FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE, 41 



Longevity. — Mature trees reach an age of from 175 to 310 years. Age 

 limits imperfectly known. Trees from 18 to 21 inches in diameter are from 

 320 to 355 years old. 



KANGE. 



Confined to California at high elevations on the head of the Sacramento River, of 

 northern Coast Range, and of the southern Sierras. On Scott Mountains. Siskiyou 

 County, at 5,000 to 6,000 feet, Blount Eddy, and lola Buli (Tehama County). In south- 

 ern Sierras on both sides of divide between head of South Fork of San Joaquin River and 

 that of North Fork cf Kings River (in T. 8 S., R. 28 K.. T. 9 S., R. 29 E). Southward ii 

 appears on west side of main divide at Kearsage Pass at the lead of South Pork of 

 Kings River, where it ascends to 12,000 feet, continuing southward to within a few miles 

 south of Monadic Peak. On Mount Silliman, ascending to 10,500 feet, on Tharpe Peak 

 at 9,000 to 10,000 feet, at 10,000 teei on Kaweah peaks, and at 9,000 to 11,000 feel on 

 all divides which define head basins of .Middle and East forks of Kaweah, Kern. Little 

 Kern, Middle Tule, and South fork of Kern rivers. On upper Kern River it occurs be 

 tween in. ran) and 11,500 feet, on Little Kern at elevations above 9,000 feet, on .Middle 

 Fork of Kaweah River at 10,000 to 10,500 feet. It reaches to the east slopes of the 

 main Siena divide only at the head of Cottonwood (reek, where it occurs at 9,000 to 

 ] 1,500 feet. 



(>( CUBEENCE. 



Bare, high, rocky slopes and summits of ridges ai timber line. Chiefly on broken and 

 disintegrated granite, which is often very coarse, shallow, and quick-drying and subject 

 to great variation in temperature. With lodgepole pine, California red Ii r. and black 

 hemlock in lower part of range; at higher levels with western white pine: toward iis 

 npper limit often in open stands with white-bark pine or in pure stands which are some 

 times of considerable extent: at timber line, usually the only species. 



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

 growing season, heavy snowfall, moderate spring rainfall, and extreme drought in sum- 

 mer. Requires but little moisture. 



TOLHEANCB.- Little tolerant of shade at any stage of growth; does not form den- 

 stands; similar in this respeel t<> limber, white-bark, and bristle-cone pines, 



Reproduction. — Moderate seeder. Some cones locally produced nearly every year, 

 with especially heavy seed years. Seed widely disseminated by wind and Hood waters, 

 but eaten in large numbers by birds and rodents. Best germination in exposed mineral 

 soil. Reproduction never dense. 



Torrey Pine; Soledad Pine. 

 Pinus torreyana Parry. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS. 



The Torrey pine is little known, except in its very confined seacoast range. 

 Exposed i<> high winds it is a low, erooked, bent, or sprawling tree from 25 in 

 35 tool iii height and from 8 to 14 inches in diameter. Away from sea winds 

 it lias a straight trunk and a height of 50 or <n» foot. The crown is small. 

 rounded, and often composed of only few largo, greatly developed branches. 

 The trunk hark, about an inch thick, is roughly and deeply broken into ridges 

 with wide, flat, pale reddish-brown scales. The bark of branches and of young 

 trees is thick, spongy, and dull gray. The foliage is clustered in largo bunches 

 at the extremities of the stout branches, and has a dark gray-green color. 

 The heavy loaves (tig. II'. a), o in a bundle, vary from 1\ to about !•"• inches 

 in length. Little is known of the duration of the leaves, hut they are retained 

 for at least :; or -1 years. 'Hie cones (fig. 12) are ripe early in August of the 

 third season. By the middle of September some of the seeds (fig. 12) arr 

 shed: a number are held in the cone tor several years after the cones fall. 

 The ends of the COne scales are a deep rnsset or chocolate hrown. Cones are 

 strongly attached to the branches by thick stems and usually remain on the 

 tree for 4 or 5 years: they break away at their base, a pari of which is left 



