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Manzanita

Manzanita

See text :See Manzanita (album) for the Mia Doi Todd album. The Manzanitas are a subgenus of the genus Arctostaphylos. They are evergreen shrubs or small trees present in the chaparral biome of western North America, where they occur from southern British Columbia in Canada, Washington to California and New Mexico in the United States, and throughout much of northern and central Mexico. They are characterised by smooth, orange or red bark and stiff, twisting branches. There are about 60 species of manzanita, ranging from ground-hugging coastal and mountain species to small trees up to 6m tall. Manzanitas bloom in the spring and carry berries in summer. The berries and flowers of some species are edible. Mexico See also Bearberry for other species in the same genus. The word manzanita is the Spanish diminutive of manzana (apple). A literal translation would be little apple. The name manzanita is also sometimes used to refer to species in the related genus Arbutus, more usually known as madroño.

Uses

Manzanita (tree and larger shrub varieties) are sometimes used for ornamental plants, because of their high drought-tolerance and unusual bark and leaf colors. However, because most species grow slowly and in dense clusters, often a landscaper will simply remove all but a few attractive samples, which are then pruned of dead wood. Manzanita wood, when dry, is a very good fuel for wood burning in a campfire, barbecue, fireplace, and stove. It is dense and burns at a high temperature for long periods. However, caution should be exercised, because the high temperatures can damage thin walled barbecues, and even crack cast iron stoves or cause chimney fires. The wood is notoriously hard to cure, mostly due to cracking against the grain, giving it few uses as lumber. The slow growth rate and high number of branchings further decrease the sizes available. Some furniture and art utilizes whole round branches, which reduces cracking and preserves the deep red color. One unusual market for manzanita is as perches for parrots and other large birds, kept as pets. The branches of the larger species are extremely long lasting in this regard. The dead wood decays slowly and can last for many years, on and off of the plant. It bleaches under sunlight to light grey or white tones and smooth surfaces, often times looking like animal bones. Because of this and the stunted slow growth of many species, it is often found in unusual shapes, and collected. This earned it the nickname mountain driftwood.

External link


- [http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=23467 ITIS 23467 ITIS species list] Category:Ericales

Manzanita (album)

Manzanita is the title of an album by Mia Doi Todd, released 2005-02-08 on the Plug Research label.

Track listing

Side One: # "The Way" # "What If We Do?" # "My Room Is White" # "Casa Nova" # "Muscle, Bone & Blood" Side Two: # "The Last Night of Winter" # "Luna Lune" # "Tongue-Tied" # "Deep at Sea" # "I Gave You My Home"

Arctostaphylos


About 60, see text. The genus Arctostaphylos, the manzanitas and bearberries, are shrubs or small trees characterised by smooth, orange or red bark and stiff, twisting branches. tree There are about 60 species of manzanita, ranging from ground-hugging coastal and mountain species to small trees up to 6 m tall. Most are evergreen (one species deciduous), with small oval leaves 1-7 cm long, arranged spirally on the stems. The flowers are bell-shaped, whiteor pale pink, and borne in small clusters of 2-20 together; flowering is in the spring. The fruit are small berries, ripening in the summer or autumn. The berries of some species are edible. The name means "bear grapes", derived from Greek arkto (bear) and staphyle (grape). According to Philip V. Wells in The Jepson Manual and other sources, there are two subgenera of Arctostaphylos:
- Subgenus Micrococcus
  - Sect. Micrococcus
    - Arctostaphylos mendocinoensis
    - Arctostaphylos myrtifolia
    - Arctostaphylos nissenana
    - Arctostaphylos nummularia
- Subgenus Arctostaphylos, which has 3 sections:
  - Sect. Arctostaphylos
    - Arctostaphylos alpina
    - Arctostaphylos bakeri
    - Arctostaphylos densiflora
    - Arctostaphylos edmundsii
    - Arctostaphylos gabrielensis
    - Arctostaphylos glauca
    - Arctostaphylos hispidula
    - Arctostaphylos hookeri
    - Arctostaphylos insularis
    - Arctostaphylos klamathensis
    - Arctostaphylos manzanita
    - Arctostaphylos mewukka
    - Arctostaphylos nevadensis
    - Arctostaphylos parryana
    - Arctostaphylos patula
    - Arctostaphylos pumila
    - Arctostaphylos pungens
    - Arctostaphylos rudis
    - Arctostaphylos stanfordiana
    - Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
    - Arctostaphylos viscida
  - Sect. Foliobracteata
    - Arctostaphylos andersonii
    - Arctostaphylos auriculata
    - Arctostaphylos canescens
    - Arctostaphylos catalinae
    - Arctostaphylos columbiana
    - Arctostaphylos confertiflora
    - Arctostaphylos cruzensis
    - Arctostaphylos glandulosa
    - Arctostaphylos glutinosa
    - Arctostaphylos hooveri
    - Arctostaphylos imbricata
    - Arctostaphylos luciana
    - Arctostaphylos malloryi
    - Arctostaphylos montaraensis
    - Arctostaphylos montereyensis
    - Arctostaphylos morroensis
    - Arctostaphylos nortensis
    - Arctostaphylos obispoensis
    - Arctostaphylos osoensis
    - Arctostaphylos otayensis
    - Arctostaphylos pajaroensis
    - Arctostaphylos pallida
    - Arctostaphylos pechoensis
    - Arctostaphylos pilosula
    - Arctostaphylos purissima
    - Arctostaphylos refugioensis
    - Arctostaphylos regismontana
    - Arctostaphylos silvicola
    - Arctostaphylos tomentosa
    - Arctostaphylos virgata
    - Arctostaphylos viridissuma
    - Arctostaphylos wellsii
  - Sect. Pictobracteata
    - Arctostaphylos pringlei See also Bearberry, for some species in the genus Arctostaphylos. ;Synonyms
- Arctostaphylos bicolor is generally considered Xylococcus bicolor
- Arctostaphylos crustacea is generally considered Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. crustacea See also the closely related genus Comarostaphylis, previously often included in Arctostaphylos.

Distribution

Comarostaphylis Manzanitas are present in the chaparral biome of western North America, where they occur from southern British Columbia in Canada, Washington to California and New Mexico in the United States, and throughout much of northern and central Mexico. Three species, the bearberries, A. alpina (Alpine Bearberry), A. rubra (Red Bearberry) and A. uva-ursi (Common Bearberry), have adapted to arctic and subarctic climates, and have a circumpolar distribution in northern North America, Asia and Europe.

