200 THE BOOK OF EVERGREENS. 



ish, middle segment 2 inches long and recurved, varying 

 but little from ordinary leaves. Seeds, oblong, wedge- 

 shaped, tetragonal, with a grayish-brown testa, and very 

 short, thinly membranaceous, flat, reticulated, entire wings. 



This species was discovered by Douglas in Oregon 

 growing on the higher mountains, and was afterward found 

 by Dr. Coulter on the sea-side mountain range of Santa 

 Lucia, in latitude 36, and according to his authority is 

 about 120 feet in height and 2 feet in diameter, with a 

 trunk as straight as an arrow. 



The very curious and remarkable cones borne by this 

 tree are handsomely fringed by long, leaf-like bracts, 

 that are entirely different from those belonging to any 

 other species. The foliage is quite long and of a beautiful 

 bright green color, which finely contrasts with the glau- 

 cousness of the under side, and the whole form of the tree 

 is unexceptionable. Frequently but one-third of the body 

 is clothed with branches. 



Douglas, in his description of the species, remarks : 

 " When on the tree, being in great clusters, and at a great 

 height withal, the cones resemble the inflorescence of a 

 jBanksia, a name I should like to give this species, but 

 that there is a P. Bariksii already. This tree attains a 

 great size and height, and is on the whole a most beautiful 

 object. It is never seen at a much lower elevation than 

 6,000 feet above the level of the sea, in lat. 36, where it 

 is not common." 



knowing of any specimen of the A. bracteata in 

 cultivation in this country, we are of course unable to 

 speak of its adaptation to our climate ; but Gordon says 

 in England : " It is quite hardy, but suffers very much in 

 its young growth from late spring frosts." If that indi- 

 cates a quite hardy tree, then we greatly mistake the 

 meaning of the term ; as to its succeeding with us, we 

 have our doubts, however we may desire it to do so. 



