Western Redbud (Cercis occidentals)

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This page last updated on 04/08/2018

(Fig. 01)

Picture Notes:  There were two of these trees on the trail to the Calico Tank in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. As best I can ascertain it was a Redbud (Cercis). Unfortunately it was till a little early in the spring and they were only just beginning to bud. Click here for information about this hike ... Calico Tank Hike (RRCNCA).
                                     
Description: Redbud (Cercis), is a genus containing 20 taxa overall. Redbud trees are native to warm temperate regions. They can grow as small deciduous trees or large shrubs, depending on their environment. The species of Redbud can be characterized by simple, rounded to heart shaped leaves and pinkish red flowers. These are borne in the early spring on bare leafless shoots. Full-grown Western redbud typically stay below 10 feet tall. It is most often grown as a small, multi-trunked tree. The silvery-gray branches contrast beautifully with pink flowers in spring and purple seed pods in summer. These distinct markers create the illusion of having a twice-blooming plant. On their own in late winter, branches provide a pleasing silver silhouette. One of the first signs of spring is Western redbud’s tiny, pink, sweet-pea-shaped flowers. They cling to bare twigs and branches for several weeks before leaves come on. Leaves are rounded heart shapes, delicate at first and leathery as the season continues. They offer attractive color. Young leaf tips are fresh apple green, but darken to deep green with blue undertones as they mature. In autumn, foliage changes again to golden yellow then rust red before they fall. It ranges from California east to Utah primarily in the foothill regions. The tree often forms multi trunked colonies that are covered in bright pink flowers in early spring (February thru March). White-flowered variants are in cultivation. It buds only once a year.

Index for Category – Palms and Trees

This page last updated on 03/03/2018

Click on a Title to View Mesquite Tree - 2018 Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)- 2017 Pomegranate (Punica Proto Punica) - 2017 Thundercloud Purple Leaf Plum (Prunus cerisifera) Bristlecone Pines (Pinus longaeva) Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) Mojave Yucca (Yucca schidigera) Dwarf Peach Tree Tree Art - Knots, Stumps and More Bristlecone Pines Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina) European (Mediterranean) Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis) Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia robusta) Mimosa Tree (Albizia julibrissin) Flowering Cherry 'Pink Perfection' Incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) Ponderosa Pine - Dying, But not Gone Bristlecone Snag Growth Rings (Tree unknown) Tree Knot (Tree unknown) Joshua Tree (Yucca Brevifolia) The Stump (Tree unknown) Cypress Tree at Corn Creek Winter Reflections (Tree unknown)

Mesquite Tree

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This page last updated on 03/03/2018

Description: This picture in (Fig.01) is a closeup view of a tree (Fig. 02) on the edge of the reservoir at the China Ranch/Date Farm in California. I believe it a species of the Mesquite tree. Many early-day ranchers called mesquite “the devil with roots,” because it absorbs all of the water in its surroundings causing other plants and trees to wither away and die, allowing more mesquites to move in and take over, and also because of its vicious thorns. Mesquite trees vary considerably in size. Whenever a young mesquite tree is damaged, it will sometimes turn into a shrub - the tree then evolves into a sprawling shrub closer to the ground instead of a tall tree. While the honey mesquite tree has creamy white fluffy flowers from early spring all through summer into fall, and delicate feathery leaves similar to those on the mimosa tree, it also has tough, needle-sharp thorns up to 3 inches long. Their thorns, sharply pointed and strong, challenge browsing by desert herbivores. These thorns are tough as nails -- plenty of animals and people have experienced just how vicious they can be. Mesquite trees furnish shade and wildlife habitat where other trees will not grow. They will often be found in alkaline soils near water holes.
                          

(Fig. 02)

Go back to the previous page ... China Ranch/Date Farm - Trip Notes for 02/28/2018.

Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)

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This page last updated on 10/02/2017

(Fig. 01)

Picture Notes: The pictures on this page were all capture at various places inside of the Spring Mountain National Recreation Area and the Mt. Charleston Wilderness Area northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. Specifically, (Figs. 01, 02 and 08) were taken along the trail to the Cathedral Dome. The trees shown in (Figs. 04 & 05) were captured at the parking and traihead area to the Mary Jane Falls. More are see on the following post ... Mt. Charleston's Quaking Aspens. The stands in (Figs. 06 and 07) were taken along the Bristlecone Pine Trail, ... Bristlecone Trail.

(Fig. 02)

Descriiption: Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) is a deciduous tree native to cooler areas of North America. One of several species, it is also known as quaking aspen, trembling aspen, American aspen, Quakies, mountain or golden aspen, trembling poplar, white poplar, popple, and others. When the wind blows the leaves tremble and flutter hence the name "quaking" aspen.

(Fig. 03)

The trees have tall trunks, usually 65–80 feet at maturity, with smooth pale bark, scarred with black. The glossy green leaves, dull beneath, become golden to yellow, rarely red (Fig. 03), in autumn. The species often propagates through its roots to form large clonal groves originating from a shared root system. This tall fast growing tree can have a trunk of 8 inches to 2 feet 7 inches in diameter. Though I have never seen anything this big, records are 119 ft 9 inches in height with a 4 feet 6 inches in diameter. The bark is relatively smooth, colored greenish-white to gray, and is marked by thick black horizontal scars and prominent black knots. Parallel vertical scars are tell-tale signs of elk, which strip off aspen bark with their front teeth. The leaves on mature trees are nearly round, 1 1⁄2–3 1⁄4 inches in diameter with small rounded teeth, and a 1 1⁄4–2 3⁄4-inch long, flattened petiole. In the western United States, this tree rarely survives at elevations lower than 1,500 feet due to hot summers experienced below that elevation, and is generally found at 5,000–12,000 feet. The pictures for all of these were at an elevation of between 8,500 and 10,000 feet.
This tree is a staple for the habitat of ruffed grouse, which feed on the bud and catkin.  Also a food source for pheasant, orioles, and many others. It is often used for nesting by a variety of woodpeckers. This high protein tree is also an important feed source for deer and beaver. Caterpillars of various moths and butterflies also use its leaves as a food source.

(Fig. 04)

(Fig. 05)

(Fig. 06)

(Fig. 07)

(Fig. 08)

Pomegranate (Punica proto-punica)

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This page last updated on 05/27/2017

(Fig. 01)

Picture Notes: On 05/27/2017, I visited Corn Creek Station for a short afternoon visit after going to the Paiute Powwow at nearby Snow Mountain.

Description: The pomegranate is native from Iran to the Himalayas in northern India and was cultivated and naturalized over the whole Mediterranean region since ancient times. It is widely cultivated throughout India and the drier parts of southeast Asia, Malaya, the East Indies and tropical Africa. The tree was introduced into California by Spanish settlers in 1769. In this country it is grown for its fruits mainly in the drier parts of California and Arizona. The pomegranate is a small tree that can grow to 20 or 30 ft. It is usually deciduous, but in certain areas the leaves will persist on the tree. The trunk is covered by a red-brown bark which later becomes gray. The branches are stiff, angular and often spiny. Pomegranates are also long-lived. There are specimens in Europe that are known to be over 200 years of age. The vigor of a pomegranate declines after about 15 years, however.
                  
Its flowers are an attractive scarlet (Figs. 01 & 04), white or variegated and are over an inch across and have 5 to 8 crumpled petals and a red, fleshy, tubular calyx which persists on the fruit. The flowers may be solitary or grouped in twos and threes at the ends of the branches. The pomegranate (Figs. 02 & 03) is self-pollinated as well as cross-pollinated by insects. Cross-pollination increases the fruit set. Wind pollination is insignificant. Its fruit is nearly round, 2-1/2 to 5 in. wide fruit and is crowned at the base by the prominent calyx. The tough, leathery skin or rind is typically yellow overlaid with light or deep pink or rich red. The interior is separated by membranous walls and white, spongy, bitter tissue into compartments packed with sacs filled with sweetly acid, juicy, red, pink or whitish pulp or aril. In each sac there is one angular, soft or hard seed. High temperatures are essential during the fruiting period to get the best flavor. The the fruit should mature some 5 to 7 months after bloom.

