352 A HANDBOOK OF CONIFER.E 



by long-pointed, hairy scales. Leaves spreading more or less all 

 round the shoot, dark shining green, resembling in appearance 

 those of P. Morinda, but shorter, dense, and pointing forward 

 on the upper side of the shoot, those on the lower side less 

 numerous and spreading, |-1| in. long, rigid, tapering to the 

 sharp-pointed apex, obscurely quadrangular in section with about 

 3 stomatic hnes on each side. Cones cylindric, blunt, 3-4 in. 

 long by 1-lj in. wide, dark shining brown ; scales numerous, 

 closely overlapping, longer than broad, with the upper margin 

 wavy. Seed \ in. long, with a wing \ in. long. 



Resembling P. Morinda in foliage, but the branchlets are not 

 pendulous, and the leaves are shorter and less regularly arranged 

 round the shoot. 



This spruce is widely distributed in Cent. Asia, especially in 

 Russian Turkestan, where it forms large forests at from 4,500- 

 10,000 ft. elevation. It extends eastward through Chinese 

 territory along the Thianshan Mountains. It was first found in 

 1840 in Soongaria by Schrenk, after whom it was named. 



P. Schrenkiana was introduced into cultivation in the late 

 seventies of last century, but has never become common, and we 

 have seen no plants above 12 ft. high in English gardens. 



Although the wood of this spruce appears to be very similar 

 to that of P. excelsa, the inaccessibility of the forests and their 

 long distance from the coast prevent the successful exploitation 

 of the timber. 



It is unsuitable for general cultivation in Britain. 



Elwes and Henry, loc. cit. vi, 1364 (1912) ; Clinton-Baker, loc. cit. ii, p. 48 

 (1909). 



Picea sitchensis, Trautvetter and Meyer. (Fig. 80.) 

 Sitka Spruce. 



Picea Menziesii, Carriere ; P. sitkaensis, MajT ; Abies Menziesii, 

 Loudon ; A. sitchensis, Lindley and Gordon ; Pinus Menziesii, Douglas ; 

 P. sitchensis, Bongard. 



Great Tideland Sj^iaace ; IMenzies Spruce ; Silver Spruce ; Tideland 

 Spruce ; Western Spruce. 



A tree attaining a height of 160-180, or occasionally 200 

 ft., and a trunk-girth of 24-36 ft. or more above the but- 

 tressed base in W.N. America, but ordinarily 100-125 ft. high, 

 with a trunk 9-18 ft. in girth. Exposed trees are of broadly 

 pyramidal outline, but those grown close together under forest 

 conditions have gradually tapering trunks clear of branches for 

 40-80 ft. In Alaska it is much smaller, often becoming shrubby 

 in habit. Bark dark purple or reddish brown, with thin ex- 

 foHating scales. Young shoots hght brown or buff-coloured, with- 

 out hairs. Buds ovoid, with obtuse scales. Leaves flattened, 

 rigid, standing out all round the shoot, |-f in. long, ending in 

 sharp, horny points which render the leaves prickly to the touch, 



