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

FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 33
and in shallow rocky soils with little superficial moisture; best in deep, well-drained,
moist soil.
At north, sometimes in pure, open stands on grassy areas, but usually in open, parklike
stands, preferably on north slopes with alpine fir, ERglemann spruce, Lyall larch,
limber pine, and lodgepole pine. On summits of Cascades, commonly pure at timberline,
and often in clusters of from 3 to 7 trees, its if growing from same root. In southern
Washington, with alpine fir, black hemlock, and yellow cedar; in Oregon, with black
hemlock, alpine, lowland. and noble firs, lodgepole and western white pines, and Englemann
spruce. In the Sierras, forming pure groups at timberline, on east, south, and
west slopes, with patches of black hemlock and western white pine, and at lower
altitudes with logepole pine.
CLIMATIC COqNDITIONs.-Endures great seasonal and daily ranges of temperature, the
former probably lying between -60° and 100° F. or more. Very heavy snowfall, exposure
to fierce winds, and a short growing season are characteristic of its habitat. Its
moisture requirements are moderate.
ToLERAarcE.-Somewhat intolerant in youth, becoming less so with age. Rather
intolerant in north, as compared with the south, where it shows a preference for north
slopes. Believed to be more tolerant on good moist soils and at low altitudes, than on
poor, dry ones near timberline.
REPRODUCTION.-Generally a good seeder, but varies greatly with region and locality.
In north, seeds at long intervals, in south, frequently. Large quantities of seed
destroyed by birds and squirrels, and reproduction therefore scanty. Seeds wingless,
and reproduction confined mainly to vicinity of seed trees. Unprotected by mother trees,
seedlings are often damaged by winds, which whip the stems about so that they are often
worn In two by rubbing against rough granite soil.
Four-leaf Pine; Parry Pine.
Pinus quad rifolia (ParI.) Sudworth.
D1STINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS.
This little-known nut pine is a much-branclied, short-trunked, low tree, from
15 to 30 feet high and 10 to 16 inches in diameter. In old trees the trunk is
often twisted and gnarled, with a wide crown of big, crooked branches; young
trees are short-bodied, with dense symmetrical crowns. Bark of old trunks is
reddish brown, shallowly furrowed, rough, and with wide ridges, which have
close scales. The foliage is blue-green, with a whitisb tinge. The leaves occur,
as a rule, in bundles of 4, but clusters of 3, and sometimes of 5, are also found
on the same tree; they are incurved, and from about Ij to nearly 2 inches long
(fig. 8). The cones (fig. 8) ripen in August of the second year and the seeds
are often shed before the middle of September. Seeds fall from the cones,
leaving their narrow, thin wings attached to the cone scales (fig. 8, a). They
are chocolate brown with yellow-brown blotches. Indians gather the seeds for
food. Seed-leaves, 6 to 8. Wood, light yellowish brown, moderately light, very
dense, and close grained; not of commercial use.
LONGEVITY.-Trees reach an age of 200 to 280 years; those 10 to 12 inches
in diameter are 130 to 150 years old. Few records of longevity are available.
RANGE.
Southern California and southward into Lower California. Arid mesas and low mountains
southward from southeastern part of San Jacinto Mountains (30 miles north of
Mexican boundary).
CALIFORNIA.-Occurs sparingly at 5,000 feet on Toro Mountain (in Santa Rosa Mountains,
Riverside County), in Coyote Canyon, at a point a few miles to west and near
Van de Venter Flat, and a single tree stands on Nigger Jim Hill between Hemet and
Coahuilla; 10 to 12 miles farther south it occurs on Balkan Mountains (above Julian,,
at head of San Diego River; also vicinity of Larkin Station (near Mexican line).