Key to Families: 1. Plants with scale-like leaves often covering and obscuring the young stems (in one species leaves awl-shaped, in whorls of 3 and not obscuring branches). … Cupressaceae 1.’ Plants with needle-shaped or linear leaves that are not covering and obscuring the stems; sometimes in clusters (fascicles). … 2. 2. Plants bearing cones of various sizes and shapes, but never brightly-colored, nor single-seeded; leaves not typically flat nor distinctly petiolate (except cf. Abies and Pseudotsuga). … Pinaceae 2.’ Plants bearing single-seeded cones with a large red to yellow aril surrounding the seed; leaves flat and clearly petiolate. … Taxaxeae
Note: This key does not include cultivated material. Many gymnosperm families, genera, and species not native to SE Washington are commonly planted ornamentals. If there is a chance that the plant to be identified was planted, use the Flora of the Pacific Northwest for identification.