Postelsia 189 
sistent and in some cases remain upon the tree 
for over twenty years. This tree may be dis- 
tinguished from Abzes grandis by its much larger 
cones, with ovate-oblong bracts which taper to 
a narrow point (those of Abzes grandis 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 hmited 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 
