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

FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 105
large seeds (figs. 37, a) are dark chocolate brown and shiny on the upper side,
which contrasts strongly with the dull, very slightly reddish-brown under surface.
Seed-leaves, usually 6, but often 7, pointed, and about an inch long.
Wood, reddish-brown, fine-grained, rather tough and hard; suitable for coarse
lumber, but not used commercially. An exceedingly important tree for increasing
the protective cover on dry mountain slopes of its range where few other
conifers are at home.
LoNGEVITv.-Little is now known of the longevity of this tree. Probably
long-lived. A tree 211 inches in diameter showed an age of 109 years. Doubtless
larger trees occasionally found would prove to be from 200 to 300 years old.
RANGE.
Southern California, from eastern Santa Barbara County and southwestern corner of
Kern County to northern Lower California ; range includes Santa Inez, Zaca, San Rafael,
Pine, San Emigdio, Sierra, Liebre, Sierra Madre, San Bernardino, San Jlacinto, Santa
Ana, i'alomur, Cuyamaca, and San Pedro Martir mountains. Chiefly on north and east
slopes and in canyons nearly throughout these ranges, at elevations of 3,000 to 5,000 feet,
but often to 6.000 or 7,000 feet, and down to 1,500 feet in canyon bottoms. Western
limits are Mission Canyon (above Santa Barbara) in Santa Ynez Mountains, where one
tree occurs at 1,500 feet, and Zaca Peak, in San Rafael Mountains. Northern limits are
San Emigdio Mountains and south side of Tejon Canyon (west of Tehachipi Mountains).
Most common in San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains. Not frequent in Santa
Barbara National Forest, but most abundant in Matilija, Cuyama, Sespe, and l'ru creek
basins. Locally noted as follows: Mount Medulce, Big Pine Mountain, Pine Mountain,
1'iedro Blanco leak, near l'ine Mountain Lodge, south side of Sierra Liebre Range, and
on mountain back of Fort Tejon. General in San Gabriel National Forest and between
about 3,000 and 5,000 feet; locally noted on Mount Wilson, on Rubio Mountain;
down to 2,200 feet, near Alpine Tavern, between 5,100 and 6,000 feet, and Mount Lowe,
at from 2,000 feet to summits. Common in San Bernardino National Forest, on both
sides of range; on north side down to 1,500 feet, and sparingly in pine belt and on
plateau up to 6,000 or 7,000 feet, but tup only to 3,000 feet on south side. Not detected
in Santa Monica Mountains west of l.os Angeles. Trabuco National Forest, at 2,000
to 3,000 feet, in bottoms at heads of canyons in Santa Ana Mountains. San Jacinto
Mountains, northern and western slopes Ind canyon bottoms, at 3,000 to 5,500 feet;
less frequent up to 6,000 or 7,000 feet. Forms 5 per cent of forest in Palomar Mountains
(southwest of San Jacinto Mountains), and 10 per cent of forest in Balkan Mountainsfew
miles southeast, near Julian-while farther south it is very rare in Cuyumaca Mountains.
LOWERl CALIFORNIA.-Sparingly represented at 5,000 to 7,000 feet on Mount San
Pedro Martir.
OCCURRENCE.
Scattered in cool ravines, gulches, canyons, over north slopes; approximately intermediate
in position between chaparral belt and western yellow and Jeffrey pine forest.
This occurrence is often very irregular, owing to unfavorable local conditions of soil and
moisture, and destructive forest fires. Generally on dry to fresh sandy or gravelly loam
soils, or on rocky, shallow ones, any of which are too dry for Jeffrey pine, western yel
low pine, sugar pine, white fir, and incense cedar, all common to the region. It avoids
stream beds and other wet places preferred by incense cedar.
Pure small groups and patches, or single trees interspersed through pine belt, chaparral,
and oak growth. Probably once occurred in much larger, pure stands, which were
doubtless reduced by frequent fires. In pine belt, associated with Coulter pine, western
yellow pine, Jeffrey pine, sugar pine, incense cedar, and white fir; below this, common
with canyon and California live oak, and scattered through chlaparral ; extends into latter
to limit of moisture conditions, and into pine belt as far as severe climate there permits.
CLIMvATIC CONDITIONs.-Precipitation insufficient now to support good forest cover.
Average annual precipitation (chiefly rain in winter at low levels, and snow at high
elevations) frem less than 10 inches to 30 inches ; snow melts while falling, or soon
after, in range of this spruce; remains only above it. Relative humidity, likewise variable
and correspondingly low. Precipitation greater at high levels than at low ones, and
greater on west than on east side of coast ranges facing dry interior. Snow may come
at upper limit as late as May and as early as October. Fog common during rainy season
(winter), depositing considerable moisture, comparatively speaking, on cool, forested