~The Natural Province~......YUKON TERRITORY

[olena]

Provincial Flower

Fireweed
Chamerion angustifolium (Epilobium angustifolium)
Narrowleaf Fireweed

Description Pink spires of flowers bloom at tops of tall, erect, leafy stems with narrow willow-like leaves.
Flowers: sepals 4; petals 4, 1/2-3/4" (1.3-2 cm) long and up to 1" (2.5 cm) wide, spreading, usually deep pink but occasionally white; stamens 8; and a 4-parted stigma at the end of the style.
Leaves: 4-8" (10-20 cm) long, lanceolate to linear, with veins joined in loops near edge of leaf.
Fruit: pod 2-3" (5-7.5 cm) long, slender, stands out rigidly from stem.
Height: 2-7' (60-210 cm).
Flower June-September.
Habitat Disturbed soil in cool areas, from the lowlands well into the mountains, frequent along highways and in burned areas; hence one common name.
Range Throughout most of western North America; in the East from Alberta east to Newfoundland, south to North Carolina, west to Tennessee, and northwest to Illinois, Iowa, and North Dakota.
Discussion Often grows in spectacular dense patches, and though attractive, it is aggressive in a moist garden, spreading from persistent underground stems. The seeds are dispersed far and wide by long, white, silky hairs. Bees value it as a source of nectar, and the very young shoots and leaves can be eaten as cooked greens. Recent work at the genetic level has shown that Chamerion, recognized by its alternate leaves, is distinct from Epilobium (with leaves opposite, at least near base), the genus in which Fireweed was formerly placed.


http://www.greatbritton.net/pix/state/yuk/fireweed

[olena]

Provincial Bird

Common Raven
Corvus corax
Northern Raven

Description 21-27" (53-69 cm). Similar to the American Crow but larger, with heavier bill and wedge-shaped tail. At rest, throat appears shaggy because of long, lance-shaped feathers. Often soars like a hawk. See Chihuahuan Raven.
Voice Deep, varied, guttural croaking; a hollow wonk-wonk.
Habitat Coniferous forests and rocky coasts; in West also in deserts and arid mountains.
Nesting 4-7 dull green eggs, spotted with brown, in a large mass of sticks containing a cup lined with fur, moss, and lichens, and placed on a cliff or in the top of a conifer.
Range Resident from Aleutians, northern Alaska and northern Canada south throughout western United States and to Minnesota, Great Lakes, and northern New England; in Appalachians to northwestern Georgia. Also in Eurasia and North Africa.
Discussion In most of its range, the Common Raven is common only in wilderness areas; despite its large size and demonstrated intelligence, it is very sensitive to human persecution and was long ago driven out of settled areas by shooting and poisoning. Yet ravens are primarily scavengers, and around towns in the North they compete with gulls for garbage. They also raid seabird colonies, consuming many eggs and young. They regularly ride on rising air currents and frequently indulge in aerial displays, with mock fighting, tumbling, and other forms of acrobatics.


http://www.greatbritton.net/pix/state/yuk/raven

[olena]

Provincial Tree

Sub-alpine Fir
Abies lasiocarpa


Description The most widespread western true fir, with dense, long-pointed, spirelike crown and rows of horizontal branches reaching nearly to base; shrubby at timberline.
Height: 50-100' (15-30 m).
Diameter: 1-2 1/2' (0.3-0.8 m).
Needles: evergreen; spreading almost at right angles in 2 rows; crowded and curved upward on upper twigs; 1-1 3/4" (2.5-4.5 cm) long. Flat; dark green, with whitish lines on both surfaces.
Bark: gray, smooth, with resin blisters, becoming fissured and scaly.
Twigs: gray, stout, with rust-colored hairs.
Cones: 2 1/4-4" (6-10 cm) long; cylindrical, upright on topmost twigs, dark purple; cone-scales finely hairy with short, hidden bracts; paired, long-winged seeds.
Habitat Subalpine zone of high mountains to timberline; forming spruce-fir forest with Engelmann Spruce, and with other conifers.
Range Central Yukon and SE. Alaska southeast to S. New Mexico; at 8000-12,000' (2438-3658 m) in south; to sea level in north.
Discussion The spires of Subalpine Fir add beauty to the Rocky Mountain peaks. When weighted down to the ground with snow, the lowest branches sometimes take root, forming new shoots. The bark of this and related firs is browsed by deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and moose; the leaves are eaten by grouse, and the seeds are consumed by songbirds and mammals. The scientific name, meaning "hairy-fruited," refers to the cones. Corkbark Fir (var. arizonica (Merriam) Lemm.), a variety from Arizona to Colorado, has thin, whitish, corky bark. Some authorities consider the variety lasiocarpa ((Hook.) Nutt.) as a separate species, A. bifolia.

http://www.greatbritton.net/pix/state/yuk/fir




Previous Natural States
Alabama (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=408646)
Alaska (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=428488)
Arizona (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=432667)
Arkansas (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=439483)
California (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=448628)
Colorado (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=510462)
Connecticut (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=588253)
Delaware (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=533292)
Florida (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=492681)
Idaho (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=570628)
Iowa (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=495515)
Kansas (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=488605)
Louisiana (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=600589)
Maine (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=455653)
Maryland (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=506823)
Massachusetts (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=464279)
Michigan (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=458571)
Minnesota (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=609118)
Mississippi (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=552048)
Montana (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=542958)
New Hampshire (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=498792)
New Jersey (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=562253)
New Mexico (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=540693)
New York (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=514868)
North Carolina (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=583737)
Ohio (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=467414)
Oklahoma (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=556920)
Oregon (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=519445)
Rhode Island (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=435338)
South Dakota (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=596617)
Texas (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=476688)
Utah (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=424056)
Vermont (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=445372)
Washington (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=443158)
West Virginia (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=421048)


Previous Natural Provinces
Alberta (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=580604)
British Columbia (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=566144)
Manitoba (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=452501)
New Brunswick (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=523844)
Northwest Territories (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=546856)
Ontario (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=470312)
Prince Edward Island (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=461488)
Quebec (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=502608)
Saskatchewan (http://www.disboards.com/editpost.php?s=&action=editpost&postid=5832587)

[olena]

No ~NS~ Thread next week. Chris and I are off to DC.

[Snowwark]

The bird of ill omen?


~The Raven~ Edgar A. Poe (http://www.cyberlink.bc.ca/~pmolenaar/poe.html)

I couldn't resist...:smooth: ;)

Thank you, Heather! :)

Have a wonderful time in D.C.!! :) :wave:

[olena]

Originally posted by Snowwark
The bird of ill omen?



~The Raven~ Edgar A. Poe (http://www.cyberlink.bc.ca/~pmolenaar/poe.html)

I couldn't resist...:smooth: ;)

Thank you, Heather! :)

Have a wonderful time in D.C.!! :) :wave:


LOL! I know! I love the picture. It really captures that quality.

[nativetxn]

I just love the name of this Province. "Yukon Territory". It just sounds so adventurous and romantic.

Thanks Heather, for the great photos.

Katholyn