what kind of trees are in the sierra nevada

Here is a list of trees that may be of special interest for our local region:

• White fir
• CA red fir
• Mountain hemlock
• Douglas fir
• Incense cedar
• Ponderosa pine
• Jeffrey pine
• Sugar pine

Full Answer

What kind of trees grow in the Sierras?

1 Calocedrus decurrens - Incense Cedar 2 Fraxinus velutina - Modesto Ash (Very localized in the Southern Sierras) 3 Pinus lambertiana - Sugar Pine 4 Pseudotsuga menziesii - Douglas-fir 5 Quercus kelloggii - California Black Oak 6 Canyon Live Oak 7 Arbutus menziesii - Pacific Madrone (Localized in the Central Sierras)

What kind of trees grow in Lake Tahoe?

Although Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi) trees are the most common trees found in the Lake Tahoe Basin, that fact doesn’t diminish their regal beauty and dignified stature. One reason for their abundance is their resilient nature in the face of adversity.

What kind of grass grows in the Sierra Nevada?

A characteristic grass family ( Poaceae) is squirreltail ( Elymus elymoides ). : 17 Timberline bluegrass ( Poa glauca) grows in the Central and Southern Sierra Nevada from 11,000 to 13,000 feet (3,400 to 4,000 m). : 34

What is the flora like in the Sierra Nevada mountains?

The flora of the U.S. Sierra Nevada alpine zone is characterized by small, low growing, cushion and mat forming plants that can survive the harsh conditions in the high-altitude alpine zone above the timber line. : 8 : 214 : 5 These flora often occur in alpine fell-fields.

What type of trees are in the Sierra Nevada mountains?

Riparian TreesCalifornia Sycamore (Platanus racemosa)White Alder (Alnus rhombifolia)Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)Fremont Cottonwood (Populus fremontii)Arroyo Willow (Salix lasiolepis)Water Birch (betula occidentalis)Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum)

What type of forest is the Sierra Nevada?

temperate coniferous forest biomeThe Sierra Nevada mountains are within the temperate coniferous forest biome. The Sierra Nevada also includes different vegetation zones, from montane forests to subalpine and alpine zones all determined by elevation.

What type of trees are in the Sierra National forest?

These include oaks, cottonwood, willows and shrubs at the lower elevations, dogwoods at the mid elevations and aspen at the higher elevations.

What is a Sierra tree?

1:564:27Sierra Tree Identification - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe Sequoia gigantea in Sequoia National Park it's the General Sherman tree. And then we get to ourMoreThe Sequoia gigantea in Sequoia National Park it's the General Sherman tree. And then we get to our redwoods which is what kind of California is known for.

Why does Nevada have no trees?

Below 5,000 feet (1,500 m), there is not enough precipitation to support trees.

What plants grow in the Sierra Nevada?

Other trees, and shrubs:Pinus balfouriana subsp. austrina - Foxtail Pine.Pinus flexilis - Limber Pine (eastern slopes)Pinus monticola - Western White Pine.Juniperus occidentalis - Sierra Juniper.Salix eastwoodiae - Mountain Willow (& alpine zone)Salix melanopsis - Dusky Willow.

Are there redwoods in Sierra Nevada?

The Sierra Redwoods grow natively only in California. They are found on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada at elevations ordinarily between 5,000 and 8,000 feet. Some trees have been found as low as 3,000 feet elevation and a few grow at an elevation of 8,400 feet.

Are there redwoods in Sierra National Forest?

Sierra National Forest includes 1 of the 30 largest giant redwoods (Nelder). The forest contains 2 trees larger than 25,000 ft3 (708 m3) and 1 tree larger than 30,000 ft3 (850 m3).

What city has the most trees in California?

How Did Sacramento Get So Many Trees?The first known reference to Sacramento as the “City of Trees” dates back to 1855, and by the early 1900s the saying had clearly taken hold.One place to witness the city's incredible canopy is in Land Park, where at 33 percent coverage that area has the most trees in the city.More items...•

What is the most common tree in the Sierra Nevada?

