.) in trunk diameter, with long slender trunk

often becoming fluted when large,

and short narrow crown of

horizontal or slightly drooping

branches, the very slender leading

twig curved down or nodding. The

largest trees are as much as 190

ft. (58 m.) in height and 5 ft.

(1.5 m.) or more in diameter.

Leaves (needles) short-stalked,

spreading in 2 rows, %-% in.

(6-22 mm.) long, flat, rounded at

tip, flexible, shiny dark green

above, and with 2 whitish bands

(stomata) on lower surface. Twigs

34
Figure 7.—^Western hemlock

heterophylla) ^ natural size.

(Tsuga

slender, dark reddish brown,

finely hairy, roughened by peglike

bases after leaves fall. Bark reddish brown to gray brown, becoming thick and furrowed into scaly

plates ; a pocketknife will disclose

the red inner bark not found in

spruce. Wood moderately lightweight, moderately hard, of moderately fine and even textured,

non-resinous. Heartwood pale

reddish brown, sapwood similar or

whitish.

Cones stalkless and hanging

down at end of twig, small, elliptic, %-l in. (1.5-2.5 cm.) long,

brown, with many thin papery

scales. Seeds about 1/2 in« (12

mm.) long including large wing.

Western hemlock is the most

abundant and one of the most important tree species in southeast

Alaska and forms more than 70

percent of the dense hemlockspruce coastal forests. This species attains its largest size on

moist flats and lower slopes, but

with abundant moisture, both

atmospheric and soil, it grows well

on shallow soils. It is very tolerant of shade.

This species is one of the best

pulpwoods for paper and paperboard and products such as rayon.

Other important uses are lumber

for general construction, railway

ties, mine timbers, and marine

piling. The wood is suited also for

interior finish, boxes and crates,

kitchen cabinets, flooring and ceiling, gutter stock, and veneer for

plywood. The outer bark contains

a high percentage of tannin and is

35
a potential source of this product.

Alaska Indians made coarse bread

from the inner bark of this tree

and shore pine. Western hemlock

is the State tree of Washington.

Western hemlock has the distribution of the hemlock-spruce

coastal forests of southeast and

southern Alaska but does not go

as far west as Sitka spruce, not

reaching Afognak and Kodiak

Islands or the west side of Cook

Inlet. It extends throughout

southeast Alaska north to head of

Lynn Canal at Skagway, Glacier

Bay, and Yakutat Bay, west to

Prince WiUiam Sound and east

side of Cook Inlet to Portlock at

southwest end of Kenai Peninsula

and northwest to hills around

Anchorage. South Tongass, North

Tongass, and Chugach National

Forests, Glacier Bay National

Monument, and Kenai National

Moose Range. Southeast along

Pacific coast to northwestern California and east in mountains to

southeastern British Columbia,

northwestern Montana, and northern Idaho.

8. MOUNTAIN HEMLOCK

(Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.)

Carr. )

Other names: alpine hemlock,

black hemlock.

Small to large evergreen tree

becoming 50-100 ft. (15-30 m.)

high and 10-30 in. (25-76 cm.) in

trunk diameter, maximum about

125 ft. (38 m.) and 40 in. (1 m.),

with marked taper when open

grown, narrow crown of horizontal or drooping branches, and

very slender leading twig curved

down or nodding; a shrub near

timber line. Leaves (needles)

mostly crowded on all sides of

short side twigs and curved upward, short-stalked, i/4-l in. (6-

25 mm.) long, flattened above and

rounded, keeled, or angled beneath (half-round in section),

stout and blunt, blue green and

with whitish lines (stomata) on

both surfaces. Twigs mostly

short, slender, light reddish

brown, finely hairy, roughened by

peglike bases after leaves fall.

Bark gray to dark brown, thick,

and deeply furrowed into scaly

plates. Wood moderately heavy,

moderately hard, and moderately

fine and even textured. Heartwood

pale reddish brown, sapwood thin

and similar or whitish.

Cones stalkless and usually

hanging down, cylindric, 1-21^ in.

(2.5-6 cm.) long and % in. (2

cm.) wide, purplish but turning

brown, with many thin papery

scales. Seeds hght brown, about

1/^ in. (12 mm.) long including

large wing.

Mountain hemlock extends from

sea level to an altitude of 3,000-

3,500 ft. (914-1067 m.), growing

in an altitude higher than other

trees. On upland sites, it is well

formed and resembles western

hemlock. Toward the timberline,

it replaces the latter and becomes

a prostrate shrub. It grows with

shore pine in muskegs of deep

peat as well as on subalpine slopes

on the ocean side of the Coast

Range in southeast Alaska. In the

Prince William Sound and Cook

Inlet regions, mountain hemlock

is found on better drained slopes

and near tidewater, reaching its

maximum height.

The wood is marketed with

western hemlock, being similar

but somewhat more dense, and

has the same uses. Nearly pure

stands of mountain hemlock on

Prince of Wales Island have been

logged for pulp. The wood has

been used for railroad ties. However, in the higher altitudes

where commonly found, mountain

hemlock is largely inaccessible

and unimportant commercially.

Southeast and southern Alaska.

Through southeast Alaska north

to head of Lynn Canal at Skagway, Glacier Bay, and Yakutat

36
Bay, west to Prince William

Sound, Kenai Peninsula, and east

side of Cook Inlet. Also local at

Lake Iliamna on Alaska Peninsula.

South Tongass, North Tongass,

and Chugach National Forests,

Glacier Bay National Monument,

Kenai National Moose Range.

Southeast along Pacific Coast of

British Columbia and in mountains to western Montana and central California.

This species honors the German

naturalist Karl Heinrich Mertens

(1796-1830), who discovered it

near Sitka, Alaska, in 1827.

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco; Ps. taxifolia (Poir.) Britton) though not

native is sometimes planted in

southeast Alaska as an ornamental and in forestry tests. Growth

is rapid. The ñat leaves (needles)

%--1^4 in. (1.5-3 cm.) long resemble those of fir but are narFigure 8.—Mountain hemlock (Tsuga

mertensiand) ^ natural size.

rowed into stalks at base and have

an elHptic leaf-scar. Winter buds

are distinctive, pointed, red

brown, and not resinous. The elliptic, light brown cones 2-31/2 in.

(5-9 cm.) hang down and have

thin rounded - cone-scales and

prominent 3-toothed bracts. Douglas-fir, one of the world's most

valuable timber trees, is widespread in the Pacific coast and

Rocky Mountain regions north in

British Columbia nearly to Alaska.

On the coast it extends almost to

the north end of Vancouver Island

and slightly inland north to Gardner Canal In the interior it

ranges north to Fort McLeod and

Tacla Lake at latitude 55°, north

of the southern tip of Alaska.

FIR {Ahies)

Fir trees have narrow pointed

crowns with mostly horizontal

branches. The leaves are flat

needles without leafstalks, those

37
on lower branches often spreading

in 2 rows along the twig, others

mostly curving upward. Older

twigs are smooth with round leafscars. Cones are upright and

stalkless in the highest branches.

At maturity the cone-scales and

seeds are shed, but the narrow upright axis persists on the twig.

No old cones remain on the trees

or on the ground.

Two species of fir are present in

southeastern Alaska, both rare

and local. They are not likely to

be seen without a special trip to

one of the places mentioned.

Key to the 2 Alaska Species

Leaves (needles) shiny dark green on upper surface and silvery white

with many lines (stomata) on lower surface

9. Pacific silver fir (Abies mnahilis)

Leaves (needles) dull dark green with whitish lines (stomata) on both

surface 10. subalpine fir {Abies lasiocarpa)

9. PACIFIC SILVER FIR

(Abies amabilis (DougL)

Forbes)

Other names: silver fir, white

fir (lumber).

Medium-sized resinous and aromatic tree rare and local in extreme southeast Alaska, becoming

80 ft. (24 m.) tall and 24 in. (60

cm.) in trunk diameter, maximum

149 ft. (45 m.) tall and 49 in.

(1.24 m.) in diameter. Leaves

(needles) crowded and spreading,

stalkless, %-lVé in. (2-3 cm.)

long, flat, deeply grooved and

shiny dark green above, beneath

silvery white with whitish lines

(stomata), those on lower branches notched or rounded at tips and

spreading in 2 rows, those toward

top of tree shorter and sharppointed, twisted in brushlike mass

on upper side of twig. Twigs slender, finely hairy. Bark smooth,

gray, splotched with white. Wood

with whitish sapwood and pale

brow^n heartwood, fine-textured,

lightweight, soft.

Cones in highest branches, upright, 4-5 in. (10-12.5 cm.) long^

2-21/4 in. (5-6 cm.) in diameter

purplish, finely hairy or nearly

hairless ; many fan-shaped rounded overlapping scales, falling from

axis in autumn. Seeds light brown,

about 1 in. (2.5 cm.) long, including broad wing.

The trees are logged with other

conifers. Fir logs are sawed into

lumber with Sitka spruce, if large

and clear, or chipped with hemlock and used for pulp. Southward, where more abundant, the

wood is used for interior finish.

Pacific silver fir is rare and local

in extreme southeast Alaska. It

has been recorded from welldrained lower slopes of canyons,

benches, and flats from sea level

to 1,000 ft. (305 m.) altitude in

the coastal forest of Sitka spruce

and eastern hemlock, being very

shade tolerant. Large trees were

found on forest survey plots east

of Ketchikan in mountains near

Marten Arm of Boca de Quadra,

Smeaton Bay of Behm Canal, and

near Thorne Arm. Also at Very

Inlet. Northeast of Ketchikan,

trees have been observed in Carrol Inlet and George Inlet. However, earlier reports from Kosciusko Island and near northern

end of Prince of Wales Island remain unverified. South Tongass

National Forest. South through

Pacific coast region of British

Columbia and in mountains to

Oregon and northwestern California.

38
10. SUBALPINE FIR

(Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.)

(Nutt.)

Other names: alpine fir, white

fir (lumber).

Small to medium-sized evergreen tree, rare and local in southeast Alaska, commonly 20-60 ft.

(6-18 m.) high and 4-12 in, (10-

30 cm.) in trunk diameter, with

long, narrow, sharp-pointed, or

spirelike crown and branches extending nearly to base, resinous

Figure 9.—^Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis) ^ natural size.

and aromatic. However, larger

trees to 95 ft. (29 m.) tall and 27

in. (69 cm.) in diameter have been

observed. Leaves (needles) crowded and spreading, stalkless, %-

11/2 in. (2-4 cm.) long, flat, dark

blue green and with whitish lines

(stomata) on both sides, grooved

above, those on lower branches

rounded on occasionally notched

at tip and in 2 rows, those near

top of tree shorter, pointed, stiff,

and twisted upward and curved on

upper side of twig. Twigs gray,

rusty hairy. Bark ash gray,

smooth, thin. Wood pale brown,

fine-textured, lightweight, soft,

usually knotty because of the

many persistent branches.

Cones in highest branches, upright, cylindric, 21/2-4 in. (6-10

cm.) long and I14-II/2 in. (3-4

39
cm.) in diameter, dark purple,

finely hairy; many fan-shaped,

rounded, overlapping scales, falling from axis in autumn. Seeds

light brown, % in. (1.5 cm.) long,

including broad wing.

Subalpine fir is of rare, local

occurrence in mountains of southeast Alaska. This inland tree

grows in cool, moist subalpine

slopes near timberline, becoming

shrubby or prostrate, and is found

on the valley ñoors as well It appears to be very shade tolerant.

Near the southernmost tip of

Alaska, subalpine fir is known

from several localities. At Hyder

it is in Salmon River valley near

sea level and at higher altitudes

near the timberline at 2,500 ft.

(762 m.) and on the Texas Creek

road. It grows in the forest of

Sitka spruce and hemlock. Also

at 3,000 ft. (914 m.) altitude on

Harris Ridge near Hollis and Virginia Mountain near Calder on

Prince of Wales Island, associated

with mountain hemlock and Sitka

spruce.

At the northern end of southeast Alaska, subalpine fir from

the interior of British Columbia

crosses over the divide of the

Coast Range. In Taku River valley

northeast of Juneau, this species

extends from the Canadian border

down to sea level on outwash of

Norris Glacier. It is common,

scattered with Sitka spruce, hemlock, and black cottonwood. Near

Skagway at head of Lynn Canal,

subalpine fir descends from timberline at 3,000 ft (914 m.) to

sea level.

Northeastward in Yukon Territory, this species occurs within

125 miles (200 km.) of the Alaska

border along Stewart River, a

tributary of Yukon River. South

Tongass and North Tongass National Forests. Southeast Alaska,

central Yukon Territory, and

southwestern District of Mackenzie, south through British

Columbia and southwestern Alberta and in mountains to New

Mexico, Arizona, and Oregon.

Subalpine fir has been reported

from 3 localities in south central

Alaska: Copper River Basin,

Mentasta Pass on Glenn Highway,

and mountains northeast of

Anchorage. Specimens are needed

before those unverified range extensions should be accepted.

CYPRESS FAMILY

(Cupressaceae )

The cypress family (Cupressaceae) has 2 genera and species

of trees in Alaska, also a third

genus with 2 species of low

shrubs, junipers. This family formerly included in the pine family

is characterized by small scalelike

leaves paired or in 3's. The cones

are small with few cone-scales

bearing mostly few seeds with

short side wings. However, junipers have berrylike cones and

wingless seeds.

Characteristics of the 3 genera

and names of their Alaska species

are summarized here for ready

identification.

Western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn), the only Alaska

species of thuja. Leaves scalelike,

flattened and curved, on flattened

twigs in fanlike sprays. Small

cones clustered near ends of twigs

and becoming turned up.

Alaska-cedar ( Chamaecyparis

nootkaterisis (D. Don) Spach),

the only species of white-cedar.

Leaves scalelike, pointed and

spreading. Leafy twigs 4-angled

or slightly flattened. Cones small,

hard, nearly round.

Juniper (Juniperus), 2 species,

common juniper (J. commimis

L.) and creeping juniper (J. horizontalis Moench), Dwarf shrubs

with scalelike or awl-shaped

leaves, small round berrylike

cones, and few wingless seeds.

40
Figure IG.—Subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), natural size.

11. WESTERN REDCEDAR

(Thuja plicata Donn)

Other names : giant arborvitae,

canoe cedar, shinglewood, Pacific

redcedar, arborvitae.

Large evergreen tree 70-100 ft.

(21-30 m.) tall, sometimes 130

ft. (40 m.), with tapering trunk

2-4 ft. (0.6-1.2 m.) in diameter,

sometimes to 6 ft. (1.8 m.), swollen or buttressed base, pointed

conical crown, and horizontal

branches curving upward at tips.

Leaves scalelike, fattened, yiß-Vs

in. (1.5-3 mm.) long, on leader

twigs to 1/4 in. (6 mm.) long and

pointed, shiny yellow green above

and dull green below. Leafy twigs

flattened, in fanhke sprays, sHghtly drooping, older twigs gray and

smooth. Bark gray or brown, thin,

fibrous and stringy or shreddy,

becoming thick and furrowed into

.^^^

long ridges. Wood with the distinctive odor of cedars, finetextured, straight-grained, lightweight, moderately soft, and

brittle. Heartwood reddish brown,

the narrow sapwood white.

Cones clustered near ends of

twigs and becoming turned up on

short stalks, elliptic, i^ in. (12

mm.) long, light brown, composed

of several paired elliptic leathery

cone-scales. Seeds 3 or fewer

under a cone-scale, %6 in. (5 mm.)

long, light brown, with 2 narrow

wings.

41
Western redcedar is native in

the southern half of southeast

Alaska from sea level to 3,000 ft.

(915 m.) altitude on the west

slopes of the Coast Range, attaining its largest size below 500 ft.

(150 m.). Although sometimes in

pure stands, it is also dominant in

the redcedar-hemlock forest and

scattered in the hemlock-spruce

forest. It is of moderately slow

growth and long-lived.

Figure 11.—^Western redcedar (Thuja

plicata), natural size.

Western redcedar is well suited

for boat and canoe construction.

It is the most widely used wood

for shingles. Other uses of this

very durable lightweight wood are

utility poles, fenceposts, light construction, pulp, clothes closets and

chests, conduits, piling, and fishtrap floats. The Indians employed

the wood for totem poles, dugout

canoes, and houses and made

mats, baskets, and ropes from the

stringy bark. This is an important

timber tree of the coast region of

British Columbia. Western redcedar is exported to Japan in log

form, though some is used locally.

Southern half of southeast

Alaska north to Wrangell and

vicinity of Petersburg on southern

parts of Mitkof, Kupreanof, and

42
Figure 12.—Alaska-cedar {Chamaecyparis nootkatensis), natural size.

Kuiu Islands. On Kupreanof Island

north to Duncan Canal (collected

on Woewodski Island) but not

found at Portage Bay on north

end where formerly reported.

