CHAPTER XII 

 ENGELMANN SPRUCE TYPE 



General Conditions. — Capping the tops of the higher peaks in 

 northern New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming are unique 

 stands of timber which in their luxuriance and density remind 

 one of the tree growth of the northeast Qr northwest. In these 

 Engelmann spruce is the dominant species. Naturally they do 

 not occupy any considerable area because the peaks extend 

 upwards and not outwards and they are not much known either 

 commercially or scenically. But no description of Rocky Moun- 

 tain timber resources would be complete without a reference to 

 this very distinct and locally important type. 



On account of the inaccessibility and bleakness of their location 

 no accurate, long time climate records have been kept within 

 this type. It is merely possible to say in a general way that the 

 precipitation is evenly distributed, relatively heavy, at least 

 35 inches, and that the mean annual temperature is below 35 

 degrees. Hence it follows that the gro^\ing season is short. In 

 fact at least eight months of the year have average temperatures 

 below freezing. 



As stated above this type is confined to the higher peaks so that 

 the topography is rough and steep and the soil shallow. Like 

 its eastern relative, the red spruce, Engelmann spruce can cHng 

 to mountain sides where the actual mineral soil is not deeper than 

 a few inches. 



Normally the stands are nearly pure in this type but on the 

 lower edges on the deeper soiled sites lodgepole pine, Colorado 

 blue spruce, aspen and Douglas fir occur. In the southern part 

 of its range Engelmann spruce is also occasionally associated with 

 bristle cone and limber pine. It loses its capacity to dominate 

 as it approaches the Canadian line. For example in northern 

 Idaho pure stands are very rare and Umited in extent but mixtures 



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