Trees
Tree species range from pinon and juniper in the foothills to ponderosa pine and Douglas fir in the mid elevations. Aspen stands also thrive in the mid elevations, especially where there is a little more moisture. At higher elevations, the forest transitions into Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir. Sub alpine fir will grow all the way to tree line, becoming more gnarled and dwarfed at the highest elevations.
Many Trees, Many Benefits
- Subalpine firs provide habitat for snowshoe hares which in turn makes great lynx habitat.
- Aspen trees can act as a natural fire break, slowing or stopping a wildfire.
- Pinyon pines produce seeds that are an important food source for birds and many other animals.
- Engelmann spruce are harvested for lumber and firewood to build and heat our homes.
Trees Found on the Rio Grande National Forest
Picea pungens
- Bark: Furrowed brown bark.
- Needles: Less than 2 inches, sharp, blue-green in color.
- Cones: Over 3 inches long, irregularly toothed scales.
- Elevation: 7,000 to 9,500 feet.
- ID Tips: Look for spiky needles that are square and often have a bluer tint. It has many tiny twigs growing from the main branches and trunk.
Pseudotsuga menziesii
- Bark: Gray and smooth with resin blisters on young trees.
- Needles: Flat, narrowing before joining the branch, 1-1.5 inches.
- Cones: Hang down, 3-5 inches, 3-pronged bract shows between the scales.
- Elevation: 6,000 to 9,500 ft.
- ID Tips: Look for the bracts sticking out between the scales on the cones. Flat, friendly, fir needles. Not a true fir.
Picea engelmannii
- Bark: Orange-brown and flaky, becomes scaly as it matures.
- Needles: Less than 2 inches, more flexible needles than blue spruce.
- Cones: 2 inches with papery scales.
- Elevation: 8,000 to 11,000 feet.
- ID Tips: Look for spiky square needles and flakier bark. It tends to grow at higher elevations.
Pinus flexilis
- Bark: Smooth and whiteish gray (young), dark brown and deeply furrowed (mature).
- Needles: Bundles of 5, 1.5-3 inches.
- Cones: Thick, woody, and rounded scales.
- Elevation: 5,000 to 11,000 feet.
- ID Tips: Twigs are more flexible than bristlecone and has thinner needles.
Pinus contorta
- Bark: Thin, scaly, grayish brown bark.
- Needles: Bundles of 2, 1.5-2 inches, pointed and stiff.
- Cones: Cones often remain closed.
- Elevation: 6,000 to 11,000 feet.
- ID Tips: Look for needles in groups of two and a straight trunk.
Pinus edulis
- Bark: Gray, smooth and thin (young); red-brown, rough and furrowed into scaly ridges (mature).
- Needles: Usually in clusters of 2, 0.75-1.5 inches.
- Cones: Rough, 1.5-2 inches.
- Elevation: 5,200 to 9,000 ft.
- ID Tips: Look for needles in groups of 2. Often grows with juniper trees.
Pinus ponderosa
- Bark: Thick furrowed bark; young trees have darker bark.
- Needles: In groups of 3, 5-10 inches long.
- Cones: 3-5 inches with spines.
- Elevation: 5,000 to 9,000 feet.
- ID Tips: Look for long needles in groups of three. The bark smells like vanilla.
Populus tremuloides
Bark: Marked with dark, raised, eye-shaped branch scars, greenish-white, smooth and thin (young); more gray and furrowed (mature).
Leaves: Heart-shaped with fine sawtooth edges
Elevation: 6,000 to 10,500 ft.
ID Tips: Look for leaves that tremble in the wind and light colored bark. They prefer to grow in wetter areas.
Amazing Aspens
Aspens are a hardy tree that grows at higher elevations and further north than most deciduous trees. How do they do it? They have some pretty amazing adaptations.
Skipping the seeds - Aspens produce seeds but sprouting from roots is the most common way trees reproduce. Sprouts, also called suckers, are genetically identical to the tree that sent them up from the roots. This can create entire stands of trees that are actually just one individual organism.
Short Seasons - Aspens begin photosynthesizing before they leaf out in the spring thanks to the chlorophyll in their bark. Cholorophyll gives the green color to leaves and aspen bark and allows plants to photosynthesize.
Fire - Aspens regrow faster than other species after a wildfire because they reproduce from their roots. Fires help stimulate new growth and prevent other trees from out competing the aspen. High moisture in the leaves and trees can also help slow or even stop a wildlife.
Pinus aristata
- Bark: red/brown with shallow cracks and flat ridges.
- Needles: Clusters of 5, 1-1.5 inches, white dots of pitch on needles.
- Cones: 3 inches with long, sharp bristles on the tips of scales.
- Elevation: 7,000 to 13,000 feet.
- ID Tips: Look for needles in groups of 5 with dots of pitch. They prefer to grow in dry, rocky areas.
Juniperous scopulorum
- Bark: Furrowed and shreddy, reddish brown.
- Needles: Small, flat, and scale-like, branching needles do not resemble typical conifer needles.
- Cones: Resemble pea-sized, blueish gray berries.
- Elevation: Below 9,000 feet.
- ID Tips: Look for scale-like needles and shaggy bark. Often grows with pinyon pines.
Abies lasiocarpa
- Bark: Gray and smooth with resin blisters (young); shallow fissures and scaly (mature).
- Needles: Flat, soft, 1 inch.
- Cones: 2-4 inches, purple, scales fall off when mature.
- Elevation: 8,000 to 12,000 ft.
- ID Tips: Look for a slender form, shorter, flat needles. It grows at higher elevations.
Abies concolor
- Bark: Light gray, smooth with resin blisters (young); deeply furrowed with corky ridges and orange cracks (mature).
- Needles: 2+ inches, lighter color.
- Cones: Often a deep purple color to green, cones usually grow upright.
- Older cones are brown.
- Elevation: 7,900 to 10,200 feet.
- ID Tips: Look for longer, flat, and soft needles.
What’s the difference? Check the needles!
Fir
Flat, friendly fir
Fir trees have soft, friendly needles. Each needle is individually attached to the branch; pick one and try to gently roll it between your fingers. Firs have flat needles and so they don’t roll easily. In general, cones stand up on branches and fall apart before falling off the tree.
Spruce
Spiky, square spruce
If you grab a spruce branch you will likely say ouch because its needles are sharp and spiney. A single needle will roll between your fingers because spruce needles are square. In general cones hang down from branches.
Pine
Pines have packets
Pine trees have needles that come in a little bundle out of the same spot on the branch. Different species of pines have different numbers of needles in a bundle, also called a fascicle.