FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 193 



Longevity.— Very little is known of the age, but it is believed to be a long- 

 lived tree. It appears to grow persistently, but very slowly, in beight and diam- 

 eter, as shown by its small size. Trunks from 4 to 8 inches in diameter are 

 from 60 to 110 years old. and those from 12 to 18 inches through are from 170 

 to 265 years old. Further study of its growth and age is required. 



RANGE. 



Central California, on coast ranges and west slope of Sierras. 



Coast ranges, from Big River (Mendocino County) to Marin and Napa counties and 

 south of San Francisco Bay region to Santa Cruz Mountains (Santa Clara County). 

 Noted as follows: Mendocino County: West slope Coast Range north to Big River near 

 Mendocino; on hills east of Russian River Valley bordering road from Hopland to High- 

 land Springs, growing on both sides of Mendocino-Lake county boundary, especially on 

 south side of gulch leading to Russian River Valley ; western part Stony Creek National 

 Forest, in lower forest belt. Lake County: Bartlett Springs (east Lake County) ; west of 

 Clear Lake from point about 5 miles west of Highland Springs to Hopland. continuing over 

 summit into east Mendocino County; east side of Mount St. Helena (large trees in 

 canyon below Tollhouse) ; canyon of Putah Creek (road from Middletown to Cobb Valley). 

 'Napa County: South slope of Mount St. Helena between 2,500 and 3,600 feet, and 

 probably higher: Goat Rock (about a mile south of Tollhouse), on ridge forming east 

 boundary of Napa Valley. Sonoma County: Big Sulphur (or 1'Iuton) Creek Canyon 

 (vicinity Of Geysers) ; Dutch Bill Canyon (near Meeker i. Marin ('aunty: Mount Tamal- 

 pais, in many gulches, canyons, basins, and chaparral main ridge: Cataract Canyon, 

 notably near lower fall, at about 1,000 feet. Banta Oruz County: Near La Honda and 

 sparingly in other localities (Santa Cruz Mountains). Sierras, west side from north- 

 eastern Tehama County, on southwest slope (Mill Creek) of Lassens Butte, at about 

 4,800 feet, to Tulare County (T. 21 S., R. 30 E.), occurring sparsely in gulches and 

 canyons, at from 2,000 to 4,500 feet. Next stations southward from Lassens Butte are 

 Deer Creek Canyon (south Tehama County) and canyons of Chico and Butte creeks 

 (northwest Butte County) ; 30 miles southward, on upper Yuba and Feather rivers; 

 noted near Dobbins ijust west of Oregon Dills, Yuba County). Stanislaus National 

 Forest, very rare in Eldorado and Calaveras counties : here noted on Empire Creek 

 (tributary South Fork of American River), at 2,500 feet elevation: on north slopes of 

 South Fork of Mokelumne River, at 2,000 to 2,500 feet; San Antonio Creek (tributary 

 South Fork of Calaveras River), at 2,000 feet, and on South Fork of Webber Creek, at 

 3,000 feet. Southward, in Tuolumne County near mouth of South Fork at Colfax 

 Springs ; in Mariposa County, found at Mariposa and on Merced River in lower Yosemite 

 Valley; near Dinkey Bigtree Grove (T. 10 S., R. 26 E.) and on Mill Creek (tributary of 

 Kings River, T. 14 S., R. 27 E.) in Fresno County; in canyons along stage road ta 

 Giant Forest : in Sequoia National Park on road to Mineral King; East Fork, and other 

 branches of Kaweah River, at 3,950 to 6,000 feet; locally noted in Coffeepot Canyon 

 (tributary East Fork Kaweah River), on stream near Comstock Mill, and on Kaweah 

 River between Kane Flat and Bigtree Canyon. Lower courses of Tule River branches 

 and southward (to T. 21 S., R. .'!<» E.i. Detailed range not fully determined. 



OCCURRENCE. 



in moist gravelly or sandy gulches, springy coves, and narrow watered canyons. De- 

 pendent upon soil moisture. Forms dense thickets alone or occurs in mixture with 

 canyon live oak, white alder, western sycamore, broadleat' maple. 



TOLERANCE.— Very tolerant of shade throughout life, its own dense shade often ex- 

 cluding other growth. 



Reproduction. — Seeding habits not determined. Reproduction confined to moist ex- 

 posed soil or litter where seeds are fully covered by floodwaters ; usually rather scanty. 



TAXUS. YEWS. 



The yews, very distinct as a group, are not strikingly distinct as species. 

 There is great similarity in the appearance, structure, and qualities of the wood 

 of different species, and also in the general appearance and form of the foliage 

 and fruit. The shape and habit of growth, and minor differences in the form and 

 color of the leaves, are mainly relied upon to distinguish the different species. 

 They are world-renowned trees. The wood of one species inhabiting Europe, 



