Conifer Identification

The following resources can help you with Conifer Identification during and after the Wenatchee Naturalist course:

• Conifers of the Pacific Slope: A field guide to the conifers of California, Oregon, and Washington Paperback by Michael Edward Kauffmann  (Author) 2013. Conifers of the Pacific Slope is a contemporary field guide built to assist plant lovers in identifying one of the most intriguing and ancient groups of plants in the world. Conifers survive within the West s most spectacular environments from the coastal temperate rain forests to the highest mountain summits. Educator, plant explorer, and author Michael Kauffmann introduces readers to the magic of the Pacific Slope’s conifers through: -Color plates for identifying 65 species -Accurate and updated collection of range maps for all conifer along the Pacific Slope -Destinations for finding conifers in the field -Tantalizing photos from across the West -All conifer species found in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, southern British Columbia and northern Baja California
• Northwest Trees: Identifying and Understanding the Region’s Native Trees by Stephen F. Arno with drawings by Ramona Hammerly (2007). Narrative describes identifying and ecological characteristics of the 60 native tree species (deciduous and conifer) of the region with excellent illustrations.
• Common Trees of the Pacific Northwest Oregon State Extension web photo identification guide.
• Trees to Know in Oregon, 60th anniversary edition with over 70 new color photos  $18.00  Description: A full-color field guide to tree identification in Oregon. Contains keys to identifying common conifer and broadleaf trees and discusses ornamental, shade, and fruit trees as well. For each species, provides identifying characteristics, range, and distinctive features. Includes hundreds of photos and drawings and a list of Oregon’s champion trees. Indexed by common and scientific tree name.
• A Field Guide to Western Trees: Western United States and Canada (Peterson Field Guides) [Paperback]  George A. Petrides (Author), Roger Tory Peterson (Editor), Olivia Petrides (Illustrator) 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.
• A Field Guide to Trees of the Pacific Northwest Pamphlet by Phillipa Hudson (Author) This laminated guide features twenty-six native trees commonly found from Alaska to Oregon, providing common and Latin names accompanied by color photographs of identifying features such as bark, leaves or needles, flowers, cones, seeds and fruit. Information on identification, range and an illustration of each tree’s silhouette Also included are traditional uses and other interesting tree facts and lore.
• Timberline: Mountain and Arctic Forest Frontiers Paperback by Stephen F. Arno  (Author), Ramona P. Hammerly (Illustrator) 1984.  Timberline-where the trees end- is a biological boundary visible to even the casual traveler throughout North America. This book describes what timberlines are and why they exist and what human uses have been made of the timberline environment.
• Trees of Washington. WSU Extension.  Keys to native conifers and broadleaf trees of Washington. Individual profiles of 32 native trees provide sketches of range, leaf and tree shape, fruit and bark characteristics.  Available for free download in PDF format.
• Mountain Plants of the Pacific Northwest: A Field Guide to Washington, Western British Columbia, and Southeastern Alaska (1995) by Ronald J. Taylor and George W. Douglas.  Text, drawings, & photos for 19 conifer species that include images of branches, cones, trunk and bark.  Currently out-of-print, but worthy of your home library.
• Some Common Plants of the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests (free online government publication)  (June, 2002) compiled by T.R. Lillybridge & C.K. Williams for USDA Forest Service Region 6  

Northwest Natural History narratives that feature conifers:

• Graced by Pines: The Ponderosa Pine in the American West by Alexandra Murphy. 1994.  A collection of nine essays exploring the cultural and natural history of the ponderosa pine in the West.
• The Collector: David Douglas and the Natural History of the Northwest by Jack Nisbet.  2009.  Between 1824-1834, Scottish naturalist David Douglas explored from New York to Hawaii, seeking promising nursery plants for the London Horticultural Society. This story of early exploration focuses on the main river routes and native conifers of the Pacific Northwest