trees

/ RobNiese / Leave a comment

Populus tremuloides “Quaking Aspen” Salicaceae

Council Grove State Park, MT
March 16, 2015
Robert Niese

We have several species of willows, aspens (well, one aspen), and poplars in the PNW that produce these adorable fuzzy flowers in the early spring. These compact “pussy-foot” catkins are very typical of willows (Salix), but Quaking Aspen produces a very similar inflorescence. The easiest way to tell the two apart is to look at the buds. In Aspen, you’ll see lots of overlapping bud scales while in willows, the buds are smooth and consist of a single, wrap-around scale.

/ RobNiese / Leave a comment

Acer macrophyllum “Bigleaf Maple” Aceraceae

Tacoma, WA
April 14, 2013
Robert Niese

The blooming of the Bigleaf Maples coincides with the arrival of many small insectivorous bird species to the Pacific Northwest. Birds such as the Orange-crowned Warbler, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, and Warbling Vireo rely on the insects attracted to these flowers in the springtime.

/ RobNiese / Leave a comment

Acer macrophyllum “Bigleaf Maple” Aceraceae

Olympic National Park, WA
June 6, 2013
Robert Niese

The largest leaves on Bigleaf Maples easily reach 2 feet in length! These trees are keystone species in riparian zones throughout the wet lowlands of the PNW and are particularly important for sustaining healthy moss populations.