Bailey & Bailey: Woody Plants of National Parks 9 



Whitney on the Sierra Crest. Although the highest point in the United 

 States proper, Mount Whitney is not a spectacular peak because it is only 

 one of many points along the top of the already high mountain range. Pre- 

 cipitation along the lower borders averages 21 inches annually, while at Giant 

 Forest at 6,360 feet elevation, 38 inches is recorded. 



The lower foothill area is for the most part grass-covered with scattered 

 trees and shrubs, principally interior live oak (iluercus W.sUzent), canyon 

 live oak [Qiiercus chrysolepis) , and occasionally California blue oak {^Q_iiercus 

 Douglasi) . Among the shrub species are birchleaf mountain mahogany (Cer- 

 cocarpus betulotdes) , buckbrush ceanothus (Ceanothus cuneatus) , yerba santa 

 (Ertodictyoyi califormcum) , Kaweah oak (Qiiercus Garryana var. Breweri), 

 and greasewood chamise (Adeyjostoma fasciculatum) . The latter often forms 

 pure dense stands in burned-over areas. 



Above this type is the main forest belt in which ponderosa pine {Ptnus 

 ponderosa) , white fir {Abies concolor), sugar pine (Piniis Lambertiana) , and 

 incense cedar {Libocedrus deciirrens) are common at the lower elevations and 

 Jeffrey pine {Pinus Jeffrey!) and Shasta red fir (Abies magnifica var. shas- 

 tensis) is common above. Located also in this forest belt, mostly at eleva- 

 tions between 6,000 and 7,000 feet are some thirty bigtree groves, of which 

 Giant Forest is the largest. White fir and sugar pine are characteristic asso- 

 ciates of the bigtree. Common shrub species are greenleaf manzanita (Arcto- 

 staphyloa pattila) , mountain whitethorn ceanothus (Ceanothus cordulatus), 

 California chinquapin (Castanopsis sempervirens) , California fremontia (Fre- 

 montia calif ornica) , western thimbleberry (Rubus parvifloriis) , and willows. 



At the higher elevations and on the east side of the park in Kern Canyon, 

 the dominant forest species are foxtail pine (Finns Balfouriana) , lodgepole 

 pine (Pmus contorta) , and Shasta red fir. Along the walls of Kern Canyon 

 western juniper (Juniperus occidentale) is found, commonly in association 

 with curl-leaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifol.us) . Kern ceanothus 

 (Ceanothus pinetorum) is a common shrub of this area. 



Above timberline, at around 11,000 to 12,000 feet, many showy alpine 

 species are found. Among the shrubby species are the low tufted skyland 

 willow (Salix petrophila var. caespitosa) , and Brewer mountainheath (Phyl- 

 lodoce Breweri) . 



Rocky Mountain Region 

 The Rocky Mountain Region may be divided into three provinces as 

 follows: the Northern Province in which Glacier National Park is located, 

 the Middle Province with Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, 

 and the Southern Province in which Rocky Mountain National Park is found. 

 The Continental Divide runs through the region, passing through each except 

 Grand Teton National Park, which lies a little to the southwest. 



Glacier National Park 

 Glacier National Park is located in northwestern part of Montana, its 

 northern boundary lying along the Canadian border. Elevations range from 



