THE FOREST TREES. 



221 



The limber pine (Pinus flexiiis James): The tree may usually be dis- 

 tinguished from the former species by its rougher bark and longer cones. 

 It is found on the eastern side of the continental divide, usually at alti- 

 tudes of from 5,000 to 10,000 feet. 



The two remaining pines found in Montana are the bull pine and the 

 iodgepole pine. They can be easily distinguished by the length of Ihe 



Fig io. Leaves and cones of tbe bull or yellow pine. Photo bv M.J. E. 



leaves and the number in a cluster. The former has usually three, some- 

 times two, long leaves; the latter, two shorter leaves. 



The bull pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws.): The bull pine, (Fig. 10) more 

 often called yellow pine, is one of the most striking, widely distributed, 

 and most valuable trees of Montana. The comparatively long leaves 

 are usually in clusters of three, though occasionally two are found. They 

 persist usually for three years. They form great clusters at the ends 

 of the naked branches. The cones (Fig. 10) of the bull pine are three 

 to six inches long, and often in clusters of three to five. The tips of the 

 bidets are elongated into awnlike characteristic spines. The bai'k is 