South Tongass National Forest

and south end of North Tongass

National Forest. Pacific coast region of southeast Alaska south

to northwestern California, also

east in Rocky Mountains to western Montana and southeastern

British Columbia,

43
12. ALASKA-CEDAR

(Chamaecyparis nootkatensis

(D. Don) Spach)

Other names: Alaska yellowcedar, Nootka false-cypress, yellow-cedar, Alaska cypress, Sitka

cypress, yellow cypress.

Medium sized evergreen tree

40-80 ft. (12-24 m.) high and 1-2

ft. (30-60 cm.) in trunk diameter,

sometimes a large tree to 100 ft.

(30 m.) tall and 4 ft. (1.2 m.) in

diameter, with narrow crown of

slightly drooping branches. Leaves

scalelike, Vie-Vs i^i- (1.5-3 mm.)

long, pointed and spreading, yellow green, with slightly spreading, pointed tips ; leaves on leader

twigs to l^ in. (6 mm.) long and

sharp-pointed. Leafy twigs 4-

angled or slightly flattened, in

flat, spreading sprays on slightly

drooping branches, becoming

reddish brown. Bark shreddy,

with long narrow shreds and assures, ash gray or purplish brown.

Wood with distinctive odor, finetextured, relatively straightgrained, moderately heavy, moderately hard. Heartwood bright

yellow with narrow band of lighter

sapwood.

Cones scattered, short-stalked,

nearly round, less than 1/2 in. (12

mm.) in diameter, hard, ashy

gray, often covered with whitish

bloom, of 4 or 6 paired rounded

hard cone-scales each with a central pointed projection, maturing

in 2 years. Seeds 2-4 under a

cone-scale, %6 in. (4 mm.) long,

brown, with 2 broad wings.

Alaska-cedar extends along the

coast of southeast Alaska from

sea level to timberline but is best

developed at 500-1,200 ft. (150-

365 m.) altitude. It is scattered

with western redcedar, in pure

stands, in forests of Sitka spruce

and western hemlock, and, on

higher slopes or muskegs, with

mountain hemlock. The trees are

slow-growing, those 15-20 in.

(38-51 cm.) in trunk diameter

being 200-300 years old.

The very durable aromatic

wood is easily worked and takes

a beautiful finish. It is valuable

for window frames and exterior

doors, boat construction, and similar purposes. It is used also for

utility poles, piles, interior finish,

furniture, cabinet work, patterns,

and novelties. Indians of southeast Alaska made their canoe paddles from this wood. Much Alaskacedar is exported to Japan in log

form, though some is used locally.

Through southeast Alaska north

to Lynn Canal and Yakutat and

west in southern Alaska to Glacier

Island and Wells Bay in Prince

William Sound. South Tongass,

North Tongass, and Chugach National Forests. Pacific coast region

from southern Alaska southeast

through British Columbia and in

mountains to Oregon and northwestern California.

WILLOW FAMILY

(Salicaceae)

The willow family (Salicaceae)

contains the cottonwoods, poplars,

and aspens (all in the genus Populus with 3 tree species in Alaska),

and the willows {Salix), a large

genus of 33 or more native species

ranging in size from creeping or

dwarf shrubs to large shrubs and

small trees (12 species). Distinguishing characters are as follows: (1) leaves borne singly

(alternate), with margins evenly

toothed or without teeth ( entire)

but not lobed; (2) flower clusters

(catkins) composed of an axis

bearing many small flowers each

above a scale, in early spring before or with the leaves; (3) flowers without sepals or petals, of

2 kinds on different plants, male

flowers with pollen and on other

plants the female flowers with

seeds ; and (4) the tiny seeds with

long white cottony hairs, borne in

44
small seed capsules mostly 2-

parted.

Cottonwoods, poplars, and aspens usually have broad leaves

with petiole nearly as long as

blade, stout twigs, and large winter buds with several scales exposed, resinous (except in aspen),

an end (terminal) bud present.

Willows usually have narrow

leaves with very short petioles,

slender or wiry twigs, and small

winter buds covered by a single

scale, without an end bud. Catkins in the genus of cottonwoods

hang down, while those of willows are upright or slightly

spreading. Flowers of cottonwoods have deeply lobed scales

soon shedding, a broad or cupshaped disk, and 10 to many

stamens. Willow flowers have

scales without or with teeth, persistent or late shedding, disk reduced usually to. 1 small gland,

and 2-8 stamens.

COTTONWOOD, POPLAR,

ASPEN (Populus)

This genus has no single English common name. The 3 Alaska

species of the cottonwood genus,

all common trees, are balsam poplar, black cottonwood, and quaking aspen.

Key to the 3 Alaska Species

Leaf blades longer than broad, 21/2-5 in. (6-12.5 cm.) long; leafstalks

round.

Seed capsules pointed, hairless, 2-parted; leaves pale green and

brownish beneath; tree of interior forests

. 13. balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera)

Seed capsules rounded, hairy, 3 parted; leaves whitish beneath;

tree of coastal forests _

14. black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa)

Leaf blades nearly round, less than 2 in. (5 cm.) long; leafstalks flattened 15. quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)

13. BALSAM POPLAR

(Populus halsamifera L.)

Other names: tacamahac, tacamahac poplar, cottonwood ; Populus tacamahaca Mill.

Medium-sized deciduous tree

usually 30-50 ft. (9-15 m.) high,

with straight trunk 4-12 in. (10-

30 cm.) in diameter and long thin

open crown, sometimes a large

tree 80-100 ft. (24-30 m.) tall and

2 ft. (60 cm.) in trunk diameter.

Leaves with slender petioles 1-2

in. (2.5-5 cm.) long, round, finely

hairy. Leaf blades ovate or broadly lance-shaped, 2y2-^V2 iïi- (S'-

il cm.) long, 11/2-3 in. (4-7.5

cm.) wide, mostly long-pointed at

apex and rounded at base, with

many small rounded teeth, hairless or nearly so, shiny dark green

above, pale green and rusty brown

beneath. Twigs red brown and

hairy when young, with orange

dots (lenticels), becoming gray,

with raised leaf scars showing 3

dots. Winter buds large, to 1 in.

(2.5 cm.) long, long-pointed,

sticky or resinous, covered with

shiny brown scales, with pungent

balsam odor which permeates the

air in spring. Bark light gray to

gray, smooth, becoming rough,

thick, and deeply furrowed. Wood

mth thick whitish sapwood and

light brown heartwood, fine-textured, lightweight, soft.

Flower clusters (catkins) 2-31^

in. (5-9 cm.) long, narrow, drooping, with many small flowers

about Vs iïi- (3 mm.) long, each

with disk and above a light brown

hairy lobed scale, male and female

on different trees (dioecious).

Male flowers with 20-30 reddish

purple stamens; female flowers

with conic slightly 2-lobed hair45
less ovary and 2 broad wavy stigmas. Seed capsules in catkins to

6 in. (15 cm.) long, short-stalked,

egg-shaped, V4"%6 ii^- (6-8 mm.)

long, long-pointed, light brown,

hairless but warty, 2-parted, with

many tiny cottony seeds. Flowering in May-June before the leaves,

fruit maturing in June.

Balsam poplar, sometimes erroneously called balm-of-Gilead, is a

rapidly growing tree. It is common in river valleys including

sandy bottoms and gravelly flood

plains, terraces, and coarse alluvial fans throughout the interior

except near the coasts. In forests,

especially in openings and clearings, it is associated with white

spruce, birch, and aspen. It Js

often common with willows and

alders in flood plain thickets and

along river banks.

In the mountains balsam poplar

extends to somewhat higher altitudes than white spruce, to 3,500

ft. (1067 m.) altitude or more on

north and west slopes of the

Alaska Range. Also, it projects

farther north to the Arctic slope

in a few places. At Firth River

near the northeast corner of

Alaska and north of the treeline,

balsam poplar, white spruce, and

feltleaf willow are the only trees.

The wood is used chiefly for

boxes, crates, and pulpwood southward. A small amount is sawed

for use in the Anchorage area and

efforts are being made to broaden

the market.

Interior Alaska, north and west

to limits of trees, south to Kodiak

Island and northern end of southeast Alaska. On south slopes of

Brooks Range in drainages of

Porcupine, Koyukuk, Kobuk, and

Noatak Rivers; north of Brooks

Range in small isolated stands

along many of the rivers draining

into Arctic Ocean but best developed and most extensive along

Canning River. West to Igloo near

western tip of Seward Peninsula ;

southward, at Unalakleet, and

reaching coast of Bristol Bay near

Dillingham; on Alaska Peninsula

as far west as Chignik, and on

Kodiak Island. South of Alaska

Range in Cook Inlet and Copper

River drainages and in extreme

northern part of southeastern

Alaska near Haines and Skagway

and Taku Inlet near Juneau.

North Tongass and Chugach National Forests, Mt. McKinley National Park, Katmai National

Monument, Kenai National Moose

Range, Kodiak National Wildlife

Refuge, Arctic Range Wildlife.

VEGETATION OF ALASKA (CENTER MAP BETWEEN PAGES 47-48)

COASTAL FORESTS

1. Sitka spruce—hemlock forests. Tall, dense coastal forests of Sitka spruce,

western hemlock, locally with other conifers, and black cottonwood, often interspersed with open treeless bogs.

INTERIOR FORESTS or TAIGA

2. Closed spruce—hardwood forests. Tall to moderately tall closed forests of

white and blaclt spruce, paper birch, aspen, and balsam poplar; on moderate to well

drained sites.

3. Open, low growing spruce forests and treeless bogs. Primarily of black spruce

but often interspersed with white spruce, paper birch, tamarack, and willows, locally

interspersed with treeless bogs; on poorly drained sites usually underlain by permafrost,

TUNDRA or TREELESS

4. Moist tundra. Tundra meadows dominated by sedges, especially in tussocks.

Also extensive areas of willow and alder thickets on streams and protected slopes.

5. Wet tundra. Wet coastal tundra and marsh, predominantly sedges and grasses.

Also extensive shrub thickets along streams.

6. Alpine tundra, ice and snow. Predominantly barren, alpine tundra dominated

by white mountain-avens, low heath shrubs, prostrate willows, and dwarf herbs.

Also extensive shrub thickets of resin birch, alder, and willows at lower elevations.

46
Figure 13.—Balsam poplar (Populus

balsamifera), natural size. Winter

twig at lower right.

47
VEGETATION OF ALASKA

COASTAL FORESTS

1. Sitka spruce—hemlock

INTERIOR FORESTS or TAIGA

2. Closed spruce—hardwood

forests

3. Open, low growing spruce

forests and treeless bogs

VEGETATION OF ALASKA. Legend on page 46.
East across Canada to Labrador and Newfoundland, south in

eastern United States to West

Virginia, Indiana^ and Iowa and

in western mountains locally as

far south as Colorado.

Balsam poplar intergrades or

hybridizes with black poplar in

southern Alaska where ranges of

the two overlap^ as mentioned

under the latter. Rare hybrids

with quaking aspen, which has

smaller, rounded leaves and flattened petioles, have been recorded

also.

14. BLACK COTTONWOOD

(Populus trichocarpa

Torr. & Gray)

Other names: cottonwood, balsam cottonwood, northern black

cottonwood, Pacific poplar ; Populus trichocarpa var. hastata

(Dode) Henry; P. balsamifera L.

ssp. trichocarpa (Torr. & Gray)

Brayshaw, var. california S.

Wats.

Large deciduous tree to 80-100

ft. (24-30 m.) tall, with straight

trunk 3 ft. (1 m.) in diameter,

with narrow pointed crown; in

age larger and developing a tall

massive trunk and small flattopped crown. Leaves with slender

petioles 11/2-2 in. (4-5 cm.) long,

round, finely hairy. Leaf blades

broadly ovate, 2V2-5 in. (6-12.5

cm.) long, 11/2-^ in. (4-7.5 cm.)

wide, mostly long-pointed at apex,

rounded or sHghtly notched at

base, with many small rounded

teeth, hairless or nearly so, shiny

dark green above, beneath whitish

and often with rusty specks.

Twigs red brown and hairy when

young, with orange dots (lentieels), becoming dark gray, sometimes angled, with raised leaf

scars showing 3 dots. Winter buds

large, to % in. (2 cm.) long, longpointed, sticky or resinous, covered with shiny brown scales.

Bark gray to dark gray, smooth,

becoming rough, thick, deeply furrowed with flat ridges. Wood with

thin whitish sapwood and light

brown heartwood, fine-textured,

lightweight, soft.

Flower clusters (catkins) IVs-S

in. (4-7.5 cm.) long, narrow,

drooping, with many small flowers

about Ys in. (3 mm.) long, each

with disk and above a light brown

hairy lobed scale, male and female

on different trees (dioecious).

Male flowers with 40-60 reddish

purple stamens; female flowers

v/ith rounded densely hairy ovary

and 3 broad lobed stigmas. Seed

capsules in catkins to 6 in. (15

cm.) long, short-stalked, rounded,

%Q in. (5 mm.) in diameter, white

hairy, 3-parted, with many tiny

cottony seeds. Flowering in May

before the leaves, fruit maturing

in June-July.

Black cottonwood is the largest

broadleaf tree in Alaska, growing

rapidly to a height of 80-100 ft.

(24-30 m.) at maturity. It is also

the hardwood or broadleaf tree of

greatest size in northwestern

North America, reaching a height

of 125 ft. (38 m.) on the best sites

at age 35 years.

A champion of this species, the

largest then known, was discovered in Alaska in 1965 by foresters on the State timber inventory project. Measurements of

this giant are as follows : circumference of trunk at breast height,

32 ft. 6 in. (9.9 m.), total height,

101 ft. (30,8 m.), and estimated

spread of crown, 60 ft. (18.3 m.).

It is located on State land about

25 miles (40 km.) northwest of

Haines on a gravel flat 300 ft,

(91 m.) from Klehini River about

5 miles (8 km.) west of the village

of Klukwan. This ancient tree had

its main stem broken off many

years ago but has several large

branches forming the top. The

trunk is deeply grooved and hollow. In 1969 a larger black cottonwood was found near Salem,

Oreg., thus replacing the northern

48
Figure 14.—^Black cottonwood (Populus

trichocarpa), natural size. Winter twig

at left.

rival as the national champion.

Though with a broken top and not

as tall, the Klukwan giant has a

slightly broader trunk than the

Oregon winner, which measures

30 ft. 2 in. (9.2 m.) in circumference.

This species is found in lowlands of the coastal forests of

southeast and southern Alaska. It

is best developed at lower levels

on river bottoms and sandbars,

forming pure stands with undergrowth of willows and alders. It

is common on the valley floors of

a few large streams, such as

Stikine and Taku Rivers. Very

rare on islands.

Trees are planted for shade in

49
towns of southeast Alaska. Southward, the wood is used for boxes

and crates, pulpwood, and excelsior. The small supply in

Alaska is a possible source of

paper pulp, veneer, and lumber.

Square cut logs have been used

for cabins.

Black cottonwood is not easily

distinguished from its close relative, balsam poplar. Both have

much the same general appearance and similar habitats. The

chief differences are in the seed

capsules, which in black cottonwood are nearly round, densely

hairy, and split into 3 parts and

which in balsam poplar are longer than broad and long-pointed,

hairless but warty, and split into

2 parts. Also, there are minor differences in flowers. The pistil of

black cottonwood has 3 carpels

and 3 stigmas, while that of balsam poplar has 2 carpels and 2

stigmas. The number of stamens

is reported to be greater in black

cottonwood. Leaves of black cottonwood generally are broader in

proportion to length and seem to

be whiter beneath. As the ranges

of the two species are separate except at their narrow borders, most

trees or specimens without seed

capsules can be named by locality.

Black cottonwood hybridizes

extensively with balsam poplar

where the ranges meet and overlap slightly, for example, in the

Cook Inlet and Lynn Canal areas.

Hybrids or intermediate trees are

recognized by the seed capsules,

which may be 3-parted and hairless or 2-parted and hairy.

Pacific coast of southeastern

Alaska, rare toward southern end

and reported from only a few

islands ; commoner from Stikine

River north to head of Lynn

Canal along the Dyea, Chilkat,

and Klehini Rivers, Glacier Bay,

and Yakutat Bay ; west to Prince

William Sound, Cook Inlet, Susitna Valley, and Kodiak Island.

South Tongass, North Tongass,

and Chugach National Forests,

Glacier Bay National Monument,

Kenai National Moose Range,

Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge,

Southern Alaska and southern

Yukon Territory south through

British Columbia to Montana,

Idaho, and California and in

mountains to Utah and Baja

California.