Cultivation

Cultivation is generally difficult due to fungal diseases, and often salinity and alkalinity. Overhead watering should be avoided in hot weather. Some cultivars are easier to cultivate.

References


- [http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=23467 ITIS 23467]
- Hickman, James C. (1993). The Jepson Manual: higher plants of California, University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, California. ISBN 0-520-08255-9.
- [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Arctostaphylos Treatment from the Jepson Manual]
- Wells, Philip V. (2000). Manzanitas of California, Dept. of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Lawrence, Kansas. ISBN 0933994222.
- Wells, Philip V. 1992. Subgenera and sections of Arctostaphylos. The Four Seasons 9: 64-69. Category:Ericales

Shrub

:"Shrub" is also a derogatory nickname for United States President George W Bush. George W Bush A shrub or bush is a horticultural rather than strictly botanical category of woody plant, distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and lower height, usually less than 6 m tall. A large number of plants can be either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience. Small, low shrubs such as lavender, periwinkle and thyme are often termed subshrubs. A natural plant community dominated by shrubs is called a shrubland. The word bush can also refer to a type of plant community, as in the Australian bush. This is often characterised by scrubby, open woodland and is a generic term for Eucalyptus dominated woodland in particular. An area of cultivated shrubs in a park or garden is known as a shrubbery. When clipped as topiary, shrubs generally have dense foliage and many small leafy branches growing close together. Many shrubs respond well to renewal pruning, in which hard cutting back to a 'stool' results in long new stems known as "canes". Other shrubs respond better to selective pruning to reveal their structure and character. Shrubs in common garden practice are generally broad-leaved plants, though some smaller conifers such as Mountain Pine and Common Juniper are also shrubby in structure. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen.

List of Shrubs

Incomplete! Those marked
- can also develop into tree form. ;A
- Abelia (Abelia)
- Actinidia (Actinidia)
- Aralia (Angelica Tree, Hercules' Club)
-
- Arctostaphylos (Bearberry, Manzanita)
-
- Aronia (Chokeberry)
- Artemisia (Sagebrush)
- Aucuba (Aucuba) ;B
- Berberis (Barberry)
- Buddleja (Butterfly bush)
- Buxus (Box)
- ;C
- Calia (Mescalbean)
- Callicarpa (Beautyberry)
-
- Callistemon (Bottlebrush)
-
- Calluna (Heather)
- Calycanthus (Sweetshrub)
- Camellia (Camellia, Tea)
-
- Caragana (Pea-tree)
-
- Carpenteria (Carpenteria)
- Caryopteris (Blue Spiraea)
- Cassiope (Moss-heather)
- Ceanothus (Ceanothus)
-
- Celastrus (Staff vine)
-
- Ceratostigma (Hardy Plumbago)
- Cercocarpus (Mountain-mahogany)
-
- Chaenomeles (Japanese Quince)
- Chamaebatiaria (Fernbush)
- Chamaedaphne (Leatherleaf)
- Chimonanthus (Wintersweet)
- Chionanthus (Fringe-tree)
-
- Choisya (Mexican-orange Blossom)
-
- Cistus (Rockrose)
- Clerodendrum (Clerodendrum)
- Clethra (Summersweet, Pepperbush)
-
- Clianthus (Glory Pea)
- Colletia (Colletia)
- Colutea (Bladder Senna)
- Comptonia (Sweetfern)
- Cornus (Dogwood)
-
- Corylopsis (Winter-hazel)
-
- Cotinus (Smoketree)
-
- Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster)
-
- Cowania (Cliffrose)
- Crataegus (Hawthorn)
-
- Crinodendron (Crinodendron)
-
- Cytisus and allied genera (Broom)
- ;D
- Daboecia (Heath)
- Danae (Alexandrian Laurel)
- Daphne (Daphne)
- Decaisnea (Decaisnea)
- Dasiphora (Shrubby Cinquefoil)
- Dendromecon (Tree Poppy)
- Desfontainea (Desfontainea)
- Deutzia (Deutzia)
- Diervilla (Bush Honeysuckle)
- Dipelta (Dipelta)
- Dirca (Leatherwood)
- Drimys (Winter's Bark)
-
- Dryas (Mountain Avens) ;E
- Elaeagnus (Elaeagnus)
-
- Embothrium (Chilean Firebush)
-
- Empetrum (Crowberry)
- Enkianthus (Pagoda Bush)
- Ephedra (Ephedra)
- Epigaea (Trailing Arbutus)
- Erica (Heath)
- Eriobotrya (Loquat)
-
- Escallonia (Escallonia)
- Eucryphia (Eucryphia)
-
- Euonymus (Spindle)
-
- Exochorda (Pearl Bush) ;F
- Fabiana (Fabiana)
- Fallugia (Apache Plume)
- Fatsia (Fatsia)
- Forsythia (Forsythia)
- Fothergilla (Fothergilla)
- Franklinia (Franklinia)
-
- Fremontodendron (Flannelbush)
- Fuchsia (Fuchsia)
- ;G
- Garrya (Silk-tassel)
-
- Gaultheria (Salal)
- Gaylussacia (Huckleberry)
- Genista (Broom)
-
- Gordonia (Loblolly-bay)
-
- Grevillea (Grevillea)
- Griselinia (Griselinia)
- ;H
- Hakea (Hakea)
-
- Halesia (Silverbell)
-
- Halimium (Rockrose)
- Hamamelis (Witch-hazel)
-
- Hebe (Hebe)
- Hedera (Ivy)
- Helianthemum (Rockrose)
- Hibiscus (Hibiscus)
-
- Hippophae (Sea-buckthorn)
-
- Hoheria (Lacebark)
-
- Holodiscus (Creambush)
- Hudsonia (Hudsonia)
- Hydrangea (Hydrangea)
- Hypericum (Rose of Sharon)
- Hyssopus (Hyssop) ;I
- Ilex (Holly)
-
- Illicium (Star Anise)
-
- Indigofera (Indigo)
- Itea (Sweetspire) ;J
- Jamesia (Cliffbush)
- Jasminum (Jasmine)
- Juniperus (Juniper)
- ;K
- Kalmia (Mountain-laurel)
- Kerria (Kerria)
- Kolkwitzia (Beauty-bush) ;L
- Lagerstroemia (Crape-myrtle)
-
- Lapageria (Copihue)
- Lavandula (Lavender)
- Lavatera (Tree Mallow)
- Ledum (Ledum)
- Leitneria (Corkwood)
-
- Lespedeza (Bush Clover)
-
- Leptospermum (Manuka)
-
- Leucothoe (Doghobble)
- Leycesteria (Leycesteria)
- Ligustrum (Privet)
-
- Lindera (Spicebush)
-
- Linnaea (Twinflower)
- Lonicera (Honeysuckle)
- Lupinus (Tree Lupin)
- Lycium (Boxthorn) ;M
- Magnolia (Magnolia)
- Mahonia (Mahonia)
- Malpighia (Acerola)
- Menispermum (Moonseed)
- Menziesia (Menziesia)
- Mespilus (Medlar)
-
- Microcachrys (Microcachrys)
- Myrica (Bayberry)
-
- Myricaria (Myricaria)
- Myrtus and allied genera (Myrtle)
- ;N
- Neillia (Neillia)
- Nerium (Oleander) ;O
- Olearia (Daisy Bush)
- Osmanthus (Osmanthus) ;P
- Pachysandra (Pachysandra)
- Paeonia (Tree-peony)
- Perovskia (Russian Sage)
- Philadelphus (Mock-orange)
-
- Phlomis (Jerusalem Sage)
- Photinia (Photinia)
-
- Physocarpus (Ninebark)
-
- Pieris (Pieris)
- Pistacia (Pistachio, Mastic)
-
- Pittosporum (Pittosporum)
-
- Polygala (Milkwort)
- Poncirus
-
- Prunus (Cherry)
-
- Purshia (Antelope Bush)
- Pyracantha (Firethorn) ;Q
- Quassia (Quassia)
-
- Quercus (Oak)
-
- Quillaja (Quillay)
- Quintinia (Tawheowheo)
- ;R
- Rhamnus (Buckthorn)
-
- Rhododendron (Rhododendron, Azalea)
-
- Rhus (Sumac)
-
- Ribes (Currant)
- Romneya (Tree Poppy)
- Rosa (Rose)
- Rosmarinus (Rosemary)
- Rubus (Bramble)
- Ruta (Rue) ;S
- Sabia
-
- Salix (Willow)
-
- Salvia (Sage)
- Sambucus (Elder)
-
- Santolina (Lavender Cotton)
- Sapindus (Soapberry)
-
- Senecio (Senecio)
- Simmondsia (Jojoba)
- Skimmia (Skimmia)
- Smilax (Smilax)
- Sophora (Kowhai)
-
- Sorbaria (Sorbaria)
- Spartium (Spanish Broom)
- Spiraea (Spiraea)
-
- Staphylea (Bladdernut)
-
- Stephanandra (Stephanandra)
- Styrax (Storax)
-
- Symphoricarpos (Snowberry)
- Syringa (Lilac)
- ;T
- Tamarix (Tamarix)
-
- Taxus (Yew)
-
- Telopea (Waratah)
-
- Thymelaea
- Thymus (Thyme)
- Trochodendron
- ;U
- Ulex (Gorse)
- Ungnadia (Mexican Buckeye) ;V
- Vaccinium (Bilberry, Blueberry, Cranberry)
- Verbena (Vervain)
- Viburnum (Viburnum)
-
- Vinca (Periwinkle)
- Viscum (Mistletoe) ;W
- Weigela (Weigela) ;X
- Xanthoceras
- Xanthorhiza (Yellowroot)
- Xylosma ;Y
- Yucca (Yucca, Joshua tree)
- ;Z
- Zanthoxylum
-
- Zauschneria
- Zenobia
- Ziziphus
- Category:Plants Category: plant morphology

