CONIFERS OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION. 43 



pointed seed-leaves are two in number. Nothing can be said now 

 regarding the subsequent early growth and characteristics of seed- 

 lings, which have not been fully studied. 



Taxus brevifolia produces extremely narrow-ringed, clear, rose- 

 red heartwood, which, with exposure to the light, gradually becomes 

 a duller red, the thin layer of sapwood being a very pale yellow when 

 freshly cut. The wood is dense, rather heavy, and when thoroughly 

 dry a cubic foot of it weighs nearly 40 pounds. Thoroughly sea- 

 soned wood of this yew is remarkably durable, even in an unpro- 

 tected state, when used in contact with earth or in water. Owing 

 to the scarcity of the trees, however, the wood is of little commercial 

 importance. Great durability and elasticity render it useful mainly 

 for such articles as canoe paddles and bows; and its attractive color 

 makes it suitable, also, for small cabinet work. As a forest tree, it is 

 only of very secondary importance, both because of its rarity and the 

 fact that larger and more generally useful timber trees grow abun- 

 dantly in the same range. On account of its remarkable tolerance 

 of dense shade it can, however, assist in forming low protective cover 

 in moist coves and canyons and at the heads of mountain streams. 



OCCURRENCE AND HABITS. 



Taxus brevifolia grows near the margins of low mountain streams, 

 on moist flats and benches, in deep ravines and coves in rich rocky 

 or gravelly soils, or sometimes in rather dry soils of slopes and ridges. 

 Its altitudinal range is from about 2,000 to 8,000 feet. Tree forms 

 of it occur chiefly below 5,000 feet, while shrubby forms are found 

 mostly above this elevation (Map No. 9). 



Western yew occurs only in small groups or scattered singly, 

 mainly as an undergrowth, with western white pine, lowland white 

 fir, western larch, Engelmann spruce, lodgepole pine, and western 

 red cedar. It is a frequent, and often the only, undergrowth with 

 the western red cedar. In its Pacific slope range western yew is 

 often associated also with Chamsecyparis nootkatensis and occasion- 

 ally at high elevations with Pinus albicaulis. 



Like all of the other representatives of this group, the western yew 

 is exceedingly tolerant of shade throughout its life. However, when 

 growing under dense shade, it maintains a comparatively open 

 crown with rather thin foliage, partial shade or full light producing 

 a much more densely branched crown and fuller foliage. The con- 

 trast between trees grown in dense shade and those grown in full 

 enjoyment of sunlight is very striking. 



Western yew is a fairly prolific seeder, but at rather irregular 

 intervals. The vitality of the seeds is persistent, and the percentage 

 of germination is moderately high, being from 50 to 60 per cent. 



