Vol. n Hall. — Boianical Survey of San Jacinto Moimtain. 23 



take on some peculiar forms, which are probably best accounted 

 for by the altitude and the strong winds that sometimes sweep 

 over that region. In one of these forms the dense, smooth bark 

 is of a deep red color, the lower branches are given off from near 

 the base and spread out over the rocks, while the leaves are only 

 one and one-half to two inches long, scarcely one-half their usual 

 length; but the cones, many of which ma}' be reached from 

 the ground, are of the usual shape and size. Another form 

 approaches P. nionficola in general appearance and in the char- 

 acters of the cone but is plainly only a form of P. Lamherfiana. 

 It deserves further study in the field. 



White Fir {Abies con color) . — The White Fir is found 

 throughout the Transition Zone except along its lower border. 

 It begins as scattered individuals in the Lower Transition, be- 

 comes more and more common as the altitude increases, and is 

 the dominant tree in the Upper Transition, where it forms more 

 or less dense forests and even reaches over into the Canadian 

 Zone where a few specimens were found scattered among the 

 Murray Pines. The lowest point at which it was seen was at 

 4200 feet altitude in a shaded canon; the highest was at 9700 

 feet on an exposed slope near the main peak. Nearly pure for- 

 ests of this tree are met with in the upper part of the basin 

 formed by Fullers Ridge and the spurs running north from San 

 Jacinto Peak, and also on those slopes that form the south walls 

 of Round and Tahquitz Valleys. There are a number of fir 

 forests similar to these but of less extent. The fir reciuires a 

 moister subsoil than either the Yellow or the Sugar Pine, which 

 accounts for the fact that the forests mentioned above are all on 

 the north sides of well watered ridges. It does not, however, 

 demand so great a supply of moisture as does the Murray Pine. 



Murray Pine {Pinus Murray ana) . — This species, which is 

 often called the "Lodge-pole" or "Tamarack" Pine, is the domi- 

 nant tree of the boreal region. Its distribution may therefore 

 be most readily learned by reference to the map of life zones 

 (plate ii). The boreal area is not however entirely forested 

 with this species, since a few exposed slopes are too deficient in 

 moisture to favor its growth, and as a result we find in the 

 lower part of the Canadian Zone a few straggling specimens 



