28 



THE CONIFERS OF THE NORTHERN ROCKIES. 



like effect by which the older ones can be recognized almost as far as 

 they can be seen. One of the features of the tree is its frequent habit 

 of growing in groups, sometimes five or six stems appearing to come 

 from the same root. This is evidently due to the fact that the cones 



FIG. 13. Western Larch, in the Flathead Valley. 



of this species do not open naturally to discharge the seeds from 

 the tree top, but fall to the ground and disintegrate from the center. 

 The result of this behavior is that a number of seeds are liberated on 

 one spot and may give rise to a cluster of several trees. In time the 



