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

FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 109
(fig. 39), are from 21 to about 4 inches in length by about 11 to 1f inches in
diameter. They are deep purple, becoming lighter by the time the scales fall.
The ivory-brown seeds (fig. 39, a) have large, shiny, purplish or violet-tinged
wings. Seed-leaves, one-third to one-half inch long, usually 4.
Wood, fine-grained, light, soft, and from pale straw color to light yellowish
brown. Little clear timber is obtainable because the trunks so often retain
branches down to the ground. It is fairly straight-grained and splits and works
I.
CZ
FIG. 39.-AbiCs laesiocarpa: Very ripe cones; a, seed.
easily. Its dead, weathered shafts, so frequent where fires have swept, remain
in sound condition-for many years.
LONGEvITY.-Probably not a long-lived tree. Much more study of its age is
required. Trees from 12 to 20 inches in diameter are from 140 to 210 years
old. The considerably larger trees which occur are not likely to be more than
250 years old.
15188-0S S