24 



FORESTS OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 



in the park up to the elevation of 7,000 feet. It is common on north- 

 ern exposures, along streams, and in basins at the head of canyons. 

 It also grows on crests and ridges, where the frequent showers and 

 fogs supply the moisture which it demands. In sheltered localities it- 

 grows to a height of 75 or 80 feet, but it is commonly a small tree 



with a bent and twisted stem, 

 which, with its pendulous 

 branches, presents a somewhat 

 scrubby appearance. The foli- 

 age is green, sometimes with a 

 bluish tinge. It resembles that 

 of the common western red ce- 

 dar, but the leaves are sharper, 

 more pointed, and rougher to 

 handle. The small, rounded, 

 inconspicuous cones are pro- 

 duced somewhat sparingly. 

 The bark of the young tree is 

 red. On the mature tree it be- 

 comes gray and fibrous. The 

 wood is yellow, close grained, 

 and aromatic. Unlike that of 

 the western red cedar, the trunk 

 is usually sound to the center. 

 The wood is used for boat 

 building and cabinetwork. It 

 is very durable. 



The yellow cypress grows 

 very slowly, particularly at 

 high elevations. The number 

 of annual rings on trees 15 to 20 

 inches in diameter indicate that 

 they are over 200 years old. 



LODGEPOLE PINE 

 CONTORTA 



PINUS 



FIG. 



17. Lodgepole pine (Pinus 

 torta), 60 inches in diameter. 



con- 



Lodgepole pine (fig. 17) is 

 widely distributed from Alaska 

 to Lower California and east- 

 ward through the Rockies to Dakota and Colorado. It occurs 

 sparingly in the park up to 5,000 feet above sea level. It adapts 

 itself easily to the different conditions of soil, moisture, and exposure. 

 This tree varies greatly in the different regions where it is found. 

 About Mount Rainier it does not often exceed 20 to 40 feet in height 



