CATS New Mexico Tree Identification 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which juniper species in New Mexico produces seed cones with a reddish-brown, fibrous, and dry (not fleshy) exterior compared to other junipers?
- Utah juniper
- One-seed juniper (Correct answer)
- Alligator juniper
- Rocky Mountain juniper
Correct answer: One-seed juniper
One-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma) cones typically contain a single seed and have a thin, dry, bluish-waxy coating rather than the thick fleshy cones of Utah juniper.
Question 2: Alligator juniper gets its name from its bark. What pattern does this bark display?
- Smooth white patches alternating with dark furrows
- Checkered squares resembling alligator hide (Correct answer)
- Peeling reddish-orange strips
- Deeply spiraled ridges
Correct answer: Checkered squares resembling alligator hide
Alligator juniper (Juniperus deppeana) has thick, checkered bark broken into square or rectangular plates that closely resemble alligator skin.
Question 3: A New Mexico tree with smooth, chalky white bark on upper branches and dark furrowed lower trunk is most likely:
- Quaking aspen
- White alder
- Arizona sycamore (Correct answer)
- Bigtooth maple
Correct answer: Arizona sycamore
Arizona sycamore (Platanus wrightii) has a two-toned trunk — patchy white and cream upper bark exfoliating to reveal lighter layers, contrasting with darker lower trunk.
Question 4: Which tree's foliage turns golden yellow in fall, is dioecious, and produces catkin-like flowers in riparian zones of northern New Mexico?
- Fremont cottonwood (Correct answer)
- Quaking aspen
- Black cottonwood
- Balsam poplar
Correct answer: Fremont cottonwood
Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) is dioecious, produces catkins before leaves emerge, and provides brilliant yellow fall color along New Mexico's Rio Grande corridor.
Question 5: An arborist in the Jemez Mountains notices a tree with 5-needled bundles, white-striped needle undersides, and cones 5–10 inches long. This is most likely:
- Western white pine
- Limber pine
- Southwestern white pine (Correct answer)
- Sugar pine
Correct answer: Southwestern white pine
Southwestern white pine (Pinus strobiformis) has 5-needle bundles, long cylindrical cones, and is the primary 5-needle pine of New Mexico's southern Rocky Mountains.
Question 6: The velvet mesquite and honey mesquite both occur in southern New Mexico. The key visual difference is:
- Flower color
- Bark color
- Leaflet surface texture — velvet mesquite has densely hairy leaflets (Correct answer)
- Pod length
Correct answer: Leaflet surface texture — velvet mesquite has densely hairy leaflets
Velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina) has densely pubescent (velvety) leaflets, while honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) leaflets are glabrous or only slightly hairy.
Question 7: Which New Mexico tree produces clusters of bright red or orange berries in autumn and has pinnately compound leaves with 11–17 leaflets?
- Smooth sumac (Correct answer)
- New Mexico locust
- Arizona rose
- Southwestern chokecherry
Correct answer: Smooth sumac
Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) produces upright clusters of red drupes and pinnately compound leaves that turn scarlet in fall, making it one of the most colorful native shrub-trees in New Mexico.
CATS New Mexico Tree Identification 3
Which juniper species in New Mexico produces seed cones with a reddish-brown, fibrous, and dry (not fleshy) exterior compared to other junipers?