122 A HANDBOOK OF CONIFERS 



canals marginal. Leaves on coning branches shorter, stiffer, and 

 erect. Cones cylindrical, on short, stout stalks, slightly narrowed 

 at each end, greenish when young, brown when mature ; scales 

 fan-shaped, bracts narrowly spoon-shaped, ending in a reflexed 

 point. Seed-wing about 1 in. long. 



The following varieties have been recorded : — 



Var, brevifolia. 

 A dwarf form with short, broad leaves. 



Var. columnar is, Carrie re. 



Very slender in habit, with numerous short branches all of 

 equal length. Leaves shorter and broader than in the type. 



Var. pendula. 



Branches weeping. Recorded from the Vosges and East 

 Friesland. There is a tree at Tregrehan, Cornwall. 



Var. pyramidalis. 



Branches fastigiate, resembUng those of a Lombardy poplar. 

 France. 



Var. tortuosa. 



Dwarf in habit with twisted branches and bent, irregularly 

 arranged leaves. 



Var. virgata. 



Branches long, pendulous, giving off branchlets near their 

 apices, densely clothed with leaves. Alsace and Bohemia. 



The non-resinous buds and the comb-Uke arrangement of the 

 leaves, showing a V-shaped depression between the two sets of 

 leaves, usually suffices to distinguish the common silver fir. Occa- 

 sionally it is difficult to separate from A . Nordmanniana, but if a 

 sufficient number of branches are examined the characteristic 

 leaf arrangement will generally be found. 



A. pectinata is found wild in the mountains of Cent, and S. 

 Europe, where it has an extensive but irregular distribution. In 

 France, Germany, and Switzerland it often forms large forests, 

 either pure or in which it is the dominant species. It extends 

 South to Corsica and finds its maximum altitude at about 

 6,000 ft. in the Pyrenees. It appears to have been introduced to 

 Britain about 1603. 



The wood is fight in weight, soft, not strong, white or yellowish 

 white in colour, with the autumn wood well defined, making the 

 annual rings very distinct. The timber of forest-grown trees is 

 usually straight-grained, spfits well, works easily, and finishes with 

 a good surface. It lasts weU indoors, but is not durable when 



