Editing Alberta (section)

==== Flora ====
[[File:Rosa acicularis 8448.JPG|thumb|The [[Rosa acicularis|wild rose]] is the provincial flower of Alberta.]]
In central and northern Alberta the arrival of spring is marked by the early flowering of the [[Pulsatilla nuttalliana|prairie crocus]] (''Pulsatilla nuttalliana'') ''[[anemone]]''; this member of the buttercup family has been recorded flowering as early as March, though April is the usual month for the general population.<ref>[http://plantwatch.naturealberta.ca/plant-information/prairie-crocus Prairie Crocus Information] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515015621/http://plantwatch.naturealberta.ca/plant-information/prairie-crocus |date=May 15, 2013 }} Alberta Plant Watch. Author Annora Brown. Published: no date given. Retrieved August 28, 2013.</ref> Other prairie flora known to flower early are the [[Thermopsis rhombifolia|golden bean]] (''Thermopsis rhombifolia'') and [[Rosa acicularis|wild rose]] (''Rosa acicularis'').<ref name="Jennings2010">{{cite book |author=Neil L. Jennings |title=In Plain Sight: Exploring the Natural Wonders of Southern Alberta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BuUCxztT6ycC&pg=PA98 |access-date=August 28, 2013 |year=2010 |publisher=Rocky Mountain Books Ltd |isbn=978-1-897522-78-3 |page=98 |archive-date=June 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628093356/http://books.google.com/books?id=BuUCxztT6ycC&pg=PA98 |url-status=live }}</ref> Members of the [[Helianthus|sunflower]] (''Helianthus'') family blossom on the prairie in the summer months between July and September.<ref name="Angier1974">{{cite book |author=Bradford Angier |title=Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants |url=https://archive.org/details/fieldguidetoedib00angi |url-access=registration |access-date=August 31, 2013 |year=1974 |publisher=Stackpole Books |isbn=978-0-8117-2018-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/fieldguidetoedib00angi/page/220 220] }}</ref> The southern and east central parts of Alberta are covered by short prairie grass,<ref name="Johnsgard2005">{{cite book |author=Paul A. Johnsgard |title=Prairie Dog Empire: A Saga of the Shortgrass Prairie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v1DKQL0OBigC&pg=PA181 |access-date=August 31, 2013 |year=2005 |publisher=U of Nebraska Press |isbn=978-0-8032-2604-3 |page=181 |archive-date=June 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628093556/http://books.google.com/books?id=v1DKQL0OBigC&pg=PA181 |url-status=live }}</ref> which dries up as summer lengthens, to be replaced by hardy perennials such as the [[Ratibida|prairie coneflower]] (''Ratibida''), [[fleabane]], and [[Sagebrush|sage]] (''[[Artemisia (plant)|Artemisia]]''). Both yellow and white [[Melilotus|sweet clover]] (''Melilotus'') can be found throughout the southern and central areas of the province.

The trees in the parkland region of the province grow in clumps and belts on the hillsides. These are largely [[deciduous]], typically [[aspen]], [[Populus|poplar]], and [[willow]]. Many species of willow and other shrubs grow in virtually any terrain. North of the North Saskatchewan River, evergreen forests prevail for thousands of square kilometres. Aspen poplar, [[Populus balsamifera|balsam poplar]] (''Populus balsamifera'') or in some parts [[Populus deltoides|cottonwood]] (''Populus deltoides''), and [[Betula papyrifera|paper birch]] (''Betula papyrifera'') are the primary large deciduous species. [[Conifer]]s include [[jack pine]] (''Pinus banksiana''), Rocky Mountain pine, [[Pinus contorta|lodgepole pine]] (''Pinus contorta''), both white and black [[spruce]], and the deciduous conifer [[Larix laricina|tamarack]] (''Larix laricina'').