SYNOPSIS OF PINES. 265 



Pixrs.— Group 2. Abies, Endl. ; Picea, Loud. ;— Silver Firs. 

 (Cones axillary and upright. Leaves solitary-, flat, silvery beneath.) 



6. P. bracteata, 120 ft. *19. P. firma, tree. 



7. P. nobihs, larc/e tree. *20. P. homolepis, 20-30 ft. 



8. P. Praseri, 10-20 ft. *21. P. bifida. 



9. P. nana. *22. P. concolor. 



10. P. rehgiosa, s h. 23. P. balsamea, 40-50 ft. 



11. P. Js'ordmanniana, 80 ft. 24. P. amabihs, 150-200 ft.--- 



12. P. Abies du Soi, 50-100 ft. 25. P. grandis, 17O-20O ft. 



Ficea, Linn. Silver fir. 26. P. lasiocarpa. 



13. P. pendula. 27. P. Pmdrow, 80-100 ft. ^^ 



14. P. tortuosa. i' 28. P. Webbiana Ti ? 80-100 ft. 



15. P. pp-amidahs. 29. P. Pichta, 60-70 ft. 



16. P. fohis variegatis. 30. P. Pinsapo, 60-70 ft. 



*17. P. leioelada. *31. P. Mertensiana. 



18. P. Cephalonica, 60 ft...' 



This is perhaps the most remarkable section in the family of Pines, in 

 respect to both the size and beauty of the trees. Their forms are gene- 

 rally pyramidal, or of the spiry cone. P. Abies, or Silver Fir, is a trun- 

 cated pyramid, and we beUeve that many of the others will approach 

 that form when they have grown long enough among us to attain to 

 their maturity. P. Pindrow and Webbiana, fi-om the Himalayas, 

 assume a columnar shape. P. Cephalonica, if not a broad-headed tree, 

 has such long horizontal branches as to produce a very broad cone : the 

 same remark appHes to P. Pinsapo. The form and disposition of the 

 branches impart the characteristic features of this group. In 7 and 29 

 they are flat and tabulated ; in 18 and 30 they are rigid, horizontal, and 

 verticillate, giving a very symmetrical habit to the trees ; in 27 and 29 

 they are close, spreading in whorls, with drooping branclilets. The 

 foHage in 7, 18, and 30 is closely set ; in 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 23, and 27 

 it is of a dark green ; in 29 of a vivid green ; in 18 and 30 of a hghter 

 vivid green; in 11 of a light pale green ; and in 25 of a silvery green. 

 The branchlets of some sorts, such as nobilis, Cephalonica, and Webbi- 

 ana, are Hable to be injured by spring fi'osts when the trees are young ; 

 but if planted in shady places or in late situations they seldom receive 

 injiuy. The timber of the silver firs is generally of inferior quality. P. 

 Cephalonica produces hard and durable timber. Though many of this 

 group will tluive tolerably on poor groimd, they attain much greater 

 perfection in soils of good quahty. P. Webbiana thrives in poor clay soils. 



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