(Fig. 02)

(Fig. 03)

(Fig. 04)

Return to previous page ... [Corn Creek Station (DNWR) - Trip Notes for 05/27/2017]

Chanticleer Pear (Pyrus calleryana)

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(Fig. 01)

Pictures Notes: This is another one of the earliest blossoming trees here in southern Nevada. There are nearly a dozen of these ornamental trees planted in the parking lot of our local Paseo Verde Library (Fig. 03). Every year in the early spring, usually the end of February here, Just walking through the parking lot and looking up into the trees (Figs. 04 &05) you are captivated by their stark beauty. Every spring I look forward to seeing these beautiful trees yet once again.

(Fig. 02)
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Description: The Chanticleer Pear (Pyrus calleryana), also known in the U.S. as the Bradford Pear, it is also called the Callery Pear, and is native to China and Vietnam. This is a deciduous tree that grows from 16 to 26 feet, often with a conic rounded crown. The leaves are pointed oval 1.6 to 3.1 inches, glossy dark green on top and slightly paler on the bottom. In spring it radiates beautiful white flower clusters (Figs. 01 & 02). Its white, five-petaled flowers are about 0.79 to 0.98 inches in diameter. They are produced abundantly in early spring, before the leaves expand fully. After flowering in the spring time, it produces small round hard fruit, quite bitter in taste. In summer, the foliage is dark green and very smooth, and in autumn the leaves commonly turn brilliant colors, ranging from yellow and orange to more commonly red, pink, purple, and bronze. Sometimes, several of these fall colors may be present on an individual leaf. However, since the color often develops very late in fall, the leaves may be killed by a hard frost before full color can develop. The Chanticleer pear keeps its leaves into late November. 

(Fig. 03)

(Fig. 04)

(Fig. 05)

Thundercloud Purple Leaf Plum (Prunus cerisifera)

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(Fig. 01)

Picture Notes:  These pictures were taken the third week in February in our front yard that runs between the adjacent buildings just outside the deck of our apartment (Fig. 02). Try this in New England in February. It's like we have two "Spring" seasons every year here. One between February and March and another between April and May. These ornamental trees are spread throughout the property and are absolutely beautiful.

(Fig. 02)

                   
Description: The common name for this tree is Thundercloud Purple Leaf Plum (Prunus cerasifera). This plum has new foliage which unfolds as ruby red, then reddish-purple for the rest of the growing season. It produces small, white to light pink, fragrant springtime flowers that appear before its leaves unfold (Fig. 03). Its spring blossoms attract bees. It is then followed by a heavy crop of edible, one-inch-diameter purple fruits which attract a variety of birds and squirrels.

(Fig. 03)

Bristlecone Pines (Pinus longaeva)

(Fig. 01)

Picture Notes: Taken on 10/08/2013, the pictures in (Figs. 01 & 2) are of “Rainman”, the 3,000 year-old Bristlecone Pine found along the Mt. Charleston North Loop Trail. The stand of Bristlecones in (Fig. 03 & 04) were located just above Lookout Point, elevation 9,480 feet, on a hike of the Bristlecone Pine Trail back on 09/20/2012. The final grouping of shots (Figs. 05-07), were captured along the North Loop Trail to Mt. Charleston.

