LODGEPOLE PINE.
(Pinus contorta)

While relatively unimportant in Mount Rainier National Park, the lodgepole pine is of interest here largely because of its irregular distribution, for it adapts itself to a wide variety of soil, moisture and climatic conditions. The species is most abundant in the rocky soil on the north and west bank of the White River and it may be readily found in the vicinity of the White River camp ground (4500 feet). Isolated specimens are occasionally found in outlying situations, such as on the divide between Mystic Lake and Moraine Park at 6000 feet. It will also be found about the meadow near the mineral springs at Longmire, although in this case it is very likely that these trees originated from introduced seed. Len Longmire, grandson of the man who discovered the mineral springs, states that lodgepole pine was quite abundant on the original Longmire ranch near Yelm and that, since hay was hauled from that location to the Longmire homestead here in the early days, the seeds from which these trees grew were probably transported in that manner.

In Mt. Rainier National Park the lodgepole pine is a small tree, generally from 20-40 feet tall and from 6-14 inches in diameter with a long crown of stout, stiff, short and forked branches. The bark is quite thin, very dark grey to almost black in color and broken up into numerous small scaly plates. The foliage is a dark yellow green and the stout, thick needles, which are from 1-3 inches long, are borne two in a cluster. The cones are small, 1-3 inches long, with thick woody scales, each of which is armed with a stout prickle at the apex. These cones persist upon the branches for many years and often remain tightly closed for several years before they open to liberate the seeds. While no determinations have been made relative to the age attained by this species in this national park, Sudworth states that mature specimens are generally from 100-175 years old.

Lodgepole pine occurs over a wide botanical range. It may be found from Alaska and the Yukon on the north, south along the Pacific Coast to the northern part of lower California and, south through the Rocky Mountain area to Colorado. It is also found in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Throughout this wide range it differs widely in appearance and some botanists regard the tree of the Rocky Mountain - Sierra section as distinct from the tree of the Pacific Northwest.

The common name is derived from the tall slender trunk which is characteristic of this species in dense stands in certain parts of its range - notably Colorado and Wyoming. However, the lodgepole pine in Mt. Rainier National Park is not so characterized.

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Descriptions continued...