114 DWAEF AND SLOW-GROWING CONIFERS 



gardens. It is a handsome plant that one would welcome 

 if one did not see it so often and receive it under so many- 

 names ! The above name applies only to the slower- 

 growing compact pyramidal form of this variety. From 

 Beissner's descriptions vars. archangelica and mucronata 

 must be very close to this. 



P. excelsa, var. mucronata, Carr. ("Conif.," 2nd ed., 

 247, 1867). 

 Syn. : Abies excelsa mucronata, Loud. ("Ency. of 

 Trees," 1027; 1842). 

 A. mucronata, Ranch, ex Gord. (" Pinetum," 

 ii. 9). 



This is one of the oldest forms in cultivation, but its 

 identity is not clear. The form most frequently found in 

 commerce or cultivation under this name is the false var. 

 Maxwelli (q.v., and also var. microsperma), but in several 

 particulars the Maxwelli form does not coincide with the 

 recorded descriptions of var. mucronata; it is one of the 

 strong- growing Continental forms referred to under var. 

 pyramidalis gracilis, which comes nearest to the recorded 

 descriptions. 



Carriere's description of it is: "A shrub, bushy and 

 diffuse. Branches few, spreading or decurved. Branchlets 

 stout and short, covered with reddish bark. Leaves 

 distant, spreading, relatively short and stout; straight, 

 sometimes radial or sKghtly recurving; very stiff and 

 ending in a stiff short point. When the plants are 

 vigorous, the branches are more erect. Branchlets are 

 much stouter and their orange- red bark strongly grooved, 

 which gives a great resemblance to var. eremita. Raised 

 from seed by M. Briot at the Trianon, where the mother 

 plant, 4 metres high, seems to have reached its maximum." 



Gordon (" Pinetum," 2nd ed., 1875) ex Loudon 

 describes var. mucroriata as having " short dark green 

 sharp-pointed leaves and distorted irregular branches, 

 rather crowded." 