Tree

, the tallest tree species on earth]] A tree can be defined as a large, perennial, woody plant. Though there is no set definition regarding minimum size, the term generally applies to plants at least 6 m (20 ft) high at maturity and, more importantly, having secondary branches supported on a single main stem or trunk (see shrub for comparison). Compared with most other plant forms, trees are long-lived. A few species of trees grow to 100 m tall, and some can live for several thousand years. Trees are important components of the natural landscape and significant elements in landscaping, and in agriculture supplying orchard crops (such as apples). Trees also play an important role in many of the world's mythologies (see Tree (mythology)).

Classifications

Tree (mythology)]] A tree is a plant form and trees occur in many different orders and families of plants. Trees thus show a wide variety of growth form, leaf type and shape, bark characteristics, reproductive structures, etc. The earliest trees were tree ferns and horsetails, which grew in vast forests in the Carboniferous Period; tree ferns still survive, but the only surviving horsetails are not of tree form. Later, in the Triassic Period, conifers, ginkgos, cycads and other gymnosperms appeared, and subsequently flowering plants in the Cretaceous Period. Most species of trees today are flowering plants and conifers. The listing below gives examples of many well-known trees and how they are typically classified. A small group of trees growing together is called a grove or copse, and a landscape covered by a dense growth of trees is called a forest. Several biotopes are defined largely by the trees that inhabit them; examples are rainforest and taiga (see ecozones). A landscape of trees scattered or spaced across grassland (usually grazed or burned over periodically) is called a savanna.

Morphology

The basic parts of a tree are the roots, trunk(s), branches, twigs and leaves. Tree stems consist mainly of support and transport tissues (xylem and phloem). Wood consists of xylem cells, and bark is made of phloem and other tissues external to the vascular cambium. Trees may be broadly grouped into exogenous and endogenous trees according to the way in which their stem diameter increases. Exogenous trees, which comprise the great majority of modern trees (all conifers, and all broadleaf trees), grow by the addition of new wood outwards, immediately under the bark. Endogenous trees, mainly in the monocotyledons (e.g. palms), grow by addition of new material inwards. As an exogenous tree grows, it creates growth rings. In temperate climates, these are commonly visible due to changes in the rate of growth with temperature variation over an annual cycle. These rings can be counted to determine the age of the tree, and used to date cores or even wood taken from trees in the past; this practice is known as the science of dendrochronology. In some tropical regions with constant year-round climate, growth is continuous and distinct rings are not formed, so age determination is impossible. Age determination is also impossible in endogenous trees. dendrochronology, Chile]] The roots of a tree are generally embedded in earth, providing anchorage for the above-ground biomass and absorbing water and nutrients from the soil. Above ground, the trunk gives height to the leaf-bearing branches, aiding in competition with other plant species for sunlight. In many trees, the arrangement of the branches optimizes exposure of the leaves to sunlight. Not all trees have all the plant organs or parts mentioned above. For example, most palm trees are not branched, the saguaro cactus of North America has no functional leaves, tree ferns do not produce bark, etc. Based on their general shape and size, all of these are nonetheless generally regarded as trees. Indeed, sometimes size is the more important consideration. A plant form that is similar to a tree, but generally having smaller, multiple trunks and/or branches that arise near the ground, is called a shrub. However, no sharp differentiation between shrubs and trees is possible. Given their small size, bonsai plants would not technically be 'trees', but one should not confuse reference to the form of a species with the size or shape of individual specimens. A spruce seedling does not fit the definition of a tree, but all spruces are trees. Bamboos by contrast, do show most of the characteristics of trees, yet are rarely called trees.

