The Families of Trees in the Sierra Nevada

The Families of Trees in the Sierra Nevada
by Joan Zimmerman, Ph.D.

What native trees can you find in the Sierra Nevada? Check out the classic book by the Petersons. It guides you to the giant sequoia and the bristlecone pine and the other trees of the mountains and valleys of the Sierra.

Also see Trees and Shrubs of California by John Stuart and John Sawyer. (California's native California tree species and most of its common shrub species in one accessible field guide. Over 100 line drawings, 300 range maps, and 40 color photographs.)

Trees of the mountains: Native Trees of the Sierra Nevada by P. Victor Peterson and P. Victor Peterson, Jr.

First published in 1975, this book is a compact and extremely useful guide, containing:

1. How you can identify trees. Your key to identify each Sierra tree through its leaves and fruit.
2. Tree silhouettes. A remarkable section on the recognition of our trees through their profiles.
3. Biotic communities and life zones of the Sierra Nevada.
4. Coniferous trees of the Sierra Nevada, by family, genus, and species.
5. Broadleaf trees of the Sierra Nevada, by family, genus, and species.
6. Maps (including routemaps) on where to see trees show:
   • the vacinity of Lake Tahoe,
   • the Kit Carson Route,
   • the Ebbetts Pass Route,
   • the Sonora Pass Route,
   • Yosemite, and
   • Kings Canyon.
7. Activites and projects for grownups and children, including the creation of an area tree map.
8. A handy glossary, a checklist of trees, and references.

Coniferous Trees of the Sierra Nevada.

You can see these families of coniferous trees in the Sierra:

1. Cypress Family (Cupressacea).
2. Pine Family (Pinaceae).
3. Redwood Family (Taxodiaceae).
4. Yew Family (Taxaceae).

Broadleaf Trees of the Sierra Nevada.

You can see these families of broadleaf trees in the Sierra Nevada:

1. Agave Family (Agavaceae).
2. Beech Family (Fagaceae).
3. Birch Family (Betulaceae).
4. Buckeye Family (Hippocastanaceae).
5. Buckthorn Family (Rhamnaceae).
6. Cacao Family (Sterculiaceae).
7. Dogwood Family (Cornaceae).
8. Heath Family (Ericaceae).
9. Honeysuckle Family (Caprifoliaceae).
10. Laurel Family (Lauraceae).
11. Maple Family (Aceraceae).
12. Olive Family (Oleaceae).
13. Pea Family (Leguminosae).
14. Rose Family (Rosaceae).
15. Sycamore Family (Platanaceae).
16. Walnut Family (Juglandaceae).
17. Willow Family (Salicaceae).

See Genera and Species of these broadleaf trees.

The Petersons' book also includes the quassia family (Simurabaceae), which is an immigrant rather than a native.

For More Information.

Resources - Book.

• Native Trees of the Sierra Nevada by P. Victor Peterson and P. Victor Peterson, Jr., University of California Press. The Petersons' book gives details on how to recognize all trees of the Sierra Nevada.
• The Ecology of Fire by Robert J. Whelan.
• Fire in Sierra Nevada Forests: A Photographic Interpretation of Ecological Change Since 1849 by George E. Gruell.
• The Tree: A Natural History of What Trees Are, How They Live, and Why They Matter by Colin Tudge.

Resources - Related pages.

• The Pine Family of Trees in the Sierra Nevada.
• The Broadleaf Families of Trees in the Sierra Nevada.
• Native Families of Trees in Southern California.
• Got Pine? - Your 60-Second Guide to Naming your Pine.
• Oak trees of California.
• Categorized List of Our Articles.

Forest and Tree Home, Glossary pages: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.

[Thanks for visiting.]

Copyright © 2001-2006 by Joan Zimmerman.