P s t e I s ia 189 



sistcnt and in some cases remain upon the tree 

 for over twenty years. This tree may be dis- 

 tinguished from Abies grand is by its much larger 

 cones, with ovate-oblong bracts which taper to 

 a narrow point (those of Abies grand is are trun- 

 cate and abruptly mucronate), and by its shorter, 

 more crowded leaves. 



The distribution of this tree is somewhat 

 peculiar. In western Vancouver it occurs at all 

 altitudes, reaching its best development, how- 

 ever, close to the sea level. In the western part 

 of the Olympic peninsula it also occurs at low 

 altitudes, but elsewhere it is confined to the 

 mountain slopes, ranging in the Cascade Moun- 

 tains from about one thousand to six thousand 

 feet above sea level. It appears to be a tree 

 of great hardiness, flourishing under a variety 

 of climatic conditions, but unable to endure the 

 hot and dry summers of the lowlands about 

 Puget Sound. That its geographical range 

 should be the most limited of any conifer found 

 upon Vancouver Island must be due to the slow- 

 ness of its distribution owing to its heavy seeds 

 which remain attached to the cone-scales until 



