A. CILICIA AND NUMIDICA 93 



Their leaf arrangement is sometimes with the 

 V-shaped depression and sometimes with the topknot 

 arrangement of median leaves, and it is this irregu- 

 larity that has placed the A. Cilicia and the Algerian 

 Silver Fir, A. Numidica, specifically together, in spite 

 of their obvious dissimilarities. 



As neither of them so far have put in much of an 

 appearance in Great Britain, their nonconformity to 

 one of these two very distinguished sects, V-shaped 

 or with median leaves, does not so much matter. 



As A. Cilicia is probably delicate, and A. Numidica 

 for some reason best known to itself uncommon, 

 they are neither of them likely to be a thorn in the 

 path of the Pinetum haunter. 



It should not, however, be forgotten that between 

 the verdicts of '* too delicate " and ^' uncommon " a 

 wide difference exists, and that though what is " too 

 delicate " is unlikely to make appearance, what is 

 only uncommon may at any time be met with more 

 frequently in the future than it has been in the past. 



As the A. Numidica has not only stomata on both 

 sides of its short, thickset-looking leaves — which, as 

 has been pointed out, is of rare occurrence in the 

 Abies family — but displays also the unique peculiarity 

 of median leaves pointing backwards instead of 

 forwards, as do those of the rest of its tribe, a clear 

 clue to identity is always at hand. A. Cilicia seems 

 closely allied to A. Nordmanniana, though it has 

 lighter-coloured leaves. 



GROUP VI 



A. PiNDROW, CONCOLOR, LaSIOCARPA 



Group VI completes the last lot. They consist of 

 three species, penned apart on account of their refusal 

 to conform to any sufficiently established code of 



