. The Canadian field-naturalist. 168 The Canadian Field-Naturalist Vol. 98 Alpine Larch {Larix lyallii) which is common at higher elevations (usually at treeline) in this area. Alpine Larch leaves exhibit a brighter, more intense colour in contrast to the dull golden-yellow character- istic of Western Larch, and could be easily separated from it in most cases. Examination of sites discovered during the binocular surveys was made whenever pos- sible to confirm sightings. When trees were examined closely, the densely hairy buds and recurved cone scales of Alpine Larch were the primary characteri
. The Canadian field-naturalist. 168 The Canadian Field-Naturalist Vol. 98 Alpine Larch {Larix lyallii) which is common at higher elevations (usually at treeline) in this area. Alpine Larch leaves exhibit a brighter, more intense colour in contrast to the dull golden-yellow character- istic of Western Larch, and could be easily separated from it in most cases. Examination of sites discovered during the binocular surveys was made whenever pos- sible to confirm sightings. When trees were examined closely, the densely hairy buds and recurved cone scales of Alpine Larch were the primary characteris- tics used to separate this species from Western Larch (which exhibits glabrous or, at most, lightly pubescent buds and straight cone scales). Care also had to be taken not to confuse Western Larch with Black Cot- tonwood {Populus balsamifera var. thchocarpa) which at a distance exhibits the same dull, golden- yellow colour in this season. The coarser-textured, broader-leaved and more rounded profile of the Cot- tonwood usually was apparent. When doubt remained, that site was not counted. A brief roadside survey was also conducted along Highway 3 in the Crowsnest Pass between Blairmore and the British Columbia border and along the For- estry Trunk Road between Colman and Highwood Pass (foothill area) on 28 and 29 July 1978. At this time the leaves of Western Larch were still green and the trees were much more difficult to pick out from the surrounding forest. Herbarium acronyms cited in this paper follow Boivin(1980). Results and Discussion Western Larch was located at 71 sites in the Kana- naskis Valley (67 in Kananaskis Provincial Park), constituting a total of about 175 individual trees. (A 'site' was defined as a single or group of trees conspic- uously separated from other such specimens). One additional site was found in the Bow Valley and another was located in the Crowsnest Pass, each con- taining only a single tree (Figures 1 and 2). Voucher specimens supporting reco
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