44 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [wo. 16. 
Those that grow singly usually support themselves by having the 
trunks strongly curved downward just above the ground, as shown in 
fig. 26. 
The alpine hemlock is one of the most picturesque and attractive 
trees of our western mountains. Its beauty is due in part to the hand- 
some trunks and irregular drooping branches, but mainly to the dense 
and peculiarly tufted foliage which falls in graceful masses in such 
manner as to conceal the branches and upper parts of the trunks. The 
twigs or ultimate branchlets curve upward and the needles stand out 
on all sides and point outward—away from the body of the tree—pro- 
ducing a tufted appearance very unlike that of other conifers. This 
LAL : 
MA} LE OE eh i 
Fie 26.—Trunk of alpine hemlock, showing thickening and curvature of base. 
effect is heightened during the latter part of summer by the light green 
tips of the new growth. 
The hemlock forest is dark, somber, and silent, and its drooping 
branches are draped with the dangling beards of the black-beard 
lichen (Alectoria Jremonti), The only color that breaks the otherwise 
uniform darkness is the bright yellow lichen (Evrernia vulpina) which 
covers the north or northwest sides of the trunks and upper sides of 
the branches—a conspicuous feature and one seemingly out of harmony 
with the general tone of the forest. In all these respects the hemlock 
forest accentuates the features of the Shasta fir forest of the belt below, 
with which it is directly continuous. The tree trunks and bark also 
resemble those of the Shasta firs. The bark is in long scales which, as 
