216 ABIETINE^. [part i. 



Jura, which was ascertained to have lived ninety- 

 two years after the tree had been cut down, 

 had completely covered the section of the wood 

 with bark. Strasburgh turpentine is produced 

 from this tree. There are several species of 

 this genus, some of which, as for example, Ficea 

 Wehbiana, do not show the dorsal bract ; while 

 others, as P. nohills^ and P. hracteata^ have it 

 so large as to make the cone appear quite 

 shaggy. All the species abound in resin, which 

 frequently exudes from the cones. This genus 

 is called Abies by Professor Link, and the 

 German botanists. 



THE GENUS LARIX-. THE LAKCH. 



This genus consists of only three species, 

 which are easily distinguished from the other 

 Abietinese by their losing their leaves every 

 winter. The common Larch {Larix europcea) 

 is a very handsome tree, with drooping branches, 

 and fohage of a yellowish green, which dies off 

 of a red tinore in autumn. The leaves are 

 linear, and they are produced in tufts in a sort 

 of woody sheath, some of them appearing in the 

 same sheath with the female catkins. The 

 male catkins are smaller, but appear in the 

 same manner. The cones are small, and show 

 the dorsal bracts when young, but when ripe 

 they are seldom visible. The seeds are winged, 