Champion trees

The world's champion trees can be considered on several factors; height, trunk diameter or girth, total size, and age. It is significant that in each case, the top position is always held by a conifer, though a different species in each case; in most measures, the second to fourth places are also held by conifers. ;Tallest trees The heights of the tallest trees in the world have been the subject of considerable dispute and much (often wild) exaggeration. Modern verified measurement with laser rangefinders combined with tape drop measurements made by tree climbers, carried out by the [http://www.uark.edu/misc/ents/home.htm U.S. Eastern Native Tree Society] has shown that most older measuring methods and measurements are unreliable, often producing exaggerations of 5% to 15% above the real height. Historical claims of trees of 114 m, 117 m, 130 m, and even 150 m, are now largely disregarded as unreliable, fantasy or outright fraud. The following are now accepted as the top five tallest reliably measured species: # Coast Redwood Sequoia sempervirens: 112.83 m, Humboldt Redwoods State Park, California ([http://www.conifers.org/cu/se/index.htm Gymnosperm Database]) # Coast Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii: 100.3 m, Brummit Creek, Coos County, Oregon ([http://www.conifers.org/pi/ps/menziesii2.htm Gymnosperm Database]) # Sitka Spruce Picea sitchensis: 96.7 m, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California ([http://www.conifers.org/pi/pic/sitchensis.htm Gymnosperm Database]) # Giant Sequoia Sequoiadendron giganteum: 93.6 m, Redwood Mountain Grove, California ([http://www.conifers.org/cu/se2/index.htm Gymnosperm Database]) # Australian Mountain-ash Eucalyptus regnans: 92.0 m, Styx Valley, Tasmania ([http://www.forestrytas.com.au/forestrytas/tasfor/tasforests_12/tasfor_12_09.pdf Forestry Tasmania] [pdf file]) ;Stoutest trees The girth (circumference) of a tree is – or at least should be – much easier to measure than the height, as it is a simple matter of stretching a tape round the trunk, and pulling it taut to find the circumference. Despite this, U.K. tree author Alan Mitchell made the following comment about measurements of yew trees in the British Isles: :"The aberrations of past measurements of yews are beyond belief. For example, the tree at Tisbury has a well-defined, clean, if irregular bole at least 1.5 m long. It has been found to have a girth which has dilated and shrunk in the following way: 11.28 m (1834 Loudon), 9.3 m (1892 Lowe), 10.67 m (1903 Elwes and Henry), 9.0 m (1924 E. Swanton), 9.45 m (1959 Mitchell) .... Earlier measurements have therefore been omitted". As a general standard, tree girth is taken at 'breast height'; this is defined differently in different situations, with most foresters measuring girth at 1.3 m above ground, while ornamental tree measurers usually measure at 1.5 m above ground; in most cases this makes little difference to the measured girth. On sloping ground, the "above ground" reference point is usually taken as the highest point on the ground touching the trunk, but some use the average between the highest and lowest points of ground. Some of the inflated old measurements may have been taken at ground level. Some past exaggerated measurements also result from measuring the complete next-to-bark measurement, pushing the tape in and out over every crevice and buttress. Modern trends are to cite the tree's diameter rather than the circumference; this is obtained by dividing the measured circumference by π; it assumes the trunk is circular in cross-section (an oval or irregular cross-section would result in a mean diameter slightly greater than the assumed circle). This is cited as dbh (diameter at breast height) in tree literature. A further problem with measuring baobabs Adansonia is that these trees store large amounts of water in the very soft wood in their trunks. This leads to marked variation in their girth over the year, swelling to a maximum at the end of the rainy season, minimum at the end of the dry season. Although baobabs have some of the highest girth measurements of any trees, no accurate measurements are currently available, but probably do not exceed 10-11 m diameter. The stoutest species in diameter, excluding baobabs, are: # Montezuma Cypress Taxodium mucronatum: 11.42 m, Árbol del Tule, Santa Maria del Tule, Oaxaca, Mexico (A. F. Mitchell, International Dendrology Society Year Book 1983: 93, 1984). # Giant Sequoia Sequoiadendron giganteum: 8.85 m, General Grant tree, Grant Grove, California ([http://www.conifers.org/cu/se2/index.htm Gymnosperm Database]) # Coast Redwood Sequoia sempervirens: 7.44 m, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California ([http://www.conifers.org/cu/se/index.htm Gymnosperm Database]) ;Largest trees The largest trees in total volume are those which are both tall and of large diameter, and in particular, which hold a large diameter high up the trunk. Measurement is very complex, particularly if branch volume is to be included as well as the trunk volume, so measurements have only been made for a small number of trees, and generally only for the trunk. No attempt has ever been made to include root volume. The top four species measured so far are ([http://www.conifers.org/topics/biggest.htm Gymnosperm Database]): # Giant Sequoia Sequoiadendron giganteum: 1489 m³, General Sherman tree # Coast Redwood Sequoia sempervirens: 1045 m³, Del Norte Titan tree # Western Redcedar Thuja plicata: 500 m³, Quinault Lake Redcedar # Kauri Agathis australis: 400 m³, Tane Mahuta tree (total volume, including branches, 516.7 m³)
However, the Alerce Fitzroya cupressoides, as yet un-measured, may well slot in at third or fourth place, and Montezuma Cypress Taxodium mucronatum is also likely to be high in the list. The largest angiosperm tree is a Australian Mountain-ash, the 'El Grande' tree of about 380 m³ in Tasmania. ;Oldest trees The oldest trees are determined by growth ring counts in cores taken from the edge to the centre of the tree or from entire cross-sections. Accurate determination is only possible for trees which produce growth rings, generally those which occur in seasonal climates; trees in uniform non-seasonal tropical climates grow continuously and do not have distinct growth rings. It is also only possible for trees which are solid to the centre of the tree; many very old trees become hollow as the dead heartwood decays away. For some of these species, age estimates have been made on the basis of extrapolating current growth rates, but the results are usually little better than guesswork or wild speculation. The verified oldest measured ages are ([http://www.conifers.org/topics/oldest.htm Gymnosperm Database]): # Great Basin Bristlecone Pine Pinus longaeva: 4844 years # Alerce Fitzroya cupressoides: 3622 years # Giant Sequoia Sequoia sempervirens: 3266 years # Huon-pine Lagarostrobos franklinii: 2500 years # Rocky Mountains Bristlecone Pine Pinus aristata: 2435 years Other species suspected of reaching exceptional age include European Yew Taxus baccata (probably over 3000 years) and Western Redcedar Thuja plicata. The oldest verified age for an angiosperm tree is 2293 years for the Sri Maha Bodhi Sacred Fig (Ficus religiosa) planted in 288 BC at Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka; this is also the oldest human-planted tree with a known planting date.

