78 



This is the celebrated tree with sacred historic associations. It is hardy in 

 Britain, where there are trees over 2-J centuries old. 



C. Libani is even more difficult to grow in Sydney than C. atlnntica. It 

 can only be recommended for the coldest districts. 



Sub-tribe 3. Sapineae. 



18. Picea, Link. The "Spruce Firs." 



This is a genus of evergreen trees of conical or pyramidal outline. It is a 

 fairly natural one, and includes about 17 species, though some may be 

 varieties of better-known forms. Most of them find New South Wales too 

 warm. 



The most important botanical characters by which Picea is distinguished from Abies 

 arc : 'I he leaves are stomatiferous on the upper surface ; the dehiscence of the anthers 

 i* longitudinal (not transverse) ; the scales of the cone are always longer than the bract, 

 and persist after the dispersion of the seeds. Very obvious differences are also observable 

 in the pendulous (not erect) cones with differently shaptd scales ; in the four-angled 

 spines-tipped leaves of the greater number, and in the general habit of most of the 

 species. ( Veitch's Manna 1 , p. 423.) 



(1.) P orimfatis, Carriere. "Eastern or Oriental Spruce." 



A medium sized or tall trf e, found on the south-eastern shores of the Black 

 Sea, thence to the Caucasus. It is a beautiful species, but not much is known 

 concerning it. It will, doubtless, nourish in many parts of New South Wales. 



Our Sydney experience is that it is very slow in growth here, and it should 

 be tried in colder localities. 



M 19 (Sydney Botanic Gardens). 



(2.) P. po'ila, Carriere. " Prickly Fir. " 



A tall or medium sized species from Japan, with stout, pungent leaves. It 

 is rather tender in England, and should be well tried in New South Wales. 



(3.) P. Smithiana, Boiss. (P. Morinda, Link.) *" Himalayan or Indian 

 Spruce." 



A large tree in its native mountains, occurring throughout "the temperate 

 Himalaya from Bhotan to Afghanistan, with a vertical range of from 6,000 

 to 11,000 feet elevation, and occasionally higher." ( Veitch's Manual, p. 455.) 



A beautiful species, most suitable of all the Piceas, so far as we kn >w, for 

 Sydney conditions, but even it finds our dry spells very trying. 



M 19 ; L 6, 7 c (Sydney Botanic Gardens). 



19. Tsuga. The "Hemlock Firs." 



These are readily distinguished from all oth^r Abietine* by their habit and 

 foliage, especially by their slender, often drooping, terminal shoots clothed 

 with leaves having a special anatomical structure. 



They are tall evergreen trees. 



(1.) T. Al her tiana, Kent. " Western Hemlock " of the United States and 

 Canada. Sargent, t. 605. 



A stately, tall tree, the largest of the genus. North California is its most 

 southern limit, so that seeds would require to be collected from as warm a 

 locality as possible in order to ensure success in New South Wales. 



(2.) T. Brun'mianu, Carriere. "Himalayan Hemlock Spruce." 



A beautiful tree of medium size, for the most part tender in England. It 

 should therefore be quite hardy in sheltered situations in our coast range. 



