276 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 



2. Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. Alpine fir. Common about timber line, and 

 on the east slope at middle altitudes; infrequent on the west slope. Alaska to Oreg., 

 N. Mex., and Alta. — Tree, often 30 meters high, at timber line stunted and usually 

 a shrub, often with long prostrate branches; trunk short, the crown (at low altitudes) 

 long, narrow, and pointed; leaves blue-green, 2.5 to 4 cm. long; cones 5 to 10 cm* 

 long, purplish. 



Associated on the east slope with spruces and Douglas fir. The firs are easily 

 recognized in the heavy timber by their smooth, pale bark, all our other evergi-een 

 trees (except whitebark pine) having rough, dark bark. 



The Blackfoot Indians used the resin for incense in their ceremonials, for perfume, 

 for poultices in the treatment of fevers and colds, and, when mixed with grease, as 

 hair oil. 



5. PSEUDOTSUGA Carr. 



1. Pseudotsuga mucronata (Raf.) Sudw. Douglas tir. Common in the forested 

 areas of both slopes, nearly throughout the timber belt. B. C. and Alta. to Mex. 

 (P. taxifolia Britton.) — A large tree with heavy trunk covered with deeply furrowed, 

 dark brown bark; crown pyramidal and sharp-pointed or sometimes broad and 

 rounded; lower branches often drooping and with long pendent side branches; cones 

 maturing the first year. 



Sometinaes known as red fir or Douglas spruce. Excepting only the giant sequoias 

 of California, this is the largest tree of the United States, but in Glacier Park the 

 trees do not attain the size of those which grow in the humid regions of the Pacific 

 coast. In some places within the park there are large trees, especially about St. 

 Mary, where there are dense stands. Near timber line Douglas fir is often stunted and 

 shrubby, but these low shrubs are sometimes loaded with cones. A striking feature 

 of this tree is its habit of bearing cones on the lower as well as on the upper branches ; 

 in the firs and spruces the cones are borne only near the top of the tree. Very young 

 plants at low altitudes sometimes bear cones. In late summer cones cut from the 

 trees by squirrels are plentiful on the ground. 



6. TSUGA Carr. 



1. Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. Western hemlock. Abundant on the west 

 slope at low altitudes. B. C. to Calif, and Mont. — Large tree with gradually tapering 

 trunk, covered with dark brown, somewhat reddish, ridged bark; crown usually 

 narrow and pointed, the branches with slender drooping branchlets; leaves soft, 

 apparently 2-ranked ; cones maturing the first year. 



The tree reaches the eastern limit of its range here. It grows mixed with giant 

 cedar, white pine, Douglas fir, and larch. Seedlings are abundant in the heavy 

 forest and often form dense underbrush in association with the yew. 



7. THUJA L. 



1. Thuja plicata Don. Giant cedar. Abundant on the west slope at low alti- 

 tudes about Lake McDonald; isolated trees are said to occur on the east slope, and 

 the writer found seedlings near Sun Camp. Alaska to Calif, and Mont. — Large tree, 

 sometimes 50 meters high; bark reddish brown, shallowly furrowed, easily separating 

 into long shreds; lower branches drooping; leaves scalelike, 4-ranked, about 3 mm. 

 long; cones about 12 mm. long. 



The dense stands of giant cedar at the head of Lake McDonald are one of the finest 



sights of the park. The graceful branches suggest the fronds of some giant fern. 



On young trees and on the smaller branches the bark is quite smooth. Small saplings 



often bear cones. Giant cedar is sometimes known as arbor- vitae; the cultivated 



* arbor- vitae is a closely related species of eastern North America. 



