84 Wyoming Experiment Station. 



on moist slopes it makes a fair-sized tree, but the wood is 

 said to have little value. 



It is not readily distinguished from the preceding ex- 

 cept by its habitat, its usually smaller size, its cone- 

 shaped habit, i. e., its sharply tapering crown, and its 

 blue-green or silvery foliage. 



On account of its handsome appearance it is largely 

 used as an ornamental tree for planting on the home or 

 public grounds.* Most of the trees thus used are nursery 

 grown, as they transplant more readily than those re- 

 moved directly from their mountain habitat. 



There is a probability that Wyoming possesses one of the true Fir trees. Though the 

 writer has not found it, he has no reason tor thinking that the species that has been reported a 

 few times from our higher mountains is not here. Sometimes such reports arise from mistaken 

 identity, but in this case it will be rather surprising if the presence of the following species is not 

 established : 



ALPINE FIR (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) A slender tree of the higher moun- 

 tains of the western United States. Its leaves, like those of the Spruce, are borne singly, some- 

 what in two ranks : the branches are arranged in a succession of whorls : the cones are nearly 

 cylindrical, about 2J^ inches long, erect and produced at the sides of the branches : bark thin 

 and pale. If any of the users of this bulletin happen to find this tree, the foregoing statements 

 will aid in distinguishing it from the Spruces, the only trees in this state with which this Fir could 

 be confused. Reports concerning it will be welcome. 



3. DOUGLAS SPRUCE. 



(Pseudotsuga taxifolia (Lam.) Britt.) 



"Oh ! proudly then the forest kings 

 Their banners lift o'er vale and mount." Edith May. 



Description. Leaves flattened, with a narrowed, stem-like base, mostly 

 blunt pointed, whitish below, twisting on the base so as to appear comb-like 

 on the branches, ^ in. to twice that length: cones egg shaped, about 3 inches 

 long and half as thick; three pointed bracts project from among the scales of 

 the cone: bark, in old trees, very thick and furrowed. 



This is one of the largest trees of the state and tor 

 that matter of the United States. It reaches its maxi- 

 mum size in moister climates, but even here it is a stately 



*See Bull. 38 of this Station by Prof. B. C. Buffum. 



* 



