Common name: Fir. The fir is known only from one seed but is more abundant in pollen samples, and it seems to resemble the modern bristlecone fir (Albies bracteata). Firs probably grew in the volcanic highlands around the Florissant basin, or in shaded ravines. This would explain their poor representation in the megafossil record. Their wind-distributed pollen is more abundant in the fossil record.

Pines are common in the Florissant area today, especially the ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), a fire-resistant pine whose bark contains the chemical vanillin, which smells like vanilla; the pinyon pine (Pinus edulis), which has edible seeds, the bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata); and the limber pine (Pinus flexilis).

Other species and specimens:

• Pinus florissanti (Florissant pine) [Pictured at left]. Related to modern Pinus flexilis (limber pine) that grows at Florissant today.
• Pinus macginitiei (MacGinitie's pine Close-up, Seed)
• Pinus wheeleri (Wheeler's pine Seed) May be the same as the cone of Pinus florissanti.
• Misc. Pinus species leaf stem
• Misc. Pinus species cone

Pollen morphotypes

• Abiespollinites sp. - (Abies sp.) pollen confirms the presence of fir trees, otherwise only known from a single seed. It is likely that fir trees were confined to higher altitudes away from the lake, such as on the flanks of the volcanic highlands to the west. The distance away from Ancient Lake Florissant would explain why Fir pollen is more abundant than Fir seeds. This particular pollen is found in many samples throughout all the lake shales.
• Pityosporites sp. - (Pinus sp.) closely resembles pollen of modern Pinus sylvestris.

References