CON I FE 15 J.. 359 FINUS. 



§ § Leaves deciduous, in fascicles of 12 — 25, acerose. Scales ihin al edge. liARix. 



7. P. AMERICA'NA. L.arix Americana, ilfc. P. pendula and raiorocarpa of authors. 

 Leaves short, in dense fascicles, wiUiout sheatiis, very slender; cones oh- 



lono-, iiicliiinig upwards even when the branches are pendulous; sc/i les ih'in 

 and''infle.\ed on the margin ; brads elliptical, often ijoUowed at the sides, 

 abruptly acuminate with a slender point. A beaulii'iil tree, often seen in our 

 shrubberies, and thinly interspersed, in forests throughout N. England. It is 

 remarkably distinguisheii from the pings by its deciduous leaves, the branches 

 beina" bare nearly lialf the year. The tree arises 80 — 100 feet, with a straight 

 and slender trunk and horizontal branches. lieaves 1 — 2 inches long, col- 

 lected in bunches of 12 — 20 on the sides of the branches. Cones deep pui pie, 

 1 — 1 inch lung. The wood is considered most valuable of all the pines or 

 spruces, being very heavy, strong and durable. Apr. May. Amcriam Larch. 



ij § § I, eaves evergreen, solitary', linear. Scales of the cone even and attenuated. Abies. 



8. P. CaNADE'NSIS. L. Abies Canadensis. Jl/z. 

 Leaves linear, flat, obscurely denticulate, glaucous beneath, in 2 rows; cones 



ovoid, terminal, scarcely longer than tlie leaves ; sea/c*- rounded, entire. A 

 well known evergreen inhabitant of the rncky, mountainous woods of Nevsr 

 England, commonly attaining the hight of 70 — 80 feet. The trunk is large in 

 propnition, straight, covered with a rough bark. Branches brittle and nearly 

 horizontal, with pubescent twigs Leaves 6 — 8 lines in length, less than 1 

 line wide, arranged in 2 opposite rows. Cones very small. The wood of the 

 hemlock is soft, elastic, of a coarse, loose texture, not much valued for lim- 

 ber, but is sometimes substituted for pine. The bark is extensively used in 

 tanning. May. Huitlock Spruce. 



9. P. BALSa'xMEA. L. Abies balsamifeia. i/x. 

 Leurrs linear, flat, obtuse, glaucous, with a grooved line above and an ele- 

 vated one beneath ; c-<7«es cylindric, erect, retlexed on the marjjin; scales 

 broad, compact; bracts obuvate, shorter tiian the scale. .\ beautiful ever- 

 green, common in Immid forests of tne northern part of the U. States. Jts 

 branches are nearly horizontal, gradually becoming shorter upwaids, forming 

 a regularly pyramidal head. The leaves are little larger than those of the 

 hemlock ''a — 10 lines long) growing upon the sides and top of the branches, 

 of a bright green above and silvery white beneath. Cones 2 — finches in 

 length.. Bark smooth, abounding in reservoirs filled with a resin or balsam 

 which is considered a valuable medicine. May. t'ir Tree. Bdsani Spruce. 



10. P. ALBA. Ait. Abies alba. jlfs;. 

 Leaves 4-sided, incurved ; cows lax, pendulous, subcylindric, with entire, 



broadly obovate. somewhat 2 lobed scales. Very abundant in the northern 

 sections of the U. States, preferring humid and rocky woods. HightSO feet. 

 Trunk 1 — 2 feet in diameter at the base, regularly diminishinii; upwards. 

 Lower branches longest, the others becoming gradually shorter upwards. 

 Leaves ^ — J inch in length, placed on all sides of the branches. Cones small. 

 The timber is useful in the frames of buildings, &c. May. JVItite Spruce. 



11. P. NIGRA. Ait. Abies nigra. Mx. 

 Leaves 4 cornered, scattered, straight, erect; cones ovoid, pendulous; 



sco/ei- clliplical-obdvate, erosely dentate at the edge, erect. This fine tree 

 abounds in the northern parts of the U. S. where dark, mountain forests are 

 often wholly composed of it. It is a large tree, 70 — 80 feet high, with a 

 straight trunk and a lofty pyramidal head. The leaves thickly cover the 

 brandies, are of a dark green color, little more than ^ inch in length. Cones 

 1 — 2 inches long. The timber is light, strong and elastic, and, although in- 

 ferior to the white pine, is much used in architecture. That salutary beverage, 

 spruce ixcr, is made from the young branches. May. Black or Double Spruce. 