Major tree genera

Flowering plants (Magnoliophyta; angiosperms)

Dicotyledons (Magnoliopsida; broadleaf or hardwood trees)


- Anacardiaceae (Cashew family)
  - Cashew, Anacardium occidentale
  - Mango, Mangifera indica
  - Pistachio, Pistacia vera
  - Sumac, Rhus species
  - Lacquer tree, Toxicodendron verniciflua
- Annonaceae (Custard apple family)
  - Cherimoya Annona cherimola
  - Custard apple Annona reticulata
  - Pawpaw Asimina triloba
  - Soursop Annona muricata
- Apocynaceae (Dogbane family)
  - Pachypodium Pachypodium species
- Aquifoliaceae (Holly family)
  - Holly, Ilex species
- Araliaceae (Ivy family)
  - Kalopanax, Kalopanax pictus Kalopanax tree (background) in fall]]
- Betulaceae (Birch family)
  - Alder, Alnus species
  - Birch, Betula species
  - Hornbeam, Carpinus species
  - Hazel, Corylus species
- Bignoniaceae (family)
  - Catalpa, Catalpa species
- Cactaceae (Cactus family)
  - Saguaro, Carnegiea gigantea
- Cannabaceae (Cannabis family)
  - Hackberry, Celtis species
- Cornaceae (Dogwood family)
  - Dogwood, Cornus species
- Dipterocarpaceae family
  - Garjan Dipterocarpus species
  - Sal Shorea species
- Ericaceae (Heath family)
  - Arbutus, Arbutus species
- Eucommiaceae (Eucommia family)
  - Eucommia Eucommia ulmoides
- Fabaceae (Pea family)
  - Acacia, Acacia species
  - Honey locust, Gleditsia triacanthos
  - Black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia
  - Laburnum, Laburnum species
  - Pau Brasil, Brazilwood, Caesalpinia echinata
- Fagaceae (Beech family )
  - Chestnut, Castanea species
  - Beech, Fagus species
  - Southern beech, Nothofagus species
  - Tanoak, Lithocarpus densiflorus
  - Oak, Quercus species
- Fouquieriaceae (Boojum family)
  - Boojum, Fouquieria columnaris
- Hamamelidaceae (Witch-hazel family)
  - Sweetgum, Liquidambar species
  - Persian Ironwood, Parrotia persica
- Juglandaceae (Walnut family)
  - Walnut, Juglans species
  - Hickory, Carya species
  - Wingnut, Pterocarya species
- Lauraceae (Laurel family)
  - Cinnamon Cinnamomum zeylanicum
  - Bay Laurel Laurus nobilis
  - Avocado Persea americana
- Lecythidaceae (Paradise nut family)
  - Brazil Nut Bertholletia excelsa
- Lythraceae Loosestrife family
  - Crape-myrtle Lagerstroemia species
- Magnoliaceae (Magnolia family)
  - Tulip tree, Liriodendron species
  - Magnolia, Magnolia species
- Malvaceae (Mallow family; including Tiliaceae and Bombacaceae) Bombacaceae
  - Baobab, Adansonia species
  - Silk-cotton tree, Bombax species
  - Bottletrees, Brachychiton species
  - Kapok, Ceiba pentandra
  - Durian, Durio zibethinus
  - Balsa, Ochroma lagopus
  - Cacao (cocoa), Theobroma cacao
  - Linden (Basswood, Lime), Tilia species
- Meliaceae (Mahogany family)
  - Neem, Azadirachta indica
  - Bead tree, Melia azedarach
  - Mahogany, Swietenia mahagoni
- Moraceae (Mulberry family)
  - Fig, Ficus species
  - Mulberry, Morus species
- Myristicaceae (Nutmeg family)
  - Nutmeg, Mysristica fragrans
- Myrtaceae (Myrtle family)
  - Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus species
  - Myrtle, Myrtus species
  - Guava, Psidium guajavaGuava in flower]]
- Nyssaceae (Tupelo family; sometimes included in Cornaceae)
  - Tupelo, Nyssa species
  - Dove tree, Davidia involucrata
- Oleaceae (Olive family)
  - Olive, Olea europaea
  - Ash, Fraxinus species
- Paulowniaceae (Paulownia family)
  - Foxglove Tree, Paulownia species
- Platanaceae (Plane family)
  - Plane, Platanus species
- Rhizophoraceae (Mangrove family)
  - Red Mangrove, Rhizophora mangle
- Rosaceae (Rose family)
  - Rowans, Whitebeams, Service Trees Sorbus species
  - Hawthorn, Crataegus species
  - Pear, Pyrus species
  - Apple, Malus species
  - Almond, Prunus dulcis
  - Peach, Prunus persica
  - Plum, Prunus domestica
  - Cherry, Prunus species
- Rubiaceae (Bedstraw family)
  - Coffee, Coffea species
- Rutaceae (Rue family)
  - Citrus, Citrus species
  - Cork-tree, Phellodendron species
  - Euodia, Tetradium species
- Salicaceae (Willow family)
  - Aspen, Populus species
  - Poplar, Populus species
  - Willow, Salix species Willow
- Sapindaceae (including Aceraceae, Hippocastanaceae) (Soapberry family)
  - Maple, Acer species
  - Buckeye, Horse-chestnut, Aesculus species
  - Mexican Buckeye, Ungnadia speciosa
  - Lychee, Litchi sinensis
  - Golden rain tree, Koelreuteria paniculata
- Sapotaceae (Sapodilla family)
  - Gutta-percha, Palaquium species
  - Tambalacoque, or "dodo tree", Sideroxylon grandiflorum, previously Calvaria major
- Simaroubaceae family
  - Tree of heaven, Ailanthus species
- Theaceae (Camellia family)
  - Gordonia, Gordonia species
  - Stuartia, Stuartia species
- Thymelaeaceae (Thymelaea family)
  - Ramin, Gonystylus species
- Ulmaceae (Elm family)
  - Elm, Ulmus species
  - Zelkova, Zelkova species
- Verbenaceae family
  - Teak, Tectona species

