52 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



almost white.^ There is in addition a marked difference in 

 the cones — that of the variety E?igadinensis is glossy with a 

 dark ring on the apophysis round the base of the papilla. 

 The cones also are not pendulous but horizontal. 



The above description in many respects might apply 

 equally well to the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) form of Pinus 

 silvestris in Germany. 



The larch {Larix europcea) of this association has an inter- 

 esting growth habit. In these natural forests it has not the 

 development in height-growth which is usually attained in a 

 plantation. The stem is clothed almost to the ground with 

 long slender branches, which are festooned with Usiiea barbaia 

 and Priologum barbatum. The bark of the stem is often clothed 

 with Evernia vtdpina. The bark on the windward side is much 

 thicker and redder in appearance. This is said to be due to 

 the action of rain and snow driving against the stem. The 

 cracks on the bark are consequently deepened on that side, 

 and the following season a greater development of bark ensues. 

 A feature of the larch in this area is the almost entire absence 

 of larch disease {Dasycypha Calycma). At times, however, it 

 suffers severely from the attack of Steganoptycha pmicolanay 

 which occasionally causes complete defoliation. The timber of 

 these larch forests shows a very large proportion of deep red 

 heart-wood to sap-wood, with narrow uniformly-spaced annual 

 rings indicative of healthy conditions and slow growth. 



Finns Cembra presents a marked contrast in habit to the last 

 two types. It forms a compact, heavily-foliaged tree, which 

 is strongly branched almost to the ground (PI. III. fig. 8). 

 The deep green foliage and sombre appearance gives it a 

 good claim to the title of the " Cedar of the Alps." The 

 development in height-growth would seem better than that 

 of larch, while it has also a broader extension of crown. The 

 short ovate, upright cone with thick seed scales and seeds in 

 the form of light-brown, thick-shelled nuts ; the five-needled 

 sheaths ; and the young shoots with a dense covering of felty 

 brown hairs are prominent diagnostic characters of the species. 

 - Spruce {Picea excelsa) in this forest zone does not show any 

 abnormal development other than the pendulous habit of the 

 smaller side branches and twigs, an adaptation common in all 

 districts where the snowfall is heavy. 



^ Die Flora des Ofengebietes. 