Sugar Pines. White fir (Abies concolor) is a ubiquitous tree found throughout the Sierra. It generally mixes with other conifers. It is a “true fir,” having cones that sit erect on branches.

How high is the tree line in the Sierras?

Alpine tree linesLocationApprox. latitudeApprox. elevation of tree line(ft)Yosemite, CA, United States38°N10,50011,000Sierra Nevada, Spain37°N7,90044 more rows

What's the difference between a Jeffrey pine and a ponderosa pine?

Compared to its bigger cousin, the ponderosa, the Jeffrey's bark is darker and more narrowly furrowed (grooved) and is, of course, renowned for its vanilla scent. The needles are thicker and duller than the ponderosa, and its cones larger and heavier with inward facing scale tips.

What biome is Nevada?

Great Basin DesertCentral Basin and Range Great Basin shrub steppeBiomeDeserts and xeric shrublandsBordersNorthern Basin and Range (ecoregion) (80), Sierra Nevada (ecoregion) (5) and Wasatch and Uinta Mountains (ecoregion) (19)Bird species204Mammal species10510 more rows

What is tropical montane forest?

Tropical montane forests (TMFs) are found on most of Earth's continents along variable elevation ranges, whose potential upper limits are influenced by cloud condensation heights and minimum temperatures. They are most widespread in South America and in (semi-)humid mountain areas (Richter, 2008).

What are the Sierra Nevada mountains made of?

granitic rocksThe rocks that form the backbone of the Sierra Nevada are mostly granitic rocks that formed during the Mesozoic Era, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. At that time, an arc-shaped chain of volcanoes, similar to the present-day Cascade volcanic arc, erupted where the Sierra Nevada now stands.

What are the characteristics of montane forests?

AnswerThey are found in hilly areas having a high altitude.The wet temperate forests are found between 1000-2000 meters.More than 3000 meters give the way to alpine vegetation.These forests are mostly used by Gujjar shephards.Trees found are birchona, pine, fur, etc.More items...•

How many vascular plants are there in Sierra Nevada?

With more than 2,600 vascular plants (all plants except mosses, liverworts and hornworts) documented, the Sierra Nevada region of California has more plant species than other region in California. Although the Sierra Nevada is plant species-rich, there are common trees that tend to dominate landscapes based on elevation, topography, aspect, ...

Where is Foxtail Pine in Sierra Nevada?

Foxtail Pine. Clark’s Nutcracker. Photo by Dana York. Limber pine ( Pinus flexilis) are more common on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, but there are scattered trees at a few locations along the PCT, especially where the trail meanders east of the crest.

What are whitebark pines?

Whitebark pines ( Pinus albicaulis) are the common timberline tree in the subalpine zone of the Sierra Nevada. They occur individually, in mixed stands with other subalpine trees, in small pure stands, or as shrublike clumps on ridges at timberline. They are a five-needle pine with flexible branches and generally forked trunks. The bark of mature trees is thin and covered with whitish-gray scales. They differ from limber pines by having whitish bark, producing cones shorter than 3 inches, and not having multiple tops. The pinenuts produced by whitebark pines are preferred by Clark’s nutcrackers. The establishment of new seedlings is dependent on germination occurring within a forgotten or unused Clark’s nutcracker’s food cache. The pinenuts are as good or better than pinyon nuts. The needles can be used to make tea.

What is a foxtail pine?

Foxtail pine ( Pinus balfouriana subsp. balfouriana) (Fresno, Inyo and Tulare counties only) is the largest and most majestic of the subalpine pines. They occur individually, in small stands, or mixed with whitebark or western white pines. Like whitebark and western white pine, it has five needles. The needles are short and tightly clustered along the branches, hence the common name. This subspecies is only known from the Sierra Nevada and is also called southern foxtail pine. The other subspecies occurs 300 miles north and is also considered rare. The cones are small and armed with prickles. Clark’s nutcrackers, vociferous alpine birds, are often found foraging the cones amongst foxtail, limber and whitebark pines.

How many needles does a whitebark pine tree have?

