72 



The False Hemlocks 



slope not being so. It now promises to be one of the most desirable coniferous 

 trees for parks, where it sometimes bears fruit when scarcely 2 meters taU. 



2. BIG CONE SPRUCE — Psendotsnga macrocarpa (Torrey) Mayr 



Abies Douglasii macrocarpa Torrey 



This tree, which is also called Big-cone Douglas spruce, California hemlock, 

 and Hemlock, is of very local occurrence, being known only from dry mountains 

 in southern California, where it grows near the banks of streams and on rocky 

 slopes, at elevations of from 900 to 1800 meters. It is an abundant tree of this 



Fig. 56. — Big Cone Spruce. 



thinly forested region, reaching a maximum height of 30 meters, with a trunk 

 diameter of 1.2 meters. 



The lower branches are relatively long, far apart, drooping below, with stout, 

 or slender branchlets; the upper branches are short and ascending, forming an 

 open conic head. The bark is 7 to 15 cm. thick, deeply furrowed into broad 



