THE PINE SUB-FAMILY. 249 



among the most valuable timber, and has no fault except 

 its weight." 



2. L. Dahurica, Turczaninow. DAHURIAN LARCH. 



Leaves, linear, obtuse, sessile, recurved, spreading, and 

 bright green in color. Branches, irregular and drooping. 

 Cones, from |- to j- of an inch long, oblong-ovate, erect; 

 with small, reflexed, wavy, persistent scales ; and short, 

 ovate, pointed bracts. Seeds, very small. 



This species, as yet rare in this country, is from North- 

 ern Siberia, inhabiting the most rigid and inclement situa- 

 tions in that climate. Gordon gives the following account 

 of its native haunts : " It is found in Northern Siberia, on 

 the bleak mountains of Dahuria, and in the arctic regions 

 of Siberia, a mere little sprawling shrub amongst the last 

 vestiges of arborescent vegetation in those regions ; also on 

 cold mountainous places, from the Ural Mountains and 

 Kamtchatka to the Pacific Ocean, but a large tree in 

 Southern Siberia and Russia, and is there what is called 

 the Archangel Larch" 



The size of this species varies so much with the situation 

 in which it is found that no standard can be given. From 

 the smallest of shrubs, it increases in size as it approaches 

 a milder climate, and there forms a large-sized tree, with 

 irregular, twisted branches, that have a drooping ten- 

 tency, and are densely supplied with foliage. From the 

 description of this tree given by European writers, we 

 may infer that it is nearly allied to the L. Etiropea, but 

 not so desirable for ornamental purposes as that species. 

 It will, however, be desirable in large collections, as exhib- 

 iting a distinct form and manner of growth. 



3. L, Eliropea, De Candolle. EUROPEAN LARCH. 

 Leaves, 1 inch long, linear, obtuse, flat, soft, numerous, and 

 bright-green in color. Branches, spreading and horizontal, 

 with drooping branchlets. Cones, from 1 inch to 1 inch 

 long, oval, erect, very persistent, changing from a purplish, 

 to a light brown color with age ; scales, orbicular, slightly 



11* 