Black cottonwood and balsam

poplar have long been regarded as

separate species. The two have

geographic ranges mostly far

apart and grow under somewhat

different climates with different

associated tree species. Recently

black poplar has been united by

a few botanists as a subspecies of

balsam poplar, because of the

slight differences and the intermediate trees where the ranges

meet. However, foresters treat the

two as separate species in forest

management.

15. QUAKING ASPEN

(Populus tremuloides

Michx.)

Other names: American aspen,

trembling aspen, popple, squawstongue; Popultts tremuloides var.

aurea (Tidestr.) Daniels.

Small to medium-sized deciduous tree commonly 20-40 ft. (6-12

m.) tall, maximum 80 ft. (24 m.),

with straight trunk 3-12 in. (7.5-

30 cm.) in diameter, maximum 18

in. (46 cm.), and short, irregularly bent limbs making a narrow

domelike crown. Leaves with slender flattened petioles 1-2,5 in,

(2.5-6 cm.) long. Leaf blades

nearly round, 1-2 in. (2.5-5 cm.)

long and broad, short-pointed at

apex, rounded at base, with many

small rounded teeth, hairless,

shiny green above, pale beneath,

which tremble in the slightest

breeze, turning bright yellow

(sometimes reddish) in autumn.

Twigs slender, reddish and slightly hairy when young, becoming

50
Figure 15.—Quaking aspen (Populus

tremuloides) 9 natural size. Winter

twig at right.

gray, with raised leaf scars showing 3 dots. Winter buds conic, 14

in. (6 mm.) long, long-pointed, of

shiny red brown hairless scales,

not resinous or flower buds slightly

so. Bark whitish or greenish gray,

smooth, thin, with characteristic

curved scars and black knotsWood of broad whitish sapwood

and light brown heartwood, finetextured, lightweight, soft, and

brittle.

Flower clusters (catkins) l-2i/^

in. (2.5-6 cm.) long, narrow,

drooping, with many small flowers

Vs in. (3 mm.) long, each with

saucer-shaped disk and above a

brown hairy lobed scale, male and

female on different trees (dioecious). Male flowers with 6-12

stamens; female flowers with

conic ovary, short style, and 2

stigmas each 2-lobed. Seed capsules in catkins 8-414 in. (7.5-

11 cm.) long, nearly stalkless, less

than 14 in. (6 mm.) long, conic,

hairless, 2-parted, with many tiny

cottony seeds. Flowering in May

before the leaves, fruit maturing

in May-June.

51
Quaking aspen is a fast-growing tree common on south slopes,

well-drained benches, and creek

bottoms throughout the interior

of Alaska to about 3,000 ft. (914

m.) altitude. It often occurs in

dense pure stands, especially following forest fires. Aspen frequently propagates by suckers

from roots. Growth will continue

for 80-100 years before the stands

begin to deteriorate. Also in forests with white spruce and birch.

Rare hybrids with balsam poplar

have been noted.

The wood has not yet been utilized commercially in quantity in

Alaska. Elsewhere it is used for

pulpwood, boxes and crates, and

excelsior.

Interior Alaska as far north as

the south slopes of Brooks Range

but not as far north or as high in

mountains as white spruce ; westward to Koyukuk and Kobuk

Rivers; south on Yukon River to

Holy Cross and on Kuskokwim to

Bethel and to base of Alaska

Peninsula at Lake Iliamna ; south

of Alaska Range in Susitna Valley, Cook Inlet, Kenai Peninsula,

and Copper River areas. Southeast Alaska only in extreme northern part near Haines and Skagway at head of Lynn Canal.

Chugach National Forest, Mt.

McKinley National Park, Kenai

National Moose Range.

The most widely distributed

tree species in North America,

ranging from Alaska east across

Canada to Labrador and Newfoundland, south in the Northeastern United States to New

Jersey, Virginia, and Missouri,

and south in western mountains

to Trans-Pecos Texas, California,

and Mexico.

WILLOW (Salix)

Willows are well represented in

Alaska, as in other far northern

lands. In habit they vary from

prostrate or creeping dwarf

shrubs to erect bushes 2-6 ft.

(0.6-2 m.) tall and large shrubs

or small trees, usually with many

stems. As 12 of the 33 Alaska

species are known to attain the

size and habit of small trees, willows (Salix) are the largest genus

of trees here. Numerous variations occur, and some species

seem to intergrade or hybridize,

often making identification difficult. Some botanists distinguish

by name many additional varieties

or subspecies of Alaska willows.

Although field identification is

difficult, especially in winter, the

willows as a group can be distinguished by the usually slender or

wiry twigs, the winter buds covered by a single bud-scale, and by

the bitter quininelike taste of the

bark. The short-stalked leaves

generally are long and narrow,

with smooth or finely toothed

edges. The yellowish or greenish

male and female flowers are borne

in hairy, narrow catkins 1-3 in.

(2.5-7,5 cm.) long, on separate

trees or shrubs in early spring before or with the leaves.

The fruits in tassellike catkins

are pointed, thin-walled seed capsules about 1/4 in. (6 mm.) long,

which split open in spring and

summer to release the numerous

tiny seeds with tufts of cottony

hairs.

Shrubby willows are widely

distributed almost throughout

Alaska, extending beyond the limits of trees to the Arctic coast,

Bering Sea, and Aleutian Islands.

They are the undergrowth of the

open spruce-birch forest of interior Alaska and form thickets

on sandbars and other porous soils

along streams. Although not suitable for lumber because of their

small size, shrubby willows provide important summer and winter food for many game animals,

especially moose and ptarmigan.

The great variation in willows

and their tendency to hybridize

52
make it difficult to construct a

completely workable key. Two

keys are provided. For using the

first key to Alaska tree willows,

it is best to have material grown

under normal conditions (not

sprouts from stumps of fast-growing roadside shoots) and to have

both mature catkins and leaves.

Because the catkins often develop

before the leaves, it may be desirable to tag the shrub and return to it at different times during

the growing season. In addition,

unusual growth forms resulting

from differences in site cannot

always be included in the key.

The second key, for specimens

without catkins, is a vegetative

key based on leaves, twigs, and

growth form.

With considerable field experience, one can learn to distinguish

many willows. It is best to start

with the more common and distinctive willows, such as Sitka

willow and Scouler willow in

southeastern Alaska, and feltleaf

willow and Bebb willow in central

Alaska. Once the characteristics of

these become familiar, it is easier

to recognize the less common and

less easily identified willows.

Five shrubby species rarely

reaching tree size are described

brieñy at the end of the genus as

Nos. 22.1-22.5. Drawings and

maps are in "Alaska Trees and

Shrubs'' (Viereck and Little

1972).

Key to Alaska Tree Willows

(and shrubs that rarely reach tree size)

A. Pedicels, ovaries, and seed capsules hairless (young ovaries in

some species with few hairs, especially near tip).

B. Catkins stalkless, young twigs densely hairy ; stipules glandular

margined, persisting on twig several years

22.4. Richardson willow (Salix lanata ssp. richardsonii)

BB. Catkins on leafy twigs, stipules not persisting on twigs.

C. Leaf margins distinctly toothed.

D. Leaves lance-shaped, 4-5 times as long as broad, with long

narrow tip, shiny above ; scales of catkin yellow, soon

shedding 22. Pacific willow (Salix lasiandra)

DD. Leaves rounded or blunt at tip, not lance-shaped; scales

of catkin not yellow or deciduous.

E. Leaves whitish (glaucous) beneath, ovate to obovate,

toothed or entire on margins, hairless or with few

hairs on veins of upper surface (or both surfaces

with long silky hairs when young) ; pedicels short,

about 1/32 in. (1 mm.)

22.3. Barclay willow (Salix barclayi)

EE. Leaves light green beneath, dark green above, regularly

toothed, hairless; pedicels VIQ-VQ in. (1.5-3 mm.)

long

___ 22.2. tall blueberry willow (Salix novae-angliae)

CC. Leaf margins entire or with few small teeth near base.

F. Twigs with dense long hairs when young ; catkins large and

thick, to % in. (2 cm.) in diameter; styles Vs iïi. (3

mm.) long 16. Hooker willow (Salix hookeriana)

FF. Twigs hairless or with scattered hairs, never densely

hairy; catkins usually less than % ii^- (15 mm,) in

diameter; styles less than y^Q in. (1.5 mm.) long

22.3. Barclay willow (Salix barclayi)

53
AA. Ovaries hairy (mature seed capsules sometimes with only few

hairs near tip).

G. Pedicels of flower and seed capsule V8-%6 i^^- (3-5 mm.) long,

conspicuous, exceeding scales

18. Bebb willow (Salix bebbiana)

GG, Pedicels shorter, less than Vs in. (3 mm.) long, not exceeding

scales.

H. Leaves distinctly glandular toothed around margin

21. littletree willow (Salix arbusculoides)

HH. Leaves irregularly or indistinctly toothed or entire.

L Leaves without hairs on lower surface, except occasionally

on midvein, upper surface shiny green ; stipules long

and narrow, glandular margined, persistent several

years 22.5.

diamondleaf willow (Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra)

IL Leaves distinctly hairy on lower surface, upper surface not

shiny green ; stipules shedding.

J. Leaves hairless above, lower surface with dense woolly

hairs 17. feltleaf willow (Salix alaxensis)

JJ. Leaves hairy on both surfaces, sometimes with scattered

hairs.

K. Lower surface of leaves shiny, silky from straight appressed silvery hairs

20. Sitka willow (Salix sitchensis)

KK. Lower surface of leaves without silky sheen.

L. Lower surface of leaves with scattered, short, stiff

hairs at least partly red, giving a reddish hue ;

catkins without leafy stalks developing before

leaves; pedicels Yg in. (3 mm.) long

19. Scouler willow (Salix scouleriana)

LL, Lower surface of leaves densely hairy with woolly

hairs, never red ; catkins on leafy twigs or developing with or after the leaves ; pedicels short

or lacking

22.1. grayleaf willow (Salix glauca)

Vegetative Key to Alaska Tree Willows

(and shrubs that rarely reach tree size)

Because leaf, twig, and growth form characteristics of some willows

are extremely variable, a vegetative key cannot account for all the

variability. The key must deal primarily with the typical specimen in

a typical location. Perhaps the following key will serve for threefourths of the Alaska tree willow specimens. However, many will not

key out or will key to a wrong species. Usually, it should be possible

to narrow the choice to 2 or 3. The descriptions, drawings, and maps

will then be of aid in further determination.

A. Adult leaves with hairs on low^er surface.

B. Lower surface of leaves with dense hairs, appearing silvery,

white, or gray.

C. Lower surface of leaves with dense white woolly hairs

17. feltleaf willow (Salix alaxensis)

CC. Lower surface of leaves with dense straight hairs.

D. Lower surface silky hairy, upper surface green, with scattered hairs; tall shrub or tree to 20 ft. (6m.) high —

20. Sitka willow (Salix sitchensis)

54
DD. Lower surface dull gray hairy, upper surface greenish

gray, without hairs; shrub usually less than 10 ft.

(3 m.) high 22.1. grayleaf willow (Salix glauca)

BB. Lower surface of leaves visible through less dense hairs.

E. Margins of leaves distinctly toothed; leaves dark green and

shiny above, whitish (glaucous) beneath, with long, stiff,

straight hairs oriented toward tip of leaf, 3-4 times as

long as broad; shrub 10-15 ft. (3-4.5 m.) tall, with

slender branches

21. littletree willow (Salix arbusculoides)

EE. Margins of leaves not toothed or with a few teeth on basal

half.

F. Hairs on lower surface short and stiff, at least partly red,

giving a reddish hue

19. Scouler willow (Salix scotderiana)

FF. Hairs denser, longer, not reddish.

G. Tall shrubs or trees 10-25 ft. (3-7.5 m.) tall; twigs diverging at nearly right angles from the main stem

18. Bebb willow (Salix bebbiana)

GG. Medium shrubs, usually under 10 ft. (3 m.) high; twigs

usually branching at 45° angle or less

22.1. grayleaf willow (Salix glauca)

AA. Adult leaves without hairs on lower surface.

H. Stipules persistent on the twigs for several years.

L Stipules broad at the base and glandular toothed along margins ; twigs coarse, brown to black, densely hairy, even

after several years

22.4. Richardson willow (Salix lanata ssp. richardsonii)

IL Stipules linear, narrow at base, without glandular teeth;

twigs fine, usually reddish brown, shiny, without dense

hairs at 1 year

22.5. diamondleaf willow (Salix planifolia ssp. ptdchra)

HH. Stipules persisting less than 1 year.

J. Leaves with teeth around margin.

K. Leaves 3-4 times as long as broad ; tall shrubs or trees.

L. Leaves large, 3-4 in. (7.5-10 cm.) long, lance-shaped,

with long tapering tip ; young twigs woolly

22. Pacific willow (Salix lasiandra)

LL. Leaves smaller, 2-3 in. (5-7.5 cm.) long, not lanceshaped, short-pointed ; young twigs not woolly

21. littletree willow (Salix arbusculoides)

KK. Leaves less than 3 times as long as broad.

M. Leaves whitish (glaucous) beneath

22.3. Barclay willow (Salix barclayi)

MM. Leaves light green, not whitish (glaucous) beneath

22.2. tall blueberry willow (Salix novae-angliae)

JJ. Leaves entire or with teeth only on lower part.

N. Stems coarse, densely hairy, leaves large at maturity, to 3

in. (7.5 cm.) long, obovate; Yakutat Bay area

16. Hooker willow (Salix hookeriana)

NN. Stems fine, thinly hairy, leaves smaller, 11/2-21/2 in. (4-6

cm.) long, dull grayish green above, elliptic to ovate;

widely distributed in most of Alaska except southeast

18. Bebb willow (Salix bebbiana)

55
16. HOOKER WILLOW

{Salix hookeriana Barratt)

Other names: bigleaf willow,

Yakutat willow, Salix amplifolia

Cov.

A shrub or small tree, usually

about 10-16 ft. (3-5 m.) tall but

occasionally attaining a height of

25 ft. (7.5 m.) and a trunk diameter of 8-15 in. (20-38 cm.).

Leaves oval to broadly obovate or

rarely the uppermost ovate, 11/2-3

in. (4-7.5 cm.) long and %-2 in.

(2-5 cm.) wide, broadly pointed

to rounded at apex, mostly rounded at base, edges without teeth or

sparsely wavy-toothed, pale green

above, whitish beneath, more or

less hairy on both sides while unfolding but becoming hairless.

Twigs stoutish, dark brown,

densely white- or gray-woolly for

2 or 3 years. Buds dark reddish

brown, hairy. Bark gray, smooth.

Catkins on leafy stalks, appearing before or with the leaves, 3-4

in. (7.5-10 cm.) long and %-%

in. (12-15 mm.) wide at maturity; scales brownish to blackish,

covered with long whitish hairs.

Seed capsules long, hairless. Flowering in mid-May to early June,

seeds ripening mid-June to July.

In Alaska, Hooker willow grows

in a variety of sites including

beach ridges, stabilized sand

dunes, and coastal meadows. Bare

in Alaska, except in the Yakutat

Bay region where it has been

known for many years as a local

species, Yakutat willow (Salix

amplifolia Cov.). Collected recently from a few other coastal

areas including Middleton Island.

At Yakutat the plants are

browsed by moose.

Coastal Alaska in the vicinity

of Prince Williams Sound and

Yakutat Bay. North Tongass National Forest. Also coastal dunes.

Pacific Coast from Queen Charlotte Islands (Moresby Island)

and extreme southwestern British

Columbia, Vancouver Island, and

Puget Sound region of western

Washington south to northwestern California. Reported also

from eastern Siberia.

This species honors William

Jackson Hooker (1785-1865),

English botanist, in whose work

the description was published.

17. FELTLEAF WILLOW

(Salix alaxensis (Anderss.)

Cov.)

Other names: Salix longistylis

Rydb., S. alaxensis var. longistylis

(Rydb.) Schneid., ssp. longistylis

(Rydb.) Huit.

A shrub or small tree to 20-30

ft. (6-9 m.) high with a trunk

4-7 in. (10-18 cm.) in diameter,

occasionally dwarfed and nearly

prostrate in exposed places.

Leaves elliptic or oblanceolate

(reverse lance-shaped), 2-4 in.

(5-10 cm.) long and V2-W2 in.

(1.2-4 cm.) wide, short-pointed,

usually tapering to base, edges

without teeth or nearly so, above

dull green and hairless or sometimes somewhat short-hairy, beneath covered with a dense white

or creamy-white felt; midrib yellowish. One-year and 2-year twigs

stoutish, usually white-woolly. In

(Rydb.) Schneid, or ssp. longistylis (Rydb.) (Huit.) the young

twigs and buds without hairs and

often with a bluish white bloom.

Bark gray, smooth, becoming

rough and furrowed into scaly

plates.

