The Trees of Wyoming. 



From this species is obtained much of the native lum- 

 ber that is produced in the state. The wood is firm and 

 elastic and while it is difficult to obtain lumber free from 

 knots, yet since these rarely fall out, it has been found 

 suitable for a large number of purposes. 



This is the species that the Forest Reserves are es- 

 pecially designed to protect. These great tracts of sub- 

 alpine woods hold back the waters of the winter snows, 

 from which the streams are fed late into the summer 



months. 



(2) BLUE SPRUCE. 



(Picea pungens Engelm.) 



'No tree in all the grove but has its charms, 

 Though each its hue peculiar." Cowper, 



Description. Leaves very 



similar to the preceding, more 

 slender and rigid, more strong- 

 ly 4-angled and sharper point- 

 ed, often with a blue-green 

 (glaucus) color; cones also quite 

 similar (reddish-brown in both), 

 longer and more cylindrical in 

 this, scales very thin and usu- 

 ally with a wavy, irregular 

 edge. 



The Blue Spruce, 

 while widely distrib- 

 uted throughout the 

 Rocky Mountains, can- 

 not be said to be abun- 

 dant. It occurs at in- 

 tervals throughout our 

 mountains, mostly as 

 scattering individuals 

 or in small clumps. It 

 is found at middle ele- 

 vations, rarely reach- 

 ing 9,000 feet, and prefers moist soil. Near streams and 



XIII. Blue Spruce. Twigs and cones. 