(Fig. 02)

Description: Bristlecone Pines (Pinus longaeva), a.k.a Great Basin Bristlecone Pine, only live in scattered, arid mountain regions of six western states. The name bristlecone pine refers to the dark purple female cones that bear incurved prickles on their surface. These species of pine trees live longer than any other known organism: over 5,000 years. Bristlecone pines generally grow on dolomitic soils in isolated groves just below the tree line, between 5,600 and 11,200 foot elevations. The oldest bristlecones usually grow at elevations of 10,000 to 11,000 feet. Because they are well spaced, they grow free of competition from other plants and the ravages of insects and disease. Because these pines exist in exposed, harsh environments consisting of cold temperatures, dry soils, high winds, and short growing seasons, they grow very slowly. The really ancient trees have a fittingly gnarled and stunted appearance, especially those found at high altitudes. As the tree ages, much of its vascular cambium layer may die. In very old specimens, often only a narrow strip of living tissue connects the roots to a handful of live branches. The bark is a reddish-brown, with deep fissures; and contains thick, scaly, irregular, blocky ridges. Branches contorted, pendent; twigs pale red-brown, aging gray to yellow-gray. Young branches resemble long bottlebrushes because of persistent leaves, closely spaced green pine needle whorls, and uniform needle insertion angles. They come in bundles of 5, and are 1 to 1.5 inches in length. Because the needles can live for forty years, the tree doesn't need to expend much energy on adding new needles. This helps the tree survive through years of stress. The male flowers, or catkins are red-purple in color. The female cones are ovoid, or egg-shaped, and dark purple to brown when mature. Each cone is 2.5 to 3.75 inches long and take 2 years to mature. These ancient trees don't grow very tall, the tallest being 60 feet, but usually less than that. The girth of the largest tree, the Patriarch, is 36 feet 8 inches, but this tree is comparatively young at only 1,500 years. The average age is 1,000 years, with only a handful of trees over 4,000 years. The trees put more energy into surviving then growing big. A bristlecone trunk may grow less than 0.01 of an inch in girth per year.                         The gnarled bristlecone pine wood is very dense and resinous, and thus resistant to invasion by insects, fungi, and other potential pests. The tree's longevity is due in part to the wood's extreme durability. While other species of trees that grow nearby suffer rot, bare bristlecone pines can endure, even after death, often still standing on their roots, for many centuries. Rather than rot, exposed wood, on living and dead trees, erodes like stone due to wind, rain, and freezing, which creates unusual forms and shapes. When they finally fall, it's because the supporting roots finally decay or are undermined by erosion.                             The bristlecone pine has an intrinsically low rate of reproduction and regeneration, and it is thought that under present climatic and environmental conditions the rate of regeneration may be insufficient to sustain its population. Because of this, the species are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list. Bristlecone pines are protected in a number of national parks such as the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains of California and the Great Basin National Park in Nevada, where cutting or gathering wood is prohibited.

Habitat: Bristlecones only live in scattered, arid mountain regions of six western states, with the oldest being found in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains of California. Nowhere are there more bristlecone pines than in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains of California near the Nevada state line, part of Inyo National Forest. This area is known for some of the oldest trees on record, several approaching 5,000 years. Unfortunately, the shortest route to the White Mountains for Southern Nevadans is 233 miles. However, if you are satisfied with seeing some magnificent specimens that are only 3,000 years old, you can visit "Rainman", elevation 9,968 feet, on Mt. Charleston's North Loop Trail or at Lookout Point, elevation 9,480 feet, at the top of the Bristlecone Pine Trail.

The Dating Process: Dendrochronology is term given to the dating of climatic changes through study of tree ring growth. The analysis of Bristlecones, based upon the comparison of long slender half-inch core samples taken from dead ground wood, standing dead wood and living trees, has proven essential to the building of accurate tree-ring chronologies dating back to almost 9,000 years into the past. This process has proven so accurate that it has even been used to recalibrate the C-14 (carbon dating) process.

(Fig. 03)

(Fig. 04)

(Fig. 05)

(Fig. 06)

(Fig. 07)

Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)

(Fig.01)

Picture Notes: Even though I have found many of these majestic trees on my various hikes, these recent sightings, (Figs. 01 & 02) were taken on 10/03/2013 along the Fletcher Canyon Trail inside the Mt. Charleston Wilderness Area of the Toiyabe National Forest. The picture in (Fig. 03) was taken this past August while hiking a section of the Tahoe Rim Trail.