Monocotyledons (Liliopsida)

Monocotyledon
- Agavaceae (Agave family)
  - Cabbage tree, Cordyline australis
  - Dragon tree, Dracaena draco
  - Joshua tree, Yucca brevifolia
- Arecaceae (Palmae) (Palm family)
  - Areca Nut, Areca catechu
  - Coconut Cocos nucifera
  - Date Palm, Phoenix dactylifera
  - Chusan Palm, Trachycarpus fortunei
- Poaceae (grass family)
  - Bamboos Poaceae subfamily Bambusoideae
- Note that banana 'trees' are not actually trees; they are not woody nor is the stalk perennial.

Conifers (Pinophyta; softwood trees)


- Araucariaceae (Araucaria family)
  - Araucaria, Araucaria species
  - Kauri, Agathis species
- Cupressaceae (Cypress family)
  - Cypress, Cupressus species
  - Cypress, Chamaecyparis species
  - Juniper, Juniperus species
  - Alerce or Patagonian cypress, Fitzroya cupressoides
  - Sugi, Cryptomeria japonica
  - Coast Redwood, Sequoia sempervirens
  - Giant Sequoia, Sequoiadendron giganteum
  - Dawn Redwood, Metasequoia glyptostroboides
  - Bald Cypress, Taxodium distichum
- Pinaceae (Pine family)
  - White pine, Pinus species
  - Pinyon pine, Pinus species
  - Pine, Pinus species
  - Spruce, Picea species
  - Larch, Larix species
  - Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga species
  - Fir, Abies species
  - Cedar, Cedrus species
- Podocarpaceae (Yellowwood family)
  - African Yellowwood, Afrocarpus falcatus
  - Totara, Podocarpus totara
- Sciadopityaceae
  - Kusamaki, Sciadopitys species
- Taxaceae (Yew family)
  - Yew, Taxus species

Ginkgos (Ginkgophyta)


- Ginkgoaceae (Ginkgo family)
  - Ginkgo, Ginkgo biloba

Cycads (Cycadophyta)


- Cycadaceae family
  - Ngathu cycad, Cycas angulata
- Zamiaceae family
  - Wunu cycad, Lepidozamia hopei

Ferns (Pterophyta)


- Cyatheaceae and Dicksoniaceae families
  - Tree ferns, Cyathea, Alsophila, Dicksonia (not a monophyletic group)

Life stages

The life cycles of trees, especially conifers, are divided into the following stages in forestry for survey and documentation purposes: # Seed # Seedling: the above ground part of the embryo that sprout from the seed # Sapling: After the seedling reaches 1m tall, and until it reaches 7cm in stem diameter # Pole: young trees from 7-30cm diameter # Mature tree: over 30cm diameter, reproductive years begin # Old tree: dominate old growth forest; height growth slows greatly, with majority of productivity in seed production # Overmature: dieback and decay become common # Snag: standing dead wood # Log/debris: fallen dead wood Tree diameters are measured at height of between 1.3-1.5m above the highest point on the ground at its base. The 7cm diameter definition is economically based, from the smallest saleable stem size (for paper production, etc), and the 30cm diameter is the smallest base diameter for sawlogs. Each stage may be uniquely perceptive to different pathogens and suitable for especially adapted arboreal animals.

See also


- Arboretum
  - Pinetum
- Arboriculture (the care of trees)
- Bonsai
- Christmas tree
- Dendrology (the study of trees)
  - Dendrochronology
  - Dendroclimatology
- Ecology
  - Tree-line
- Forestry
  - Deforestation
  - Plantation
  - Urban Forestry
  - Woodland management
- Fruit trees
- List of famous trees
- List of garden plants
- Plants
- Prehistoric plants
- Tree climbing
- Trees in mythology
- Trees of the world
  - Trees of Britain and Ireland
  - Trees of Canada
  - List of U.S. state trees
  - Trees of The Caribbean Basin
  - Trees of Iran
  - List of trees of New Zealand
- Wood
  - List of woods

External links


- [http://www.globaltrees.org/default.asp GLOBAL TREES .org] Campaigning to save the world's most threatened trees
- [http://www.fssca.net/romero/ Romero Memorial Tree Project] Plant a tree in El Salvador

Bibliography


- Pakenham, T. (2002). Remarkable Trees of the World. ISBN 0297843001
- Pakenham, T. (1996). Meetings with Remarkable Trees. ISBN 0297832557 Category:Plants
-
- Category:Botany Category: plant morphology ms:Pokok ja:木 simple:Tree th:ต้นไม้

North America

North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the North Pacific Ocean. It covers an area of 24,497,994 km² (9,458,728 sq mi), or about 4.8% of the Earth's surface. As of July 2002, its population was estimated at more than 514,600,000. It is the third largest continent in area, after Asia and Africa, and is fourth in population after Asia, Africa, and Europe. Both North and South America are named after Amerigo Vespucci, who was the first European to suggest that the Americas were not the East Indies, but a previously undiscovered (by Europeans) New World. North America occupies the northern portion of the landmass generally referred to as the New World, the Western Hemisphere, the Americas, or simply America. North America's only land connection is to South America at the narrow Isthmus of Panama. (For geopolitical reasons, all of Panama – including the segment east of the Panama Canal in the isthmus – is often considered a part of North America alone.) According to some authorities, North America begins not at the Isthmus of Panama but at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, with the intervening region called Central America and resting on the Caribbean Plate. Most, however, tend to see Central America as a region of North America, considering it too small to be a continent on its own. Greenland, although a part of North America geographically, is not considered to be part of the continent politically.

