MISC. PUBLICATION 3 9, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 

 CONIFERS 



The four kinds of pines found on the Rio Grande Forest always 

 have long, needle-shaped leaves in clusters of from two to five. The 

 cones are woody and hang from the limbs. 



Western yellow pine. — Western yellow pine is found at lower elevations. 

 Leaves 3 to 5 inches long, deep green, usually two in a cluster but often in 

 threes, and in tufts at the ends of the branches. Cones 3 to 5 inches long, oval ; 

 usually found near end of branches. Cone scales armed with spines. 



Limher pine. — Limber pine is sometimes erroneously called pinon or nut 

 pine. Found in foothills and also in rocky places in high mountains. Leaves 

 dark green, always in clusters of five, IVj to 3 inches long. Cones 3 to 5 inches 

 long, with seeds about one-third inch in length. Cone scales smooth. Bark 

 light gray or silvery white, except on old trunks, which are blackish brown. 



Pition. — Pinon pine is confined to the foothills. Needles three-fourths to IV^ 

 inches long, in clusters of two and rarely of three. Cones 1VL» inches long and 

 almost as broad. Seeds are the common piiion nuts of trade. 



Bristlecone pine. — Bristlecone pine is found at higher elevations, usually 

 close to timber line. Needles 1 to 2 inches long, always in clusters of five, and 

 covered with tiny specks of pitch. Cones 3 to 4 inches long with the scales 

 armed with a slender bristle. 



SPRUCES 



Spruces are of two kinds. Both have short, square, single leaves, 

 which easily roll between the fingers. Crowns have a whitish or 

 bluish cast. Cones are not wood}^ but fibrous and hang from the 

 branches. 



Engelmann spruce. — The small branches of Engelmaun spruce are covered 

 with soft, short hairs. Leaves less rigid and sharply pointed than those of 

 blue spruce; dark blue, green, or pale steel blue. Cones 1 to 2 inches long. 

 Bark is dark, reddish brown, and separates in the form of small rounded 

 scales. 



Blue spruce. — The small branches of blue spruce are always smooth. Leaves 

 stiff and with sharp points. The blue spruce can be told from Engelmann spruce 

 by grasping the tip of a branch and noting the spinelike stiff leaves. Cones 

 2 to 3 inches long. Bark on old trunk gray, divided lengthwise into ridges. 



FIBS 



Firs are of two kinds. 



Alpine fir. — Alpine fir has flat leaves, 1 to 1% inches long, without any stem 

 where they join branches. Cones standing straight up on branches, 2^4 to 4 

 inches long, dark purple. In the fall the cones fall to pieces and leave only a 

 spike on the branch. 



White fir. — White fir is found at the lower elevations with western yellow 

 pine and Douglas fir. Leaves single, flat, 2 to 3 inches long, soft. Cones 3 to 5 

 inches long, standing straight up on branches. Bark on old trees 5 to 6 inches 

 thick, deeply divided into broad, rounded ridges broken on the surface into 

 irregularly shai>ed platelike scales. 



JUNIPERS OR CEDARS 



Junipers or cedars are of two kinds, one a small tree and the other 

 a shrub. Seed in berries, not cones. 



Rocky Mountain red cedar. — Rocky Mountain red cedar has scale-like pointed 

 leaves, very small, that cover the slender, four-sided twigs in four rows of alter- 

 nately opposite pairs ; stiff branches. Mature berries one-fourth inch in 

 diameter, bluish or black, covered with a whitish bloom. 



Dwarf junipei\ — Dwarf juniper is always a shrub, 1 to 3 feet high. Leaves 

 in groups of three, si)earate on branches, sharp pointed. Branches not stiff. 