Catkins stoutish, not stalked,

appearing before the leaves, 2-4

in. (5-10 cm.) long at maturity;

scales blackish. Seed capsules

long, pointed, white-woolly. Flowering May and June, seeds ripening in June and July.

Feltleaf willow is widely distributed in valleys almost throughout Alaska. Extending beyond the

56
Figure 16.—Hooker willow (Salix hookeriana), natural size. Female catkin

at left; seed capsules in center; male

catkin at right.

limits of the spruce-birch interior

forest, it is the only tree willow in

many areas, such as north and

west of Kodiak Island and at

Firth River on the northeast Arctic slope. In many places in northern Alaska, this willow is important as the only wood available for

fuel. Though not the common

'^diamond willow'* from which

ornamental canes are made, the

trunks sometimes have this pattern of diamond-shaped scars

where the lower twigs have died.

Feltleaf willow is a preferred

ÄJ r M^r^" N ^^^V

^M^^ 4^!)¿r^ü:;\sí^"^

0 goo M es

V" o 300 Kilometi

browse species of moose which

pull down and break branches and

trunks up to IV2 in. (4 cm.) in

diameter. Eventually the shrub

grows above the reach of the

moose and becomes too thick for

the moose to break. It is reported

that the inner bark has served as

food for humans.

57
Widely distributed and common

almost throughout Alaska from

northern part of southeast Alaska

to Arctic Ocean, Southeast Alaska

from Wrangell to head of Lynn

Canal at Skagway, Glacier Bay,

and Yakutat Bay; north through

the interior to the Arctic coast

and northwest to Cape Lisburne;

west to Bering Sea ; southwest on

Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian

Islands to Unalaska Island; and

south to Kodiak Island, Cook Inlet, and Prince William Sound.

North Tongass, South Tongass,

and Chugach National Forests,

Glacier Bay and Katmai National

Monuments, Mt. McKinley National Park, Kenai National Moose

Range, Kodiak National Wildlife

Refuge, Arctic National Wildlife

Range. East to northwest shore

of Hudson Bay and south to

central British Columbia, but

not reaching contiguous United

States. Also in eastern Asia.

This willow was first collected

at Kotzebue Sound beyond Bering

Strait. The specific name alaxensis means Alaskan but is from an

old spelling.

18. BEBB WILLOW

(Salix hebhiana Sarg.)

Other names: diamond willow,

beak willow, S, rostrata Richards.,

S. depressa L. ssp. rostrata (Anderss.) Hiitonen.

A large shrub 10 ft. (3 m.) tall

or a small, bushy tree 15-25 ft.

(4.5-7.5 m.), rarely 35 ft. (10,5

m.) with trunk diameter of 6-9

in. (15-23 cm.). Leaves elliptic

and pointed at both ends to broadly oblanceolate or obovate-oval

and very short-pointed at apex

and broad at base, I-31/2 in. (2.5-

9 cm.) long and %-l in. (10-25

mm.) wide, edges without teeth or

somewhat wavy, dull green above,

gray or whitish and roughly netveined beneath, more or less hairy

on both sides but becoming less

hairy with age. In an uncommon

variety, the smaller leaves are

hairless or nearly so beneath and

often less rough. Twigs slender,

branching at wide angles, yellowish to brown, gray hairy when

young but afterward becoming

hairless. Bark gray to dark gray,

smooth, becoming rough and furrowed. Wood lightweight, brittle.

Catkins on short leafy stalks,

before or with the leaves, at maturity 1-3 in. (2.5-7.5 cm.) long

and loose, scales narrow, yellowish with reddish tips, hairy. Seed

capsules long, very slender, with

short hairs Vs-fiQ in. (3-5

mm.) long, on slender, sparsely

hairy stalks. Flowering mid-May

through mid-June, seeds ripening

by mid- to late June, catkins shed

by mid-July.

Bebb willow is the most common upland willow in interior

Alaska, occurring as scattered individuals in most forest types. It

is also the most common species

in the willow stands that follow

forest fires on upland sites and in

thickets adjacent to streams,

swamps, and lakes. In open meadows it forms large spreading

shrubs. It is an important browse

species for moose throughout interior Alaska. In winter heavy

snows tend to bend the branches

down so that they are in reach of

both moose and snowshoe hares.

Bebb willow is the most important producer of ''diamond willow." This term applies to several

species with diamond-shaped patterns on their trunks. When the

stems are carved they result in a

striking pattern of diamondshaped cavities with a sharp contrast between the white or cream

sapwood and the reddish brown

heartwood. Diamond willow is

carved into canes, lamp posts,

furniture and candle holders. In

the old roadhouse at Copper Center, the newel posts and balusters

58
^'A\ w^^ /f^r\]

á^,/1iÄ^Si^v-^ ^p

'.'^-^

^ „_^„„„^

%\,

'^'

Figure 17.—^Feltleaf willow {Salix alaxensis), natural size. Male catkins at

upper right; female catkins at lower

right.

59
Figure 18.—Bebb willow (Salir« bebbiana^^ natural size. Seed capsules at

left; male catkin at upper right.

of the whole staircase have been

carved from diamond willow.

The depressions or "diamonds"

are caused by one or more fungi

which attack the willow at the

junction of a branch with the

main trunk. The "diamond willows" occur most commonly under

shade of trees or where the site

is poor. They are most abundant

in the Copper River Basin area

but occur in Alaska throughout

the boreal forest from the Kenai

Peninsula northward. In addition

to the Bebb, the following also

form "diamonds" although usually to a lesser degree : Park willow, feltleaf willow, littletree

willow, and Scouler willow.

In other areas of the United

States, Bebb willow formerly was

used for baseball bats, charcoal,

gunpowder, and withes for furniture and baskets.

Widely distributed in interior

Alaska, south to the Pacific Coast.

In the northern part of southeastern Alaska at Glacier Bay and

the head of Lynn Canal. In central Alaska from Prince William

Sound north to the south slopes of

the Brooks Range, west on the

Yukon River to Holy Cross, and

south to Katmai, Kodiak Island,

and the Kenai Peninsula. North

Tongass and Chugach National

Forests, Mt. McKinley National

Park, Katmai National Monument, Kenai National Moose

60
i^<M^Ê^i^0^

Range, Kodiak National Wildlife

Refuge. East across Canada to

Hudson Bay, Labrador, and Newfoundland, and south to New

Jersey, Nebraska, New Mexico,

and central California. Also in

eastern Asia.

This species commemorates

Michael Schuck Bebb (1833-95),

American specialist on willows.

Figure 19.—Scouler willow (Salix scouleriana), natural size. Seed capsules

at upper left; female catkin at upper

right; male catkin at lower right.

19. SCOULER WILLOW

(Salix scouleriana Barratt)

Other names : mountain willow,

black willow, fire willow.

A shrub or tree with compact

rounded crown usually 15 ft. (4.5

m.) tall and 4 in. (10 cm.) in

trunk diameter but in some localities in Alaska becoming a tree

50-60 ft. (15-18 m.) tall and

16-20 in. (40.5-51 cm.) in trunk

diameter.

61
Leaves variable, mostly oblanceolate to narrowly obovate or

sometimes oblong or elliptic, 2-5

in. (5-12.5 cm.) long and V2-IV2

in. wide (12-40 mm.), mostly

very short-pointed at apex and

tapering to base, edges without

teeth to sparsely wavy-toothed,

dark green and nearly hairless

above, beneath whitish to white

and more or less gray hairy or becoming rusty hairy when older.

Twigs stoutish, yellowish or greenish brown and densely hairy when

young, reddish to dark brown and

nearly hairless when older; buds

red. Bark gray smooth, thin, becoming dark brown, divided into

broad flat ridges. Wood light

brown tinged with red and with

hick whitish sapwood, fine-textured, liglitweight, soft.

Catkins stout, stalkless or on

short leafless stalks, appearing in

great abundance before the leaves,

at maturity 1-2 in. (2.5-5 cm.)

long and nearly V2 i^i- (12 mm.)

thick; scales obovate, black, long

hairy. Seed capsules long, slender,

gray-woolly. One of the earliest

flowering of the v/illows, us catkins developing as pussy willows

even before the snow has melted ;

flowering in May, seeds dispersing

in June, catkins shedding by July.

Scouler willow is the most common willow of southeastern and

south central Alaska where it occurs ever a wide range of habitats

and vegetation types. It is especially abundant in the vicinity of

Anchorage and Kenai Peninsula

where it has become extensive

in the uplands following past

widespread fires. It is often called

*'fire willow" because of its rapid

occupation of burned areas, forming blue-green thickets. In southeastern Alaska it comes in abundantly after logging and also occurs

along streams and roadsides and

occasionally in the more open

spruce and hemlock stands. Over

all of southeastern and south central Alaska, it commonly reaches

tree size. In south central Alaska

where it is an important moose

browse species, most trees have

been barked by moose In the interior of Alaska, Scouler willow

occurs in spruce, birch, and aspen

stands, and occasionally in bogs,

but is most common in areas that

have been burned. It is one of several used for ^'diamond willow"

carvings.

Southern end of southeastern

Alaska north and west along the

coast to Kodiak and Katmai, north

to the Tanana River. Also in the

upper and central Yukon River

district around Dawson. South

Tongass, North Tongass, and

Chugach National Forests, Mt.

McKinley National Park, Glacier

Bay and Katmai National Monuments, Kenai National Moose

Range, Kodiak National Wildhfe

Refuge. Eastward to Saskatchewan and south to New Mexico and

California.

This species honors its discoverer, John Scouler (1804-71),

Scotch naturalist who made plant

collections on the northwest coast

of North America in 1825-27.

20. SITKA WILLOW

(Salix sitchensis Sansón)

Other names: silky willow,

Salix coulteri Anderss.

A large shrub or small tree

10-20 ft. (3-6 m.) high with

trunk 4-6 in. (10-15 cm.) in diameter or rarely 30 ft. (9 m.) tall

and 12 in. (30 cm.) in diameter.

In exposed places, becoming a low,

nearly prostrate shrub. Leaves

oblanceolate or narrowly obovate

or sometimes elliptic, 2-4 in. (5-10

cm.) long, usually short-pointed at

apex, mostly tapering to a narrow

base, edges without teeth or

sparsely and inconspicuously

62
wavy-toothed, above dark green

and with sparse short hairs when

young, beneath paler and with

short silvery, silky hairs. Twigs

Figure 20.—Sitka willow (Salix sitchensis), natural size. Seed capsules at

left; female catkin at right; male

catkins at lower right.

slender, sometimes thinly hairy

when young but when older hairless and dark reddish brown. Bark

gray, smooth, becoming slightly

furrowed and scaly. Wood pale

red, fine-textured, lightweight,

soft.

Catkins slender, tightly flowered on short leafy stalks, appearing with the leaves, 2-4 in. (5-10

cm.) long at maturity; scales

small, brown, densely hairy. Seed

capsules short, silvery hairy.

63
Flowering in May, seeds ripening

in early to mid-June, catkins shedding by July or early August.

Sitka willow is common in the

coastal forest region of southeast

Alaska, growing in sunny locations along streams and beaches

or in the upland where the forest

is open or absent. The satiny

sheen on the lower surface of the

leaves serves to distinguish it

from other willows. The wood is

not used commercially though the

Indians burn it in drying fish, as

the smoke has no bad odor. The

supple twigs have been used by

the Indians in basketmaking and

for stretching skins, and the

pounded bark has also been applied to heal wounds.

Pacific coast region of southeast

and southern Alaska. Throughout

southeast Alaska from Ketchikan

northwest to head of Lynn Canal

at Skagway, Glacier Bay, and

Yakutat Bay, and west to Prince

William Sound, Cook Inlet, and

Kodiak Island, north as far as

Anchorage and the Chitina River.

South Tongass and North Tongass

National Forests, Glacier Bay National Monument, Kenai National

Moose Range, Kodiak National

Wildlife Refuge. Alaska and

British Columbia south along the

coast to southern California and

east to New Mexico and Black

Hills. Also in eastern Asia.

Sitka willow was named for

Sitka, Alaska, near which it was

discovered by Karl Heinrich Mertens in 1827.

21. LITTLETREE WILLOW

(Salix arbusculoides

Anderss. )

An erect shrub 10-15 ft. (3-4.5

m.) tall or commonly a small tree

25-30 feet (7.5-9 m.) tall and 5-6

in. (12-15 cm.) in trunk diameter.

Leaves narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, often oblanceolate while unfolding, 1-3 in. (2.5-7.5 cm.) long,

¥8-% in. (10-20 mm.) wide, usually short-pointed at both ends,

with edges finely but shallowly

toothed, green and hairless above,

beneath whitish to white and

finely silvery-hairy or in an uncommon variety hairless; veins

closely parallel. Twigs slender,

much branched, the younger yellowish brown and sometimes

thinly short-hairy, the older reddish brown, hairless, and shiny.

Bark gray to reddish brown,

smooth.

Catkins small and slender on

very short stalks, appearing

slightly before or with the leaves,

1-2 in. (2.5-5 cm.) long at maturity; scales blackish. Seed capsules small, thinly silvery-hairy.

Flowering mid-May to early June,

seeds ripening mid- to late June,

Littletree willow is one of the

most common willows, forming

dense thickets along streams and

rivers in interior Alaska. It also

grows in the upland along streams

and is a common successional

species following the burning of

open stands of black spruce in wet

sites. It is less commonly found

as a shrub in stands of white

spruce and birch. On the north

slope of the Brooks Range, it

grows on streambanks and gravel

bars in association with several

other willow species. It is one of

several species that form "diamond willow" patterns.

Widely distributed in interior

Alaska from the Copper River

Basin northward to the northern

foothills of the Brooks Range,

westward to the Kobuk River and

Yukon Delta. Mt, McKinley National Park, Kenai National Moose

Range, Arctic National Wildlife

Range. East to Hudson Bay and

south to British Columbia and

central Quebec.

64
22. PACIFIC WILLOW

(Salix lasiandra Benth.)

Other names: western black

willow, yellow willow.

A tall shrub or small tree to 20

ft. (6m.) high. Farther south in

contiguous United States, it is a

small tree 20-30 ft. (6-9 m.) tall

but occasionally a larger tree

50-60 ft. (15-18 m.) tall with a

trunk 2-3 ft. (60-90 cm.) in diameter. Leaves lance-shaped, 2-5

in. (5-12.5 cm.) long and i/^-l in.

(12-25 mm.) wide, long pointed,

mostly rounded at the base, with

edges finely toothed, shiny green

above, glaucous and more or less

hairy beneath. Twigs hairy when

young, stoutish, chestnut to reddish, shiny, hairless with age.

Bark gray, smooth, becoming

rough and deeply furrowed. Wood

pale brown, brittle.

Figure 21.—Littletree willow (Salix arbusculoides) ^ natural size.

Catkins on leafy stalks, appearing with the leaves, 2-4 in. long

(5-10 cm.) at maturity; scales

yellowish, hairy toward the base.

Seed capsules without hairs

Pacific willow is an occasional

pioneer species on the sand and

silt bars of the rivers of interior

Alaska, usually with other willows

but occasionally forming pure

stands. It is occasional to rare in

the uplands in willow thickets

along streams and roadsides.

Interior and southeast Alaska.

In southeast Alaska only in the

vicinity of Yakutat, Haines, and

Skagway and in British Columbia

adjacent to the boundary along

the Stikine and Chilkat Rivers. In

interior Alaska from Palmer north

to the central Yukon River district and Wiseman and west to

65
Holy Cross on the lower Yukon

River. North Tongass National

Forest. East to Saskatchewan and

south to southern California and

New Mexico.

22.1o Grayleaf willow (Salix

glauca L.) An erect to spreading

shrub with dull gray appearance,

commonly 3-4 ft. (1-1.2 m.) tall;

in exposed sites may be depressed

and in favorable sites rarely becomes a small tree to 20 ft. (6 m.)

high and 5 in. (12.5 cm.) in trunk

diameter. Leaves oval to lanceolate, IV2-W2 in. (4-9 cm.) long,

entire or with small glandular

teeth on the lower part. Upper

surface green, lower surface whitish (glaucous), both surfaces

densely hairy to nearly hairless.

Twigs reddish brown to grayish,

hairy or hairless. Catkins %-2

in. (2-5 cm.) long, on leafy shoots,

developing with or after the leaves

and often persisting into the fall.

Seed capsules hairy, gray when

young and turning light brown

with age. Throughout Alaska except Aleutian Islands and southeast coast. East across North

America to Labrador and Newfoundland, south to southern

British Columbia, and in the

Rocky Mountains to northern New

Mexico, Northern Europe and

Asia.

22.2. Tall blueberry willow

(Salix novae-angliae Anderss.).

An erect shrub usually 6-8 ft.

(2-2.5 m.) tall, rarely to 20 ft.

