FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 



109 



(fig. 39), are from 1\ to about 4 inches in length by about \\ to \\ inches in 

 diameter. They are deep purple, becoming lighter by the time the scales fall. 

 The ivory-brown seeds (fig. 3D. a) have large, shiny, purplish or violet-tinged 

 wings. Seed-leaves, one-third to one-half inch long, usually 4. 



Wood, fine-grained, li.L. r ht, soft, and from pale straw color to light yellowish 

 brown. Little clear timber is obtainable because the trunks so often retain 

 branches down to the ground. It is fairly straight-grained and splits and works 



Fig. 39. — Abiis lasiocarpa: Very ripe cones; a, seed. 



easily. Its dead, weathered shafts, so frequent where fires have swept, remain 

 in sound condition for many years. 



Longevity. — Probably not a long-lived tree. Much more study of its age is 

 required. Trees from 12 to 20 inches in diameter are from 140 to 210 years 

 old. The considerably larger trees which occur are not likely to be more than 

 250 years old. 



15188—08 8 



