THE TRUE PINES. 203 



and not very membranaceous. The cones resemble those of the 

 common Cluster Pine (P. Phiaster), and are very different from 

 any other known Californian Pine, are of a bright, glossy, yellow 

 colour, and entirely free from resinous matter. 



A large tree, resembling Pinus Benthamiana, but with much 

 narrower and slenderer leaves, and very different cones, found 

 on the Sierra Nevada, in Upper California. 



It is quite hardy. 



No. 39. Pinus patula, Sckiede, the Spreading-leaved Mexican 



Pine. 



Leaves, in threes, but not unfrequently in fours and fives ; 

 very slender, soft, spreading, light green, and recurved, from 

 seven to nine inches long, deeply channelled on the upper side, 

 and convex beneath. Sheaths, on the young leaves scaly, one 

 inch and a half long, but very much shorter, and rather jagged 

 on the old ones. Branches, slender, smooth, numerous, but 

 rather irregularly placed on the stem, with the ends rather 

 pendulous, and covered with a smooth, greyish, lead-coloured 

 bark. Cones, ovate, oblong, tapering to an obtuse point, four 

 inches long, and one inch and three quarters broad, with a 

 smooth polished surface, of a pale brown colour, mostly growing 

 in clusters of from three to five in number round the stem and 

 leading branches, slightly incurved, and pointing downwards. 

 Scales, slightly elevated, particularly on the exposed side, 

 widened at the point, much depressed, flattish, unequally four- 

 sided, and with a small prickle in the centre when young. Seeds, 

 small, with rather a broad wing, nearly an inch long. 



A fine graceful tree, growing from sixty to eighty feet high, 

 regularly furnished with spreading branches and drooping 

 leaves, somewhat resembling a beautiful shining green fountain. 



It is found plentiful in the colder regions of Mexico, particu- 

 larly on the Real del Monte chain of mountains, at ' Guajalote,* 

 and the ' Sumate,' on the highest peaks, at elevations of from 

 8,000 to 9,500 feet above the sea. There are the following 

 varieties, viz. : — 



