Plant Life in Burning tree ranch

Gambel oak, named after American naturalist William Gambel, is a common oak of the Rocky Mountains.  The wood of this tree is hardwood and it is commonly used for fenceposts and fuel.  These trees are also very important for erosion control.

Gambel oak is an ecologically important species which provides food and shelter for many wildlife species.  It is a favorite food source for deer and elk.  The acorns are eaten by wild turkeys, black bears, and squirrels.  Squirrels often gather and store acorns as a winter food. 

Native Americans consumed the acorns of Gambel oaks after roasting or boiling them.  They also used a mortar and pestle to grind the acorns into flour which was used to make soup, mush, and bread.  The wood was used to create tools such as ax handles and clubs, and to make furniture such as baby cradles. 

Gambel oak is a tough survivor.  The xeromorphic leaves have the ability to store water, giving the tree the ability to survive drought.  When a tree is cut down, it will quickly regrow and multiply from adventitious buds, which are growth areas beneath the soil or on the trunk of the tree.  Under the right conditions, these trees can live for hundreds of years.  

Mountain mahogany is a very common shrub in our area. The scientific name, Cercocarpus, means "tailed fruit", which refers to the corkscrew plume that is attached to the seed. As the flower begins to fade, the part called the "style" becomes elongated and eventually it becomes the means by which the seed becomes airborne and is conveyed to a new sprouting spot where it drills itself into the ground.

The shrub's common name, mountain mahogany, is derived from the color of the red-brown dye that can be made from its bark. Native Americans used this dye to give color to their baskets and leather goods such as leggings and moccasins. They used the wood from this plant to make tools including double-curved bows, fish spears, arrow points, tool handles, weaving gear, and war clubs.

Mountain mahogany is a favorite browse-snack food for mule deer.

Being a long-lived plant, mountain mahogany can live more than one hundred years under ideal conditions.

The ponderosa pine tree was named for its ponderous (heavy) wood. Other names include western yellow pine, bull pine, and blackjack pine.

Until the late 19th century in the U.S., ponderosa pine forests covered large areas of the West, perhaps 30 million acres. Today, probably less than three percent of the original ponderosa pine forests remain in the western U.S., which is due in large part to unregulated logging in the 1800s through the mid-1900s. 

Ponderosa pines are an important tree species for wildlife, both as habitat and as a source of food. The seeds are consumed by many species of birds including nuthatches and wild turkeys, as well as other wildlife such as squirrels and mice.

Historically, Native Americans used ponderosa pines as a source for medicine, fiber, a blue dye, firewood, and as lumber for building. The pitch was used as glue and for waterproofing canoes, baskets, and tents. Pine needles were used in making baskets. These pines were also a valuable source of food. Seeds were eaten raw or made into bread. They also ate the inner bark of the trees. 

The maximum lifespan of ponderosa pines is between 300 - 600 years.

Fun Fact: The largest ponderosa pine tree in the U.S. is in Trinity, California. It stands 240 feet high and is 209.4 inches in circumference. 

The pasque flower, a perennial wildflower that belongs to the buttercup family of plants, is native to much of North America, Europe, and Asia. This plant, which begins blooming in March or April, is an early source of nourishment for pollinators and it is one of the very first signs of spring. They are a native wildflower in Burning Tree Ranch and are abundant in our area. The photo to the right shows pasque flowers in Burning Tree Ranch in April.

The name "pasque" is derived from the Hebrew word for Passover, Pasakh, and it refers to the Easter season, the time at which the plant blooms. Other common names include wind flower, meadow anemone, Easter flower, and prairie crocus. Pasque flowers are sometimes called Lady of the Snows because they often bloom when snow is still on the ground, adding a splash of color to the wintry landscape.

The beautiful bell-shaped blooms are lavender and white with bright yellow centers. The entire plant is covered with fine hairs, including the flowers, stems, leaves, and buds, which give the plant a fuzzy appearance. The hairs on the plant help deter grazing animals and insects. All the parts of the plant contain a toxin that is poisonous to humans and animals.

Pasque flower plants are very long-lived. Some have been known to live as long as 50 years.