FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 33 



and in shallow rocky soils with little superficial moisture; best in deep, well-drained, 

 moist soil. 



At north, sometimes in pure open stands on grassy anas, but usually in open, park- 

 like stands, preferably on north slopes with alpine fir, Bnglemann spruce, Lyall larch, 

 limber pine, and lodgepole pine. On summits of Cascades, commonly pure at timberline, 

 and often in clusters of from .". to 7 trees, as if growing from same root. In southern 

 Washington, with alpine fir. black hemlock, and yellow cedar; in Oregon, with black 

 hemlock, alpine, lowland, and noble firs, lodgepole and western white pines, and Engle- 

 mann spruce. In the Sierras, forming pure groups at timberline. on east, south, and 

 wesi slopes, with patches <>f black hemlock and western white pine, and at lower 

 altitudes with Iogepole pine. 



Climatic Conditions. — Endures great seasonal and daily ranges of temperature, the 

 former probably lying between — 60 c and 100° P. or more. Very heavy snowfall, exposure 

 to fierce winds, and a short growing season are characteristic of its habitat. Its 

 moisture requirements are moderate. 



TOI/BRANCH Somewhat intolerant in youth, becoming less so with age. Bather 

 intolerant in north, as compared with the south, where it shows a preference for north 

 slopes. Believed to be more tolerant on good moist soils and at low altitudes, than- on 

 poor, dry ones near timberline. 



Bepeoddction. Generally a good seeder, but varies greatly with region and locality. 

 In north, seeds at long intervals, in south, frequently. Large quantities of seed 

 destroyed by birds and squirrels, and reproduction therefore scanty. Seeds wingless, 

 and reproduction confined mainly to vicinity of seed trees. Unprotected by mother trees, 

 seedlings are often damaged by winds, which whip the stems about so that they are often 

 worn in two by rubbing against rough granite soil. 



Four-leaf Pine; Parry Pine. 



Pinus quadrifolia (Pari.) Sudworth. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS. 



This little-known nut pine is a much-branched, short-trankod. low tree, from 

 15 to 30 feet high and 10 to 16 inches in diameter. In old trees the trunk is 

 often twisted and snarled, with a wide crown of big, crooked branches ; young 

 trees arc short-bodied, with dense symmetrical crowns. Bark of old trunks is 

 reddish brown, shallowly furrowed, rough, and with wide ridges, which have 

 close scales. The foliage is blue-green, with a whitish tinge. The leaves occur, 

 as a rule, in bundles of 4. but clusters of 3, and sometimes of 5, are also found 

 on the same tree; they are incurved, and from about lh to nearly 2 inches lon^ 

 (fig. 8). The cones (fig. 8) ripen in August of the second year and the seeds 

 are often shed before the middle of September. Seeds fall from the cones, 

 leaving their narrow, thin wings attached to the cone scales (fig. s, a). They 

 are chocolate brown with yellow-brown blotches. Indians gather the seeds for 

 food. Seed-leaves, G to 8. Wood, li^ht yellowish brown, moderately light, very 

 dense, and close grained : not of commercial use. 



Longevity. — Trees reach an age of 200 to 2Xu years; those Id to 12 inches 

 in diameter are 130 to 150 years old. Few records of longevity are available. 



KA NGE. 



Southern California and southward Into Lower California. Arid mesas and low moun- 

 tains southward from southeastern part of San Jacinto Mountains (.SO miles north of 

 Mexican boundary i . 



CALIFORNIA. — Occurs sparingly at 5,000 feet on Toro Mountain (in Santa Rosa Moun- 

 tains, Kiverside County), in Coyote Canyon, at a point a few miles to west and near 

 Van (le Venter Flat, and a single tree stands on Nigger Jim Hill between llemet and 

 Coahuilla; 10 to ll' miles farther south it occurs on Balkan Mountains (above Julian), 

 at head of San Diego River; also vicinity of Lark in Station (near Mexican line). 



