This Easy Field Guide is part of a series of guides to common plants, critters and lore of New Mexico and the Southwest. We have designed an uncomplicated guide for the student and layman which covers virtually all the native trees you are likely to see in the state. Rare and very local species have been omitted. Included are those characteristic and facts which we feel you will find particularly useful in identifying the tree in question. Keep in mind that all leaves, even those from the same tree, may show some variation.
Since Elevations in New Mexico range from below 3,000 feet in the southern deserts to over 13,000 feet in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, there are many different habitats for trees. This is reflected in a great variety of trees, ranging from Screw Bean Mesquites in the desert areas to Bristlecone Pines that grow near timberline. New Mexico's State Tree is the Pinyon. We think you will find this guide very useful and enjoy discovering (for yourself) many new kinds of trees. A checklist is included in the back of this book so you may keep a record of the trees you observe.
