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Pacific northwest tree identification5/24/2023 ![]() This tree can be found just 5 kilometres off Pacific Marine Road, on the way to the Red Creek fir The San Juan Spruce - The largest Sitka Spruce in Canada and the second largest in the world. The Red Creek Fir - The largest known Douglas Fir tree in the world, located east of Port Renfrew and 12 kilometres off Pacific Marine Road. Located near Cheewhat Lake almost 30 kilometres directly northwest of Port Renfrew The Cheewhat Giant - A Western Red Cedar, said to be the largest of its kind in the world and Canada's largest tree overall. The biggest trees on Vancouver Island are: Port Renfrew is a great base from which to visit the various protected groves and parks that are home to some of Vancouver Island's biggest and oldest identified trees. Most of Vancouver Island's biggest trees are found along the central western coast, due to the wet climate and rugged terrain making the area more difficult to log. Where are the giant trees on Vancouver Island? Even as young saplings, the leaves of Big Leaf Maples will be bigger than related varieties. However, both are much smaller than the Big Leaf Maple, growing to barely a third of their size. The Vine Maple and Douglas Maple are two other maple trees found on Vancouver Island. Scientists recently discovered that Big Leaf Maple trees can draw nutrients from these tree gardens. Mature Big Leaf Maple trees can become overgrown with thick moss and even ferns growing on their branches. In forests, they grow tall winding trunks with narrow canopies that glow a bright green when hit by the sun. When given space, Big Leaf Maples grow large, rounded canopies with leaves facing in every direction. The sugar content of the sap is much lower than the traditionally used Sugar Maple (found in eastern Canada), so a lot has to be collected to make even a small amount of syrup. Young Big Leaf Maples can be tapped for their sap, which can then be used to make maple syrup. The furrows or cracks are similar to those of the Black Cottonwood (although not as deep), often forming a "chicken wire" pattern. If you see a tree with giant maple leaves, it's a Big Leaf Maple.īig Leaf Maple bark is smooth when young, becoming grey-brown and furrowed with age. The common name of this tree is well-suited. Similar Species: The Amabilis Fir is shorter, with smoother bark, and has small forward-pointing needles growing from the tops branches in addition to the flat rows on either side. The trunks of mature Grand Firs resemble those of younger Douglas Fir trees, but are more pale (with almost-white sections) and smoothing towards the top.īranches and pitch have a nice smell and both were used by first nations people in various rites and rituals. When young, Grand Fir bark is smooth and grey with sap bubbles, becoming furrowed with age, especially near the base. Their arrangement into two flat rows on either side of a branch (see left)īecause of the evenly spread and flat folliage, forests of young Grand Fir trees can be quite dark. There are two distinctive identifying features of Grand Fir needles: Grand Fir needles are long and flat, with rounded and notched ends, and two stripes underneath. Grand Fir trees are found mostly along the eastern side of Vancouver Island.
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