A Peterson Field Guide To Western Trees: Western United States and Canada

by Olivia Petrides

Overview

This newly designed field guide features detailed descriptions of 387 species, arranged in six major groups by visual similarity. The 47 color plates and 5 text drawings show distinctive details needed for identification. Color photographs and 295 color range maps accompany the species descriptions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780395904541
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/25/1998
Series:	Peterson Field Guides
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	448
Sales rank:	1,073,921
Product dimensions:	4.50(w) x 7.25(h) x 0.97(d)

About the Author

ROGER TORY PETERSON, one of the world’s greatest naturalists, received every major award for ornithology, natural science, and conservation as well as numerous honorary degrees, medals, and citations, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Peterson Identification System has been called the greatest invention since binoculars.


George A. Petrides, ecologist and field naturalist, worked with the National Park Services and taught at Michigan State University at Lansing. Petrides has written for the Peterson Field Guide series and was the recipient of an award from the Federated Garden Clubs of Michigan for A Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs.
 

Read an Excerpt

TWO-NEEDLE PINYON Pinus edulis Engelm. Pl. 1 A short, round-topped, arid-zone tree mainly of the s. Rockies. Needles 2 per cluster, 3?4–2 in. long, dark green, sharp but not spiny. Cones short, 1–2 in. long, somewhat spherical, with thick, blunt, thornless scales and 2 wingless half-inch nuts per scale. Height 15–20 (50) ft.; diameter 1–2 (3) ft. Dry sites. Similar species: See Lodgepole Pine. Remarks: Like the other nut pines (see Singleleaf Pinyon), the fruits are eagerly sought by wildlife and humans alike. Reported to be the most common tree in N.M. A single- needle population is reported to occur in cen. Ariz. Resin from trunk wounds is said to have been used by Native Americans to waterproof woven bottles and to cement turquoise jewelry.

Table of Contents

Editor’s Note vii Preface ix How to Use This Book 1 Illustrated Plan of the Six Main Sections 18–19 PLATES 21 SPECIES ACCOUNTS 117 I. Trees with Needlelike or Scalelike Leaves, Mostly Evergreen (Plates 1–10) 119 Conifers with Clustered Needles 120 Conifers with Single Needles in Woody Pegs 145 Conifers with Small Scalelike Leaves 167

II. Broad-leaved Trees with Opposite Compound Leaves (Plates 11–14) 187

III. Broad-leaved Trees with Opposite Simple Leaves (Plates 15–17) 205

IV. Broad-leaved Trees with Alternate Compound Leaves (Plates 18–25) 219 Trees with Thorns 220 Trees Thornless and Leaves Once-compound Leaflets Toothed 236 Leaflets Not Toothed 244 Thornless Southwestern Trees with Alternate Leaves Twice-compound 254

V. Broad-leaved Trees with Alternate Simple Leaves (Plates 26–46) 258 Leafless Desert Trees with Twigs Spine-tipped 258 Trees with Side Thorns 263 Thornless Trees Leaves Fan-lobed 273 Leaves Fan-veined 279 Leaves Feather-veined: 293 Leaves Double-toothed 336 Leaf Teeth Single or Lacking 352

VI. Palms, Cacti, and Yuccas (Plate 47) 376

Appendix A: Key to Trees in Leafless Condition 391 Appendix B: Plant Relationships 398 Glossary 402 References 408 Photo Credits 412 Index 414