158 MONOECIA— MONADELPHIA. Pinus. 



The wood is reported to make excellent charcoal for drawing, of 

 the preparation of which, and of the whole history of this plant, 

 Dr. Hooker gives a full account, annexed to an admirable figure. 

 The cheat of the divining rod, for finding water, revived in our 

 days, is best forgotten ; like another even more impudent cheat, 

 of seeing with the fingers' ends. 



MONOECIA MONADELPHIA. 

 447. PINUS. Fir. 



Linn. Gen. 499. Juss. 414. Fl. Br. 1031. Tourn. t.355,3oG. 

 Lam. t. 786. Gcertn.t.9l. 



Nat. Ord. Conifera. Linn. 51. Juss. 100. 



Barr.jl. Catkin deciduous, of numerous, naked, spreading 

 stamens^ connected by one common stalk. Cal. none. 

 Cor. none. Filam. very short. Anth. erect, wedge- 

 shaped, of 2 cells, bursting lengthwise at each side, 

 crowned with a jagged, membranous crest. 



Fert. fl. CatJcinovate, or roundish, of numerous, imbricated, 

 close, rigid, permanent, 2-flowered, 2-lipped scales. Cal. 

 none. Cor . none. Germ. 2, at the base of each scale within. 

 Style \ to QSich. gei'xnen. »S/^z^ot. prominent, obtuse, eva- 

 nescent. Cone ovate, hard and woody, of numerous 

 rigid, peltate, permanent scales, finally starting asunder. 

 Seeds 2 to each scale, oval, each crowned with a large, 

 terminal, half rounded, membranous wing, shorter than 

 the scale. 



Long-lived, hardy, resinous trees, frequently evergreen, 

 though mostly of a dark and gloomy aspect. Leaves li- 

 near, very narrow, 2 or more from each bud. Barren Jl. 

 terminal, aggregate, yellow, with nhnndsint pollen. Fert. 

 Jl. on lateral stalks. Bracteas several at the base of each 

 catkin, imbricated, scaly. 



The jnstils and stigmas have not generally been well under- 

 stood or described. The Rev. J. Holme, F.L.S., has 

 demonstrated to me the stigmas of the Pinus Larix, and 

 has found them also in our only British Pinus, the 

 Scotch Fir. To him I am obliged for this part of the 

 generic character. 



