126 A HANDBOOK OF CONIFERS 



without down. Leaves on the lower side of the shoot arranged 

 horizontally, spreading outwards and downwards, those of the 

 upper side covering the shoot, the middle ones being much shorter 

 and directed forwards and upwards ; soft in texture, flattened, up 

 to 2| in. long, tapering to the apex, which ends in two horny 

 points ; upper surface dark shining green, grooved ; lower surface 

 pale green, with two greyish bands of stomata ; resin canals 

 marginal. Cones cylindrical, blunt, 4—7 in. long by 2-2| in. wide, 

 violet-purple, changing to dark brown when mature ; scales fan- 

 shaped, 1^ in. wide by f in. long ; the bracts about one- third as 

 long as the scales. Seed-wing about 1 in. long. 



Var. brevifolia, nobis. (Fig. 25.) 

 Leaves up to about 1| in. long. 



Var, intermedia, Henry. 



This name has been given to a tree at Eastnor Castle which 

 is apparently intermediate in character between A. Pindrow and 

 A. Webbiana. It has shoots, buds, and bark like the former 

 species, but the leaves are pectinate like those of A. Webbiana with 

 median resin canals. 



The large resinous buds and irregular arrangement of the 

 bright green, shining foliage will suffice to identify this tree, 

 which is also distinct in habit from A. Webbiana. A. Pindrow 

 may also be known by its smooth bark and bright green leaves, 

 which are not conspicuously white beneath. 



A. Pindrow is widely distributed at elevations between 7,000- 

 12,000 ft. throughout the western Himalaya from Afghanistan 

 to Nepal. It is usually found at lower elevations than A . Webbiana, 

 and is associated with Picea Morinda and other conifers, forming 

 dense forests on all the great spurs of Kumaon, About 1837 

 cones were received by the Royal Horticultural Society from 

 Dr. Royle, and from the seeds of these cones the first plants were 

 raised in the British Isles. 



Wood white, straight-grained, easy to work, not durable in 

 contact with the soil, without odour. It is used for building 

 purposes, general carpentry, box-making, shingles, matchwood, 

 and is said to be suitable for paper pulp. Difficulties of extraction 

 and the long distance from seaports preclude it from the export 

 trade. 



A. Pindrow is found at its best under natural conditions in 

 cool, moist valleys and on gentle northerly slopes where the soil 

 is deep and rich. In such places, and even where the conditions 

 are less favourable, it forms dense stands and reproduces well. 

 Young trees withstand shade well, but do not grow rapidly. 

 In the Himalaya it is subjected to considerable cold, and in some 



