CYPRESS AND JUNIPER TREES OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION. 19 



ends of the branches and twigs are often so drooping, or even pendent, 

 that the tree is locally called "weeping juniper." The somewhat 

 stringy bark, shallowly cut into a network of narrow seams and 

 ridges, is grayish on the outside and red-brown within. 



The minute, scalelike, pointed, often long-pointed, leaves (Pis. 

 IX, X) cover the slender four-sided twigs in four rows of alter- 

 nately opposite pairs. The back of each leaf usually has a long, 

 indistinct pit (gland). The margins of the leaves are smooth. The 

 foliage varies in color from a dark to a light green, the latter shade 

 being emphasized by a whitish bloom. 



Male and female flowers are borne on different trees. The mature 

 berries (Pis. IX, X) are smooth, and clear blue in color, due to a 

 whitish bloom over the blackish skin. They usually contain 2 seeds, 

 but sometimes 3, and occasionally 1, in a sweetish, resinous pulp. 

 The seeds (PI. IX, a, h) are pointed at the top ends, conspicuously 

 grooved, and marked at the base with a short two-parted scar (hilum). 

 The number and character of the seed-leaves are at present unknown. 



The wood of mountain red cedar is a dull red, or more often rather 

 bright rose-red, with irregularly disposed yellowish-white streaks. 

 It is narrow-ringed and has a thick layer of white sapwood. Just how 

 durable the heartwood may be is not known, though fence posts made 

 from it are known to have been in a good state of preservation after 20 

 years of service. It is likely that well-seasoned posts of mountain 

 red cedar would be as durable as those of eastern red cedar, which 

 may remain sound in contact with the soil for 30 or 40 years. The 

 color, "grain," working qualities, and structure of the two woods are 

 very similar. Mountain red cedar is adapted to the same uses to 

 which eastern red cedar is put, but except in a few parts of its range 

 the supply is rather scarce and scattered. The tree is desirable for 

 planting within its natural range, since it thrives on dry soil and pro- 

 duces wood suitable for pencils. 



OCCURRENCE AND HABITS. 



Mountain red cedar grows on dry, exposed mesas, low, dry moun- 

 tain slopes, and in rather moist canyon bottoms (where it reaches its 

 best development), in rocky, sandy, or gravelly soils, though seldom 

 in the latter. Within our Rocky Mountain region it occurs at eleva- 

 tions between about 5,000 and 9,000 feet, the lowest elevation being 

 characteristic of the northern distribution, and the highest of its 

 central and southern range. It is most commonly found between 

 5,000 and 7,000 feet, and is rather rare above 8,000 feet. 1 



Single trees or small groups are usually scattered among pinon pine, 

 one-seed juniper, mountain mahogany, gambel oak, and narrow-leaf 

 cottonwood. Sometimes it is associated with Douglas fir, Engelmann 



1 In its Pacific slope range this species occurs sometimes from sea level to about 3,200 feet. 