(6 m.) and treelike. Leaves elliptic to obovate, 1-3 in. (2.5-7.5

cm.) long and about % as wide,

margins with teeth often glandular tipped, upper surface dark

green, lower surface lighter but

not whitish (glaucous), prominently net-veined. Twigs brown,

usually straight, coarse, with

dense white silky hairs when

young. Catkins %-2i/2 in. (2-6

cm.) long on leafy stalks, appearing after the leaves have started

to develop. Seed capsules green to

brown, hairless, í4-%6 in. (6-8

mm.) long. Common along rivers

in central Alaska. East to British

Columbia and southward in mountains to northern California and

southern Utah,

22.3. Barclay willow (Salix

barclayi Anderss.). Spreading,

much branched shrub tending to

form dense thickets 3-6 ft. (1-2

m.) high, rarely to 10-20 ft. (3-6

m.) and treelike, variable in

growth form, leaf structure, color,

and habitat. Leaves broadly elliptic to obovate, %-3 in. (2-7.5

cm.) long, margins toothed, serrate to entire; upper surface

shiny yellow green, thinly hairy

when young but becoming hairless, sometimes with short reddish hairs along midrib; lower

surface whitish (glaucous), thinly

hairy but soon becoming hairless ;

usually turning black in drying.

Twigs blackish and densely hairy

when young, becoming reddish

brown and hairless with blackish

buds. Catkins 2-3 in. (5-7.5 cm.)

long, on stalks with 2-3 leaves,

appearing with the leaves. Seed

capsules short and stout, hairy

when young but soon becoming

hairless, green to reddish. Along

coast to Alaska from southeastern

tip to Aleutian Islands. Occasional

to rare in Alaska Range and in

the interior lowlands. South along

the coast to Washington and eastward to Alberta and Montana.

22.4. Richardson willow (Salix

lanata L. ssp. richardsonii

(Hook.) A. Skwortz). Erect,

much-branched shrubs usually

forming dense clumps 3-6 ft. (1-2

m.) tall, rarely to 20 ft. (6 m.).

Leaves elliptic to obovate, %-2V2

in. (2-6 cm.) long, about 1/2 to %

as wide, entire or toothed on margins, bo^h surfaces with long thin

hairs when young but becoming

hairless with age, dark green

above, whitish (glaucous) beneath. Stipules conspicuous, broad,

66
Figure 22.—Pacific willow (Salix lasiandra)^ natural size.

67
with glandular teeth on the edges,

persistent on the twig for several

years. Young twigs stout and

densely hairy, dark brown to

black; older twigs hairless,

orange-red to red-brown and characterized by persistent stipules.

Catkins II/2-2V2 in (4-6 cm.) long

on leafless peduncles, developing

early in spring before the leaves;

scales dark brown to black with

dense silky hairs. Seed capsules

stout, green to Hght brown, hairless, on short stalks. From the

Arctic coast southward through

most of central and south central

Alaska but not reaching to westem Alaska Peninsula or Kenai

Peninsula. In southeastern Alaska

only in mountains in area from

Juneau to Haines. This subspecies

occurs across northern Canada to

Baffin and Southampton Islands,

south to Northwestern Hudson

Bay and British Columbia ; northeastern Asia. The species occurs

across northern North America,

Europe, and Asia and south in

mountains of Asia.

22,5. Diamondleaf willow (Salix

planifolia Pursh ssp, pulchra

(Cham.) Argus). An upright

much-branched shrub 3-6 ft. (1-2

m.) tall, rarely to 15 ft. (4.5 m.),

often forming loose thickets in

wet habitats but becoming a prostrate creeping shrub in exposed

sites in arctic and alpine tundra.

Leaves elliptic to oblanceolate,

pointed at both ends and often

diamond-shaped, 1-21/2 in. (2.5-6

cm.) long and about ys-Y¿ as wide,

hairless and shiny green above

and pale to whitish (glaucous)

beneath, entire on edges or with

a few small teeth near base.

Stipules hnear, glandular-toothed,

persisting on twigs 2-3 years. Á

few brown leaves usually remain

on the twigs through the following winter and into the next summer. Twigs shiny dark brown,

reddish or purple, hairy when

young but becoming hairless in

age. Catkins %-lV% i^^- (2-4 cm.)

long, stalkless on the branches,

developing in early spring before

the leaves; scales blackish in

upper part and hairy. Seed capsules ¥i6 in. (8 mm.) long, stout,

hairy, greenish gray when young

but becoming brown with age. Almost all of Alaska except the

western Aleutians and the coastal

forests of southeastern Alaska.

Along the south coast from

Unalaska Island to Prince William

Sound. In southeastern Alaska

only in the extreme northern part

of mountains above Haines and

Skagway. In Asia from Novaya

Zemlya to Chukchi Peninsula,

BIRCH FAMILY

(Betulaceae)

The birch family (Betulaceae)

is represented in Alaska by 2

genera, birch (Betula) and alder

(Alnus), and 7 species, also intergrading varieties and hybrids.

Distinguishing characters are as

follows: (1) Leaves borne singly

(alternate), broad, margins sharply and usually double-toothed

with teeth of 2 sizes, and in

alders often slightly wavy lobed ;

(2) flower clusters (catkins)

composed of an axis bearing many

minute greenish flowers 2-3 above

a scale, in early spring before the

leaves, from buds partly formed

the preceding summer; (3) flowers with minute calyx, of 2 kinds

on the same plant (monoecious) ;

(4) male flowers with pollen in

long, narrow catkins at end of

twig and female flowers in short

catkins on sides of twig; and (5)

fruits conelike, V2-2 in. (1.2-5

cm.) long, of many nutlets

C^seeds") and scales.

The tree birches of Alaska are

easily recognized by their smooth,

thin, white, pinkish, coppery

brown, or purplish brown bark,

which peels off in papery strips;

the soft cone-like fruits shed,

68
Figure 23a.—^Western paper birch (Betula papyrifera var. commutator, natural

size. Winter twig with old fruits at left; leafy twig with fruits in center; winter

twig with buds of male catkins át right.

leaving slender axis. Alders generally have smooth gray bark,

which is not papery, and usually

have at all seasons some old deadj

hard, blackish or dark grown

conelike fruits remaining on the

twigs. Birch twigs commonly have

raised gland dots and have winter

buds not stalked, composed of

overlapping scales. Alder twigs

lack glands and have usually

stalked winter buds with 3 exposed scales usually meeting at

their edges or overlapping.

69
BIRCH (Betula)

Alaska has 2 species of dwarf,

shrubby birches both widely distributed, and 3 kinds of tree

birches. These are variable and

intergrade and hybridize wherever their ranges meet. The dwarf

birches have round, roundedtoothed leaves less than % in. (2

cm.) long. Dwarf arctic birch

(Betula nana L.) has leaf blades

often broader than long, straight

or notched at base. Resin birch (B.

glandidosa Michx.) has leaf

blades longer than broad, wedgeshaped at base.

The tree birches of Alaska have

larger, ovate leaves 11/^-31/2 in.

(4-9 cm.) long and are treated as

3 geographical varieties of a single transcontinental species, paper birch (Betula papyrifera

Marsh.). Western paper birch

(var. commutata (Reg.) Fern.),

of the northern part of southeast

Alaska, has leaves mostly rounded

at base and usually reddish brown

bark. Alaska paper birch (var.

hitmilis (Reg.) Fern. & Raup),

common through the interior forests, has rather long-pointed

leaves usually wedge-shaped at

base and usually white bark in

age (or reddish brown when

young or in dense stands). Kenai

birch (var. kenaica (W. H. Evans)

Henry), of southern and southern

interior Alaska and treated by

some authors as a distinct species,

has relatively thick, usually shortpointed leaves and usually dark

brown or gray bark.

Key to Alaska Tree Birches

A. Leaf blades ovate, 11/4-314 in. (4-9 cm.) long, mostly thin, with

pointed teeth on edges ; trees with thin papery bark, peeling

off—23. paper birch (Betula papyrifera), 3 varieties in

Alaska.

B. Leaves long-pointed, usually wedge-shaped at base; bark usually

white in age (or reddish brown when young or in dense

stands) ; interior Alaska—23b. Alaska paper birch (Betula

papyrifera var. hiimilis).

BB. Leaves mostly short-pointed ; bark brown or pinkish ; southern

and southeast Alaska.

C. Leaves thin, mostly rounded at base; bark usually reddish

brown; northern part of southeast Alaska—23a. western paper birch (Betula papyrifera var. commutata)

CC. Leaves thick, wedge-shaped or rounded at base, with white

hairs on toothed edges; bark usually dark brown or

gray southern and southern interior Alaska—23c. Kenai

birch (Betula papyrifera var. kenaica).

AA. Leaf blades elliptic, thick, mostly less than IV2 in. (4 cm.) long,

with rounded teeth on edges ; large shrubs or small trees with

smooth bark not peeling—23.1. hybrid birches (Betula

hybrids).

23. PAPER BIRCH

(^Betula papyrifera Marsh. )

Other names: white birch,

canoe birch.

The general description and

range of this species are summarized here, followed by similar

notes for the three varieties in

Alaska. Small to medium-sized

deciduous tree usually 20-60 ft.

70
Figure 23b.—^Alaska paper birch (Betula papyrifera var. humilis), natural size,

Winter twig at lower left.

71
(6-18 m.) high and 4-12 in. (10-

30 cm.) in trunk diameter, becoming 80 ft. (24 m.) tall and 24

in. (60 cm.) in diameter. Leaves

with slender petioles 1/2-I in. (1.2-

2.5 cm.) long. Leaf blades ovate,

11/2-31/2 in. (4-9 cm.) long, 1-21/2

in. (2.5-6 cm.) wide, long-pointed

or short-pointed at apex, wedgeshaped or rounded at base, coarsely and usually doubly toothed,

mostly dull dark green and hairless above, light yellow green and

hairless or slightly hairy beneath.

Twigs slender, hairless, reddish

brown with many small whitish

dots, with short side twigs (spur

shoots) covered by many raised

half-rounded leaf-scars, becoming

reddish black. Winter buds conic,

l^ in. (6 mm.) long, long-pointed,

dark brown, slightly resinous, covered by 3 overlapping scales. Bark

smooth, with long horizontal lines

(lenticéis), thin, separating into

papery strips and peeling off, from

white to pinkish, coppery brown,

or purplish brown in the different

varieties; inner bark orange.

Wood of wide white sapwood and

light reddish brown heartwood,

fine-textured, moderately hard,

and moderately heavy (the

densest of Alaska commercial

woods).

Flowers male and female on

same twig, tiny, in groups of 3

above a scale (bract). Male flowers in narrow catkins partly developed the preceding summer,

1-4 in. (2.5-10 cm.) long composed of calyx and 2 stamens;

female flowers in shorter clusters

%-l in. (1-2.5 cm.) long, composed of ovary and 2 styles.

Fruits coneHke, cylindric, 1-2 in.

(2.5-5 cm.) long and % in. (1

cm.) wide, slender-stalked and

hanging down. Nutlets ("seeds")

many, i/j^ in. (1.5 mm.) long,

brown, with 2 broad wings. Flowering in May-June, before the

leaves, fruit shedding gradually

into winter.

Paper birch is one of the most

widespread tree species in northern North America and is composed of 6 or fewer intergrading

geographical varieties. Widely

distributed from northwestern

Alaska east across Canada to

Labrador and Newfoundland,

south in Northeastern States to

Pennsylvania and Iowa and in

Western States to Montana and

northeastern Oregon (locally

south to Nebraska and in mountains to North Carolina, South

Dakota (Black Hills), and Colorado) ,

Paper birch is a characteristic

species of the interior forests of

Alaska, designated as sprucebirch forests, and is associated

with white spruce and aspen. In

the upper Cook Inlet area, exten-

*sive paper birch forests occupy

the rolling benchland above the

bottoms and extend up the slopes

of the foothills to about 800 ft.

(244 m.). Growth is moderate to

fast. On the more favorable sites,

trees 80 to 100 years old attain a

height of 60-70 ft. (18-21 m.)

and a trunk diameter of 12-14 in.

(30-35 cm.) Average diameter is

8-10 in. (20-25 cm.) and maximum about 29 in. (73 cm.). Maximum age recorded is about 230

years.

Near cities and villages in interior Alaska, paper birch has

been used primarily for fuel,

mainly fireplace wood. It has

served locally for mine props. A

small amount of lumber is cut and

marketed locally in interior

Alaska. However, attempts to develop export markets have not yet

been successful because of high

costs and transportation problems. The wood has been made

into cabinets and wall paneling.

The wood of paper birch varieties growing in Alaska is suitable

for pulping and papermaking by

several processes. It is satisfactory also for furniture, cabinet72
making, veneer and plywood,

handles, boxes and crates, clothes

pins, spools, and bobbins. Other

uses of paper birch southward are

turned and carved articles, toothpicks, and toys. The wood works

easily and takes finishes and

stains satisfactorily. The uniformity of grain is a distinct advantage in the manufacture of

veneers and plywoods.

Northern Indians made canoes

and various small articles from

the smooth thin bark. Because of

Figure 23c.^—Kenai birch (Betula papyrifera var. kenaica), natural size.

its durability and ease of working,

bark was used as sheeting under

sod on cabin roofs. Birch trees are

planted also as ornamentals to

display their attractive bark.

23a, WESTERN PAPER

BIRCH

(Betula papyrifera var.

commutata (Reg.) Fern.)

Other names : paper birch ; Betula papyrifera var. occidentalis

auth. and ssp. occidentalis auth.,

not B, occidentalis Hook.

73
Small to medium-sized tree 20-

60 ft, (6-18 m.) high and 4-16 in.

(10-40 cm.) in trunk diameter.

Trunks often clustered, having

originated from sprouts at base of

old trees. Leaf blades ovate, II/2-

31/2 in. (4-9 cm.) long, I-21/2 in.

(2.5-6 cm.) wide, mostly longpointed or short-pointed at apex,

rounded at base, coarsely doubly

toothed, dark green and hairless

above, beneath slightly hairy, especially in angles of veins; petioles slightly hairy and glandular.

Twigs orange brown, with few

hairs and whitish dots when

young. Bark on small trunks

smooth and usually reddish (coppery or purplish) brown, sometimes blackish, on larger trunks

becoming papery and pinkish

brown, pinkish, or sometimes

whitish.

Male flower catkins 3-4 in.

(7.5-10 cm.) long, narrow. Fruits

cone-like, 1-11/4 in. (2.5-5 cm.)

long, finely hairy, spreading ; nutlets with wings broader than

body; bracts with long middle

lobe and 2 short lobes, hairy on

edges.

Western paper birch is local

and uncommon along the mainland coastal river drainages and

lakes in the northern part of

southeast Alaska, separated from

the other Alaska tree birches. It

occurs on thin, rocky soils, usually below 1500 feet (457 m.) elevation, often with lodgepole pine,

following fire and on poor sites.

The wood is not'used locally.

Vicinity of Lynn Canal, from

Taku River and Juneau to Skagway. North Tongass National Forest. Southern Yukon Territory

east to District of Mackenzie and

Saskatchewan and south to Montana and Washington. Also in

northern Ontario and in Northeast from Labrador and Quebec

south to northern New York and

Massachusetts.

23b. ALASKA PAPER BIRCH

(Betula papyrifera var.

humilis (Reg.) Fern. & Raup)

Other names: Alaska white

birch, Alaska birch, canoe birch,

paper birch, white birch; Betula

papyrifera ssp. humilis (Reg.)

Huit., B, pwpyrifera var. neoalaskana (Sarg.) Raup, B. alaskana Sarg., B. neoalaskana Sarg.,

B. resinifera auth., not (Reg.)

Britton.

Small to medium-sized tree 20-

80 ft. (6-24 m.) high and 4-24 in.

(10-61 cm.) in trunk diameter.

Leaf blades ovate, 1V2-3 in. (4-

7.5 cm.) long, l-=2 in. (2.5-5 cm.)

wide, rather long-pointed, sharply

to broadly wedge-shaped at base,

coarsely toothed, dark green or

yellow green and hairless above,

beneath pale yellow green, dotted

with glands and usually with

angles of lower veins hairy;

petioles becoming hairless. Twigs

with many raised resinous dots.

Bark white, or pinkish white,

sometimes grayish white or yellowish white, papery.

Male flower catkin short, 1-1^/2

in. (2.5-4 cm.) long, thick, greenish brown. Fruits conelike, 1-1%

in. (2.5-3.5 cm.) long, hairless,

hanging down or spreading. Nutlets with wings broader than

body; bracts with middle lobe

usually longer than the blunt, diamond-shaped lateral lobes, hairy

on edges.

