FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 229 



doaie-like crown ; the clear trunk is very short, even in dense stands. Its usual 

 height is from 20 to 25 feet, and its smooth, thin-harked, dark ashy brown trunks 

 are from 6 to 8 inches in diameter. Bark on the bases of large trunks is irregu- 

 larly broken into wide ridges and is blackish brown, with a faint tinge of red. 

 The red tinge is evident also on smoother parts of the trunk. Twigs of one or 

 two season's growth are thick, clear reddish yellow, becoming a deep mahogany 

 brown with age. The form and texture of the mature leaves (fig. 95) serve 

 generally to distinguish this willow from others associated with it. They are 

 thin, somewhat shiny, smooth, and deep yellow-green on the top sides, pale or 

 whitish beneath (sometimes very minutely hairy), about 2 to 5 inches long, 

 margins slightly curled toward the under surface, and the prominent yellow 

 midveins, as well as the stems, finely hairy. The Pacific coast form of this 

 willow distinguished as Salix nuttallii brachystachys (Benth.) Sargent, is gener- 

 ally a larger tree than that occurring farther eastward, being from 40 to 50 feet 

 in height and from 12 to 18 inches in diameter. It has a longer clear trunk, 

 which is more commonly ashy gray, with whitish areas, and irregularly seamed; 

 the bark when broken shows clear red-brown. The general appearance of the 

 trees and their foliage is, however, essentially the same; the female flower 

 clusters only are shorter in the variety and frequently strongly curved. The 

 coast tree is here considered only as a geographic form, inseparable, for the 

 forester's purposes, from the type growing farther inland. Wood (of the inland 

 tree), pale reddish brown and of somewhat lighter weight than that of the 

 coast tree, which is of a slightly more reddish color. The wood has no com- 

 mercial or domestic value, for it grows where there are many other superior 

 woods. 



Longevity. — Not fully determined. Trees from 8 to 14 inches in diameter are 

 from 25 to 48 years old. 



From southern Assiniboia and British Columbia (Columbia River near .Donald), Wash- 

 ington, and Oregon southward in the Rockies to northern New Mexico and Arizona (San 

 Francisco Mountain) ; California (Sierras and coast ranges to the San Bernardino 

 Mountains). 



OCCURRENCE. 



Headwaters and upper courses of high mountain streams ; moist benches, depressions, 

 and gentle slopes with damp, humous, rocky or gravelly soil ; abundant soil moisture and 

 well-drained, situation essential. Occurs singly and in small groups, often with red 

 alder and broadleaf maple. 



Climatic CONDITIONS. — Similar to those of red and mountain alders. 



Tolerance. — Endures considerable shade. 



Reproduction. — Moderately abundant seeder. Seedlings frequent, but usually much 

 scattered. 



Broadleaf Willow. 



Salix amplifolia Coville. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS. 



Broadleaf willow is a new and as yet little known willow discovered in 1899. 

 The common name is coined from the technical name, which refers to a conspic- 

 uous characteristic. Locally, the species is called " willow " only. As now 

 known it is a shrubby tree from 20 to 25 feet high and from 8 to 12 inches in 



