The Pines 



23 



of its range, near the Pacific coast, the tree is ordinarily 20 to 40 ft. high and 6 to 

 20 in. in diameter, while farther east it is 50 to 100 ft. high and has a diameter of 

 12 to 24 in. The eastern variety, usually growing in dense stands, develops a tall, 

 dean, slender trunk. The coast trees are shorter and have branches extending 

 all the way down the stem. The thickness of the bark is another variable feature. 

 Throughout its western range it is 1 in. thick, reddish-brown, and deeply furrowed. 

 In Alberta and throughout the eastern part of its range the bark is thinner, greyish- 

 brown in colour, and comparatively smooth. 



L0(7GEP0LE 

 PINE 



Its leaves, which are borne two in a bundle, are 3^ to 1 in. long on the coast, 

 and 2 to 3 in. long in its eastern range. The leaves on the eastern trees are thicker 

 than those of the coast. 



The cones are of a shiny-brown colour and the scales are tipped with a prickle. 

 On the coast they are ^ to IJ^ in. long and farther east 1 to 2 in. long. Like those 

 of the jack pine (Pinus Banksiana), open or closed, they adhere to the branches 

 for a great many years after maturing. Like the jack pine, the lodgepole pine 

 produces cones at the early age of 7 to 10 years. 



In northwestern Alberta, in the region about Lesser Slave lake, this species 

 meets the jack pine {Pinus Banksiana), which it closely resembles, and these two 



