FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 73 



They are from about 14 to 2 inches long (fig. 27). The bristly bracts that pro- 

 ject from among the cone scales are a deep purple. The cone scales are deep 

 purple-red, and their margins have a fringe of tangled, fine white wool, as do, 

 more or less, the outer surfaces of the scales. The seeds (fig. 27, a) are pale 

 reddish brown. Seed-leaves, usually 5. Wood, clear red-brown or deep orange- 

 brown ; fine-grained, heavy, hard, and tough ; suitable for use, but not used com- 

 mercially. 



Longevity. — Long-lived, attaining an age of from 400 to 600 years. Exception- 

 ally large trees are doubtless G50 to 700 years old, or even older. Trees from 

 16 to 18 inches in diameter are from 470 to 510 years old. Age limits imperfectly 

 known. 



RANGE. 



Timber line tree. Continental Divide in western Alberta and eastern British Columbia ; 

 northern Montana and southward to head of Middle Fork of Sun River and Pend Oreille 

 I'ass ; northern Idaho, and southward to Nez I'erees Pass and Lochsa-Selway Divide ; 

 northeastern Washington and Cascades of Washington and Oregon, southward to Mount 

 Hood. Range still imperfectly known. 



British Columbia and Alberta. — Eastern and western slopes of Continental Divide, 

 at 6,500 to 7,000 feet, and northward to Mount Hector (near Laggan) : eastward to 

 Cascade in Bow River Valley, and westward to southern Selkirk Range (between 

 Kootenai Lake and head of St. Marys River, a branch of Kootenai Riven and Galton 

 Range (near Tobacco Plains, between Continental Divide and Kootenai River), just 

 north of Canadian boundary. 



Washington. — Both sides of Cascades and high mountains of northeastern part of 

 State. Not detected in Blue Mountains, Olympics, nor in coast ranges. In Cascades, 

 from latitude 40° southward, probably, throughout the range, but abundant only to head 

 of Icich- Creek (tributary Wenacne River), at 6,000 to 7,400 feet; on Mount Stuart and 

 Wenache Mountains. On east side of Cascades, in Washington National Forest, at 

 5,800 to 7,100 feet ; abundant north of Lake Chelan at State Pass — about 6,000 feet at 

 War Creek I'ass — 6,700 feet, on divides both sides of Stehekin River from Lake Chelan 

 to head of basin ; south of Lake Chelan, on Pyramid Peaks at elevations between 6,500 

 to 7.000 feet, and in Emerald Basin at 5,000 feet. 



Oregon. — Rare in Cascades and southward to Mount Hood. 



The detailed range of this tree in Idaho and Montana will be dealt with in a 

 future publication. 



OCCURRENCE. 



Timber line tree, of high mountain slopes and plateaus, showing preference for north 

 aspects and often for passes and sheltered sides of crests, and for divides. Very mod- 

 erate in soil requirements, growing in rockiest soil and in crevices of rugged granite 

 slopes, provided there is abundant soil moisture. Occurs as scattered individuals, in 

 small, pure groves, or in open stands with white-bark pine, black hemlock, alpine fir, 

 and Engelmann spruce. 



Climatic Conditions. — Best climatic environment where there is heavy snowfall, 

 beginning early and remaining well into the summer. Hardier than other alpine asso- 

 ciates, in moist basins ascending higher and showing more vigor, while its light foliage, 

 compact, strong trunk, and firmly anchored root system enable it to withstand, without 

 serious damage, the rigors of high and bleak summits. 



Tolerance. — Like western larch, very intolerant of shade. 



Reproduction. — Little is known definitely of the seeding habits. Sometimes pro- 

 duces cones abundantly, but apparently at infrequent and irregular intervals. Repro- 

 duction in the United States generally poor, and seedlings or saplings are not numerous. 



Tamarack.' 1 



Larix UirirUut (Du Itoi) Koch 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS. 



In the far Northwest, where tamarack enters the Pacific region, it is a small 

 tree often from 6 to 10 feet high and from 1 to 3 inches in diameter. East of 



° Since the manuscript of this bulletin went to printer Mr. W. F. Wight has published 

 the following new species of larch from Alaska. His illustration of the tree is repro- 



