290 GYMNOSPERMOUS BXOGENS 



apex by a dilated scale-like connective ; fertile flowers usually in cones (or strobiles'), 

 with the ovules at the base of the scales, or sometimes the ovule is partly immersed 

 in & fleshy disk ; embryo in the axis of fleshy and oily albumen. 



A valuable and very interesting Order, of peculiar Botanical character, com- 

 prising some of the most magnificent trees known, and yielding various balsam* . 

 resins, and resinous fluids, of great importance. 



SUBORDER I. ABIETIN'EAE. 



Flowers chiefly monoicous ; fertile aments consisting of numerous persistent im- 

 bricated carpellary scales each scale subtended by a bract, in fruit, forming an 

 ovoid or oblong strobile, with the scales more or less woody, and finally opening ; 

 ovules 2, adherent to the base of each carpellary scale, inverted (i. e. the orifice 

 turned downward) ; buds scaly, 



393. PrtfUS, Tournef. 

 [The Classical Latin Name.] 



STAMINATK AMENTS clustered in terminal spikes. Stamens numerous , 

 inserted on the axis; anthers subsessile, 2-celled; cells opening 

 lengthwise. FERTILE AMENTS terminal, solitary, or clustered, 

 the carpellary scales with deciduous bracts. Strobile with the scales 

 woody, thickened at apex, and often tipt with a short spine, each 

 scale with an excavation at base containing the 2 nut-like seeds. 

 Seeds winged by an adhering portion of the lining of the scale ; wing 

 deciduous. Cotyledons 3 to 12, linear. Trees: leaves in fascicles of 



2 to 5, needle-shaped, evergreen, the fascicles sheathed at base by 

 the scarious bud-scales ; flowers tawny, or purplish, appearing in 

 May, and the fruit, it is said, does not reach maturity until the 

 autumn of the second year. 



1. P. loops. Ait. Leaves usually in pairs, rather short ; strobiles 

 oblong-ovoid, often curved; spines of the scales slender and straight. 

 POOR, OR DESTITUTE PiNus. Scrub Pine. 



Stem 15 to 30 or 40 feet high, with straggling branches. Leaves 1% to near 3 

 inches long, sometimes in threes. Staminate aments oblong-ovoid, violetrpurple. 

 Strobiles 2 or 3 inches in length. 

 Hab. Sterile hills, and old fields : not common. 



J. p. riglda, Miller. Leaves mostly in threes ; strobiles ovoid. 

 often in clusters ; spines of the scales stout and recurved. 

 RIGID PINUS. Pitch Pine. 



Stem 30 to 60 feet high, rugged and knotty from the bases of fallen branches. 

 Leaves 2 to 4 inches long, rarely in fours, from very short sheaths. Strobiks 2 to 

 4 inches long. 



Hab. Slaty hills: not common. 



3. P. Strdbus, L. Leaves in fives, rather long and slender; 

 strobiles cylindric-oblong, nodding ; scales without spines. 

 White Pine. Weymouth's Pine. 



Stem 60 to 80 or 100 feet high (often much taller in the interior of the State), 

 straight and with a smoothish bark ; brandies verticillate, rather slender. Leaves 



3 to 5 or 6 inches long. Strobile 3 to 5 inches long, somewhat curved, the scales 

 slightly thickened at apex, loosely imbricated. 



Hab. Rich woods; old field, &c.: not common. 



Obs. This is one of the most useful of our northern Pines, and 

 the lumber it affords, in its best localities, is of immense value. 



