BROADLEAVED MAPLE.
(Acer macrophyllum)
As most everyone is familiar with maple trees of one kind or another
the characteristic leaves and fruit of this species will readily
identify it in the forests of Mt. Rainier National Park.
While it is not common in the park it will occasionally be
encountered in moist locations at the lower elevations - up to about
2500 feet - particularly in moist soils along streams. Mature specimens
attain a height of 25-30 feet and 6-14 inches in diameter.
The crown is generally wide spreading and compact, unless the
tree is in a thickly wooded area, and the bark is rather thin but
hard, a grey to brownish in color and rough. The leaves, when
mature, are very large, (8-12 inches wide) thick and leathery in
texture, smooth, shiny and dark yellow-green on the upper surface and
pale green on the underside. They are characterized by large pointed
lobes and long stems and are opposite upon the branches. Before falling
in the autumn they change to a pale yellow. The yellow, fragrant
flowers are borne in conspicuous pendent clusters. These appear
before the leaves are full grown. The seeds are large,
conspicuously winged and in pairs joined at the base; a rusty brown when
mature and with the seed portion covered with rather stiffish brown
hairs. The wood is fine grained, hard and a light brown in color.
Specimens 12-24 inches in diameter are generally from 75-100 years of
age.
This species of maple will be found along the Pacific Coast from
southeastern Alaska to California.
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GARRY OAK.
(Quercus garryana)
Although listed in this issue of Mt. Rainier National Park "Nature
Notes", this tree has not actually been found, as yet, within Mt.
Rainier National Park. However, in the summer of 1937, several small
trees of this species were found outside the park in the south-east
section just below the place where the Ohanapecosh River crosses the
south boundary. The conditions within the park at that point were so
similar to those where these trees were noted, and they were so close to
the boundary, that further investigation will very likely reveal that
this species is present, as a tree of very limited occurrence, within
the park. In addition Sudworth lists the Garry Oak as occurring on the
"west base of Mount Rainier" but thus far it has not been noted in that
section of the park.
The characters of the oaks, of which this species is our only likely
representative, are generally well known and, if this tree is found
within the park, it will likely be immediately recognized by anyone. It
has deeply furrowed bark, and coarsely lobed leaves of leathery texture
which are from 3-6 inches long. The lobes are generally obtuse in
outline. The fruit is an acorn.
It will be found from Vancouver Island south through western
Washington and Oregon to central California, generally on gravelly
soils.
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Descriptions continued...
