Also known as Hackmatack. | ||
leaves |
cones |
seeds |
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General
Description:
A deciduous tree up to 75 m tall ad 1-2 m in diameter with a short pyramidal
crown, with thick, deeply-furrowed, brown
bark; young twigs never tomentose; leaves 2.5-5 cm long, Short-stalked,
ridged on the inner faces; cones 3-4 cm long, oblong, with scales nearly orbicular
and bracts much longer than the scales; seeds 6 mm long. Moist mt. slopes, W.
Mont, to B. C., actors N. Idaho to Oregon.
Distribution:
Southern British Columbia southward east of the Cascade mountains in northeastern
Oregon and adjacent Washington east to Northwestern Montana and northern Idaho.
Habitat:
Mixed with other gymnosperms in mountain valleys and lower slopes, often in
swampy areas.
Other:
Seeds are consumed by mice, chipmunks, and birds such as the red crossbill.
Buds and needles are eaten by grouse. The wood is hard, close grained and very
durable. It is used for flooring, pilings, fence posts, railroad ties and interior
and exterior finishing. It is exported to Japan as logs and processed into lumber
and resold to the U. S. markets under names such as western spruce.