Alaska paper birch is the variety common through the interior

up to tree line. It is best developed

on warm slopes with moist porous

soils but is also common on cold

north slopes and poorly drained

lowlands following fires. Birch is

generally in a mixture with white

or black spruce, which replace it

in the successional sequence after

fire. At Cook Inlet there are important birch forests. Here paper

birch has its best development on

74
Figure 23.1.—Yukon birch (Betula glandulosa X papyrifera}, natural size. Leafytwig with female catkins and fruits at upper left; leafy twig with male and

female catkins at lower left ; winter twig at right.

75
the rolling benchlands and lower

foothill slopes up to an altitude of

about 800 ft. (244 m.).

Common in spruce-birch forests

throughout m.ost of interior

Alaska but not in southeast.

North to south slopes of Brooks

Range and northwest to Kobuk

and Noatak Rivers and to coast

along south side of Seward Peninsula; south to Unalakleet and

Russian Mission on Yukon River.

South of Alaska Range in Susitna

Valley, Kenai Peninsula, and Copper River valley. Chugach National Forest, Mt. McKinley National Park. East to Yukon Territory and District of Mackenzie

and south to Saskatchewan and

British Columbia.

23c. KENAI BIRCH

(Betula papyrifera var.

kenaica (W. H. Evans) Henry)

Other names: Kenai paper

birch, black birch, red birch ; Betula kenaica W. H. Evans, B,

kamtschatica var. kenaica (W. H.

Evans) Jansson.

Small to medium-sized tree 20-

80 ft. (6-24 m.) high and 4-12 in.

(10-30 cm.) in trunk diameter,

rarely 18 in. (46 cm.). Leaf blades

ovate or nearly triangular, 11/2-2

in. (4-5 cm.) long, 1-1% in. (2.5-

4.5 cm.) wide, relatively thick,

usually short-pointed, broadly

wedge-shaped or rounded at base,

margin coarsely and often doubly

toothed with white hairs, dull

dark green and often slightly

hairy above, beneath pale yellow

green and dotted with glands and

hairy on veins; petioles usually

hairless. Twigs reddish brown

hairy, and often with resin dots

when young, becoming blackish

and hairless. Bark usually dark

brown, often blackish or reddish

brown, sometimes becoming pinkish or grayish white, papery.

Male flower catkins short, about

1 in, (2.5 cm.) long, narrow, dark

brown. Fruits conelike, about 1

in. (2.5 cm.) long, erect or spreading. Nutlets with wings slightly

narrower than body ; bracts, with

lobes of about equal length,

rounded at apex, side bracts

slightly diamond-shaped.

Kenai birch, named from Kenai

Peninsula and known only from

Alaska, is found in the southern

part of the spruce-birch interior

forests but not southeast. Cook

Inlet, Kenai Peninsula area, and

west to Kodiak Island and base of

Alaska Peninsula at Kaguyak and

Brooks River, Chugach National

Forest, Katmai National Monument, Kenai National Moose

Range, Kodiak National Wildlife

Refuge.

Northvv^ard this variety intergrades or hybridizes with Alaska

paper birch. Specimens apparently

nearer Kenai birch have been reported from interior Alaska along

the Tanana, Yukon, and Kuskokwim Rivers, at Unalakleet, and

on Seward Peninsula.

23.1, HYBRID BIRCHES

(Betula hybrids)

Many plants have characters intermediate between those of the

tree and .shrub birches described

and illustrated here. These hybrid

birches can be recognized by their

characters between those of their

parents growing nearby. In size,

the hybrids between a tree and a

shrub species are large shrubs or

small trees. Bark is like that of

the tree parent but^does not peel

off. Leaves are intermediate in

size and vary in shape and margin. The shrubby species hybridize

with one another as do the varieties of paper birch, the tree

species.

76
Figure 24,—Sitka alder (Alnus sinuata)^

natural size. Winter twig with buds of

male catkins at right.

Yukon birch, the hybrid between resin birch and paper birch

{Betula glandulosa X Pf^pyrifera; Betula xeastwoodiae Sarg.,

B, Xcomixta Sarg., B. occikentalis auth.), is the common hybrid

birch through interior Alaska, for

77
example, at Fairbanks. Often

found near treeline, where birch

trees below meet a band of resin

birch shrubs above. Large, spreading clump-forming shrub lO-J-2

ft. (3-8.7 m.) high, with many

stems 1 in. (2.5 cm.) in diameter,

sometimes becoming a small tree

15-20 ft. (4.5-6 m.) high and

3-6 in. (7.5-15 cm.) in diameter.

Leaves with slender petioles l^-

% in. (6-10 mm.) long. Leaf

blades elliptic to diamond-shaped,

1-11^ in. (2.5-3 cm.) long, %-

114 in. (2-3 cm.) wide, shortpointed or rounded at both ends,

with rounded teeth on edges, thick,

becoming hairless. Twigs often

densely covered with gland dots.

Bark reddish black, smooth and

not peeling. Fruits conelike % in.

(2 cm.) long. Alaska, Yukon Territory, and Alberta.

The hybrid between dwarf arctic birch and paper birch has been

named Home birch (Betula nana

X papyrifera; Betula y^hornei

Butler, B. Xbeeniana A. Neis.).

The tree parent in central Alaska

is Alaska paper birch and in

southern Alaska, Kenai birch.

ALDER (Alnus)

Alaska has 4 kinds of alders,

all of which reach tree size. They

are treated here as separate species, though 2 intergrade and have

been united as varieties of same

species. Alders are easily recognized by their smooth gray bark

with horizontal lines (lenticels)

and the clusters of 3-9 slenderstalked old dead, hard, blackish or

dark brown conelike elliptic fruits

generally present. Male flowers in

narrow catkins, 3 above a scale,

composed of 4 sepals and usually

4 stamens. Female catkins short,

about V2 in. (12 mm.) long; flowers 2 above a scale, composed of

ovary and 2 styles. Alder roots,

like those of legumes, often have

root nodules, swellings that fix

nitrogen from the air and enrich

the soil.

Key to the Alaska Species

A. Leaves dark green above, dull, not sticky when young, edges with

short-pointed teeth ; stalks shorter than conelike fruits ; nutlets with 2 narrow wings or none ; winter buds of 3 exposed

scales meeting at edges.

B. Leaves thick with edges curled under slightly, with rusty hairs

along veins beneath; conelike fruits I/2-I in. (12-25 mm.)

long; nutlets with 2 narrow wings

25. red alder (Almis rubra)

BB. Leaves thin with edges flat, finely hairy or nearly hairless beneath; conelike fruits %-% in. (10-15 mm.) long; nutlets

almost wingless 26. thinleaf alder {Alnus tenuifolia)

AA. Leaves yellow green above, shiny on both sides and especially beneath, sticky when young, edges with relatively long-pointed

teeth ; stalks about as long as conelike fruits ; nutlets with 2

broad wings ; winter buds of overlapping scales.

C. Leaves wavy lobed on edges; conelike fruits V2-% in. (12-20

mm. ) long ; shrub or small tree of southern and southeast

Alaska 24. Sitka alder (Alnus sinuata)

CC. Leaves not lobed on edges; conelike fruits %-% in. (10-15

mm.) long; shrub of interior Alaska, rarely a tree

- 24.L American green alder {Alnus crispa)

78
Figure 25.—Red alder (Alnus rubra) ^

natural size. Male and female catkins

at upper right.

79
24. SITKA ALDER

(Alnus sinuata (Reg.) Rydb.)

Other names: Alnus crispa

(Ait.) Pursh ssp. sinuata (Reg.)

Huit., A. fruticosa Rupr. var.

sinuata (Reg.) Huit., A. sitchensis

(Reg.) Sarg.

Deciduous shrub 5-15 ft. (1.5-

4.5 m.) high or a small tree to 30

ft, (9 m.) tall and 8 in. (20 cm.)

in trunk diameter. Leaf blades

ovate, 21/2-5 in. (6-12.5 cm.) long,

lVp-3 in. (4-7.5 cm.) wide, shortpointed, rounded at base, shallowly wavy lobed and doubly

toothed with long-pointed teeth of

2 sizes, sticky when young,

speckled yellow green and shiny

above, beneath lighter, shiny, and

hairless or nearly so; petioles

^2-% in. (12-20 mm.) long.

Twigs sticky, finely hairy, and

orange brown when young, becoming light gray. Winter buds

short-stalked to stalkless on

young twigs, to 14 in. (12 mm.)

long, of overlapping scales. Bark

gray to light gray, smooth and

thin.

Male flowers in narrow catkins

3-5 in. (7.5-12.5 cm.) long. Fruits

1/2-% in. (12-20 mm.) long, on

long slender spreading stalks

%-% in. (10-20 mm.) long, nutlets elliptic, with 2 broad wings.

Flowering in May-June.

Sitka alder often is a spreading

shrub, common to abundant, with

many stems, forming thickets in

marshes, along streams, on landslides, and in clearings, from sea

level to the alpine zone above the

timberline. It also becomes a small

tree, often with many trunks.

This pioneer species follows disturbances such as landslides, logging, or glacial retreat. It requires

mineral soil seedbed and develops

rapidly on moist sites but grows

on soils too sterile for other

trees. Sitka spruce often becomes

estaWished at the same time.

Alder acts as a nurse tree, improving soil conditions, and adding

organic matter and nitrogen. It

thrives with overhead light but is

intolerant of shade and disappears from the stand when overtopped by Sitka spruce. Being

smaller and hence more quickly

overtopped, Sitka alder is probably not such a serious competitor

as red alder on logged areas. The

wood produces good fuel and is

used for smoking fish.

Southeast and southern Alaska

along the Pacific coast. Throughout southeast Alaska northwest to

head of Lynn Canal at Skagway

and Yakutat Bay, west along

coast to Afognak and Kodiak

Islands, Alaska Peninsula, and

eastern Aleutian Islands. Also

local in western Alaska on Bering

Sea (Nushagak and Nome). South

Tongass, North Tongass, and Chugach National Forests, Glacier

Bay and Katmai National Monuments, Kenai National Moose

Range, Kodiak Island and Aleutian Islands National Wildlife

Refuges. Alaska and Yukon Territory southeast to southwestern

Alberta, western Montana, and

northern California. Also in northeastern Asia.

Intergrades with American

green alder (Alnus crispa (Ait.)

Pursh), especially northward in

interior, and often treated as a

variety or subspecies of that species. Sitka alder reaches larger

size than American green alder,

becoming a small tree, and has

mostly larger leaves with margins

wavy lobed as well as toothed, also

larger, longer stalked cones.

24.1. American green alder

(Alnus crispa (Ait.) Pursh. A

spreading deciduous shrub 3-13

ft. (1-4 m.) tall, near Fairbanks,

rarely a small tree to 20 ft. (6m,)

high and 4 in. (10 cm.) in trunk

80
Figure 26.—Thinleaf alder (Alnus tenuifoUa), natural size. Male and female catkins at upper right.

81
diameter. Leaf blades ovate or

broadly elliptic, mostly 11/2-3 in.

(4-7.5 cm.) long, 1-2 in, (2.5-5

cm.) wide, relatively thick, shortpointed, rounded or broadly

wedge-shaped at base, edges

sharply and finely toothed and not

lobed, slightly sticky resinous,

shiny yellow green above, and

tufts of whitish hairs in vein

angles beneath, Male flowers in

narrow catkins %-3 in. (2-7,5

cm.) long. Fruits conelike, %-%

in. (10-15 mm.) long, on slender

stalks of 1^-1/2 in. (6-12 mm.).

Common and widely distributed in

interior of central and northern

Alaska. Also Yukon Territory

across Canada to Labrador, Newfoundland, and Greenland, south

to North Carolina, Michigan, and

Oregon and across northern Asia.

Intergrades with Sitka alder

(Alnus sinuata (Reg.) Rydb.),

which has been treated also as a

variety or subspecies.

25. RED ALDER

(Alnus rubra Bong.)

Other names: western alder;

Alnus oregona Nutt.

Small to medium-sized deciduous tree 20-40 ft. (6-12 m.) tall,

with straight trunk 4-16 in. (10-

40 cm.) in diameter. Leaf blades

ovate or elliptic, 3-5 in (7.5-12.5

cm.) long, l%-3 in. (4.5-7.5 cm.)

wide, short-pointed at both ends,

shallow wavy lobed and doubly

toothed with both large and small

teeth, thick, edges curled under

slightly, dark green and nearly

hairless above, beneath pale with

rusty hairs along veins; petioles

i/4-% in, (6-20 mm.) long. Twigs

hairy when young, becoming dark

red with light dots. Winter buds

stalked, to % in. (1 cm.) long,

dark red. Bark gray, splotched

with white, smooth or becoming

slightly scaly, thin. Wood nearly

white when freshly cut, soon turning to light reddish brown, finetextured, moderately lightweight,

soft.

Male flowers in narrow catkins

3-6 in. (7.5-15 cm.) long. Fruits

on short stalks i/4-^/i in. (6-12

mm.) conelike, V2-I in. (12-25

mm.) long; nutlets elliptic, with

2 narrow wings. Flowering in

April-May.

Red alder is common throughout southeast Alaska on stream

bottoms with rich, rocky, moist

soils and along beaches where

creeks enter the sea. On landslides

it forms almost impenetrable

thickets, often with Sitka alder.

Red alder is a pioneer species

on mineral soil, thriving on moist

sites. It is common below 1,000

feet elevation and absent at higher elevations, where Sitka alder is

frequent. Being larger, red alder

is more competitive and requires

more time for overtopping. Both

species come in along roadsides

and where ground is disturbed

after logging. They are a problem

in road maintenance, requiring

continual clearing of shoulders

and side slopes. Seeds of both species are produced within five years

and being tiny are blown great

distances.

Of little economic importance in

Alaska at present, red alder is the

leading hardwood southward in

the Pacific Northwest, where it is

a larger tree and is made into

furniture. The wood is used also

in smoking meat and fish and for

wood carving.

Throughout southeast Alaska

northwest to Yakutat Bay. South

Tongass and North Tongass National Forests, Glacier Bay National Monument. Pacific coast region from southeast Alaska southeast to southern California; also

locally east to northern Idaho.

82
26. THINLEAF ALDER

(Alnus tenuifolia Nutt.)

Other names: Alrnts incarna

(L.) Moench ssp. tenufolia (Nutt.)

Breitung, A, incana ssp. rugosa

var. occidentalis (Dippel) C. L.

Hitchc.

Deciduous large shrub or small

tree 15-30 ft. (4.5-9 m.) high,

commonly forming clumps with

trunks to 8 in, (20 cm.) in diameter. Leaf blades ovate or elliptic.

Figure 27.—Oregon crab apple (Malus

diversifolia) ^ natural size. Winter

twigs at right.

83
2-6 in. (5-15 cm.) long, I14-21/2

in. (3-6 cm.) wide, short-pointed,

rounded at base, shallowly wavy

lobed and doubly toothed with

both large and small teeth, thin,

dark green and becoming hairless

above, beneath pale green and

hairy or nearly hairless; petioles

1/4-1 in. (6-25 mm.) long. Twigs

reddish and hairy when young,

becoming gray. Bark gray to dark

gray, smooth, becominof reddish

gray, thin and scaly. Wood light

brown.

Male flowers in narrow catkins

11/2-3 in. (4-7.5 cm.) long. Fruits

on short stalks less than i/4 in. (6

mm.) long, conelike %-% in. (1-

1.5 cm.) long; nutlets elliptic, almost wingless. Flowering in MayJune.

Large trunks have been cut for

poles. The wood is used for smoking salmon. Thinleaf alder with

the larger willows commonly

forms thickets along streams in

central and southern Alaska. Interior Alaska from Yukon River

Valley south to base of Alaska

Peninsula at Katmai, Kenai Peninsula, and Copper River Valley.

Also north end of southeast

Alaska from vicinity of Juneau to

Glacier Bay. North Tongass and

Chugach National Forests. Glacier

Bay and Katmai National Monuments. Alaska and Yukon Territory southeast to southwestern

Saskatchewan and south in mountains to New Mexico and California.

By some authors this alder of

western North America is treated

as a variety or subspecies of European speckled alder (Alnus incana

(L.) Moench), of Eurasia. It is

closely related also to speckled

alder {A. rugosa (Du Roi)

Spreng.), of eastern Canada and

Northeastern United States,

which also has been united with

the Old World species.

