PICEA 161 



distinct. The branchlets are greyish white, smooth or nearly so ; the leaves 

 arranged all round the twig, spine-tipped in young trees, blunter in adult ones, 

 | to i j ins. long, quadrangular, dark green, with two to four very indistinct lines 

 of stomata on all four surfaces. Cones 3 to 4 ins. long, cylindrical ; scales 

 rounded, and not toothed at the apex. Native of W. Central Asia in the 

 region of the Thian Shan mountains ; discovered in 1840. It is very distinct 

 from P. obovata in the longer, more spreading leaves. It succeeds fairly 

 well in cultivation. 



P. OMORIKA, Bolle. SERVIAN SPRUCE. 



A narrow, short-branched tree, described as occasionally attaining over 

 100 ft. in height, with a remarkably slender trunk, 3 to 5 ft. in girth ; juvenile 

 trees assume a very slender, tapering, and elegant form ; shoots covered 

 with stiff down, persisting several years. Leaves mostly disposed in 

 or above the horizontal plane, but with a few standing out beneath ; those 

 on the upper side appressed, pointing forwards and hiding the branch ; they 

 are \ to I in. long, Jg- to ^ in. wide ; abruptly and sharply pointed on young 

 trees, rounded on old ones ; dark glossy green, and without stomata on the 

 uppermost side ; greyish beneath, with stomatic lines. Cones egg-shaped, 

 tapered at the top, i j to 2 ins. long ; scales broad and rounded, with jagged 

 margins. 



Native of Servia and Bosnia, in the valley of the Drina River ; discovered 

 by Dr Pancic in 1875. According to Elwes, it grows on limestone. It was 

 introduced to Kew in 1889 by means of seed from Belgrade, but may have 

 been in cultivation a few years previously elsewhere. The plants raised from 

 these seeds have grown very well, and the species is in my opinion one of 

 the best spruces introduced. Near London it thrives better than any other, 

 remaining well furnished with its dark green leaves, growing rapidly, and 

 retaining a slender very elegant form. It deserves, I think, to be planted 

 extensively. 



P. ORIENTALIS, Carriere. ORIENTAL SPRUCE. 



A tree over 100 ft. high in nature, forming in a young state a densely 

 branched, very leafy, pyramidal tree, with the shape of the common spruce, 

 but smaller-leaved and more slenderly branched ; branches stiffly horizontal ; 

 young shoots furnished with short, erect, bristle-like hairs. Leaves arranged 

 mostly at and above the horizontal plane, the upper ones appressed to and 

 hiding the twig ; they are dark shining green, \ to \ in. long, bluntish at the 

 apex, quadrangular in section, with one to four lines of stomata on each 

 surface. Cones of a beautiful puYple when young, ultimately brown, i^ to 

 3 ins. long, | to I in. wide ; cylindrical, slender, and pointed when young ; 

 scales entire at the margin. 



Native of Caucasus and Asia Minor ; introduced in 1839. This is un- 

 doubtedly one of the most attractive of all the spruces, its foliage being of 

 a brilliant dark green, the habit neat and dense. It has the shortest leaves 

 of all spruces, except, perhaps, some of the pigmy forms of other species. 

 Near London, and in localities with a deficient rainfall, it is much to be 

 preferred to P. excelsa, although slower-growing. In a small state it is one 

 of the daintiest looking of spruces, and older, when bearing a crop of its 

 richly coloured cones, it is very ornamental. It is over 70 ft. high in several 

 places in England, and succeeds admirably also in Scotland. 



Var. AUREA has leaves of a yellowish tinge. 

 Var. GRACILIS. A pigmy variety. 



