FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 137 



6,200 feet, eastward to summit ; Tuolumne Meadows, up to 0,000 feet ; Lambert 

 Dome; White Mountain; Mount < 'onness ; near Lookout Knob; ridge between Ding- 

 ley and Delaney creeks; near Lake Tenaya and Cathedral Lakes; Tioga Road from 6,800 

 feet (in Long Gulch, 3 miles east ol Aspen Meadows) to Tuolumne County. Southern 

 Sierras southward to headwaters of KinL-s. Kaweah, Tule. and North Fork of Kern 

 rivers. Mariposa County: North and northeast of Yosemite Valley, at 9,000 feet and up; 

 Cathedral Lakes and southward nearly to Little Yosemite; north rim of Xnsemite Val- 

 ley (near top of Yosemite Falls) down to 7,000 feet, and thence northward to Tioga 

 Road which it follows eastward from Porcupine Flal (8,100 feet i to ridges west of Lake 

 Tenaya tributaries; Belknap Mountain (head of Easi and Middle Tule rivers) ; Freeman 

 Creek (tributary of Kern River) ; head of Easi Fork of Middle Fork of Tule River; 

 throughout divide between lower Kern River and Deer Creek and White River (affluents 

 of Tulare Lake) above 6,000 feet, reaching southern limits at about Fish Creek (tribu- 

 tary South fork Kern River), latitude .:•; lit', and head of Poso Creek (tributary 

 Tulare Lake and in see. 11 to 14, T. 26 s.. R. :;i B., 1,-it. .;.". 40'). 



■ The range of Ibies iii<i<ini/i<-ii shastensis is imperfectly known. At present 

 this tree is known to inhabit the range given for the species from Mount Shasta 

 northward, while it occurs with the species in Scott Mountains, on Mount Eddy, 

 and in Trinity and Stony Creek National forests. South of this it is found at 

 several points in Fresno, Tulare, and Kern counties. Locally noted in this 

 region by the writer at Alta Meadow (near southeastern border of Sequoia 

 National Park). Further careful ohservations of fruiting trees are expected 

 to yield a wider .and more connected occurrence of this form. 



OCCUBRENCE." 



Tree of high elevations, often well up to timber line. Lower, protected, gentle moun- 

 tain slopes about meadows, to steep, exposed, windswept ones near high divides and 

 crests: also in cool, sheltered ravines, gulches, and high rolling mountain plateaus. 

 Prefers north and east exposures to drier and warmer south exposures ; in such regions 

 confined mostly to available moist, cool sites. Usually, and of lamest size, on moist, 

 porous, sandy or gravelly loam soils; hut grows in very rocky, poor situations with 

 little soil ; poverty of soil and moisliire produces small or stunted trees. 



In large pure and nearly pure stands below timber line and above white fir belt; often 

 in pure small stands al timlier line. At upper limit, generally with black hemlock, 

 lodgepole pine, and western white pine. In northern California and southern Oregon. 

 with yellow pine, sugar pine, and Douglas fir at lower levels; in Sierras at lower limit, 

 commonly with white fir. which it replaces often abruptly at white fir's upper limit. 

 Toward upper limit, where it mingles with western white pine, lodgepole pine, and black 

 hemlock, the latter grows mainly in gulches and ravines, lodgepole pine on borders of 

 meadows, lakes, and moraines, and western white pine (generally scattered i. while inter- 

 spersed among all are frequent groups and small areas of dense pure, or nearly pure, 

 stands of this lie. 



Climatic Conditions. — Climate of region with comparatively short, intensive growing 

 season, and long cold period of rest and precipitation. Average annual precipitation, 

 about 30 to SO inches; considerable snow, which in some parts of Sierras is over 20 feet 

 deep and covers ground from November to June. In many parts of its range snowfall is 

 much less, or melts before becoming very deep. Winter temperature, rarely falls to 

 zero; summer temperature, not excessive (probably not over 80 F.) during day. with 

 cool and generally humid nights. Frost liable to occur at tiny time during growing sea- 

 son at higher levels in range: usually, however, not until late in August. 



Tolekam i:. only very moderately tolerant of shade at any period; much less tolerant 

 than white fir. incense cedar, ami Douglas fir; very similar to noble fir in light require- 

 ment. Rarely to any extent in intermediate or subordinate positions ; nearly always in 

 stands of equal age, which favor overhead light. Endures but little side shade, as shown 

 by long, clean trunks universal in close stands and common in rather open stands Tol- 

 erance appears to vary with soil, moisture, and climatic conditions; more tolerant under 

 best conditions for growth. 



Reproduction. Prolific seeder: g i seed years occur about every two or three years, 



while some seed is borne in many localities every year. Seed production usually greatest 

 in open stands, and by moderately old trees. Seed of fairly high germination, bul of 

 only transient vitality. Germination abundanl on moist mineral soil in open or in light 

 shade: less frequent or wanting on drier, thick duff. Seedlings grow rapidly in cool, 

 moist, sandy soil, soon restocking high slopes and openings cleared by fire or storm. 



" Includes Abies maoniflca ahastensis. 



