Photograph by A.H. Denman.
MOUNTAIN HEMLOCK (TSUGA MERTENSIANA).
The mountain hemlock (figs. 18, 19, and 20) is found on the Pacific coast from the Sierras of California to the northern part of Alaska where it grows at sea level. On Mount Rainier it occurs at altitudes of from 3,500 to 7,500 feet. It forms dense forests under 4,500 feet, where it is often a fair-sized tree 50 to 90 feet high. With the ascent of the mountain it diminishes in height and the branches become gnarled and twisted. Near timber line the trunk is dwarfed and bent at the base and the crown becomes a flattened mass of branches lying close to the ground (fig. 20).
Photograph by Geo. O. Ceasar.
The mountain hemlock is abundant on high, rocky ridges, but the best stands are on cool, moist soil at the heads of ravines, on flats, and on gentle slopes with a northern exposure.
This tree seeds every year. In good seed years the upper branches are laden with a profusion of beautiful, deep-purple cones, often in such abundance as to bend down the branchlets with their weight. The reproduction is slow. In the high mountains the trees are buried in snow from October to late in June, and the growing season is very short.
WHITE-BARK PINE (PINUS ALBICAULIS).
Photograph by A.H. Denman.
The white-bark pine (fig. 21) grows close to timber line in the mountains of the Pacific coast from British Columbia to southern California. In the Canadian Rockies it extends north to the fifty-third parallel. It is the most alpine of all the pines. Its lower limit on Mount Rainier is about 5,000 feet above sea level. In sheltered places where the soil is deep the trees are sometimes 30 to 40 feet high and 20 inches in diameter. The trunks are free from limbs for 8 or 10 feet. The outer bark, from which the tree derives its name, consists of thin, light-gray scales.
As the white-bark pine advances up the mountain its habit changes rapidly. The stem shortens and becomes gnarled and twisted. The tough, flexible branches reach the ground and spread over it to a great distance from the tree. On rocky summits and the bleak crests of wind-swept ridges the twisted trunk and branches are quite prostrate and the crown is a dense flattened mass of foliage.
The roots of the tree are deep, long, and tenacious. They spread wide and deep and cling so firmly to the rocks that the tree is rarely overthrown by the violent winds that sweep over the mountain.
Photograph by A.H. Denman.
The thick, purple cones require two years to mature. They ripen early in September and produce chocolate-brown seeds a little larger than a grain of corn. They are much relished by the Klickitat Indians, who go to considerable pains to secure them. The wood is close grained and resinous. It makes excellent fuel for the camp fires of sheep herders and mountain travelers.
WESTERN YEW (TAXUS BREVIFOLIA).[5]
The western yew is found from southern Alaska to northern California. It occurs in the park up to 4,000 feet, growing in rich, gravelly soil on moist flats and benches and in deep ravines. It is a small branching tree, rarely over 20 feet high. The bark is purple or reddish brown. The branches extend almost to the ground. It bears a small, bright, amber-red berry.
The dark-brown or red heartwood is very tough, hard and heavy. It takes a fine polish and is used for fancy cabinetwork. The Indians use it for spear handles, bows, and fishhooks.
DECIDUOUS TREES.
The silva of the Western Cascades is rich in evergreens remarkable for their size and beauty. The deciduous trees are few and insignificant. The forests of the park are almost wholly coniferous. Vine maple and willow are found as undergrowth. On the margins of rivers there are occasional groves of alders and cottonwoods. The lighter hues of the branching trunks and the changing tints of the foliage in these patches of broad-leaved woodland present a pleasing diversity to the evergreen forest.
Broadleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) (fig. 22), the largest of the Pacific coast maples, ranges from Alaska to southern California. Near sea level it often attains a height of 50 or 60 feet. In the park it is a short-stemmed, branching tree, occasionally found on the borders of streams. It grows at elevations under 3,000 feet.
Vine maple (Acer circinatum) (fig. 23) is abundant from British Columbia to northern California. On rich river bottoms it is sometimes 15 to 20 feet high and 6 inches in diameter. In the park it is usually a bush or low shrub with a bent and curiously crooked stem, growing along streams and as undergrowth in the forest. It is very common up to 3,000 feet. In autumn the leaves are a bright scarlet. The wood is tough and elastic and makes a hot and lasting fire.
