THE SPECIES. 33 



of the bracts projecting beyond their ends. The scales of the cones 

 spread apart when ripe, to allow the seeds, which are borne on the 

 upper surface of each scale, to disperse. The tops of older trees are 

 scraggy and unsymmetrical. The bark is flaky, gray, or sometimes 

 resembling that of the yellow pine in its oblong yellowish blocks. 

 The wood is firm, light in color, but turns darker upon exposure 

 to light. It is much used for construction and interior finish. It 

 has considerable commercial importance and forms the chief output 

 of a number of mills in the northwestern part of Montana. 



LyaWs larch (Larix LyaUii) is also called Alpine Larch. Its 

 range geographically is about the same as that of the other species, 

 but it is restricted to higher altitudes, a fact which greatly circum- 

 scribes the area that it covers. It is found at altitudes of 7,000 

 feet or more, sometimes in pure uniform stands. It may attain a 

 diameter of 2 feet and a height of 50 feet, but such dimensions are 

 exceptional. 



The marks by which Lyall's larch is recognized are the woolly 

 coating on the growth of the last year or two, and the purple color 

 of the cones, which are somewhat larger than those of the other 

 species and have more prominent bracts. The bark of the tree is a 

 light gray, thin and scaly. The wood is hard and of very fine grain, 

 a feature, however, which is common to many species of the high 

 mountains where growth is slow. The tree is of no value commer- 

 cially. 



SPRUCE. 



A spruce tree is readily recognized by a feAV conspicuous marks. 

 As a rule, it is a tree of rather dense foliage, with short, rigid, single 

 leaves alternating in position. The points of the leaves are sharp; 

 this causes the branch to present a prickly sensation to the touch. 

 The laave,s, moreover, are usually four-angled in transverse section. 

 AVhen the leaves fall from the branch they leave a prominent peg- 

 like- elevation, by which a spruce branch may be identified even in 

 the absence of the leaves. The cones of spruces vary in size with 

 the different species, but they agree in the suppression of tjie bracts 

 and the drooping attitude which they assume upon the branch. Two 

 seeds are borne on the upper surface of each scale, and these, when 

 liberated, are provided with ample wings. The spruces are partial 

 to moist soils and cooler climates. Some of the species are much 

 used for paper pulp and produce lumber of fine quality. The Nor- 

 way spruce, an introduced species, is commonly cultivated in many 

 parts of the United States. 



Engelmann spruce (Picea Engelmannii] is the only native species 

 in Montana. Opinions of botanists differ somewhat in this matter, 

 some holding that another species, Picea Columbiana, also occurs. 



