TO THE nrSTOTlY OF CEUTATX COXIFERS, 



18 



i 



oblong, somewhat dilated near tlie top, subspatulate, pointed, or 

 shortly notched, flattish and channelled on the upper, rounded on 

 the lower surface, with a slightly prominent midrib, on each side 



Fig. 17. 



riaii of section of leaf of A, subulpuui, magnified ; cultivated. 



of which are two glaucous bands of stomata arranged in five 

 longitudinal sei^ies. 



r 



Abies nobtlts and A. mao:n'ifica. 



The confusion that has reigned as to these plants is analogous 



+ 



to that already mentioued in the case of A, gra7idis^ &c. It is 

 not necessary to go iyto the history of the matter, about which so 

 much has already been written by different botanists, and from 

 various points of view. 



It may suffice here to say that, according to the latest views of 

 the botanists best qualified to give an opinion (the late Dr. 

 Eugeltnann and Prof. Sargent), A. nohilis and A. magnijica are 

 to be considered distinct species. The points of distinction 

 relied on are principally the flattish leaves of -4. nohilis^ grooved 

 more or less on the upper surface (see PL lY., top fig.)? ^s con- 

 trusted with the four-sided leaves of ^. magrijica, in which there 

 is no groove, but in which, on the contrary, the midrib is promi- 

 nent on both surfaces (see woodcut, fig. 20). A. nobilis is a 

 native of Oregon, not extending south beyond Nortii California; 



r 



while A, magnijica is stated not to occur in Oregon, but to extend 

 from Mount Shasta along the western slopes of the Sierras to 

 Kern County, lat. 33° N. 



Other alleged points of difference will be alluded to later on; 

 suffice it here to say that they are in my judgment not constant, 

 and that although for horticultural, and probably for forestal, 

 purposes, it may be most convenient to keep the two extremes 

 distinct, yet the numerous variations indicate the probability of a 

 common origin, and consequently justify the establit^hment of a 

 single species or super-species, to which the name nohilis as the 

 older of the two maybe given. The foUowIug arrangement is 

 therefore proposed : 



a2 



