154 PICEAi OR 



smooth. ConeSj erect, with a short footstalk, roundish egg- 

 shaped, five inches long and two and a half wide, and of a purple 

 colour when young. Scales, broad, rounded, or kidney-shaped 

 on the upper margin, one inch and a half broad, entire, and 

 rather thick at the margin. Bracteas, longer than the scales, 

 projecting, and reflexed backwards over the scale, very broad, 

 short-pointed, and with an even edge. Seeds, rather large, 

 angular, and soft, with a transparent wing. Seed-leaves, five in 

 number. 



An elegant tree, attaining a height of 150 feet, with a smooth 

 brown bark, and rather thin of branches. 



It is found on the mountains of Mexico. Schiede found it 

 upon the cold mountains of Orizaba, at the highest limit of 

 arborescent vegetation. Hartweg found it in various places 

 in Mexico between 15° and 22° of south latitude, but its chief 

 range is about 19° of south latitude, and at an elevation of 9,000 

 feet. He also found it on the Campanario, the highest point 

 of the mountains of Angangueo, five or six feet in diameter, and 

 150 feet high. 



It is the Oyamel of the Mexicans, and is largely used for de- 

 corating their churches on particular religious observances. 



The supposition of some writers, that Picea hirtella is a distinct 

 species from Picea religiosa, is an error, which I have long since 

 pointed out, as arising from M. Humboldt's description being 

 made from the young shoots, when first he published the name 

 hirtella, the shoots being only hirtellus when young, but quite 

 smooth when old and full grown. 



Section II. BREVIBRACTEATA, or those kinds with 



THE BRACTEAS SHORTER THAN THE SCALES, AND ENCLOSED. 



No. 10. PiCEA AMABiLis, LoudoT), the Lovely Silver Fir. 

 Syn. Pinus amabilis, Douglas. 

 „ Abies amabilis, Lindley. 

 „ Pinus lasiocarpa. Hooker. 

 „ Abies lasiocarpa, Lindley. 

 Leaves, solitary, linear, flat, entire, blunt-pointed, one inch 



