NOTES ON THE ALTITUDINAL RANGE OF 

 FOREST FUNGI 



James R. Weir 



The altitudinal range of forest tree fungi is a subject of some 

 interest to foresters, and one seldom touched upon in forest 

 pathological reports. During the seasons from 1912 to 1915 the 

 writer, in connection with other work in the higher elevations 

 of the Pacific Northwest, gathered considerable information on 

 this subject. 



Vegetation of Regions Visited 



In most of the higher mountains in Washington, Oregon, 

 Idaho, and Montana arctic conditions prevail during a part of the 

 year. This is indicated by the occurrence of such heather-like 

 plants as Phyllodoce empetriformis (Smith) Don, Ledum glandu- 

 losum Nutt, Vaccinium microphyllum Ryd., Rhododendron albi- 

 flornm Hook., Gaultheria humifnsa (Graham) Ryd., Cassiopc 

 mertensiana (Bong.) Don, and by the alpine character of numer- 

 ous herbaceous plants. On a few of the higher peaks arctic con- 

 ditions exist for the entire year. The absence on many slopes 

 of a suitable amount of soil capable of supporting any great 

 amount of vegetation is probably more responsible for their alpine 

 character than elevation and exposure. The regions visited do, 

 however, represent the highest of the timbered plant zones for 

 the Northwest. 



The characteristic tree which lends the true alpine character to 

 all high elevations in the Northwest is the alpine fir (Abies lasio- 

 carpa (Hook.) Nutt.). It is usually associated with the moun- 

 tain or black hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carr.) This 

 hemlock is not, however, universally distributed as is the alpine 

 fir but occurs sparingly in certain regions. A tree that reaches 

 the highest elevations and is quite generally mixed with the 

 alpine fir is the white bark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.). 



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