PINACE^ 425 



terminating in a sharp prickle. Seed triangular, ^ in. long, sur- 

 face rough, wing -|— 1 in. long. 



P. muricata is distinguished from other two-leaved pines 

 by its resinous buds, long, usually yellowish green leaves, and 

 oblique prickly persistent cones which remain closed on the 

 branches for many years. 



Native of the coast of California, where it grows on rocky head- 

 lands in scattered stations between Mendocino, San Luis and 

 Obispo Counties ; on the N.W. coast of Lower California ; and 

 on Cedros Island. 



Wood Ught, moderately strong and coarse-grained, with con- 

 spicuous resin-ducts. Heartwood light brown or pinkish, sap- 

 wood creamy yellow. The timber is of moderate quality, and is 

 used locally for building and other purposes. It may be classed 

 with that of P. radiata, but is not plentiful enough for export. 



P. muricata is hardier than P. radiata, but is less useful. It 

 succeeds under conditions suitable for P. radiata and withstands 

 a good deal of exposure. In this country it is very susceptible 

 to attacks of the pine-shoot moth {Retinia resinella), which 

 inflicts such serious injury that the tree becomes stunted into 

 a spreading bush. Its use in the British Isles must be limited to 

 arboriculture. The cones often remain mtact upon the branches 

 for 30-40 years, the seeds being liberated by forest fires, after 

 which there appears a good ground covering of seedlings. 



There is a very fine tree growing at Claremont, Esher, which 

 is about 75 ft. high. Other fine specimens occur at Essendon, 

 Herts ; Garston Manor, Watford ; The Heath, Leighton Buzzard ; 

 Highnam, Gloucestershire ; and Patshull, Staffs. 



Jepson, Silva of California, 95 (1910). 



Pinus Nelsoni, Shaw. 



Nelson's Pine. 



A small, bushy tree, rarely exceeding 25 ft. in height and 2| ft. 

 in girth, with long, slender, densely crowded branches. Bark 

 smooth and grey. Young shoots slender, glaucous. Leaves in 

 threes, but united along a portion of their inner surface, giving the 

 appearance of one leaf in each sheath, 2-2| in. long, minutely 

 toothed on the two margins of the outer surface, margin of the 

 inner surface entire. Cones remarkably distinct, 3-5 in. long, 

 cylindrical on long, stout, curved stalks, remaining on the tree 

 till the third year and leaving a few basal scales on the branch 

 when they fall ; scales orange-red at the summit, which is trans- 

 versely ridged with an obscurely defined boss. Seeds large, wing- 

 less, pale yellow when fresh. 



A unique species recognized at once by its adherent leaves and 

 peculiar cones. 



