Mystery Tree #3
(click on each photo to enlarge image)
- Needles: White on both surfaces; about 1" long; shaped like a hockey stick. Massed on the upper surface of the twig. A tiny groove runs the length of the upper side.
- Fruit: Large woody cones (4-6" long); cylindrical in shape; have distinctive bracts that look like elephant heads. Fall apart when mature.
- Twigs: Reddish-brown. Buds clustered at the terminal end are usually round, and are over-lapped by curved needles.
- Distribution: Occurs along the Pacific coast in Washington, Oregon,
and northern California. Commonly found at 3,200-5,600 ft. (1,000-1,700 m) elevation on the west side of the Cascade Mountains.
To identify this tree,
work your way through
the Dichotomous Key.
