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what is it?....hot-ass native fir native to n. california.

15 years ago

THis thing is beautiful. Can't identify it for sure, though. Found it growing in arcata, california three hundred yards form the beach on sandy soil.

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Comments (14)

pinetree30
15 years ago
Sitka spruce.
gardener365
15 years ago
Sequoia, you see where the needles aren't connected with a petiole? That's how a person tells the often tough characteristics among firs and spruces. What is seen is the needles appear to be growing up through bark, again no petiole being seen. This will help you in the future.

Dax
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davidrt28 (zone 7)
15 years ago
Does the old chestnut about flat needles versus round needles work for all species? That is how I always tell, although nowadays I can generally spot the few species of fir that survive for long in the mid-Atlantic. (I suspect Concolor Fir is the most common in the suburbs of Philadelphia)
pinetree30
15 years ago
Sitka spruce differs from other North American spruces in having flat needles. In the 2d pic, above the pink pollen cone, notice the woody bumps along the bare twig. Those are the pedicels on which spruce needles perch. They are harsh to the touch if you run the twig through your hand after the needles are gone.
wadet
15 years ago
Abies bracteata (Santa Lucia fir). It's native to coastal areas in N. California, zones 9-10.
pineresin
15 years ago
Yep, Sitka Spruce Picea sitchensis.

Remember spruce cones are erect at pollination (more efficient pollen gathering ability), it is only later as they develop towards maturity that they turn down to become pendulous (for more efficient seed release).

"Does the old chestnut about flat needles versus round needles work for all species?" - no; some spruces (e.g. Sitka, Brewer's, Serbian) have flat needles, some firs (e.g. White) don't.

Resin
Embothrium
15 years ago
I'm still looking for the hot ass that is supposed to be on this thread somewhere.

With that in the title it seems there might be numbers of surfers getting hits for this thread that aren't looking for pictures of some dumb tree.

Ha!
pineresin
15 years ago
Here you are! Not one, but two. And they look very hot in that sun.

African Wild Ass Equus africanus. Free license pic from wikimedia commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:African_Wild_Ass.jpg
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
15 years ago
There you go, bboy, ass a silly question, get a silly answer.

tj
dcsteg
15 years ago
"I'm still looking for the hot ass that is supposed to be on this thread somewhere".

Not much of a responder but he has a good camera and know how to take pix.

Anybody know what the climate is like there? What's its zone tolerance?

Dave
pineresin
15 years ago
Northwest California coast - zone 9 with cool, usually foggy, summers (around 12 to 18Â°C), and mild, wet winters (around 5 to 10Â°C, occasional frosts); hottest weather (to around 30Â°C) usually in the early autumn when the fog tends to hold off a bit with east winds.

Some Sitka Spruces in the area reach 96m tall, with 110-115m Coast Redwoods towering over them.

Resin
Embothrium
15 years ago
Wow! Not one but two hot asses!!

In that picture the fir can be seen in the distance, beyond the ass that has its head down. Note characteristic tiered branching.
pineresin
15 years ago
Bit of clarification for anyone that's wondering . . .
"Abies bracteata (Santa Lucia fir). It's native to coastal areas in N. California, zones 9-10"

Actually native to coastal areas of south-central California, from Little Sur south to San Simeon, 550-650km south of Arcata where the Sitka Spruce photos above were taken.

Resin
Embothrium
15 years ago
And even there it may not be possible to stroll off of a sandy flat beach and encounter one. Steep cliffs seem to be a more characteristic oceanside habitat.

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