46 YEW FAMILY 



and the Tuolumne groves. It is exceeded in height only by 

 the Coast Redwood (S. sempervirens, the only other living 

 species) although some Australian species of Eucalyptus are 

 of about the same height. It is the most massive of all trees, 

 and perhaps the oldest. Actual ring counts place its maxi- 

 mum age at 2300 years, but a few individuals have doubtless 

 reached a greater age. John Muir, after careful study of 

 portions of a burned cavity, estimated one to be 4000 

 years old. 



6. LIBOCEDRUS. Incense Cedar. 

 1. L. decurrens Torr. Incense Cedar. Bark 2 or 3 in. 

 thick, reddish brown, fibrous, break- 

 ing in age into thick ridges. Leaves 

 J4 in. or less long, adherent to the 

 stem, only the tips free. Cones 

 brown, ^ to 1 in. long, urn-shaped 

 when closed, two of the scales re- 

 curving in age and only these bear 

 seeds. 



This is a beautiful, pyramidal tree, 

 50 to 150 ft. high, with trunk rapidly 

 tapering from the thick base, usually bearing branches 

 nearly to the ground. It occurs singly or in very small 

 groves throughout the middle portions of the Yellow Pine 

 Belt. 



7. JUNIPERUS. Juniper. 



1. J. occidentalis Hook. Western Juniper. Sierra Juni- 

 per. Bark brown or gray, becoming shreddy. Leaves scale- 

 like, closely compacted about the stem in whorls of 3, */& in. 

 or less long, each with a pit on the back. Berries globose, 

 blue-black, with a whitish bloom, less than J / 2 in. thick, the 

 flesh resinous. 



The Juniper is a sturdy, sub-alpine tree, 10 to 60 ft. high, 

 often much gnarled, irregular, and stubby. It is especially 

 common on rocky slopes and ridges from Nevada Falls and 

 Eagle Peak to Mt. Conness and Mt. Ritter. 



TAXACEAE. Yew Family. 

 Trees with linear leaves 2-ranked by a twist in the petiole. 

 Stamens and ovules borne on different trees. Fruit in our 

 single genus solitary, plum-like, 1-seeded. 