Physical features

Greenland, plutonic, metamorphic rock types of North America. ]] Plate tectonics recognizes the vast majority of North America as being the surface of the North American Plate. Parts of California and western Mexico are known for being the edge of the Pacific Plate, with the two plates meeting along the San Andreas fault. The continent can be divided into four great regions (each of which contains many sub-regions): the Great Plains stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian Arctic; the geologically young, mountainous west, including the Rocky Mountains, the Great Basin, California and Alaska; the raised but relatively flat plateau of the Canadian Shield in the northeast; and the varied eastern region, which includes the Appalachian Mountains, the coastal plain along the Atlantic seaboard, and the Florida peninsula. Mexico, with its long plateaus and cordilleras, falls largely in the western region, although the eastern coastal plain does extend south along the Gulf. The western mountains are split in the middle, into the main range of the Rockies and the coast ranges in California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia with the Great Basin – a lower area containing smaller ranges and low-lying deserts – in between. The highest peak is Denali in Alaska. Since 1931, Rugby, North Dakota, has officially been recognized as being at the geographic center of North America. The location is marked by a 4.5 metre (15 foot) field stone obelisk. Image:North america terrain 2003 map.jpg|North America bedrock and terrain. Image:North america basement rocks.png|North American cratons and basement rocks. Image:North America Tectonic Elements.jpg|Tectonic elements of North America Image:North america craton nps.gif|North American craton.

Territories and regions

craton On the main continent landmass, there are three large and relatively populous countries:
- Canada - many large islands off the shore of North America belong to Canada, including Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands on the west, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Cape Breton Island on the east, and the Canadian Arctic islands (including Ellesmere Island, Baffin Island, and Victoria Island) in the north
- Mexico - the Revillagigedo archipelago and numerous smaller islands off its coast belong to Mexico
- The United States - the 48 contiguous states and Alaska are part of North America, while the state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean is not; the Aleutian Islands south of Alaska also belong to the U.S. At the southern end of the continent, in a relatively small area known as Central America, are the countries of:
- Belize
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Panama 1 At the southeastern end of the continent lies a chain of islands territories called the Antilles, the Caribbean or the West Indies, which include the countries:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Cuba
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Grenada
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago 1 And the dependencies:
- Anguilla (British overseas territory)
- Aruba 2 (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
- Cayman Islands (British overseas territory)
- Guadeloupe (French région d'outre-mer)
- Martinique (French région d'outre-mer)
- Montserrat (British overseas territory)
- Navassa Island (U.S. territory)
- Netherlands Antilles 1 (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
- Puerto Rico (U.S. commonwealth)
- Turks and Caicos Islands (British overseas territory)
- British Virgin Islands (British overseas territory)
- U.S. Virgin Islands (territory of the USA) Lying in the Atlantic Ocean but considered part of the continent are the dependencies:
- Bermuda, a British overseas territory found about 1,072 km (670 mi.) southeast of New York City
- Greenland, the largest island in the world and a self-governing dependency of Denmark, which is located in the far north of the continent to the east of Nunavut.
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a French collectivité d'outre-mer off the south coast of Newfoundland, is the last of France's once vast possessions in America north of the Caribbean. 1 These states and dependencies have territory both in North and South America.
2 These dependencies lie in South America, but are considered North American because of cultural and historical reasons.
See here for details.

Usage

The United States, Canada, and the other English-speaking nations of the Americas (Belize, Guyana, and the Anglophone Caribbean) are sometimes grouped under the term Anglo-America, while the remaining nations of North and South America are grouped under the term Latin America. Alternatively, Northern America is used to refer to Canada and the U.S. together (plus Greenland and Bermuda), while Central America is mainland North America south of the United States. The West Indies generally include all islands in the Caribbean Sea. In this respect, Latin America generally includes Central America and South America and, sometimes, the West Indies. The term Middle America is sometimes used to refer to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean collectively. The term "North America" may mean different things to different people. The term in common usage is often taken to mean "the United States and Canada, only" by some people of the United States and Canada, excluding Mexico and the countries of Central America, unless the context makes it clear that they are to be included (such as with specific reference to Mexico, when talking about NAFTA). For example, guides to wild flora and fauna published by the National Audubon Society for "North America" frequently include only species found in Canada and the U.S. This may be attributed to the fact that culturally and economically, the U.S. and Canada are more alike to each other than they are to the rest of North America. Mexicans, however, are acutely aware that Mexico is a part of North America and object to this usage. Central Americans, however, are generally content to be called Central Americans – largely because of their shared history, which includes several attempts at supranational integration in the region and in which Mexico, their much larger northern neighbor, was never involved.

Political divisions and regions

Notes:
1 Continental regions as per UN categorisations/map.
2 Depending on definitions, Aruba, Netherlands Antilles, Panama, and Trinidad and Tobago have territory in one or both of North and South America.
3 Due to ongoing activity of the Soufriere Hills volcano beginning 1995, much of Plymouth, Montserrat's de jure capital, was destroyed and government offices relocated to Brades.

See also


- Discoverer of the Americas
- Economy of North America
- European colonization of the Americas
- History of North America
- Birds of North America

External links


- http://www.america-norte.com/america-norte-mapa.htm Category:Continents Category:North America zh-min-nan:Pak Bí-chiu ko:북아메리카 ja:北アメリカ simple:North America th:ทวีปอเมริกาเหนือ

British Columbia

British Columbia, or simply B.C. or BC (French: Colombie-Britannique, C.-B.), is the westernmost of Canada's provinces. It was the sixth province to join Confederation (in 1871). As of 2005, the population estimate is 4,220,000 (British Columbians).

Geography

British Columbia is the westernmost province of Canada, bordered by the Pacific coast. It is bound on the northwest by the U.S. state of Alaska, directly north by Yukon and the Northwest Territories, on the east by Alberta, and on the south by the states of Washington, Idaho, and Montana. The southern border of British Columbia was established by the 1846 Oregon Treaty. BC's capital is Victoria, at the southeast tip of Vancouver Island. Its most populous city is Vancouver, which is in the southwest corner of the mainland of the Province of BC. (the city is not on Vancouver Island). Other major cities include Surrey, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Richmond, Delta, and New Westminster in the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD); Abbotsford and Langley in the Fraser Valley; Nanaimo on Vancouver Island; and Kelowna and Kamloops in the "Interior." Prince George is the major city nearest the centre of the province; however, a small town called Vanderhoof, 100 km to the west, is much nearer the geographic centre. The Canadian Rockies and the Inside Passage's fjords provide some of British Columbia's renowned and spectacular scenery, which forms the backdrop and context for a growing outdoor adventure and ecotourism industry. The Okanagan area is one of only three wine-growing regions in Canada and also produces excellent ciders, but exports little of either drink. The small rural towns of Penticton, Oliver, and Osoyoos have some of the warmest summer climates in Canada and provide hospitality to visitors from around the world. Much of Vancouver Island is covered by a temperate rain forest, one of a mere handful of such ecosystems in the world (notable others being on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington and in Chile and Tasmania). More northerly portions of the province's mainland have snowy, cold winters; however, southern portions and Vancouver Island are temperate in many places, where the climate is moderated by the Pacific Ocean. In the interior, summer temperatures can be quite warm, even notably hot and there are large semi-arid areas and a few localities classifiable as pocket deserts, including at the towns of Osoyoos and Lillooet. There is more than one spot in British Columbia that has recorded peak summer temperatures of 43.3 °C (110 °F) and an ongoing rivalry exists between the Fraser Canyon towns of Lytton and Lillooet for the title of "Canada's Hot Spot".

