Pinus 



II3S 



unequal and oblique at the base, spreading or deflexed. Scales thin, variable in 

 size, up to f in. long and | in. wide ; those on the outer side near the base with 

 elevated pyramidate apophyses; the others with a rhomboidal transversely ridged 

 apophysis and an elevated umbo, which is armed with a minute recurved, often 

 deciduous prickle. Seed ^ to ^ in., triangular, blackish, furrowed ; wing variable 

 in length ; cotyledons,' three to five, usually four. 



This species is only liable to be confused with P. montana, from which it is 

 readily distinguishable by the short basal sheaths of the leaves and the median 

 resin-canals. Two main varieties, considered by many botanists and foresters to be 

 distinct species, are recognizable : — 



1. Shore Pine, typical P. contorta. — Usually a small tree, lo to 30 ft. high, 

 though attaining 60 to 70 ft. when sheltered and on good soil. Bark f to i in. 

 thick, deeply divided into oblong scaly plates. Leaves dark green, i to \\ in. 

 long, slender, ^^ to ^V i^^- wide. Cones ovoid, very variable in size, f to i^ in. long, 

 some opening their scales when ripe, others remaining closed on the tree for many 

 years. 



Typical P. contorta occurs on the Pacific Coast from Alaska^ to Mendocino 

 County,' in California, usually inhabiting sand-dunes or barrens or growing on ocean 

 bluffs. In western Vancouver island it is a low twisted shrub when growing along 

 the edges of the forest next the ocean ; but on peat-mosses * in the forest it is a small 

 irregular flat-topped slow-growing tree. It begins to flower and fruit when only a 

 few feet high ; and the ripe cones remain unopened on the older branches and on 

 the stem of the tree. On the high mountains opposite Vancouver I saw this tree 

 growing in the forest in small glades on rocky poor soil, at 500 to 750 ft. altitude, 

 not far from the sea ; and it did not exceed 20 ft. in height, producing small ovoid 

 cones, f in. in diameter, most of which opened as soon as ripe. 



On the seashore close to Crescent city in northern California, this species 

 occurs on the ocean bluffs and on the barren gravelly flat to about a mile inland, and 

 is very variable in size, in exposed situations dwindling to a picturesque shrub, but 

 where sheltered attaining a considerable size, one tree which I measured being 65 ft. 

 high and 7 ft. in girth. This tree had dark grey thin unfurrowed bark, covered 

 with small scales, and resembling exactly that of var. Murrayana. A slightly smaller 

 tree, beside it, which I took in the same photograph, had the thick coarsely fissured 

 bark of typical P. contorta. Most of the cones were persistent. 



2. Lodge-Pole Pine. 



Var. Murrayana, Engelmann, in Brewer and Watson, Bot. California, ii. 126 



1 The seedling is described by Hill and de Fraine, in Ann. Bot. xx. 472 (1906) and xxiii. 203 (1909). 



2 Gorman, in Pittonia, iii. 69 (.896), says it is confined to lake borders and margins of sphagnum marshes m Alaska, 

 where it is comparatively rare and little used, except for fuel. The inner bark is eaten by the naUves. He adds that he 

 saw one specimen on Square Island 100 ft. in height and 18 in. in diameter. , , . , .u j r c^ a 



3 Jepson, in Flora W. Mid. California, 23 (1901). s^V^ i' *= ^^1"^°' °° *« Mendocino coast, northward of Pt. Arena, 

 as a low tree, 5 to 20 ft. in height. , . • • 1. „ 



« Cf. Butters, in PosUlsia, .57. plate xii. (1906), where a picture is given of this tree growing m a sphagnum swamp. 



