122 Forests and Trees 



and stout, growing out horizontally from the stem or only very 

 slightly drooping. They mature early in the fall of the second 

 year. 



The wood is light and soft, but close-grained and not so easily 

 worked as that of the eastern white pine. It is pale yellow, 

 turns reddish when exposed for some time to the air, and is 

 not valuable as timber. 



This is a Rocky Mountain species occurring on both the 

 eastern and western slopes from Alberta and British Columbia 

 southward, but its western and northern limits have not been 

 clearly denned, as it is somewhat confused with the next species. 



4. WHITE-BARKED PINE. Pinus albicaulis. Engelmann. 



In many ways this tree resembles the preceding and is hard 

 to distinguish from it. It is a mountain species extending up 

 to, and sometimes forming, the timber line on the higher moun- 

 tains. It is always stunted and at high altitudes may be a 

 prostrate shrub. 



The branches are short and flexible and often grow almost 

 erect, giving the tree an irregular and shrubby appearance. 



The leaves are dark green, about two inches long, stout, stiff, 

 and slightly curved, usually grouped at the ends of the branches. 

 The cones are about two inches long and somewhat globular, 

 maturing early in the fall of the second year, although they 

 grow very slowly during the first year. They are dark purple 

 in color and stand out horizontally on the branches, from which 

 they fall without opening. The seeds themselves are large and 

 sweet and are said to be used as food by the Indians. 



The bark on young stems is thin and almost white. On 

 older trees it becomes thicker, especially at the base of the trunk, 

 but is seldom more than half an inch thick. The older bark is 

 finely grooved into small brown or whitish scales. 



The wood is light brown in color, and while soft it is brittle 



