58 THE CONIFERS OF THE NORTHERN ROCKIES. 







The yew in Montana, except in' the most favorable situations, is a 

 mere shrub, growing in thick forests in the shade of other trees. In 

 the region about Flathead Lake it attains a height of 20 feet and a 

 diameter near the ground of 1 foot or more, although the stem 

 divides low into several stout branches. Farther west, in the moister 

 places on the coast, it grows much larger and with better form. The 

 bark of the yew is thin, red, and flakes off in large scales. The wood 

 is moderately hard, of very fine grain, dark in color, and of great 

 resiliency. It is much used for the manufacture of bows for archery. 

 A relative /)f this species, the English yew, was long ago famous in 

 history for the bows which were fashioned from its wood. 



The western yew is found in Montana west of the continental 

 divide and north from the head of the Bitter Root Valley to the 

 west. Its range at large extends from southern Alaska into Cali- 

 fornia and the mountains of eastern Washington and Oregon. 



KEY TO THK (JKNKKA OF MONTANA CONIFERS. 



1. Leaves in clusters of two, three, or five ._ Pines. 



2. Leaves in clusters of ten or more Larches. 



3. Leaves borne singly: 



Leaves alternate 



Leaves sharp-pointed, rigid Spruce. 



Leaves softer, blunt or rounded on the end 



Cones erect, solid . Firs. 



Cones pendent 



Bracts conspicuous, three-pointed --Douglas spruce. 



Bracts entirely concealed ._ Hemlocks. 



Leaves mostly scale-like, opposite or in circles 



Sprays flat, cones dry Arborvitse. 



Sprays bushy, cone berry-like Junipers. 



