Jepson eFlora: Key page
Vascular Plants of California
Key to families | Table of families and genera
       
   

Key to Pinaceae

View taxon page for Pinaceae

 

Jepson Manual glossary definitions can be seen by moving your cursor over words underlined with dots.

1. Leaves in bundles of (1)2–5 (generally 1 in Pinus monophylla, but then ± round in section, vs leaves ± flat under 1'), generally 2.5–35 cm, base in scaly 
sheath 
image missingA surrounding or partially surrounding, often tubular structure or part of a structure, such as a leaf base in Apiaceae or Poaceae.
; seed cone 
bract 
image missingReduced, leaf- or scale-like structure subtending a branch, cone scale, peduncle, pedicel, or flower.
 fused to 
scale 
image missing1. Wide, appressed, membranous, epidermal outgrowth (e.g., Cheilanthes covillei) 2. Structure partially or entirely covering an over-wintering bud (bud scale) (e.g., Salix goodingii bud). 3. In gymnosperms, a woody, seed-bearing structure attached to the cone axis (cone scale) (e.g., Abies magnifica). 4. In Asteraceae, a flat, membranous pappus element (e.g., Hymenoxys hoopesii). Leaves or bracts may be scale-like in one or more of the preceding ways.
at least basally, 
included 
image missingNot protruding out of surrounding structure(s) (e.g., stamens included in corolla).
, inconspicuous ..... PINUS

1' Leaves not in bundles, 0.5–9 cm, base not in scaly sheath; seed cone bract generally ± free from scale (± fused in Abies), 
exserted 
image missingProtruding out of surrounding structure(s) (e.g., stamens exserted from corolla).
or included, conspicuous

2. Twig without persistent, peg-like 
leaf 
image missingOrgan arising from a stem, generally composed of a stalk (petiole) and a flat, expanded, green, photosynthetic area (blade); distinguished from a leaflet by the presence in its axil of a bud, branch, thorn, or flower; sometimes with lateral, basal appendages (stipules); either simple (toothed, lobed, or dissected but not divided into leaflets) or compound (divided into leaflets).
bases; seed cone 
erect 
image missingUpright; vertically oriented.
, scales, bracts deciduous, axis persistent on stem, ultimately falling ..... ABIES

2' Twig with or without persistent, peg-like leaf bases; seed cone pendent, scales, bracts, axis persistent on stem, ultimately falling as unit

3. Twig without persistent, peg-like leaf bases; seed cone 4–20 cm, bracts exserted, 3-toothed or -lobed ..... PSEUDOTSUGA

3' Twig with persistent, peg-like leaf bases; seed cone 1.2–12 cm, bracts included, 
entire 
image missingHaving margins that are continuous and smooth (i.e., without teeth, lobes, etc.).
or 
fringed 
image missingHaving ragged or finely cut margins.

4. Leaf tip blunt to 
acute 
image missingHaving a short-tapered, sharp tip, the sides convex or straight and converging at less than a right angle.
, persistent base 
spreading 
image missingOriented more or less perpendicularly to the axis of attachment; often, more or less horizontal.
, peg-like; seed cone 5–12 cm ..... PICEA

4' Leaf tip generally blunt, persistent base 
ascending 
image missingCurving or angling upward from base, or about 30-60 degrees less than vertical or away from axis of attachment.
, wedge or scale-like; seed cone 1.2–7.5 cm ..... TSUGA

 

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Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) . Jepson eFlora, https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/ [accessed on ]

Citation for an individual treatment: [Author of taxon treatment] [year]. [Taxon name] in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, [URL for treatment]. Accessed on .

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