
165 
(along the Pacific coast and north of the United States boundary). It is 
largely associated with pine, forming pure growths only in a few local- 
ities, and then of small extent. It grows from the sea-level to 10,000 
feet, attaining from 200 to 300 feet in height and 10 feet in diameter. 
The wood is hard, strong, and durable, being especially valuable for 
large timber and coarse lumber, where durability and strength are 
needed, 
Description,—Leaves, comb-like in arrangement, 4+ to 14 inches long, slender, dat, 
with stems, rather blunt-pointed ; whitish on the under surface. Cones 2 to 4 inches 
long, 1 inch in diameter; somewhat cylindrical or ovate, with a fringe of three- 
pointed bracts from among the scales. Seeds reddish brown on one side, white on 
the other. Bark grayish brown: when young, smooth; in old trees rongh, deeply 
furrowed, and sometimes over 1 foot thick. 
20.—WESTERN LARCH. TAMARACK. (Larix occidentalis, Nutt.) 
A western representative of the northeastern Tamarack, but a mueh 
larger, and in some respects a mere valuable, tree. It is found in 
western Montana (also ranging westward in Oregon and Washington 
Territory and north of the United States boundary), usually occupying 
moist slopes between 2,500 and 5,000 feet. It is almost always asso- 
ciated with other species, and rarely, ifever, forming pure growths. In 
Montana it attains its most valuable size, reaching a height of 100 to 
150 feet, with a diameter of 4 feet or over. The wood is heavy, very 
hard, strong, and durable, and is employed somewhat for lumber, but 
chiefly for posts, ties, fuel, ete. 
Description.—Leaves 14 to 20 in a bundle, 4 to ? of an inch long, narrow, somewhat 
four-angled, slender at the base, pointed at the tip; pale green, Cones ovate-globose, 
® to 14 inches long, by ? of an inch in diameter; solitary, erect or bent down; scales. 
few, + of an inch long, roundish, loosely overlapping, squarish or notched at the tip, 
shining on the back; an elliptical, finely-toothed, acutely-pointed bract extending 
from the base and beyond the point of each scale, chiefly the long points only being 
visible beyond the ends of the scales. Larix Europaca and Lyallii also have an ex- 
tended bract, but of different form. Branches, short; lower ones horizontal, upper 
ones ascending. Young shoots smooth, with many round black buds. 
21.—Larixv Lyallii, Parlatore. 
A strictly alpine species, of small size, growing in dry rocky situa- 
tions of northwestern Montana (and westward) at elevations between 
5,500 and 7,000 feet; generally much scattered and associated with 
other conifers. The timber is little used, on account of its inferior size 
and the usually inaccessible positions occupied by it. 
Description.—Leaves } of an inch long, 40 to 50 in a bundle, very narrow, on young 
shoots single and longer. Cones 2 inches long, ovate-oblong (only immature speci- 
mens examined) and 1 incli in diameter; deciduous, greenish purple; margin of 
scales woolly-fringed ; awl-pointed bracts from among and longer than the scales, 
the broad bases of the bracts being visible. Much branched; young shoots and buds 
_ clothed with a whitish wool. 

