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21-Jul-2011 Jim Stiles

_MG_84943.jpg

Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

I was photographing the avalanches (from a distance) coming down the various chutes on Mount Edith Cavell when I noticed this beautiful conifer nearby with these gorgeous purple seed cones. I'm no aroborist so I don't know for sure what variety this is, and I'd love to know! Anyway, I was quite smitten with their color and just had to get some shots to share.


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Jim Stiles09-Sep-2011 18:30
Thank you all so much for your visits and comments. Especially Pat for his helpful descriptions and links. I believe this is an Englemann Spruce, and these cones are the male cones. I found this link that pretty much confirmed this for me based on the cones in this image.http://extension.usu.edu/range/woody/englemannspruce.htm
Frank Kavanagh Photography09-Sep-2011 16:11
Me, I have no idea at all.
But I love the colours in this shot.
Lennart Waara09-Sep-2011 08:47
A truly fine colorful photo and the long lens gives a very fine short DOF.
Terry_O09-Sep-2011 05:37
Not sure either, but I am sure I like your image, Jim.
Those purple new shoots really are eye-catching.
Guest 09-Sep-2011 05:26
the short needles flat on some sides make me think spruce... if you were in Jasper probably big spruce... not a blue spruce... not a tamarak..

http://www.borealforest.org/world/trees/sitka_spruce.htm

he Sitka Spruce is the world's largest spruce. It has a tall, straight trunk and a broad, open, conical crown of horizontal branches. It can reach a height of 49 m with a diameter of 0.9 - 1.5 m; sometimes even larger.

Fir needles typically look like they are growing out from the side, giving the whole branch a flattened appearance, while the needles of a spruce tree are arranged all around the twig. To see if it is a fir or spruce, check the side branches of the tree because some fir branches, like those at the top, do grow like a spruce with needles on all sides of the twig.

http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/conservation/wildlife/featured-species/flora/spruce-trees-of-canada.html
hal 09-Sep-2011 03:36
l've never seen them before either Jim,
but real glad that l have now.
This is a really lovely image.