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

190
FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE.
Range opposite west part of Antelope Valley, Cajon Pass up to 4,000 feet; Soledad Pass,
at 2,700 feet; also occasionally in interior and on southern slopes of these ranges, as
Cajon Pass, San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Wash near Los Angeles, vicinity of Pasadena,
and Mill Creek (San Bernardino Mountains). Southward, it follows coast mountains,
occurring on both east and west slopes; at Mexican line from near Mountain
Spring, at 2,700 feet; across Wagon Pass, at 3,117 feet, and down west side to Jacumba
Hot Springs, at 2,822 feet, and possibly farther west.
LOWER CALIFORNIA -Reported from both east and west sides of lower slopes of
Mount San Pedro Martir as far south as Trinidad Valley and Las Encinas (near San
Tomas).
OCCURRENCE.
On very dry mountain slopes and barrens, on canyon sides in rocky, gravelly, or
sandy soils. Frequent and most typical on seaward slopes of Coast Range.
Sometimes in pure open stands, or predominating in nearly pure, very open stands
of limited extent or in groups, but often mingled with one-leaf piflon pine, Sabine pine,
mountain mahogany, and bigcone spruce, and occasionally with straggling western
yellow pine, Douglas oak, and tree yucca; in Lower California, with piffon pine, mesquite,
manzanita, and yucca.
CLIMATIC CoNDITIoNs.-Climate characterized by long, very dry summers, often limited
or deficient precipitation, except for desert plants (mostly winter rain). Seasonal
temperature, about 150 to 1000 F.
TOLEaANCE.-Little known of its tolerance, but apparently requires abundant light
throughout life.
REPRoDUcTioN.-Prolific seeder. Actual seeding habits undetermined. Seed germinates
on exposed mineral soil, but only when sufficiently buried by washing, or other
favorable accident, to be moist. Reproduction rather scanty.
Family TAXACE2E.
Trees (and shrubs) which belong to this family-yews or yew-like-trees-
differ from the cone-bearers in producing male flowers on one tree and female
flowers on another (very rarely both kinds of flowers on different parts of the
same tree). Conifers have flowers of both sexes on different parts or branches
of the same tree. There are fewer seed-bearing trees, therefore, since only trees
bearing female flowers have seed. Moreover, in thinning a stand of Taxaceous
trees care should be taken to preserve both male and female trees as near to
each other as possible if reseeding is expected to take place. Pollen of the male
flowers must be carried by the wind to the female flowers. If male trees are
distant more than 25 or 30 yards from the female tree, only the strongest
wind, blowing at the right time, will effect fertilization.
The leaves are evergreen, flat, and narrowly lance-shaped, and appear to
grow (native species) in spreading lines on two opposite sides of the branches.
The fruit (seed) is different from that of conifers in being almost or entirely
enveloped in a pulpy covering. In the yews of this group it is a minute, berrylike
cup, bright colored, juicy and sticky when broken, while in other members
of the family the covering is firm, practically complete, and similar to an olive.
TUMION. STINKING CEDARS.
Stinking cedars are little-known trees which for many years were erroneously
classified under the generic name Torreya. Only a few years ago it was found
that this name had previously been applied to an entirely different plant.a
" Torreya," " nutmeg," and " stinking cedar " are the common names for them.
They are characterized by their stiff, flat, lance-shaped, needle-pointed leaves
(fig. 75), which grow in two rows from opposite sides of the branches and are
somewhat spirally arranged, and by the pungently aromatic or ill-smelling
(fetid) odor of the leaves and of the green bark, the odor being most pro-
- Dr. Edward L. Greene, Pittonia, 11, 195, 1891.