(Fig. 02)

Description:: The Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa), a.k.a. Pacific Ponderosa Pine, Bull Pine, Blackjack Pine, or western yellow pine, is a coniferous (cone-bearing) tree with long, round-like needles set in bundles of 3, 5-10 inches long. The bundles radiate in all directions around the twigs. Its cones are egg-shaped and about 5-7 inches long with scales tipped with a sharp spine. This tall, straight tree grows to average heights of 125 feet with diameters of 4 feet, though some have been recorded well over 225 feet in height. Based upon a tree found in Oregon, it actually holds the record as the tallest pine tree at a height of 268.29 feet. When mature it has a large spreading crown, yet is devoid of lower branches. Young trees have a dark brown bark, however when mature it bark is a beautiful orange to cinnamon-red bark with black crevices or irregular fissures forming plates. Native to western North America, in Nevada, the Ponderosa Pine is the dominant component of the upper mountain vegetation found in the Spring and Sheep mountain life zone. It is the official state tree of the State of Montana.

(Fig. 03)

Dwarf Peach Tree (Prunus persica)

Picture Notes: I shot these pictures on a visit to the Las Vegas Springs Preserve on 03/03/2013. Mr. Tracy Omar, Science and Gardens Supervisor at the Springs Preserve Botanical Gardens for helped me to identify this as a dwarf peach tree.

Description: The peach, Prunus persica, is a deciduous tree, native to China and South Asia, where it was first cultivated. Often referred to as a stone fruit (drupes), it bears an edible juicy fruit also called a peach. Peaches and nectarines are the same species, even though they are regarded commercially as different fruits. Nectarines have smooth skin, while peaches have fuzzy skin. The peach was brought to the Americas by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. Though recently the U.S. is becoming more known for it peach production (where the three largest producing states are California, South Carolina, and Georgia, Georgia), China is still the world's largest producer of peaches and nectarines. There are hundreds of peach and nectarine cultivars. These are classified into two categories-the freestones and the clingstones. Freestones are those for whom the fruit flesh separates readily from the pit. Clingstones are those for whom the flesh clings tightly to the pit. Many horticulturalists have created mutations of flowering peaches, selected for ornamental display rather than fruit production. Semi-dwarf trees grow to 9.8 to 13 feet; dwarf trees grow to 6 feet 7 inches to 9 feet 10 inches. Prunus persica grows to 13-33 feet tall with lanceolate leaves that are 2.8-6.3 inches long, and .79-1.2 inches broad, pinnately veined. The flowers are produced in early spring before the leaves; they are solitary or paired, 1-2 inches in diameter, pink, with five petals. The fruit has yellow or whitish flesh, a delicate aroma, and a velvety skin. The single, large seed is red-brown, oval shaped, approximately .5-1 inch long, and is surrounded by a wood-like husk. Peaches, along with cherries, plums and apricots, are stone fruits (drupes).

Bristlecones - The Gnarly Ones

The Bristlecone pines in the above image were located at the top of a 9,380 foot high ridgeline along the Bristlecone Trail that is located in Lee Canyon, northeast of Mt. Charleston, Clark County, Nevada. I am always looking for ways to better enhance or present some of my photographs. I find that converting a color photo to sepia image not only makes it appear to look older than it really is, it also shows much more depth and definition than the original color image. I thought both of these effects seemed especially appropriate for these centuries old Bristlecone pines; making them “pop” with almost a three-dimensional quality.   About Bristlecone Pines:  The bristlecone pines are a small group of pine trees (Family Pinaceae, genus Pinus, subsection Balfourianae). Bristlecones don't grow very tall, 60 ft. at the most, but usually much less. Girth of the largest one, the Patriarch is 36' 8", and this tree is relatively young at 1,500 years. The average age is about 1,000 years with only a few over 4,000 years. Bristlecones can remain standing for hundreds of years after death. Because of cold temperatures, dry soils, high winds, and short growing seasons, these trees grow very slowly. Their longevity is attributed to the fact that their wood is very dense and resinous, and thus resistant to invasion by insects, fungi, and other potential pests. When they finally fall, it's because the supporting roots finally decay or are undermined by erosion. Dendrochronology is term given to the dating of climatic changes through study of tree ring growth. The analysis of Bristlecones, based upon the comparison of long slender half-inch core samples taken from dead ground wood, standing dead wood and living trees, has proven essential to the building of accurate tree-ring chronologies dating back to almost 9,000 years into the past. This process has proven so accurate that it has even been used to recalibrate the C-14 (carbon dating) process. Return to Bristlecone Hike Page