ROSE FAMILY

(Rosaceae)

The rose family (Rosaceae) is

well represented in Alaska by 22

species and 10 genera of woody

plants among the State's 65 native

species. Distinguishing characters

are as follows: (1) leaves alternate, simple or pinnately or palmately compound, with paired stipules; (2) flowers regular, often

large and showy or small and

many, with cuplike base, 5 sepals

mostly persistent, 5 petals mostly

wählte or less commonly pink, purple, or yellow, many stamens, and

usually 1 pistil with 2-5—celled

ovary (often inferior) and 2-5

styles (sometimes many simple

pistils) ; and (3) fruit variable,

like an apple (pome) or plum

(drupe), aggregate of many 1-

seeded fruits (*'berry''), or many

separate fruits. Numerous wild

and cultivated fruits and ornamental plants belong to this family. Several native genera produce

fruits edible to mankind as well as

wildlife, for example, serviceberry

(Amelanchier)f crab apple (Malus), raspberry (Rtibus), and

strawberry (Fragaria). Others,

such as mountain-ash (Sorbtis)^

mountain-avens (Dr|/a5), and spirea (Spiraea) are ornamentals.

Rose (Rosa) is both ornamental

and edible, rose hips being a good

source of vitamin C.

Four native species of the rose

family and another naturalized

species become small trees in

Alaska. All belong to the apple

sub-family and have juicy or

mealy fruits resembling small

apples. These species are western

serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia), Oregon crab apple (Malus

diversifolia), Greene mountainash (Sorbus scopulina), Sitka

mountain-ash (Sorbus sitchensis),

and the naturalized European

mountain-ash (Sorbusaticuparia),

84
Figure 28.—Greene mountain-ash (Sorbus scopulina)^ one-half natural size.

Winter twig at right.

27. OREGON CRAB APPLE

(Malus diversifolia (Bong.)

Roein,)

Other names : western crab apple, wild crab apple, Malus fusca

(Raf.) Schneid., M. rivularis

(Dougl.) Roem., Pyrus diversifolia Bong., Pyrus fusca Raf.

Deciduous small tree to 25 ft.

(7.5 m.) high, with usually several

trunks to 5 in, (12.5 cm.) in diameter, much branched, or a

shrub forming thickets. Leaves

with slender petioles 1-2 in. (2.5-

5 cm.) long, ovate, elliptic, or

lance-shaped, 11/2-4 in. (4-10

cm.) long, short-pointed, sharply

toothed and sometimes slightly

3-lobed toward apex, shiny green

and becoming hairless above, beneath pale and usually slightly

hairy. Twigs hairy when young,

becoming red and shiny and later

brown or gray, the side twigs or

spurs short and spinelike. Winter

buds very small, 14g in. (1.5 mm.)

long, rounded, brown, composed of

many scales. Bark gray, smooth

to slightly scaly, thin. Wood light

brown, heavy, hard, fine-textured.

Flower clusters (cymes) with

slender stalks bearing several to

m.any flowers % in (2 cm.) broad,

composed of 5 pointed hairy

sepals, 5 rounded white or pink

petals, 20 stamens, and pistil with

inferior 2-4-celled ovary and 2-4

styles. Fruit oblong, like a small

apple (pome), 1/2-% in. (12-20

mm.) long, yellow or red, with thin

sour flesh and 2-4 papery lined

85
cells, each with 1 or 2 large seeds.

Flowering in June, fruit maturing

August-October.

Where the trees are sufficiently

large, the wood is suitable for tool

handles. It is also used for smoking salmon but less commonly

than alder wood. The crab apples

were eaten by the Indians and are

used in jellies and preserves.

Commonly a shrub forming

thickets or a slow-growing small

tree scattered to plentiful on

beach meadow and muskeg

fringes, river bottoms, low slopes,

and heavy wet soils along the

Pacific coast of southeast and

southern Alaska. From southern

end north to Haines and Skagway

at Lynn Canal, also at Yakutat

and from Prince William Sound

southwest to end of Kenai Peninsula. South Tongass, North Tongass, and Chugach National Forests. Alaska and southward nea^'

coast to Washington, Oregon, and

northwestern California.

MOUNTAIN-ASH (Sorbus)

Deciduous shrubs and small

trees with stout twigs and large

buds with overlapping scales.

Leaves alternate, with paired

stipules attached to petiole, pinnate with 7-17 toothed leaflets

paired except at end. Flower clusters (corymbs) terminal, much

branched, showy. Flowers many,

small, white, composed of calyx

of 5 triangle persistent sepals, 5

white mostly rounded petals, 15-

20 stamens, and pistil with inferior 2-5-celled ovary, 2 ovules

in each cell, and 2-5 styles. Fruits

like a small red apple (pome) with

calyx at apex, 2-4 celled with

1-2 flattened seeds in each cell.

Alaska has 3 native species, 2 of

which become small trees, and 1

introduced and naturahzed tree

species.

Key to the Alaska Tree Species

Leaflets mostly 11-15, oblong, short-pointed, edges toothed nearly to

base.

Leaflets becoming hairless; shrub or rarely small tree

28. Greene mountain-ash (Sorbus scopiiUna)

Leaflets white-hairy beneath; naturalized tree

28.1. European mountain-ash (Sorbus aucuparia)

Leaflets mostly 9 or 11, elliptic, rounded or short-pointed at apex,

edges not toothed in lowest third ^ _

. 29. Sitka mountain-ash (Sorbits sitchensis)

28. GREENE

MOUNTAIN-ASH

(Sorbus scopulina Greene)

Other names: western mountain-ash; Sorbus alaskana G. N.

Jones not Hollick, S, andersonii

G. N. Jones, Pyrus scopulina

(Greene) Longyear.

Deciduous shrub 3-lS ft. (1-4

m.) high, rarely becoming a small

tree to 20 ft. (6 m.) high and 4 in.

(10 cm.) d.b.h. Leaves pinnate,

4-9 in. (10-23 cm.) long, with

paired, very narrow hairless

stipules 1/4-% in. (6-10 mm.)

long. Leaflets 11-15, stalkless, oblong-lanceolate, 11/4-21/2 in. (3-6

cm.) long and %-% in. (1-2 cm.)

wide, unequal and rounded at

base, short- or long-pointed at

apex, edges sharply toothed almost to base, becoming hairless,

86
Figure 28.1.—^European mountain-ash

(Sorbus aucuparia), one-half natural

size. Fruits at upper left; winter twigs

at right.

above shiny dark green, beneath

slightly paler. Twigs with whitish

hairs when young, with scattered

elliptic dots (lenticels). Buds

conical, dark reddish brown, inner

scales with whitish hairs. Bark

gray, smooth.

Flower clusters (corymes) terminal, rounded, 11/4-3 in. (3--7.5

cm.) broad, bearing on whitish

hairy stalks many fragrant flowers % in. (1 cm.) across, composed of 5 minute triangular

sepals, 5 elliptic petals %ß in. (5

mm.) long, many stamens, and

pistil with inferior hairy 3-4-

celled ovary and 3-4 styles. Fruits

fewer than 25, like a small apple

(pome), round, less than % in. (10

mm.) in diameter, bright shiny

red, bitter, with few elliptic brown

seeds more than l^ in. (3 mm.)

long, persistent in winter. Flowering June-July, fruiting in July,

1

Openings and clearings in forests. Central interior Alaska from

central Yukon River and Bering

Sea south to Katmai, southern,

and southeast Alaska. South Tongass, North Tongass, and Chugach

National Forests, Katmai National Monument. Alaska and

British Columbia southeast to

Alberta, South Dakota, New Mexico, and California.

This shrubby species was observed at Haines as a small tree

20 ft. (6m.) high and can be

added to Alaska's Hst of trees.

87
28.1. EUROPEAN

MOUNTAIN-ASH

(Sorbus auciiparia L.)

Other name : Rowan-tree.

Deciduous small to medium tree

planted as an ornamental in

southeast Alaska and sparingly

naturalized, 20-40 ft. (6-12 m.)

tall and 1 ft. (30 cm.) in trunk diameter, with symmetrical rounded

crown. Leaves pinnate, 4-8 in.

(10-20 cm.) long, with paired 3-

angled stipules. Leaflets 9-17, oblong or lance-shaped, 1-2 in. (2.5-

5 cm.) long, short-pointed, with

edges coarsely toothed except

near unequal rounded base, dull

green and becoming hairless

above, pale and white-hairy beneath. Young twigs and winter

buds densely white-hairy or

woolly, winter buds conical, ¥i6-%

in. (5-10 mm,) long. Bark dark

gray, smooth, with horizontal

lines (lenticels), aromatic.

Flower clusters (corymbs) terminal rounded, 4-6 in. (10-15

cm.) across, bearing 75-100 flowers on densely white-hairy stalks.

Flowers % in. (10 mm.) across,

composed of 5 triangular whitehairy sepals, 5 white rounded

petals %6 in. (4 mm.) long, many

stamens, and pistil with inferior

hairy ovary and 3-4 styles. Fruits

many, like a small apple (pome),

round, % in. (10 mm.) in diameter, bright red; seeds elliptic,

light brown, %ß in. (4 mm.) long.

Fruits maturing in August-September.

Planted as an ornamental tree

at Wrangell, Ketchikan, Craig,

Sitka, Juneau, and other towns

along the coast of southeast

Alaska, where it spreads rapidly

from cultivation. Sparingly naturalized along roads and forming

thickets. The fruits persist into

late fall and early winter and provide food for birds, such as crossbills, grosbeaks, and cedar waxwings, which probably spread the

seeds. Numerous crows can be

seen eating the fruits in trees of

southeastern towns also.

Not a true ash, European mountain-ash is the only introduced or

exotic tree to become established

in Alaska and grow as if wild. Its

speciñc name, meaning to catch

birds, refers to the use of the

mucilaginous fruits by fowlers in

making birdlime.

Naturalized in southeast Alaska. Native of Europe and Asia but

widely planted and naturalized

in many places across Canada

and northern contiguous United

States.

29. SITKA MOUNTAIN-ASH

{Sorbus sitchensis Roem.)

Other names: western mountain-ash. Pacific mountain-ash.

Deciduous shrub 4-8 ft. (1.2-

2.5 m.) high, or a small tree to

15-20 ft. (4.5-6 m.) high and 6

in. (15 cm.) in trunk diameter,

with handsome, round-topped

head. In rocky alpine situations at

higher altitudes it is a low shrub

often only 1-2 ft. (30-61 cm.)

high. Leaves pinnate, 4-8 in. (10-

20 cm.) long, with paired narrow

rusty-hairy stipules. Leaflets usually 9 or 11 (sometimes 7 to 13),

elliptic or oblong, li/â-21/2 in. (3-6

cm.) long, rounded or bluntpointed at apex, with edges

coarsely and sharply toothed

above the middle, dull blue green

and hairless above, pale and hairless or nearly so beneath. Twigs

stout, rusty hairy when young,

becoming gray, with few elhptic

dots (lenticels), with odor and bitter taste of cherry. Buds oblong,

to 1/2 in. (12 mm.) long, dull reddish brown, densely rusty hairy.

Bark gray, smooth. Wood pale

brown, lightweight, fine-textured.

Flower clusters (corymbs) terminal, rounded, 2-4 in. (5-10 cm.)

88
Figure 29.—Sîlka mountain-ash (Sorbus sitchensîs') ^ one-half natural size.

Fruitg at upper left; winter twig at

upper right.

across, bearing 15-60 flowers on

rusty-hairy stalks. Flowers small,

% in. (6 mm.) across fragrant,

composed of 5 broadly triangular

hairless sepals, 5 white rounded

petals 14 in. (5 mm.) long, many

stamens, and pistil with inferior

hairy ovary and 3-4 styles. Fruits

several to many, like a small apple

(pome), round, %-i/2 in. (10-12

mm.) in diameter, red but becoming orange and purple, with few

elliptic brown seeds % in. (3 mm.)

long. Flowering June-August,

fruits maturing in August-September.

Uncommon to rare in forests

from sea level to timberline, Pacific coast of southeast and southern Alaska. Throughout southeast

Alaska from Ketchikan and Hyder

north to head of Lynn Canal at

Skagway, west along coast to

Glacier Bay, Yakutat, Prince Wil-

-' \

r^ \

gtíÍ^rWH^.

3^S?

¿f^^^Ô^

^ ^-^:r'"!^^.

liam Sound, Cook Inlet, Katmai

Region at base of Alaska Peninsula, and Afognak and Kodiak

Islands. South Tongass, North

Tongass, and Chugach National

Forests. Glacier Bay and Katmai

National Monuments. Kenai National Moose Range. Alaska southeast along coast to southern

British Columbia and in mountains to Washington, central Californa, Nevada, and northwestern

Montana. Reported from Yukon.

Often cultivated as an ornamental north to Anchorage but

with less regular form than European mountain-ash. Birds eat the

fruits. Sitka mountain-ash is

named for Sitka, Alaska, where it

was discovered. Hybrids with

Greene mountain-ash (Sorbits

scopulina Greene) are reported.

89
30. WESTERN

SERVICEBERRY

(Amelanchier alnifolia

(Nutte) Nutt.)

Other names: saskatoon serviceberry, northwestern serviceberry, Pacific serviceberry ; Amelanchier florida Lindl.

Figure 30.—^Western serviceberry (^Amelanchier alnifolia)^ one-half natural

size. Winter twig at left.

Deciduous shrub or small tree

to 16 ft. (5 m.) high and 5 in.

(12.5 cm.) in trunk diameter.

Leaves elliptic or nearly round,

" -2 in. (2-5 cm.) long, %-lVé

in. (1.5-3 cm.) wide, rounded at

both ends with teeth toward apex,

above dark green and hairless or

nearly so, and beneath paler and

often hairy when young, petioles

slender, %-l in. (1-2.5 cm.) long.

Young twigs reddish brown, becoming hairless. Winter buds narrow, purpHsh, of several scales.

Bark gray or brown, thin, smooth

or slightly fissured. Wood light

brown, heavy, hard, fine-textured.

90
Flower clusters (racemes) 11/4-

21/2 in. (3-6 cm.) long, terminal,

appearing with or before the

leaves. Flowers 5-15, fragrant,

1/2-I in. (1.2-2.5 cm.) wide, composed of cal3^x of 5 narrow lobes,

often densely woolly when young,

5 white oblong petals ^/g.s/g in.

(1-1.5 cm.) long, about 20 short

stamens, and pistil with inferior

hairy 5-celled ovary and 5 styles.

Fruit like an apple (pome)

Figure 31.—Douglas maple (Acer glabrum var. douglasii)^ one-half natural size. Winter twigs at left.

rounded, %-% in. (1-1.5 cm.) in

diameter, purple or nearly black

and covered with a bloom, with

calyx at apex, sweet, juicy, and

edible, with several elliptic flattened brown seeds about %6 in.

(5 mm.) long. Flowering JuneJuly, fruiting July-September.

The fruits are eaten fresh or

prepared in puddings, pies, and

muffins. The dried berries are used

like raisins and currants. Birds

are fond of the fruits. Listed as

suitable for ornamental planting

for the white flowers and attractive fruits, spreading freely and

forming thickets.

Uncommon in forests and openings, Paciñc coast of southeast

and southern Alaska in four separate areas: Extreme southeast91
ern Alaska north to Wrangell;

from Taku River to Haines and

Skagway at head of Lynn Canal ;

Kenai Peninsula and Cook Inlet

area; and base of Alaska Peninsula to Wood River Lakes area

north of Dillingham. Northward

in interior along Chitina and Copper Rivers, also along Tanana and

central Yukon Rivers as far west

as Galena- South Tongass, North

Tongass, and Chugach National

Forests, Katmai National Monument, Kenai National Moose

Range. Alaska and Yukon Territory east to western Ontario and

Minnesota, south to Iowa, Colorado, and northwestern California.

The serviceberries of Alaska

are perhaps best treated as belonging to a single species, though

2 were distinguished in some references including **Alaska Trees

and Shrubs."

MAPLE FAMILY

(Aceraceae)

The maple family composed of

deciduous trees is represented in

Alaska by Douglas maple in the

southeast part. Maples have the

following characteristics for recognition: (1) leaves paired (opposite), long-stalked, broad, 3-

lobed or 5-lobed and toothed; (2)

flowers male and female on the

same or different trees, small, in

clusters appearing with the leaves ;

and (3) fruits, distinctive paired

winged, 1-seeded keys. In winter

the paired (opposite) U-shaped

leaf-scars aid in recognition.

31. DOUGLAS MAPLE

(Acer glabrum Torr. var.

douglasii (Hook.) Dipp.)

Other names: dwarf maple,

Douglas Rocky Mountain maple;

Acer glabrum ssp. douglasii

(Hook.) Wesmael, A. douglasii

Hook.; variety of Rocky Mountain maple, A. glabrum Torr.

Deciduous small tree of southeast Alaska becoming 20-30 ft.

(6-9 m.) tall and 6-12 in. (15-30

cm.) in trunk diameter but often

a several-stemmed shrub 4-6 ft.

(1.2-1.8 m.) high. Leaves paired

(opposite), ovate, 2-4 in. (5-10

cm.) long and broad, slightly

heart-shaped at base, shallowly

3-lobed with the lobes longpointed, deeply, sharply, and irregularly or doubly toothed, hairless, shiny dark green above, pale

beneath with yellowish veins,

Petioles IV2-4 in. (4-10 cm.) long,

slender, reddish tinged. Twigs

paired (opposite), reddish, hairless, with U-shaped leaf scars.

