516 CXXXI. CONIFERS. Cupressus. 



§ 2. Leaves solitary, evergreen. Bark smooth, with reservoirs of balsam. 

 Cones long, erect. 



4. A. BALSAMEA. Willd. (Pinus. Linn. Picea. Michx.) Fir Balsam. 

 Balsam Spruce. — Lis. linear, flat, obtuse, glaucous, with a grooved line 



above and an elevated one beneath ; coves cylindric, erect, reflexed on the mar- 

 gin ; scales broad, compact ; bracts obovate, shorter than the scale. — A beautiful 

 evergreen, common in humid forests of the northern part of the U. States. Its 

 branches are nearly horizontal, gradually becoming shorter upwards, foiming a 

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

 lock (8—10" long) growing upon the sides and top of the branches, of a bright 

 green above, and silvery-white beneath. Cones 2 — 3' in length. Bark smooth, 

 abounding in reservoirs filled with a resin or balsam which is considered a val- 

 uable medicine. May. 



5. A. Fraseri. Pursh. Fraser^s or Double Balsam Fir. 



Lvs. flat, glaucous beneath, linear, often emarginate, subsecund, erect above ; 

 strobile ovoid-oblong, erect, verv' small ; brads elongated, reflexed, oblong-cune- 

 ate, emarginate, briefly mucronate, incisely toothed. — A smaller tree than the 

 last, much resembling it in habit, found on mountains, from N. Eng. ! to Car. 

 Leaves 3' long, and much crowded. Cones about 1 — 2' long when mature; 

 singularly distinguished by the long-pointed, violet-colored, reflexed bracts. 

 Sterile aments terminal. May. — A highly ornamental shade tree. 



<^ 3. Leaves deciduous, collected in fascicles of 20 — 40. 



6. A. (Larix) Americana. Michx. (Pinus pendula and microcarpa of 

 aut/iors/) American Larch. — Lvs. short, in dense fascicles, without sheaths, 



very slender; cones oblong, inclining upwards; even when the branches are 

 pendulous ; scales thin and inflexed on the margin ; bracts elliptical, often hol- 

 lowed at the sides, abruptly acuminate with a slender point. — A beautiful tree, 

 often seen in our shrubberies, and thinly interspersed, in forests, throughout N. 

 England. It is remarkably distinguished from the pines by its deciduous leaves, 

 the branches being bare nearly half the year. The tree arises 80 — lOOf, with a 

 straight and slender trunk and horizontal branches. Leaves 1 — 2' long,collect- 

 ed in bunches of 12 — 20 on the sides of the branches. Cones deep purple, | — 1' 

 long. The wood is considered most valuable of all the pines or spruces, being 

 very heavy, strong, and durable. Apr., May. 

 /?. pendula,. Branches slender and drooping. — A most beautiful variety. 



Tribe 2. CUPRESSIXEJE. 



Carpellar}' scales not bracteate, each with 1 — 8 erect ovules at base inside, be- 

 coming concreted and fleshy in a drupe-like fruit. Anthers of several cells. 



3. CUPRESSUS. 



From the Isle of Cyprus, where the cypress is verj- abundant. " 



Flowers §. — d^ in an ovoid ament ; scales peltate : anthers 4, ses- 

 sile, cf in a strobile ; scales peltate, bearing 4 — 8, erect (orthotro- 

 pous) ovules at base inside ; seed angular, compressed ; integuments 

 membranous ; cotyledons 2 or more. — Trees, icith evergreen, flat^ sqiua- 

 mose, imbricated leave.'!. Fertile aments becoming indurated cones. 



I. C. THVciiDEs. Michx. White Cedar. 



Branchlets compressed; lis. imbricate in 4 rows, ovate, tuberculate at base ; 

 cones spherical. — This tree is thinly disseminated in N. England, but quite com- 

 mon in the Middle States. It usuallv occurs in swamps, which it densely and 

 exclusively occupies. Pleight 40 — 60f. The leaves consist of short, minute, 

 evergreen scales, covering the finely divided branchlets, in 4 imbricated rows, 

 and each one furnished with a minute gland or tubercle on the back. The wood 

 is white, fine-grained, and wonderfully light, soft and durable. Used in the man- 

 ufacture of shingles, pails, fences. &o. Posts made of this cedar it is said will 

 last 50 vears. Mav. 



