De I. VNER VEW D Forest Trees of the Pacific Slope

FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 73
They are from about 1l to 2 inches long (fig. 27). The bristly bracts that project
from among the cone scales are a deep purple. The cone scales are deep
purple-red, and their margins have a fringe of tangled, fine white wool, as do,
more or less, the outer surfaces of the scales. The seeds (fig. 27, a) are pale
reddish brown. Seed-leaves, usually 5. Wood, clear red-brown or deep orangebrown;
fine-grained, heavy, hard, and tough; suitable for use, but not used commercially.
LoNGEviTY.-Long-lived, attaining an age of from 400 to 600 years. Exceptionally
large trees are doubtless 650 to 700 years old, or even older. Trees from
16 to 18 inches in diameter are from 470 to 510 years old. Age limits imperfectly
known.
RANGE.
Timber line tree. Continental Divide in western Alberta and eastern British Columbia;
northern Montana and southward to head of Middle Fork of Sun River and Pend Oreille
Pass; northern Idaho, and southward to Nez Perces Pass and Lochsa-Selway Divide;
northeastern Washington and Cascades of Washington and Oregon, southward to Mount
Hood. Range still imperfectly known.
BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALBERTA.-Eastern and western slopes of Continental Divide,
at 6,500 to 7,000 feet, and northward to Mount Hector (near Laggan) ; eastward to
Cascade in Bow River Valley, and westward to southern Selkirk Range (between
Kootenai Lake and head of St. Marys River, a branch of Kootenai River) and Galton
Range (near Tobacco Plains, between Continental Divide and Kootenai River), just
north of Canadian boundary.
WASHINGTON.-Both sides of Cascades and high mountains of northeastern part of
State. Not detected in Blue Mountains, Olympics, nor in coast ranges. In Cascades,
from latitude 490 southward, probably, throughout the range, but abundant only to head
of Icicle Creek (tributary Wenache River), at 6,000 to 7,400 feet; on Mount Stuart and
Wenache Mountains. On east side of Cascades, in Washington National Forest, at
5,800 to 7,100 feet; abundant north of Lake Chelan at State Pass-about 6,000 feet at
War Creek Pass-6,700 feet, on divides both sides of Stehekin River from Lake Chelan
to head of basin ; south of Lake Chelan, on Pyramid Peaks at elevations between 6,5%~
to 7,000 feet, and in Emerald Basin at 5,000 feet.
OREGON.-Rare in Cascades and southward to Mount Hood.
The detailed range of this tree in Idaho and Montana will be dealt with in a
future publication.
OCCURRENCE.
Timber line tree, of high mountain slopes and plateaus, showing preference for north
aspects and often for passes and sheltered sides of crests, and for divides. Very moderate
in soil requirements, growing In rockiest soil and in crevices of rugged granite
slopes, provided there is abundant soil moisture. Occurs as scattered individuals, in
pure groves, or in open stands with white-bark pine, black hemlock, alpine fir,
and Engelmann spruce.
CLTMATIC CONDITIONs.-Best climatic environment where there is heavy snowfal!,
beginning early and remaining well into the summer. Hardier than other alpine associates,
in moist basins ascending higher and showing more vigor, while its light foliage,
compact, strong trunk, and firmly anchored root system enable it to withstand, without
serious damage, the rigors of high and bleak summits.
TOLERANCE.-Like western larch, very intolerant of shade.
REPRODUCTION.-Little is known definitely of the seeding habits. Sometimes produces
cones abundantly, but apparently at infrequent and irregular intervals. Reproduction
in the United States generally poor, and seedlings or saplings are not numerous.
Tamarack.a
Larix laricina (Du Roi) Koch
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS.
In the far Northwest, where tamarack enters the Pacific region, it is a small
tree often from 6 to 10 feet high and from 1 to 3 inches in diameter. East of
v Since the manuscript of this bulletin went to printer Mr. W. F. Wight has published
the following new species of larch from Alaska. His illustration of the tree is repro.