FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 



79 



in length from about 1 to nearly ."> Inches, the usual length being U inches. The 

 cone-scales arc also very variable in form. They arc commonly narrowed to 

 squarish ends; sometimes the ends of the scales are pointed, and occasionally 

 rounded. At maturity and shortly after shedding their seeds, the cones are 

 somewhat shiny and from light brown to dark cinnamon-brown. They fall 

 from the trees during autumn or early winter. The small winged seeds 



^^^^ 



Fig. 29. — Pieea engelmanni: a, leader; 6, side branch and open cone; c, seed. 



(fig. 29, c) arc blackish brown. Seed-leaves, 6. Wood, light, soft, fine, and 

 Btraight-grained, and of a very light yellowish to faintly reddish brown color; 

 used commercially. 



Longevity. — Very long-lived, even in the most unfavorable situations. Trees 

 from ltj to 22 inches in diameter are from 350 to 460 years old. Stunted trees 