Red alder (Alnus oregona) (fig. 24) occurs from Alaska to southern California. It is common about Mount Rainier, in river bottoms, on the banks of large streams, and in swampy places. It usually grows to a height of 30 or 40 feet. The bark varies from nearly white to light gray. It is the most abundant of all the deciduous trees in the park.
Black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) (fig. 25) is common from Alaska to southern California. It is occasionally found in the park up to 4,000 feet. It grows along streams and on sandy river bottoms often associated with the alder. The leaves are almost always in motion, very gentle winds being sufficient to make them twinkle and turn.
The wood is soft, but tough and compact. It is used for staves, woodenware, wood pulp, trunks, barrels, and for drawer bottoms.
FOOTNOTES
[1] This species is known as arbor vitæ in Glacier Park.
[2] This species is known as silver fir in Crater Lake Park.
[3] This species is known as balsam in Glacier and Yellowstone Parks.
[4] This species is known as silver fir in Yellowstone and Glacier Parks.
[5] This species is known as Oregon yew in Crater Lake National Park and as yew in Yellowstone and Glacier Parks.
INDEX TO SPECIES DESCRIBED.
[Roman numerals indicate pages containing descriptions; italic numerals indicate pages containing illustrations.]
Abies amabilis 15–16, 15, 16
grandis 20, 21
lasiocarpa 19–20, 19
nobilis 17–19, 17, 18
Acer circinatum 30, 30
macrophyllum 29, 29
Alder, red (Alnus oregona) 30, 31
Alnus oregona 30, 31
Alpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) 19–20, 19
Amabilis fir (Abies amabilis) 15–16, 15, 16
Arbor vitæ. See Western red cedar.
Balsam. See Alpine fir.
Black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) 30–32, 31
Broadleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) 29, 29
Cedar, western red (Thuja plicata) 9–11, 10
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 23–24, 23
Cottonwood, black (Populus trichocarpa) 30–32, 31
Cypress, yellow (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) 23–24, 23
Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga taxifolia) 6–8, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13
Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmanni) 20–23, 22
Fir, alpine (Abies lasiocarpa) 19–20, 19
amabilis (Abies amabilis) 15–16, 15, 16
Douglas (Pseudotsuga taxifolia) 6–8, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13
grand (Abies grandis) 20, 21
noble (Abies nobilis) 17–19, 17, 18
silver. See Fir, amabilis; Fir, grand.
Grand fir (Abies grandis) 20, 21
Hemlock, mountain (Tsuga mertensiana) 25–27, 25, 26, 27
western (Tsuga heterophylla) 11–13, 12, 13, 16
Larch. See Noble fir; Amabilis fir.
Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) 24–25, 24
Maple, broadleaf (Acer macrophyllum) 29, 29
vine (Acer circinatum) 30, 30
Mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana) 25–27, 25, 26, 27
Noble fir (Abies nobilis) 17–19, 17, 18
Oregon yew. See Western yew.
Picea engelmanni 20–23, 22
Pine, lodgepole (Pinus contorta) 24–25, 24
western white (Pinus monticola) 13–15, 14
white-bark (Pinus albicaulis) 27–28, 28
Pinus albicaulis 27–28, 28
contorta 24–25, 24
monticola 13–15, 14
Populus trichocarpa 30–32, 31
Pseudotsuga taxifolia 6–8, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13
Red alder (Alnus oregona) 30, 31
cedar, western (Thuja plicata) 9–11, 10
Silver fir. See Amabilis fir; Grand fir.
Spruce, Engelmann (Picea engelmanni) 20–23, 22
Taxus brevifolia 28–29
Thuja plicata 9–11, 10
Tsuga heterophylla 11–13, 12, 13, 16
mertensiana 25–27, 25, 26, 27
Vine maple (Acer circinatum) 30, 30
Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) 11–13, 12, 13, 16
red cedar (Thuja plicata) 9–11, 10
white pine (Pinus monticola) 13–15, 14
yew (Taxus brevifolia) 28–29
White-bark pine (Pinus albicaulis) 27–28, 28
White pine, western (Pinus monticola) 13–15, 14
Yellow cypress (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) 23–24, 23
Yew, Oregon. See Yew, western.
western (Taxus brevifolia) 28–29