24 



FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 



of mature trees is very straight, and tapers but little until the few large, very 

 long, horizontal limbs of its wide, flat crown are reached- These huge branches 

 stand out so prominently at right angles from the upper trunk as to distinguish 

 it from associated pines. Its long, cylindrical cones, suspended from the tips 

 of the branches, also serve to distinguish the tree at a long distance. Trees 

 from pole size to a foot in diameter bear distinct whorls of branches at long 

 intervals down to the ground. Later in life the lower whorls are shaded 

 out and two or more of the upper limbs develop enormously in the full light. 

 This usually takes place as the tree attains its main height growth. Old bark 



Fig. .".. — Pi nun tatnbertiana. 



is deeply furrowed longitudinally, the ridges being broken into long, irregular 

 plates. It is from U to 2\ inches or more in thickness and grayish brown in 

 color. In exposed situations the" force of high winds tears off the weathered 

 flakes of bark, leaving the exposed surface a deep red-brown color. The 

 smooth, thin bark of the young trunks and branches of old trees is a dull, dark 

 gray. The foliage is a deep blue-green, with a whitish tinge. The leaves (fig. 

 3), in bundles of 5, are from 2f to about 4 inches long. Those of each year's 

 growth persist two or three years. The cones (fig. 4), which are unique among 



