200 FOREST TKEES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 



Large quantities of the berry-like, spherical or elongated fruit (fig. 78, c), 

 about tbree-eigbtbs of an inch long, are borne every year after a tree begins to 

 fruit. The fruit is black when ripe, in early autumn. The pale chestnut-col- 

 ored seed is about one-fourth of an inch long by one-eighth of an inch tbick. 

 The single seed leaf is narrow and lance-shaped. 



Wood, soft, very spongy and fibrous, and yellowish ; the tough fibers dull 

 yellow-brown. The possible commercial use of tbis wood is yet to be deter- 

 mined ; if of any considerable importance it is likely to be for paper pulp. 



Longevity. — There is no way of determining the age of palms, since there are 

 no annual rings to count as in other trees. The age this species attains can 

 therefore be given only approximately. Two very large Washington palms in 

 San Pedro street, Los Angeles, Cal., supposed to have been planted tbere by 

 Jesuits, are possibly 200 years old. They are about 3 feet in diameter and 

 said to be 90 or 100 feet high. 



No arborescent plant is more popular than this for ornamental planting in 

 the dry Southwest, and none better able to thrive and to grow rapidly where 

 few other trees succeed without irrigation. Its many long, very strong roots 

 descend to great depths. As a tree for clothing desert canyons and contiguous 

 slopes, even if only an open forest can be secured, it is likely to be of no small 

 importance. 



RANGE. 



Colorado Desert in southern California in central Riverside and San Diego counties 

 and in canyons of south side of San Bernardino and east side of San Jacinto Mountains 

 and of coast ranges farther south. South, in eastern part of Lower California, at least 

 as far as southern end of Mount San Pedro Martir (lat. 30° 30'). In general from sea 

 level to 2,000 feet. 



California. — Confined to northern and western horders of Salton Sink and its 

 northwestern extension. At hase of foothills of south side of eastern range of San 

 Bernardino Mountains east to Indio (T. 1 to 5 S., R. 5 to 8 E). Locally noted a few 

 miles north of Southern Pacific Railroad hetween Indio and Seven Falnis. Northwestern 

 limit Whitewater Canyon, in San Bernardino Mountains (lat. 34°, long. 116° 40'), which 

 it ascends to 1,126 feet. San Jacinto Mountains locally noted Palm Canyon near Agua 

 Caliente 10 miles south of Southern Pacific Railroad at Seven Talms at 500 feet and up, 

 one tree in Andreas Canyon nearly at S00 feet, Dos Palmos Spring (T. 6 S., R. 5 E.), 

 Thousand Palms Canyon (T. S., R. 5 E.i, Seventeen Talms (T. 10 S., R. 18 E.), and 

 Palm Canyon north of San Ysidro Mountains (T. 10 S., R. 5 E.). Farther south, 

 extending well up into most canyons of east side of Coast Mountains ; not in canyon 

 through which San Diego wagon road passes 5 miles north of Mexican boundary. 

 Eastward a few trees follow line of old outlets of Salton Sea south into Lower 

 California. 



OCCURRENCE. 



Margins of the inland Colorado Desert sea bed and low desert mountain canyons, in 

 wet, sandy, alkali soil (border of sea bed), and moist, rocky, sandy ground (canyons). 

 Forms open, extensive pure stands, with frequent rather dense groups, or is widely 

 scattered; sometimes interspersed with occasional cottonwood, and in southern range 

 with mesquite, yuccas, cacti, mescal, and creosote bushes. 



Climatic Conditions. — Similar to those of Joshua tree. 



Tolerance. — Appears capable of enduring much shade in youth, but later grows in full, 

 strong light. 



Reproduction. — Very abundant seeder. Reproduction plentiful, yet less frequent in 

 some places, probably because large quantities of seed are collected by Indians. 



Family LILIACEJE. 



The trees belonging to this family differ from the palm included here in hav- 

 ing large lily-like flowers and a capsule-like many-seeded fruit, instead of a 

 berry-like one-seeded fruit. They differ from tree palms also in being branched 

 to some extent when mature. 



