CONIFERS. 341 



cous beneath, subsecund, erect above; cones ovoid-oblong, erect; bracts 

 elongated, reflexed, oblong-cuneate, emarginate, shortly mucronate, incisely 

 toothed. P. Balsamta, var. Fraseri Nutt. 



Mountains. Ver. N. Y. ? and Penn. May. Resembles the former, but dif- 

 fers in being a smaller tree, the leaves shorter and more erect, and the cones 

 not one-fourth the size. Double Balsam Fir. 



11. P. Canadensis Linn. : leaves somewhat distichous, solitary, flat, 

 minutely denticulate, obtuse ; cones elliptic-ovoid, terminal, scarcely longer 

 than the leaves. Abies Canadensis Mick. 



Mountains. Can. to Car. W. to the Rocky Mountains. May. A tree 

 sometimes attaining the height of 60 or 70 feet, with spreading and often some- 

 what pendulous branches. Leaves 6 8 lines long. Cones very small. The 

 wood, though soft and coarse grained, is much used for various purposes. The 

 bark contains a great quantity of tannin. Hemlock Spruce. 



12. P. nigra Ait. : leaves solitary, scattered all around the branches, 

 somewhat 4-sided, erect, short, entire ; cones ovoid ; scales elliptic, undu- 

 late on the margin, crenulate or toothed at the apex. Abies nigra Mich. f. 



Swamps. Subarct. Amer. to Car. W. to the Rocky Mountains. May. A 

 tree usually from 30 60 feet high, with a pyramidal summit. Leaves half an 

 inch long, dark-green. Cones 1 2 inches in length. 



Slack or Double Spruce. 



13. P. rubra Lamb.: leaves solitary, subulate; cones oblong, obtuse; 

 scales rounded, somewhat 2-lobed, entire on the margin. 



Hudson's Bay. Pursh. Maine. Torr. May. Tj. Red Spruce. 



14. P. alba Ait. : leaves solitary, scattered around the branches, erect, 

 4-sided, somewhat glaucous, entire ; cones oblong-cylindric, loose ; scales 

 obovate, very entire. 



Swamps. Arct. Amer. to Car. May. A small tree, seldom more than 40 or 

 50 feet high. Leaves 5 8 lines long, more slender and less crowded than in the 

 preceding. Cones slender, 2 inches long. White or Single Spruce. 



5. TAXUS. Linn. Yew. 



(Supposed to be derived from the Greek TO&V, a bow ; on account of the use 

 made of the wood.) 



Flowers dioecious. STERILE FL. consisting of peltate anthers 

 in an ament ; anther-cells 3 6 or more, inserted in the lobes 

 of the connective, opening beneath. FERTILE FL. solitary, with 

 imbricate scales at the base. Seed nut-like, seated in the disk 

 which becomes a succulent cup. 



T. Canadensis Willd. : leaves linear, distichous, crowded, revolute on 

 the margin ; sterile aments solitary, globose. T. baccata, var. minor Mich. 



Moist rocky places. Can. to Virg. W. to St. Louis River. March, April. 

 Tci . Stem 48 feet high. Leaves resembling those of Pinus Canadensis, but 

 larger. Fruit having the appearance of a berry, open at the top, bright- red, the 

 seed or nut oval, compressed. American Yew. Ground Hemlock 



