THE SILVER FIRS. 149 



PiCEA GLAUCESCENS, , the Silvcr-leavcd Mexican Fir. 



Syn. Abies glaucescens, RoezL 

 „ ,, glauca, Roezl, in Gard. Chron. 



Leaves, much longer and more silvery on both sides than 

 those of the Oyamel Fir, but in other respects very similar. 

 Cones also like those of Picea religiosa, but broader, and 

 furnished with large, reflected bracts, which are very much longer 

 than the scales, except near the apex of the cone, where they are 

 mostly wanting. Bracteas much longer than the scales, bent 

 backwards, very broad, spoon-shaped, fringed round the margins, 

 and furnished with a long, tapering point or tail, quite entire on 

 the edges. 



A beautiful kind of Silver Fir, found growing on the * Mont 

 de las Cruces,' in Mexico, by M. Roezl, who says the leaves 

 are so glaucous, or silvery on each side, that, at a great distance, 

 one would declare the trees were covered with snow, and that 

 they are much whiter than the Cedrus Deodara, on closer in- 

 spection. 



It appears quite new, and probably may prove hardy. 



No. 6. Picea nobilis, Loudon, the Noble Silver Fir. 

 Syn. Pinus nobilis, Douglas. 

 „ Abies nobilis, Lindley. 



Leaves, solitary, crowded, irregularly two-rowed, mostly on 

 the upper side of the branches ; one inch and three quarters 

 long, linear, falcate, compressed, and turned upwards, flat, 

 linear, dull green above, and silvery beneath. Cones, solitary 

 on the upper part of the top branches, cylindrical, thick, and 

 rather obtuse ; six or seven inches long, and two inches and 

 three quarters broad. Scales, triangular, with the edges 

 incurved, entire on the margin, and without the bract, one inch 

 and a quarter long, and the same broad. Bracteas, pro- 

 jecting, imbricated backwards, and longer than the scales ; jagged 

 round the edges on the exposed part, five-eighths of an inch 

 long, and with a long and rather broad point or tail in the 

 middle. Seeds, small, angular, soft, with the wing one inch 



