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

FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 131
ness. They ripen early in September and begin to break up and fall from the
trees in October. The protruding, pointed bracts, which cover the cone scales
as if they were shingled, give the mature cones a light yellow-green color,
which later turns to light yellow-brown. The seeds (fig. 51, a), dull red-brown,
have shiny pale brown wings. Seed-leaves, 6 to 7, of uniform thickness throughout,
with a short abrupt point.
Wood, rather heavy, being one of the three Pacific firs with the heaviest wood
of any of our species. It is moderately hard, firm, of medium fine grain, very
light brown, irregularly marked with reddish-brown areas, which add much to
the beauty of the wood. It works easily and well, deserving much wider
recognition than it now enjoys for high-grade lumber. In quality it is entirely
different from and superior to any of the light, very soft fir woods. The
magnificent, clean form of its trunks gives the finest of saw timber.
LONGEVITY.-Much is still to be learned concerning its longevity. From what
is now known it is doubtless long-lived, probably excelling all of our other firs
in this respect. Trees from 20 to 30 inches in diameter are from 290 to 365
years old. Very large trees have been observed, apparently perfectly thrifty,
which would unquestionably show an age of from 600 to 700 years, if not more.
RANGE.
Coast ranges and Cascades of Washington and Oregon. Range still imperfectly known.
WASHINGTON.-Northward to Mount Baker on both sides of Cascades, Olympic, and
Coast mountains. Not detected on Vancouver Island. Northern part of Washington
National Forest, at about 3,000 to 5,000 feet; locally noted in Horseshoe Basin, Mount
Amos, pass between Index and Montecristo. Both sides of Cascades in southern part
of Washington National Forest, at 2,200 to 4,800 feet in Cedar, Green, White, Yakima,
Wenache, and Entiat river watersheds. Mount Rainier National Forest, at 3,000 to
5,000 feet-sometimes down to 1,800 feet and up to 5,200 feet; abundant on Mount
Rainier, at 4,000 to 5,000 feet; noted near Ashford, at 3,500 feet. Not detected on
Mount Adams. North side of Olympic Mountains on Soleduc River, at about 3,000 feet,
and general at higher elevations.
OREGON.-Both sides of range in Cascade National Forest (North) ; west side, at
1,400 to 6,000 feet; east side, southward only to latitude 45'. Locally noted on southwest
side of Mount Hood at point 3 miles below Government Camp and upward, on north
side at 4,500 feet; at elevations between 5,000 and 6,000 feet between North Fork
of Clackamas River and Roaring Fork; this is the fir abundant on "Larch Mountain"
In Clackamas watershed; Crater Lake on Wizard Island and from 4,600 feet on rim of
lake to top; Browder Ridge (northernmost headwaters of McKenzie River, Lane County);
north side of Siskiyous in Ashland National Forest. Reported extending southward in
Coast Mountains nearly to Siskiyous.
OCCURRENCE.
Presence throughout range determined chiefly by abundant soil moisture, uniform, mild
climate, and abundance of species competing with it. On gentle mountain slopes (of any
aspect), depressions, benches, low ridges, and rolling plateaus. Vertical range increases
from north to south and from coast eastward within a more or less fixed zone of heat and
moisture. Latitude of range more restricted on east side of Cascades than on west,
owing to lack of moisture and a severer climate. Thrives on moist, thin, rocky soils in
cool situations, but best on deep, rich soils. Not so fastidious regarding quality of soil
if abundant moisture is present.
Very rarely in pure stands of even small extent; usually with Douglas fir, western
hemlock, western white pine, or less commonly with yellow cedar, amabilis and alpine
firs, lodgepole pine, and black hemlock. With Douglas fir and western white pine, often
growing over western hemlock, western red cedar, and other tolerant species.
CLIMATIC CONDITIONs.-Not fully determined. In general, climate of range is mild,
and mainly without extreme daily or seasonal temperatures. Precipitation, heavy; considerable
snow, which does not remain late.
TOLERANCE.-Rather intolerant of shade for a fir, particularly in middle and late life,
when rapid height growth forces crown above slower species and maintains It In full light.
REPRODUCTioN.-Moderately prolific seeder. Some seed borne locally nearly every year,
but good seed years occur at rather lone, infrequent intervals, Trees from 60 to 00