They have five needles and are similar to whitebark pines, but they tend to have lots of branches with multiple tops. Mature trees have dark-brown bark, and the cones are longer than 3 inches. Limber Pine. Whitebark pines ( Pinus albicaulis) are the common timberline tree in the subalpine zone of the Sierra Nevada.

What is an incense cedar?

Incense cedar ( Calocedrus decurrens) is a common, aromatic tree of the Sierran mixed coniferous forest. The bark is fibrous and the yellow-green leaves are scalelike and compressed tightly on flat branchlets, giving the tree a lacy appearance. When open, the cones are 2- to 4-winged.

Why are pine cones so common?

Because of their tolerance to wet habitats, they are especially common around meadows and lakes. The bark is thin and scaly. They are easy to identify because it is the only two-needle pine in the Sierra. The cones are small with scale tips having slender prickles.

What pine trees grow in Idaho?

The Western White Pine is actually the state tree for Idaho They can grow up to 150 feet tall. They are normally found in elevations of 7,500 to 10,500 feet where the snow-pack is deep and the growing season is very short. Also commonly known as “silver pines,” Western White pines have slender, soft blue-green needles 2 to 4 inches long growing in bundles of five.Western white pines can be identified by 6 to 10 inch-long narrow, slightly curved cones hanging in bunches from the tips of branches that sort of look like bananas. They only bear a few cones, though, usually every 3 to 4 years. Their trunks are straight with layers of horizontal branches. The bark is light gray on young trees, maturing to brownish-orange sections. These Sierra Nevada evergreen trees can be seen growing alongside the Lodgepole pine.

How tall is a red fir tree?

The California Red Fir tree gets its name from its deep red inner bark. This is a slow-growing tree, but when fully matured, can reach heights of up to 200 feet. This a higher elevation evergreen, living in elevations of 6,000 to 10,000 feet. The Red Fir pine cones are barrel-shaped and are 6-8 inches long and purplish-brown in color. The needles are short, thick and blunt, and square enough to be rolled between the fingers. They are up to 1.25 inches in length, with a curve at the base. The Red Fir, when surrounded by snow, create some of most beautiful picturesque scenes on the Eastern Sierra mountains.

How tall do white fir trees grow?

The White Fir enjoys growing in rocky terrain and live in elevations of 3,000 to 8,000 feet, however, you can find them as high as 10,000 feet. They are not as popular as the Red Fir on the Eastern Sierra slopes. It is a large evergreen with a broad range of sizes. They can grow anywhere from 60 feet to 200 feet. This evergreen tree has silver-bluish/green pine needles that grow 2 -3 inches long. The White Fir is found in areas characterized by a moderately humid climate with long winters and moderate to heavy snowfall. It is found primarily where precipitation exceeds 20 inches. These Sierra Nevada evergreen trees can live up to 300 years, or longer.

How tall are Jeffrey pines?

Jeffrey Pines are found in elevations ranging from 2,000 to 9,000 feet. These Sierra Nevada evergreen trees are very tall and come with blue-green needles that come in bundles of three and are up to 6 inches long. Their cones are 6 to 10 inches long and oval, and very prickly. The Jeffrey pine bark is deeply furrowed, and reddish-brown. It also has a strong vanilla or pineapple odor. It typically grows to 4 to 6 feet in diameter, and 170 to 200 feet in height. The Jeffrey pine also grows in a diverse range of climates and a diverse range of elevations. It grows well on harsh and infertile sites. It is tolerant of drought and adapts to cold weather because it requires a shorter growing season.

What is the shape of a krummholz tree?

Harsh winds, cold temperatures and short growing seasons at this elevation all contribute to give these Sierra Nevada evergreen trees a shrubby, twisted shape referred to as “Krummholz,” a German word for wind-shaped trees-meaning “crooked wood.”

Where are the Sierra plants native to?

All the plant species listed are native to the Sierra's foothills, valleys, and mountains. In addition some are also endemic to here and elsewhere within California - (ca-endemic); and some are further endemic to and only found in the Sierra Nevada - (sn-endemic).

What are the mountains in the Sierras?

The Sierras are bordered by: the Great Basin in rain shadow on the east; the Cascade Range on the north; the Central Valley — San Joaquin Valley on the west; the Tehachapi Mountains linking the Transverse Ranges on the southwest; and the Mojave Desert on the south.

