WESTERN YELLOW PINE.
(Pinus ponderosa)

While this is a common tree east of the crest of the Cascade Range, a portion of which forms a section of the eastern boundary of Mt. Rainier National Park, it was only recently found in the park itself. One specimen of this species will be found growing on the slope a short distance above the Yakima Park (Sunrise) highway at about the 4500 foot elevation. Several trees will also be found in the Laughing-water Creek area in the Ohanapecosh district. These represent the only known occurrence of the western yellow pine in Mount Rainier National Park.

On old specimens, as is characteristic, the dark cinnamon-brown to russet bark is broken up into numerous irregularly shaped plates, the surface of these being composed of numerous concave scales. Younger trees have bark that is quite different in appearance from that of the older trunks, being almost black in color and narrowly furrowed. The crown is generally open and characterized by stout branches. The foliage is a dark yellow-green and is borne in dense clusters at the ends of the branches with the needles 2-3 in a cluster and from 4-10 inches long. The cones are dark brown when they mature at the end of the second season, 3-6 inches long, 2-3 inches in diameter and composed of thick woody scales, each of which bears a stout prickle at the apex. As to the longevity of this species, Sudworth states that the western yellow pine attains an age of 350-500 years.

This species will be found over a wider area than any other conifer. It occurs from the Black Hills of South Dakota to the Pacific Coast states, while its north-south range embraces British Columbia and Mexico. In many localities throughout this broad range it forms extensive forests and its lumber is marketed under the trade name of "Ponderosa Pine".

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