FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 313 



several points on Rancheria Creek — lowest station about 3 miles from Sutter Creek, 3 

 miles north of lone on low hill near Clay pit (leaves much toothed), with blue oaks, 

 Mttkelumne River west of West Point ; Calaveras County, several thickets in Bear Creek 

 Canyon (branch Calaveras River on west side of Bear Mountains), on head of Murray 

 Creek (tributary Calaveras River) 2 miles north of Mountain Ranch, on San Domingo 

 Creek (branch South Fork of Calaveras River) 2 to 3 miles north of Murphy, road be- 

 tween Mountain ranch and Railroad Flat (elevation 2,450 feet) at two points on South 

 Fork of Mokelumne IUver between Railroad Flat and West Point ; Tuolumne County, 

 between Sonora and Tuolumne River, at two points (little north of Tuolumne Canyon) 

 on road from Carters to Big Oak Flat, near bead of Deer Creek— south side of Tuolumne 

 on same road. At several places in gulch few miles north of Coulterville (Mariposa 

 County) on road between Coulterville and Priest, with Kellogg oak and highland live 

 oak; frequent from Cold Springs Station (Mariposa County) to Fresno Flats and North 

 Fork (Madera County), especially in Crane Valley. Abundant also near Badger (Tulare 

 County) ; very abundant on road from Raymond to Yosemite, especially within G or 

 7 miles of Raymond and eastward in edge of western yellow pine belt beyond Wassama ; 

 2 miles west of latter is large tree at Potts's house, also one few rods north of 

 Ahwahnee road house, and many others in vicinity among Kellogg oaks. At point 2 miles 

 west of Kshom Valley, near east end of Burrough Valley (FresDO County). Range still 

 imperfectly known. 



OCCURRENCE. 



Foothill slopes and ridges, in dry gravelly soils. 



In groups and patches of pure growth interspersed with California black oak, Wisli- 

 zetus oak, Fremontia, and occasional blue and valley oaks. Nowhere abundant. 



Climatic Conditions. — Similar to those of gray pine. 



Tolerance. — Evidently very tolerant, its evergreen leaves being retained in dense shade. 



Reproduction.— Imperfectly known. Appears to seed at irregular intervals at rather 

 early age, and but sparingly. Owing to the tree's supposed hybrid origin, the fertility 

 of acorns requires testing. 



California Black Oak. 

 Quercus californica (Torr. ) Cooper. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS. 



California black oak is very distinct in appearance from all other Pacific 

 oaks. It more nearly resembles the eastern black oak (Quercus velutina) than 

 it does any othe' - species. Commonly from 50 to 75 feet high and from 15 to 

 30 inches in diameter, but at high elevations it is shrubby and often under 15 

 feet in height. Old trees are sometimes 80 or 85 feet high and from 30 to 40 

 inches through; such trees, as shown by their decayed, hollow trunks, often 

 broken at the top, have long since passed maturity. The trunks are rarely 

 straight and are often bent or leaning. They are clear of branches for from 

 10 to 20 feet, and then give off large limbs which form irregularly open, broad, 

 rounded crowns. Except on young trees and huge limbs (where it is smooth 

 and dull grayish brown), the bark is blackish brown, sometimes with a reddish 

 tint or, superficially, a weathered gray brown ; it is very hard and is roughly 

 and rather deeply furrowed on the low part of the trunk, while higher up the 

 shallower seams fade into the smooth bark of large limbs. Year-old twigs are clear 

 red to red-brown and usually smooth, but often minutely hairy or with a whitish 

 tint; the prominent, scaly, light chestnut-colored buds are hairy, especially on 

 their ends. Mature leaves t figs. 145 to 147), variable in form and size (about 

 4 to 6} inches long), are thickish, a shiny deep yellow-green, and smooth on 

 their upper sides (sometimes with star-shaped hairs): paler green beneath, 

 smooth or minutely hairy. Small trees at high altitudes (and elsewhere also) 

 very frequently have leaves and stems (rig. 147) conspicuously coated with 

 minute, whitish, star-Shaped hairs. Leaves are shed in autumn. Acorns (fig. 

 145), mature at the end of the second sea so' i. are borne on thick, short stems 



