Alaska trees and shrubs

308 Pages·1972·23.78 MB·English

by  Leslie A. Viereck and Elbert L. Little, Jr.

Alaska Trees and Shrubs Agriculture Handbook (United States. Dept. of Agriculture) ;
title:
No. 410
author: Viereck, Leslie A.; Little, Elbert Luther
publisher: University of Alaska Press
isbn10 | asin: 0912006196
print isbn13: 9780912006192
ebook isbn13: 9780585207391
language: English
Trees--Alaska--Identification, Shrubs--Alaska--Identification, Trees--Alaska--
subject
Classification, Shrubs--Alaska--Classification.
publication date: 1986
lcc: QK146.V54 1986eb
ddc: 582.1609798
Trees--Alaska--Identification, Shrubs--Alaska--Identification, Trees--Alaska--
subject:
Classification, Shrubs--Alaska--Classification.

Page i
Alaska Trees and Shrubs
by
Leslie A. Viereck, Principal Plant Ecologist
Institute of Northern Forestry
Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station
U.S.D.A. Forest Service, College, Alaska
and
Elbert L. Little, Jr., Chief Dendrologist
Division of Timber Management Research
U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Washington, D.C.
Agriculture Handbook No. 410
Forest Service
United States Department of Agriculture
Washington, D.C.
1972
Reprinted by the
University of Alaska Press
Fairbanks, Alaska
Page ii
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 86-050727
International Standard Book Number: 0-912006-19-6
Printed in the United States of America.
Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture
First Printing, Agriculture Handbook No. 410, 1972
University of Alaska Press
Second Printing, 2,000 copies, 1986
Third Printing, 2,000 copies, 1988
Fourth Printing, 2,500 copies, 1991
Fifth Printing, 2,500 copies, 1994
Cover: The scratchboard cover design by William D. Berry is a typical white spruce paper birch stand in interior Alaska in early winter.
The shrub layer is alder and willow.
Page iii
Contents
List of species iv
Introduction 1
Previous work 2
Preparation of this handbook 3
Plan 4
How to use this handbook 5
Acknowledgments 5
Statistical summary 6
Growth forms 6
Alaska trees 8
Geographic distribution 9
Local and rare species 10
Vegetation of Alaska 11
Coastal forests 13
1. Coastal spruce-hemlock forests 14
Interior forests 15
2. Closed spruce-hardwood forests 15
3. Open, low growing spruce forests 18
4. Treeless bogs 19
5. Shrub thickets 20
Tundra 21
6. Moist tundra 21
7. Wet tundra 22
8. Alpine tundra 22
Vegetation map 23
Keys for identification 24
Key to Alaska trees based mainly on leaves 25
Winter key to deciduous trees of Alaska 28
Key to genera of Alaska shrubs 30
Winter key to Alaska shrubs 34
Alaska trees and shrubs 43
Key to Alaska willows 78
Vegetative Key to Alaska willows 82
Selected references 254
Index of common and scientific names 260
Page iv
List of Species
1
Yew family (Taxaceae)
1. Pacific yew, Taxus brevifolia Nutt. (LS-ST, C, R) 44
Pine family (Pinaceae)
2. lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta Dougl. (ST-LT, C) 45
3. tamarack, Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch (ST-MT, I) 48
4. black spruce, Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P. (ST-MT, I) 51
5. *white spruce, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss (MT-LT, I-c) 52
6. *Sitka spruce, Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr. (LT, C) 54
7. *western hemlock, Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. (LT, C) 58
8. *mountain hemlock, Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carr. (ST-LT, C) 59
9. Pacific silver fir, Abies amabilis (Dougl.) Forbes (MT-LT, C, R) 61
10. subalpine fir, Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. (ST-LT, C, R) 62
Cypress family (Cupressaceae)
11. *western redcedar, Thuja plicata Donn (LT, C) 64
12. *Alaska-cedar, Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (D. Don) Spach (MT-LT,
66
C)
13. common juniper, Juniperus communis L. (PS-SS, I-C) 68
14. creeping juniper, Juniperus horizontalis Moench (PS, I) 69
Willow family (Salicaceae)
15. *balsam poplar, Populus balsamifera L. (MT-LT, I-c) 72
16. *black cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa Torr. & Gray (LT, C) 74
17. *quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx. (SM-MT, I) 76
18. netleaf willow, Salix reticulata L. (PS, I-C) 86
19. Setchell willow, Salix setchelliana Ball (PS, I-c) 87
20. polar willow, Salix polaris Wahlenb. ssp. pseudopolaris (Flod.) Hult. (PS,
88
I-c)
21. skeletonleaf willow, Salix phlebophylla Anderss. (PS, I) 89
22. least willow, Salix rotundifolia Trautv. (PS, I-C) 90
23. arctic willow, Salix arctica Pall. (PS, I-C) 91
1 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.
Page v
24. Alaska bog willow, Salix fuscescens Anderss. (PS, I-C) 92
25. ovalleaf willow, Salix ovalifolia Trautv. and Salix stolonifera Cov. (PS,
94
i-C)
26. grayleaf willow, Salix glauca L. (MS-ST, I-C) 95
27. barren-ground willow, Salix brachycarpa Nutt. ssp. niphoclada (Rydb.)
