Conifers
Others
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Alpine Conifers
These
conifers grow at the timberline in the Cascade and Olympic Mountains.
At these elevations , they often grow in clumps of one or two
large trees surrounded by many small trees. At the
highest elevations these conifers may grow
in a stunted, krummholz form.
Common Alpine Conifers
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Subalpine
Fir
–
Abies lasiocarpa
Needles: Curved
upward, white lines above &
below
Cones:
Upright
at tree
top, purple
Bark: Smooth,
gray
Where: 4000
feet to the timberline
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Pacific
Silver Fir
–
Abies amabilis
Needles:
Point up & forward, white lines below
Cones:
Upright
at
treetop
Bark: Large,
gray,
scaly
plates
Where: 3000
feet to the timberline
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Common juniper – Juniperus communis – also grows as a low spreading mat at the timberline.
Other Alpine Conifers
Although not common, you may see these conifers
growing at the
timberline.
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Engelmann
Spruce
–
Picea engelmannii
Needles: All
around twig, sharp points
Cones: Douglas
fir size, paper-thin scales
Bark: Gray,
scaly
Where: Cascades
and
Mts. to the east, above 3000 feet
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Noble Fir –
Abies procera
Needles:
Bent like hockey sticks
Cones: Upright
at tree
top, whiskery bracts
Bark: Gray-brown,
becoming furrowed
Where: Above
2000 feet
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Alpine
Larch
–
Larix lyalii
Needles: Bundles
of 25
Cones: Rounded
scales,
whiskers
Bark: Brown
or gray with flaky
scales
Where:
North Cascade of Washington, up to 6000 feet
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See also
High-elevation Conifers
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