Tree Art - Knots, Stumps and More

All of the pictures in this post were taken along various trail hikes in and around the Mt. Charleston area inside the 6.3 million acre Humboldt-Toiyabe national forest, the largest national forest in the lower 48 states. Maybe it's just me, but I often am fascinated by the beauty in the bark, structure and twisted remains of trees that I happen upon during my hikes.

Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)

Photographic Location: I found this tree about a quarter of a mile out on a trail that headed northwest from the parking area at Red Spring in the Calico Basin of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (RRCNCA).

Description: The Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina), also known as the Arizona Ash or Modesto Ash, is a perennial tree native to southwestern North America from southern California east to Texas. This small deciduous tree can grow up to 32-40 feet with a trunk up to 4 inches in diameter. Its bark is rough gray-brown and fissured, and the shoots are velvety-downy. Its leaves, 4-6 inches long,  long, pinnately compound with five or seven (occasionally three) leaflets 1-1/2 inches or more long, with an entire or finely serrated margin. The flowers are produced in small clusters in early spring; it is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate trees. They are commonly recognized by their distinctive seeds, commonly known as samaras, which are shaped like canoe paddles. The samara are 1/2 to 1 inch long, with an apical wing about 3/8 inch broad. These trees are common in large, sandy washes with underground water and along streams in rocky canyons. These riparian trees only grow in locations where they can get a regular supply of moisture. Its most active growth period is in the spring and summer, with its greatest bloom in the late spring, with fruit and seed production starting in the summer and continuing until fall. Leaves are not retained year to year.

European (Mediterranean) Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis)

With Spring here once more, it's now time to head out and begin enjoying our pool area and the fine weather that Las Vegas is noted for. The beautiful landscaping and lush pool area was one of the main reasons we moved into this apartment home complex. Sitting by the pool always makes us feel like we are on vacation at some south Pacific island. Here is just another example of the palms gracing our pool area are the European Fan Palm. We must have at least 20-25 of these wonderful little palms, usually in clumps of 4-5 palms. These pictures were taken on various pool visits over the past several years.

DESCRIPTION: The European Fan Palm Tree (Chamaerops humilis) is also known as Mediterranean Fan Palm, Dwarf Fan Palm, and Palmito. It is native to the Mediterranean region of Europe. It is a shrub-like clumping palm, with several stems growing from a single base reaching a height of only 7-10 feet with a width of about 10 feet.  The trunks are covered in old leaf bases and brown fibers, can reach 9-12 inches in diameter. They rarely grow higher than 10 feet and can take 10-15 years to achieve 7ft.

It has triangular, palmate, or fan shaped, leaves that range from blue green to silvery gray in color. Leaves grow outward then upward. It is a fan palm (Arecaceae tribe Corypheae), with the leaves with a long petiole terminating in a rounded fan of 10-20 leaflets; each leaf is up to 3-4 feet long, with the leaflets 20-30 inches long. It also has numerous sharp needle-like spines produced on the leaf stems; these protect the stem growing point from browsing animals. During late spring months it produces small yellow flowers. The flowers are monoecious, individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant. Flowers are borne in dense, short clusters at the top of the stems, followed by green fruits that turn a brownish orange when ripe. Fruits are around 0.5 inch in diameter, develop in fall and are not edible.