186 MISC. PUBLICATION 303, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
A large evergreen tree; root system shallow and superficial; slow growing, 
especially when young; often attacked by bark beetles, much wind and frost 
damaged; rarely injured by fire; wood of great importance commercially ; 
130,000-140,000 seeds per pound, abundantly produced at intervals of 6 to 8 
years, germination 50-75 percent. 
Observations: Much eaten by red squirrel. 
Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr. Sitka spruce. 
Range: 1. 
Site: Well-drained, moist, sun. 
Fruit : Cone; available in September, seeds soon shed, cones soon fall- 
ing. 
A large evergreen tree; root system shallow in moist soil, much deeper in drier 
ones; seedlings, but not mature trees, are tolerant of shade; wood much used 
commercially ; about 260,000 seeds per pound, germination 40 percent; abundant 
me crops every 2 or 3 years; seeds with persistent vitality; seedlings sensitive 
to frost. 
Stomach records: Bufilehead; stone caribou. Observations: Much eaten by 
Douglas’ squirrel. 
Pickeringia montana Nutt. Chaparral pea. 
Xylothermia montana (Nutt.) Greene, 
Range: 4, 5 
Site: Dry, sun. 
Fruit: Legume. 
A small to large, densely branched, spiny, evergreen shrub, flowering May- 
June; fruits sparingly produced; crown sprouts after fire; uncovered roots will 
sprout; nodules resembling those of Ceanothus occur on the roots in very large 
clusters. Var. tomentosa (Abrams) Johnst. is a hairy form. 
Observations: California mule deer. 
Picrothamnus desertorum, see Artemisia spinescens. 
Pieris floribunda (Pursh) Benth. Mountain fetter-bush. 
Andromeda floribunda Pursh. 
Range: 27. 
Site: Well-drained, moist, sun. 
Fruit: Capsule. 
A small evergreen shrub with dense foliage; usually occurs on acid soil; 
flowers April—June; 1,250,000 seeds per pound. 
Stomach records: White-tailed deer. 
Pieris mariana, see Xolisma mariana. 
Pieris nitida, see Xolisma lucida. 
Pinckneya pubens Michx. Fevertree. 
Range: 29, 30. 
Site: Moist, sun, shade. 
Fruit: Capsule, available September—October. 
A large shrub to small or large tree; flowers May—June; very rare and local 
in occurrence. 
Pinus spp. Pines. 
Probably the most important genus of timber trees in the world, and the 
largest of the coniferous group. All are evergreen trees. The cones produced 
may be from 1 to 24 inches long and the seeds are usually, but, not always, 
winged. Some seeds are shed at once, others require up to three seasons to 
mature. About 70 species are known in the world, 36 occurring in North 
America. 
Stomach records (in addition to specific records): Forty-seven species of 
birds, including ruffed grouse, bobwhite, dusky grouse, ring-necked pheasant, 
Richardson’s grouse, and sharp-tailed grouse; mountain sheep, opossum, black- 
tailed deer, spotted skunk, gray fox, white-tailed deer. Observations (in addi- 
tion to specific records) : Thirty species of birds, including ruffed grouse, band- 
tailed pigeon, dusky grouse, mourning dove, ring-necked pheasant; ranks third 
in the list of quail food plants for southeastern United States; an emergency 
food of pinnated grouse; important food of porcupine; Siskiyou chipmunk, 
Allen’s chipmunk, Merriam’s chipmunk, Douglas’ squirrel, Cascade squirrel, 
Richardson’s squirrel, Digger squirre!, Arizona gray squirrel, red spruce squir- 