97
Argus (SS-MS, I)
28. halberd willow, Salix hastata L. (MS, I) 98
29. low blueberry willow, Salix myrtillifolia Anderss. (SS, I) 99
30. tall blueberry willow, Salix novae-angliae> Anderss. (LS, I) 101
31. Barclay willow, Salix barclayi Anderss. (MS-LS, I-C) 102
32. Hooker willow, Salix hookeriana Cov. (LS-ST, C, R) 106
33. undergreen willow, Salix commutata Bebb (MS, I-C) 106
34. Chamisso willow, Salix chamissonis Anderss. (PS, I) 108
35. park willow, Salix monticola Bebb. (MS-LS, I-c) 108
36. Richardson willow, Salix lanata L. ssp. richardsonii (Hook.) A. Skwortz.
110
(MS-LS, I-C)
37. Barratt willow, Salix barrattiana Hook. (SS, I) 110
38. feltleaf willow, Salix alaxensis (Anderss.) Cov. (LS-ST, I-C) 112
39. silver willow, Salix candida Fluegge (MS, I, R) 115
40. Bebb willow, Salix bebbiana Sarg. (LS-ST, I-C) 116
41. diamondleaf willow, Salix planifolia Pursh ssp. pulchra (Cham.) Argus
118
(PS-LS, I-C)
42. Scouler willow, Salix scouleriana Barratt (LS-MT, I-C) 120
43. Sitka willow, Salix sitchensis Sanson (LS-ST, I-C) 122
44. littletree willow, Salix arbusculoides Anderss. (LS-ST, I-c) 123
45. sandbar willow, Salix interior Rowlee (LS, I) 126
46. Pacific willow, Salix lasiandra Benth. (LS-ST, I-c) 126
Bayberry family (Myricaceae)
47. sweetgale, Myrica gale L. (SS-MS, I-C) 128
Birch family (Betulaceae)
48. dwarf arctic birch, Betula nana L. (SS-MS, I-C) 130
49. resin birch, Betula glandulosa Michx. (SS-MS, I-c) 130
50. *paper birch, Betula papyrifera Marsh. (ST-LT, I-C) 134
51. American green alder, lnus crispa (Ait.) Pursh (MS-LS, I) 140
52. Sitka alder, Alnus sinuata (Reg.) Rydb. (LS-ST, I-C) 142
53. red alder, Alnus rubra Bong. (ST-MT, C) 144
Page vi
54. thinleaf alder, Alnus tenuifolia Nutt. (LS-ST, I-C) 146
Mistletoe family (Loranthaceae)
55. hemlock dwarf-mistletoe, rceuthobium tsugense (Rosend.) G.N. Jones
146
(Parasite, C)
Gooseberry family (Grossulariaceae)
56. swamp gooseberry, Ribes lacustre (Pers.) Poir. (MS, I-C) 150
57. stink currant, Ribes bracteosum Dougl. (MS-LS, C) 150
58. northern black currant, Ribes hudsonianum Richards. (PS-MS, I-C) 152
59. skunk currant, Ribes glandulosum Grauer (SS-MS, I) 154
60. trailing black currant, Ribes laxiflorum Pursh (PS-MS, C) 155
61. American red currant, Ribes triste Pall. (PS-MS, I-C) 156
Rose family (Rosaceae)
62. Pacific ninebark, Physocarpus capitatus (Pursh) Kuntze (MS-LS, C) 158
63. Beauverd spirea, Spiraea beauverdiana Schneid. (SS, I-C) 159
64. Douglas spirea, Spiraea douglasii Hook. (MS, C) 160
65. luetkea, Luetkea pectinata (Pursh) Kuntze (PS, i-C) 162
66. Oregon crab apple, Malus diversifolia (Bong.) Roem. (ST, C) 162
67. Greene mountain-ash, Sorbus scopulina Greene (MS-ST, I-C) 166
68. European mountain-ash, Sorbus aucuparia L. (ST-MT, C, introduced) 167
69. Sitka mountain-ash, Sorbus sitchensis Roem. (MS-ST, C) 168
70. Siberian mountain-ash, Sorbus sambucifolia (Cham. & Schlecht.)
169
Roem. (MS, Aleutian Is., R)
71. saskatoon serviceberry, Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. (MS, I, R) 171
