IPICEA 125 



Branchlets. — Annual growth 1 inch to 2 inches; very 

 thin and fine; hght oak-brown covered with pubescence; 

 all ascending at a very narrow angle to the branches. 



Leaves. — As fine as those of var. ericoides, but far more 

 crowded ; arranged practically radially, but more crowded 

 on outer or upper side. The leaves are much shorter than 

 those of either vars. ericoides or Doumetti — J to J inch — 

 and are borne very regularly, incurved and pointing 

 forward at a very acute angle. Glaucous; dark blue- 

 green. 



A dwarf columnar form which, according to Gordon, 

 rarely exceeds 4 feet in height. There is an old specimen 

 of this form in the Arnold Arboretum. 



These three forms are fairly distinct. Var. Doumetti 

 makes a regular open pyramid of fairly vigorous habit. 

 Var. ericoides is conical or narrowly pyramidal, of irregular 

 growth; its leaves are heath- like and irregular in arrange- 

 ment, presenting almost a " furry " appearance. The 

 branches of var. fastigiata ascend at a much narrower 

 angle. Its foliage is more radial in arrangement, and 

 its whole appearance is very regular and compact. 



P. nigra, var. nana, Beiss. (ii. 337). 



An ornamental, slow-growing, globose dwarf form, of 

 somewhat fighter blue- green fofiage. I cannot trace this 

 form in cultivation, and it is probably only another name 

 for var. ericoides. 



P. nigra, var. " Mariana " of the trade, seems very close 

 to var. Doumetti, but makes a rounder bush, and its 

 growth is not quite so vigorous. There is a plant of this 

 form in Glasnevin Botanic Gardens. 



P. orientalis, Lk. and Carr. 



The Oriental Spruce inhabits the Taurus, Caucasus, and 

 Asia Minor, and was introduced in 1 837. It is very hardy, 

 and its soft short lustrous green leaves and compact habit 

 are very distinct. 