Winter buds short-pointed Vs~Vé

in. (3-6 mm.) long, dark red, the

side buds paired (opposite). Bark

gray, smooth. Wood light brown,

heavy, hard, fine-textured.

Flower clusters (corymbs) terminal, appearing with the leaves,

with several flowers on slender

spreading or drooping stalks.

Flowers mostly male and female

on different trees (dioecious),

about YQ in. (3 mm.) long, composed of 4 narrow yellow green

sepals as long as the narrow yellow green petals, 7-8 stamens, and

in female flowers very short stamens and pistil with 2-celled ovary

and 2 styles. Fruit of paired,

winged, 1-seeded keys (samaras)

%-l in. (2-2.5 cm.) long, usually

red until shed, then turning to

light brown. Flowering in May,

fruit maturing July-August.

Common along shores in southeast Alaska, sometimes fringing

tidal meadows or bogs. Occasional

in rich moist soils on forested

slopes. The trees are seldom large

enough for commercial purposes.

Southeast Alaska, common

along the coast north to the head

of Lynn Canal at Skagway. South

Tongass and North Tongass National Forests, Southeast Alaska,

southeast to western and southern

British Columbia, southern Al92
berta, western Montana, and

northwestern Wyoming, and west

to Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. Rocky Mountain maple (Acer

glabrum Torr., including this and

other varieties) extends southward to northwestern Nebraska

and in mountains to southern New

Mexico and southern California.

Douglas maple is the only member of the maple family (Aceraceae) native in Alaska. Named for

its discoverer, David Douglas

(1798-1834), Scotch botanical explorer.

Figure 32.—Pacific red elder (Sambucus callicarpa)^ one-half natural size.

Winter twig at right.

HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY

(Caprifoliaceae )

Deciduous or evergreen shrubs,

sometimes small trees, woody

vines, and herbs. Leaves opposite,

simple or pinnately compound,

without stipules (present in

Sambucus). Flowers mostly small,

regular or irregular, composed of

calyx of 4-5 teeth, tubular corolla

with 4-5 lobes, 4-5 stamens inserted on tube and alternate with

lobes, and pistil with inferior

ovary of 2-5 cells and usually 1

ovule in each and 1 style or none.

Fruit mostly a berry or berrylike

drupe. Five genera in Alaska, each

with a single native species.

32. PACIFIC RED ELDER

(Sambucus callicarpa

Greene)

Other names ; scarlet elder, red93
berry elder, stinking elder, elderberry ; Sambticiis racemosa L. var.

arborescens (Torr. & Gray) Gray.

Deciduous clump-forming shrub

6-12 ft. (2-3.5 m.) high, sometimes large and treelike, with several stems to 2-4 in. (5-10 cm.)

d.b.h., rarely a small tree to 20 ft.

(6 m.) high and 5 in. (12.5 cm.)

d.b.h. Leaves opposite, compound,

pinnate, 5-10 in. (12.5-25 cm.)

long, with small narrow stipules

about Va in. (3 mm.) long soon

shedding and leaving ring scar on

twig, with unpleasant odor, Leaflets 5 or 7, paired except at end,

short-stalked. Blades lanceolate or

elliptic, 2-5 in (5-12.5 cm.) long

and 1-2 in. (2.5-5 cm.) wide, longpointed at apex and short-pointed

and often unequal at base, finely

and sharply toothed on edges,

thin, above green and nearly hairless, beneath paler and hairy.

Twigs stout, finely hairy when

young, gray, with raised brown

dots (lenticels), with rings at

nodes. Buds paired, large, eggshaped, lA-i/s in. (6-12 mm.)

long, gray, covered by several

slightly hairy overlapping scales

often persistent around twig.

Bark light to dark gray or brown,

smoothish, becoming cracked or

furrowed into small scaly or

shaggy plates. Pith thick, whitish on youngest twigs, becoming

deep yellow-orange or brown.

Wood soft, whitish.

Flower clusters (compound

cymes) terminal, erect, longer

than broad, 2-4 in. (5-10 cm.)

long and IV2-2 in. (4-5 cm.) wide,

with many small whitish flowers

with unpleasant odor, turning

brown on drying. Flower composed of minute 5-toothed calyx,

white spreading 5-lobed corolla

%6-% in. (5-6 m.m.) across, 5

stamens inserted at base of corolla

and alternate with lobes, and pistil

with inferior 3-celled ovary with

1 ovule in each cell, short style,

and 3 stigmas. Fruit many berrylike drupes about %ß in. (5 mm.)

in diameter with calyx persistent

at apex, bright red or scarlet,

sometimes orange, containing 3

1-seeded poisonous nutlets. Flowering May-July, fruit maturing

July-August.

Elders are easily detected by a

strong odor when leaves or stems

are crushed. The red fruits ai"e

classed as not edible, at least when

raw, but are sometimes made into

wine. They are eaten by some

birds, especially robins and

thrushes. The "seeds'' (nutlets)

are reported to be poisonous,

causing diarrhea and vomiting.

Plants can be grown as ornamentals but in the interior only in

moist situations.

Common locally in moist soil,

especially open areas and recently

cutover land in coastal forests.

Unimak Island in Aleutians, and

Pacific coast regions of southwestern, southern, and southeast

Alaska. Chugach, North Tongass,

and South Tongass National Forests, Katmai and Glacier Bay National Monuments, Kenai National

Moose Range, Kodiak and Aleutian Islands National Wildlife

Refuges. Pacific coast region from

southwest Alaska southeast to

western Oregon and mountains of

central and southern California.

This elder is added here to the

list of native trees in Alaska,

rarely reaching the minimum size.

Small trees were observed to 20

ft. in height and 5 in. in trunk

diameter at Meyers Chuck on

Cleveland Peninsula northwest of

Ketchikan. Southward in the

Pacific States heights of 25-30 ft.

and trunk diameters to 1 ft. have

been recorded.

The plants of northwestern

North America from Alaska to

California have been treated also

as a variety of European red elder

(S. racemosa L.)

94
SELECTED REFERENCES

Additional information about the trees of Alaska, also the forests

and other vegetation, is available in many articles and books. Selected

references are listed here and in **Alaska Trees and Shrubs" (Viereck

and Little 1972). Comprehensive bibliographies on Alaska plants have

been prepared by Hultén (1941-50, 1967, 1968).

Anderson, H. E.

1953. Range of western redcedar (Thuja plicata) in

Alaska. USDA Forest Serv.

Alaska Forest Ees. Cent.

Tech. Note 22, 1 p. and

map.

Anderson, H. E.

1959, Silvical characteristics of

Alaska-cedar ( Chamaecyparis nootkatensis), USDA Forest Serv. Alaska Forest Res.

Cent. Stn. Pap. 11, 10 p.

Anderson, J. P.

1959. Flora of Alaska and adjacent parts of Canada.

543 p. Ames, Iowa: Iowa

State Univ. Press.

Anderson, James R.

1925. Trees and shrubs, food,

medicinal, and poisonous

plants of British Columbia.

165 p. Victoria, B.C.

Argus, George W.

1965. The taxonomy of the

Salix glauca complex in

North America. Contrib.

Gray Herb. Harv. Univ. 196,

142 p.

Argus, George W.

1969. New combinations in the

Salix of Alaska and Yukon.

Can. J. Bot. 47: 795-801.

Argus, George W.

1973. The genus Salix in

Alaska and the Yukon. Nati.

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279 p.

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96
INDEX OF COMMON AND SCIENTIFIC NAMES

The preferred common names adopted in headings and the page

numbers where the descriptions begin are in heavy (boldface) type.

Other common names appear in ordinary (roman) type. English common names are indexed under the last word.

Scientific names accepted in headings are shown in heavy (boldface)

italics, and the page numbers where the descriptions begin are in

heavy (boldface) type. Other scientific names, including synonyms,

are in italics, Family names, common and scientific, are shown in capitals. Scientific names of varieties and subspecies, with few exceptions,

are not indexed.

Abies, 23, 37

Abies amabilis, 8, 88

Abies lasiocarpa^ 8, 39

Acer douglasii, 92

Acer glahrum, 92

Acer glabrum var. douglasii, 92

ACERACEAE, 92

Alaska-cedar, 6, 10, 12, 40,

44

alder, 6, 7, 12, 13, 78

alder, American green, 80

alder, European speckled,

84

alder, red, 10, 82

alder, Sitka, 80

alder, speckled, 84

alder, thinieaf, 83

alder, western, 82

Alnus, 6, 7, 78

Alnus crispa, 80

Alnus crispa ssp. sinuata^

80

Alnus fruticosa var. sinuata, 80

Alnus incana, 83

Alnus incana ssp. rugosa,

83, 84

Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia, 83

Alnus oregona, 82

Alnus rubra, 82

Alnus rugosa, 84

Alnus sinuata, 80

Alnus sitchensis, 80

Alnus tenuifolia, 83

Amelanchier alnifolia, 90

Amelanchier florida, 90

apple, Oregon crab, 85

apple, western crab, 85

apple, wild crab, 85

arborvitae, 41

arborvitae, giant, 41

aspen, 6, 11, 45

aspen, American, 50

aspen, quaking, 7, 11, 50

aspen, trembling, 50

Betula, 70

Betula alaskana, 74

Betula xbeeniana, 78

Betula Xcommixta, 77

Betula Xeastwoodiae, 77

Betula glandulosa, 70, 77

Betula xhomei, 78

Betula hybrids, 76

Betula kamtschatica var.

kenaica, 76

Betula kenaica, 76

Betula nana, 70, 78

Betula neoalaskana, 74

Betula occidentalis, 73, 77

Betula papyrifera 7, 70,

77, 78

Betula papyrifera var.

commutata, 8, 73

Betula papyrifera var. /íMmilis, 74

Betula papyrifera var, kenaica, 7, 76

Betula resinífera, 74

BETULACEAE, 68

birch, il, 13, 70

birch, Alaska, 74

birch, Alaska paper, 74

birch, Alaska white, 74

birch, black, 76

birch, canoe, 70, 74

birch, dwarf arctic, 70, 78

birch. Home, 78

birch, hybrid, 76

birch, Kenai, 7, 76

birch, Kenai paper, 76

birch, paper, 7, 10, 11, 70,

73, 74, 77, 78

birch, red, 76

birch, resin, 12, 13, 70, 77

birch, western paper, 8, 73

birch, white, 70, 74

birch, Yukon, 77

BIRCH FAMILY, 68

CAPRIPOLIACEAE, 93

cedar, canoe, 41

Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, 6, 40, 44

coltonwood, 6, 10, 45, 48

cottonwood, Î3alsam, 48

coltonwood, black, 6, 7, 10,

12, 48

cottonwood, northern

black, 48

CUPBESSACEAE, 40

cypress, Alaska, 44

cypress, Sitka, 44

cypress, yellow, 44

CYPRESS FAMILY, 40

Douglas-fir, 10, 37

elder, European red, 94

elder, Pacific red, 93

elder, redberry, 93

elder, scarlet, 93

elder, stinking, 94

elderberry, 94

false-cypress, Nootka, 44

fir, 23, 37

fir, alpine, 39

fir, Pacific silver, 8, 10, 38

fir, silver, 38

fir, subalpine, 8, 10, 39

fir, white, 38, 39

hackmatack, 26

hemlock, 10, 23, 34

hemlock, alpine, 36

hemlock, black, 36

hemlock, mountain, 6, 10,

36

hemlock. Pacific, 34

hemlock, west coast, 34

hemlock, western, 6, 10,

12, 34

HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY, 93

juniper, 40

juniper, common, 40

juniper, creeping, 40

Juniperus, 40

Juniperus communis, 40

Juniperus horizontalis, 40

larch, 22

larch, Alaska, 26

larch, eastern, 26

Larix, 22

Larix alaskensis, 26

Larix laricina, 7, 26

Malus diversifolia, 85

97
Malus fusca, 85

Malus iñvulariSj 85

mapAe, Douglas, 92

maplej Douglas Rocky

Mountain, 92

maple, dwarf, 92

maple, Rocky Mountain,

92

MAPLE FAMILY, 92

xnouniain-ash, 36

znountain-ash, European,

88

mountain-ash, Greene, 86

mountain-ash, Pacific, 88

mountain-ash, Sitka, 88

mountain-ash, western, 86,

88

Picea, 6, 22, 27

Picea glauca, 7, 29

Picea glauca var. albertiana, 29

Picea glauca var, porsildiij

29

Picea xlutziiy 34

Picea mariana, 7, 28

Picea sitchensis, 6, 7, 31

PINACEAE, 6, 21

pine, 6, 22

pine, iodgepole, 7, 8, 10,

23, 24, 26

pine, Rocky Mountain

Iodgepole, 26

pine, scrub, 23, 24

pine, shore, 10, 12, 24

pine, tamarack, 23, 24

PINE FAMILY, 21

Pinus, 22

Pinus contorta, 7, 23

Pinus contorta var. coU'

torta, 24

Pinus contorta var. iati-

/oiiö, 8, 26

poplar, 6, 45

poplar, balsam, 7, 11, 12,

45

poplar, Pacific, 48

poplar, tacamahac, 45

popple, 50

Populus, 6, 45

Populus balsamifera, 7, 45

Populus balsamifera var.

californicay 48

Populus balsamifera ssp.

trichocarpa, 48

Populus tacamahaca, 45

Populus tremuloides, 7, 50

Populus trichocarpa, 6, 7,

Pseudotsuga menziesiif 37

Pseudotsuga taxifolia, 37

Pyrus diversifoUay 85

Pyrus fuscaf 85

Pyrus scopulina, 86

redcedar, Pacific, 41

redcedar, western, 6, 10,

40, 41

ROSACEAE, 84

ROSE FAMILY 84

Rowan-tree, 88

SALICACEAE, 6, 44

Salix, 6, 7, 14, 52

Salix, alaxensis, 56

íSaíia; amplifolia, 7, 56

SafiÄ arbusculoides, 64

SaiiJc barclayi, 66

SaÜAc bebbiana, 7, 58

5a¿ía; coulteri, 62

SaKa; depressa ssp. rostrata, 58

Saïi^t, glauca, 66

Salix hookeriana, 8, 56

SOIíA: lanata ssp. ricJiardsonii, 66

Salix lasiandra, 65

iSaZia; longistyliSf 56

Salix novae-angliae, 66

Saiijc planifúlia ssp.

pulchra, 68

iSafe rostrata, 58

SOIíA; scouleriana, 61

Sollet; sitchensis, 62

Sambucus callicarpa, 93

Sambucus racemosay 94

Sambucus racemosa var.

arborescens, 94

serviceberry, northwestern, 90

serviceberry. Pacific, 90

serviceberry, saskatoon, 90

serviceberry, western, 90

shinglewood, 41

Sorbus, 86

Sorbus alaskana,^ 86

Sorbus andersoniif 86

Sorbus aucuparia, 88

Sorbus scopulina, 84

Sorbus sitchensis, 88

spruce, 6, 11, 12, 27

spruce, Alberta, 29

spruce, black, 7, 11, 12, 28

spruce, bog, 28

spruce, Canadian, 29

spruce, coast, 31

spruce, Lutz, 34

spruce, Porsild, 29

spruce, silver, 31

spruce, Sitka, 6, 7, 10, 31

spruce, swamp, 28

spruce, tideland, 31

spruce, western, 31

spruce, western white, 29

spruce, white, 7, 10, 11, 12,

29

spruce, yellow, 31

squaws-tongue, 50

tacamahac, 45

tamarack, 7, 12, 26

TAXACEAE, 20

Taxus brevifolia, 8, 20

Thuja plicata, 6, 40, 41

Tsuga, 23, 34

Tsuga heterophylla, 6, 34

Tsuga ntertensiana, 6, 34,

36

willow, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 52

willow, Barclay^ 66

willow, beak, 58

willow, Bebb, 7, 58

willow, bigleaf, 56

willow, black, 61

willow, diamond, 58

willow, diamondleaf, 68

willow, feltleaf, 56

willow, fire, 61

willow, grayleaf, 66

willow. Hooker, 7, 8, 56

willow, littletree, 64

willow, mountain, 61

willow. Pacific, 65

willow, Richardson, 66

willow, Scouler, 61

willow, silky, 62

willow, Sitka, 62

willow, tall blueberry, 66

willow, western black, 65

willow, Yakutat, 7, 56

willow, yellow, 65

WILLOW FAMILY, 44

yellow-cedar, 44

yellow-cedar, Alaska, 44

yew, Pacific, 8, 20

yew, western, 20

YEW FAMILY, 20

i^U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1974 0—552-628

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