142 DR. D. LYALL ON THE BOTANY 
Island this tree is common in rocky situations and on promon- 
tories exposed to the gales of the Straits of Fuca, where it varies 
considerably in size, being for the most part stunted, but in some 
places attaining a height of 50 or 60 feet. 
Pinus flexilis, Torr., was first observed by us near the eastern 
summit of the Cascade Mountains, about 7000 feet above the sea, 
where it was found as the highest tree of the forest belt, growing 
amongst rocks and granite débris, exposed to the full force of the 
storms which so frequently sweep over this elevated region. Here 
it was quite stunted and shrubby in its habit. The trunk of the 
largest seen in this situation was about 15 feet high, bulging out 
a little for a foot or so above the ground, then tapering pretty 
rapidly, and spreading out at the top into a number of thickish 
branches. No cones of this tree could be found on the Cascades ; 
in the following year, however, they were procured both on the Gal- 
tonand Rocky Mountains in great plenty, but unfortunately all too 
young for the seed to be of any use. The seed, which is about 
the size of a pea, is sweet and palatable, and is eaten by the 
Indians. This tree was found growing on the Rocky Mountains 
at an elevation of 8000 feet. 
Pinus ponderosa, Doug. Immediately on penetrating to the 
eastward of the Cascade Mountains this fine tree was met with, 
but was not seen on the Pacific side of that range. It extends 
from the eastern slope of the Cascades, where individual specimens 
were seen as high as 3600 feet, to the base of the Rocky Moun- 
tains. Its most common associate along this line of country is 
the Larix occidentalis. Wherever these are found growing to- 
gether, the ground is usually more or less level (flat land, or hills 
of no great steepness), covered with grass, and so open as to ren- 
der progression easy, without confining the traveller constantly to 
the cleared and beaten trail, as is always the case in the forests 
west of the Cascade Mountains. 
In the district spoken of, narrow valleys and ravines, as well as 
the steep sides of hills with northern exposures, are mostly in- 
habited by species of Abies, with which the Pinus ponderosa and 
Larch do not care to mingle; and in these situations no grass is to 
be found, although the prairie-ground extends to the very margin 
of the bank or ravine. 
About Colville the Pinus ponderosa rivals in usefulness the Dou- 
glas fir on the coast, and is applied to most of the same purposes. 
This was the tree used on several occasions to form canoes to 
enable our parties to cross the deeper rivers, and it answered the 
