156 CONIFERS. ALDER 



Abies pectinata, DC. Silver Fir (Figs. 15, 61). See also 

 p. 144. Old trees, when the leader has gone, round off at 

 the top and become cylindroid-columnar (see pp. 65-7). 

 This shape is in marked contrast to that of the more 



pointed Spruce. 



Radiating branches sweep forward with up- 

 turned ends bearing needles in tufts of 5. 

 Cones small and fall as a whole. 



Pinus Cembra, L. Arolla Pine (see also p. 143). Very 

 apt to be irregularly bushy, cylindroid-columnar, when 

 3040 feet high. 



Some other Pines assume more or less this form of 

 crown at mid-age. 



ft Not evergreen. Crown more or less open 

 and irregularly long-oblong or cylindroid, 

 stem not straight and often more or less 

 lost in crown. Branches not whorled. Leaves 

 not narrow nor crowded nor tufted. 

 Tree 30 50 feet or more in height, with 

 very light and open foliage and branching^ 

 very slender pale and pendent twigs on 

 which are scattered tufts of 30 40 leaves, 

 or tubercle-like knobs. 



Larix europcea, L. Larch (Fig. 68, see also p. 153). 

 In its older stages the Larch loses its leader, the upper 

 branches grow to the length of the lower, and the crown 

 becomes more or less oblong or cylindroid (see p. 153). 



Twigs and branches not tuberculate, and 

 leaves not acicular. Flowers not in cones. 

 O Foliage a r .id bark very dark, almost black 

 see 160 1 ^ n mass - Leaves more or less obovate. 



Flowers in catkins; old, oblong, woody, 

 black, cone-like, fruiting catkins often 

 remain on through winter. 



Alnus glutinosa, L. Alder (Figs. 69, 70). The tree may 

 reach 100 120 feet in height but is not often seen over 