72. Pacific serviceberry, Amelanchier florida Lindl. (MS-ST, C) 172
73. black hawthorn, Crataegus douglasii Lindl. (LS, c, R) 172
74. American red raspberry, Rubus idaeus L. var. strigosus (Michx.)
175
Maxim. (MS, I-C)
75. salmonberry, Rubus spectabilis Pursh (MS-LS, C) 176
76. western black raspberry, Rubus leucodermis Dougl. (MS, C, R) 177
77. western thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus Nutt. (MS, C) 178
78. bush cinquefoil, Potentilla fruticosa L. (SS-MS, I-c) 180
79. Drummond mountain-avens, Dryas drummondii Richards. (PS, I-c) 182
Page vii
80. white mountain-avens, Dryas octopetala L. (PS, I-c) 184
81. entire-leaf mountain-avens, Dryas integrifolia Vahl (PS, I-c) 184
82. prickly rose, Rosa acicularis Lindl. (SS-MS, I-c) 187
83. Woods rose, Rosa woodsii Lindl. (SS-MS, I, R) 189
84. Nootka rose, Rosa nutkana Presl (MS-LS, C) 190
Maple family (Aceraceae)
85. Douglas maple, Acer glabrum Torr. var. douglasii (Hook.) Dipp. (MS-
192
ST, C)
Elaeagnus family (Elaeagnaceae)
86. buffaloberry, Shepherdia canadensis (L.) Nutt. (MS, I-c) 194
87. silverberry, Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. (MS-LS, I) 196
Ginseng family (Araliaceae)
88. devilsclub, Oplopanax horridus (Sm.) Miq. (MS-LS, i-C) 197
Dogwood family (Cornaceae)
89. red-osier dogwood, Cornus stolonifera Michx. (MS-LS, I-C) 199
Crowberry family (Empetraceae)
90. crowberry, Empetrum nigrum L. (PS, I-C) 201
Pyrola family (Pyrolaceae)
91. pipsissewa, Chimaphila umbellata (L.) Barton (PS, C, R) 204
Heath family (Ericaceae)
92. copperbush, Cladothamnus pyrolaeflorus Bong. (MS, C) 204
93. narrow-leaf Labrador-tea, Ledum decumbens (Ait.) Lodd. (SS, I-C) 206
94. Labrador-tea, Ledum groenlandicum Oeder (MS, I-C) 207
95. Lapland rosebay, Rhododendron lapponicum (L.) Wahlenb. (PS-SS, I) 209
96. Kamchatka rhododendron, Rhododendron camtschaticumPall. (PS, C) 210
97. rusty menziesia, Menziesia ferruginea Sm. (LS, i-C) 212
98. alpine-azalea, Loiseleuria procumbens (L.) Desv. (PS, I-C) 212
99. bog kalmia,Kalmia polifolia Wang. (SS, C) 214
100. red mountain-heath, Phyllodoce empetriformis (Sm.) D. Don (PS, c,
215
R)
101. blue mountain-heath, Phyllodoce coerulea (L.) Bab. (PS, I, R) 216
102. Aleutian mountain-heath, Phyllodoce aleutica (Spreng.) Heller (PS, i-
217
C)
103. four-angled cassiope, Cassiope tetragona (L.) D. Don (PS, I-c) 219
Page viii
104. Mertens cassiope, Cassiope mertensiana (Bong.) D. Don (PS, C) 220
105. starry cassiope, Cassiope stelleriana (Pall.) DC. (PS, I-C) 220
106. Alaska cassiope, Cassiope lycopodioides (Pall.) D. Don (PS, C) 222
107. bog-rosemary, Andromeda polifolia L. (PS-MS, I-C) 223
108. leatherleaf, Chamaedaphne calyculata (L.) Moench (PS-SS, I) 224
109. salal, Gaultheria shallon Pursh (MS, C) 226
110. Miquel wintergreen, Gaultheria miqueliana Takeda (PS-SS, Aleutian
226
Is., R)
111. bearberry, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. (PS, I-C) 230
112. alpine bearberry, Arctostaphylos alpina (L.) Spreng. (PS, I-c) 230
113. red-fruit bearberry, Arctostaphylos rubra (Rehd. & Wilson) Fern. (PS,
231
I-c)
114. mountain-cranberry, Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. (PS, I-C) 233
115. dwarf blueberry, Vaccinium caespitosum Michx. (PS-SS, i-C) 234
116. red huckleberry, Vaccinium parvifolium Sm. (MS-LS, C) 236
117. early blueberry, Vaccinium ovalifolium Sm. (MS, i-C) 236
118. Alaska blueberry, Vaccinium alaskaense Howell (MS, C) 238
119. bog blueberry, Vaccinium uliginosum L. (PS-SS, I-C) 240
120. bog cranberry, Vaccinium oxycoccos L. (PS, I-C) 240
Diapensia family (Diapensiaceae)
121. diapensia, Diapensia lapponica L. (PS, I-C) 242
Honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae)
122. Pacific red elder, Sambucus callicarpa Greene (LS-ST, C) 243
123. high bushcranberry, Viburnum edule (Michx.) Raf. (MS-LS, I-C) 244
124. snowberry, Symphoricarpos albus (L.) Blake (SS-MS, C, R) 246
125. twin-flower, Linnaea borealis L. (PS, I-C) 248
126. bearberry honeysuckle, Lonicera involucrata (Richards.) Banks (MS-
250
LS, C, R)
Composite family (Compositae)
127. fringed sagebrush, Artemisia frigida Willd. (SS, I) 252
128. Alaska sagebrush, Artemisia alaskana Rydb. (SS, I) 252