Demographics


- White - 70.8%
- Asian - 15.8%
- Indian - 5.8%
- First Nations - 5.8%
- Hispanic(Includes Mediterranean) - 5.7%
- Middle Eastern/Arabic - 1%
- Black - 0.9% Largest Ancestries
- British Isles - 39.3%
- German - 13%
- Scandinavian - 10.9%
- Chinese - 9.7%
- French - 8.6%
- Indian - 5.6%
- Ukrainian - 4.6%
- Dutch - 4.3%
- Italian - 3.3%
- Polish - 2.8%

Parks and Protected Areas

There are 14 designations of parks and protected areas in the province that reflects the different administration and creation of these areas in a modern context. There are 141 ecological Reserves, 35 provincial marine parks, 7 Provincial Heritage Sites, 6 National Historic Sites, 4 National Parks and 3 National Park Reserves. 12.5% (114,000 km²) of BC is currently considered 'protected' under one of the 14 different designations that includes over 800 distinct areas. British Columbia contains seven of Canada's national parks:
- Glacier National Park
- Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
- Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site
- Kootenay National Park
- Mount Revelstoke National Park
- Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
- Yoho National Park BC also contains a large network of provincial parks, run by [http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/ BC Parks] of the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection.

Recreation

Given its varied mountainous terrain and its coasts, lakes, rivers, and forests, British Columbia has long been enjoyed for pursuits like hiking and camping, rock climbing and mountaineering, hunting and fishing. Much of the province is wild or semi-wild, so that populations of very many mammalian species that have become rare in much of the United States still flourish in B.C. Watching animals of various sorts, including a very wide range of birds, has also long been popular. Bears (grizzly and black) live here, as do deer, elk, moose, caribou, big-horn sheep, mountain goats, beavers, muskrat, coyotes, wolves, mountain lions, eagles, ospreys, herons, Canada geese, swans, loons, hawks, owls, ravens, and many sorts of ducks. Smaller birds (robins, jays, grosbeaks, chickadees, etc.) also abound. Healthy populations of many sorts of fishes are found in the waters (including, of course, salmonids such as several species of salmon, trout, char, etc.). Besides salmon and trout, sport-fishers in B.C. also catch halibut, steelhead, bass, and sturgeon. Water sports, both motorized and non-motorized, are enjoyed in many places. Sea kayaking opportunities abound on the B.C. coast with its fjords. Whitewater rafting and kayaking are popular on many inland rivers. Sailing and sailboarding are widely enjoyed. In winter, cross-country and telemark skiing are much enjoyed, and in recent decades high-quality downhill skiing has been developed in the Coast Mountain range and the Rockies, as well as in the southern areas of the Shuswap Highlands and the Columbia Mountains. Snowboarding has mushroomed in popularity since the early 1990s. The 2010 Winter Olympics downhill events will be held in Whistler-Blackcomb area of the province, while the indoor events will be in the Vancouver area. In Vancouver and Victoria (as well as some other cities), opportunities for joggers and bicyclists have been developed. Cross-country bike touring has been popular since the ten-speed bike became available many years ago. Since the advent of more robust mountain bikes, trails in more rugged and wild places have been developed for them. Some of the province's retired rail beds have been converted and maintained for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing. Horseback riding is enjoyed by many British Columbians. Opportunities for trail riding, often into especially scenic areas, have been established for tourists in numerous areas of the province. Of course, British Columbians have not failed to enjoy all the traditional sports, like golf, tennis, soccer, hockey, softball, basketball, curling, and so on. Most communities of several thousand people or more have developed facilities for these (as, in some cases, have communities of even a few hundred). Consistent with both increased tourism and increased participation in diverse recreations by British Columbians themselves has been the proliferation of lodges, chalets, bed and breakfasts, motels, hotels, fishing camps, and park-camping facilities in recent decades. In certain areas, there are businesses, non-profit societies, or municipal governments dedicated to promoting ecotourism in their region. Another surprise rarely seen in the United States is the 'marijuana culture' in many parts of BC. In Vancouver there are several open-to-the-public "brown cafe"-style coffee houses where people can meet and smoke marijuana without worries of police intervention. The quality, assortment and price of marijuana in BC sometimes makes it a destination for those taking an interest in cannabis.

Politics

cannabis BC has a 79-member elected Legislative Assembly, elected by the First Past the Post system. Politically, British Columbia has tended to swing between right and left, with little middle ground between the two main parties, whose hardcore support each is estimated at 15-20%, with the middle fracturing variously towards either side because of any alternative. Within Canada, BC is viewed much as California is in the United States, prone to unusual politics and scandals. Its electorate is perhaps the most cynical in the country because of the history of sleaze and promise-breaking by temporarily-popular politicians. BC voters are known not to vote for someone or for their party, but against them as voter motivation is more about getting rid of someone instead of caring who is actually brought in. As a result elections can produce sudden reversals, as well as overly dominant majorities of extreme left or extreme right. Currently it is governed by the more conservative British Columbia Liberal Party under Gordon Campbell. However, for a decade before, it was led by the left-wing NDP. Before that, the government was led by the right-wing Social Credit Party for many years, but in the early 1990s the party collapsed due to scandal. Prior to 1903 there were no political parties in British Columbia, other than at the federal level. Sir Richard McBride was the first Premier to declare a party affiliation (Conservative Party of Canada) and institute conventional party/caucus politics.

Recall and Initiative

British Columbia is the only province in Canada with recall election and initiative legislation. Only one recall petition was ever deemed to have had any success, compelling MLA Paul Reitsma to resign his seat hours before he would have been removed from office.

Electoral Reform

A