What province is Sierra Nevada in?

The Sierra Nevada are primarily within the California Floristic Province, with the Rocky Mountain Floristic Province to the north, the Great Basin Floristic Province to the east, and Sonoran Floristic Province to the south.

What biome are the mountains in?

The valleys and mountains higher up are in the Nearctic temperate coniferous forests biome: which is represented here by the Sierra Nevada Forests ecoregion.

How far is Sierra Nevada?

A List of Plants in the Sierra Nevada is below. The Sierra Nevada mountain range, also known locally as the "Sierra" or "Sierra Nevada", run 400 miles (640 km) north-to-south along eastern California, and occasionally in western Nevada. The name "Sierra Nevada" is Spanish, translating as "Snowy (Mountain) Range".

Is Sierra Nevada a biome?

The Sierra Nevada are a small part of the North American continental Nearctic realm. The Sierras contain portions of two Nearctic biomes: The lower elevation western Sierra foothills are in the Near ctic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and shrub biome: which is represented here by the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion's California ...

What is the most common tree in Lake Tahoe?

Although Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi) trees are the most common trees found in the Lake Tahoe Basin, that fact doesn’t diminish their regal beauty and dignified stature. One reason for their abundance is their resilient nature in the face of adversity.

How tall do Jeffrey pine trees grow?

The average elevation range in the Sierra Nevada Mountains for Jeffrey Pines to grow is between 6,000-9,000 feet. However, the trees can grow at 5,000 feet, as well as up to elevations of 9,500 feet, depending on the conditions.

How tall do Jeffrey pines get?

Mature Jeffrey Pines can grow to heights of 170 feet or more, although the typical range is closer to 80-130 feet. In general, Jeffrey Pines range in girth from 4-7 feet.

Is Jeffrey Pine a disease?

As robust as Jeffery Pine trees are, they aren’t impervious to disease. In the Lake Tahoe Basin, it’s not uncommon to find a Jeffrey Pine that’s either been infected with Western Gall Rust or Dwarf Mistletoe.

What is the flora of the Sierra Nevada?

The flora of the U.S. Sierra Nevada alpine zone is characterized by small, low growing, cushion and mat forming plants that can survive the harsh conditions in the high-altitude alpine zone above the timber line. These flora often occur in alpine fell-fields.

Why are the leaves on my Sierra Nevada plants red?

Many Sierra Nevada alpine plants have reddish or whitish leaves to protect them from damage from intense ultraviolet radiation in the alpine zone. Fleshy roots and underground organs store food in the form of starches and sugars, allowing the plant to quickly grow when snow melts.

What is the best flowering zone in California?

Botanists have ranked the Sierra Nevada alpine zone floral bloom as one of California's foremost wildflower displays, with flowers of fantastic color and abundance. Many of the alpine species are notable for large and showy flowers, which must compete for the pollinators during brief growing seasons.

Where are alpine plants found?

During the glaciation of the last ice age, some peaks stood out above the ice sheet ( nunataks ), and thus have a high diversity of pre-ice age alpine plants ( relicts ), an example being the Dana Plateau at Tioga Pass. Half of all the alpine plants found in the Sierra Nevada can be found on the Dana Plateau.

How tall is Sierra Gentian?

Sierra gentian ( Gentianopsis holopetala ), in the gentian family ( Gentianaceae), is an erect or sprawling annual or perennial, growing in wet meadows from 6,000 to 13,000 feet (1,800 to 4,000 m) elevation. : 39

Where is macrolichen found in Sierra Nevada?

The macrolichen flora in the Sierra Nevada alpine zone of Mount Dana, Mammoth Peak, and the ridge above Parker Pass , is not well developed compared to neighboring alpine zones in the Rocky Mountains and mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

Is Sierra Nevada a vegetation type?

The Sierra Nevada alpine zone lacks a dominant plant species that characterizes it, so may or may not be called a vegetation type. But it is found above the subalpine forest, which is the highest in a succession of recognized vegetation types at increasing elevations.