376 PIN US SAB1NIANA. 



Finns Sabiriiana, Douglas, MS. ex Comp. Bot. Mag. II. 150 (1836). Lambert, 

 Genus Pinus, ed. II. Vol. II. 146, t. 80. London, Arb. et Frut. Brit. IV. 2246, 

 with figs. Link in Liimnea, XV. 509. Endliclier, Synops. Conif. 159. Forbes, 

 Pinet. Woburn. 63, tt. 23, 24. Van Houtte, Flore des Serres, IX. p. 275, t. 964. 

 Lawson, Pinet. Brit , I. 85, t. 11. Engelmann in Brewer and Watson's Bot. Califor. 

 II. 127. Hoopes, Evergreens, 121. Carriere, Traite Conif. ed. II. 435. Parlatore, 

 D. C. Prodr. XVI. 391. Gordon, Pinet. ed. II. 284. Beissner, Nadelholzk. 256. 

 Masters in Gard. Cliron. IV. ser. 3 (1888), p. 44, with fig. ; and Journ. R. Hort. 

 Soc. XIV. 239. Sargent, Silva N. Amer. XI. 95, tt. 569, 570. 



Eng. Nnt Pine. Amer: Digger Pine, Bull Pine. Germ. Nnsskiefer, Weisskiefer. 

 Ital. Pino noce. 



Pinus Scibinictna inhabits the foot-hills of California both of the 

 coast range and of the Sierra Nevada almost throughout the entire 

 length of the State from north to south, ascending in places on the 

 latter to 4,000 feet above the level of the sea, but usually much 

 lower. It is so unlike any other Pine in habit and aspect that even 

 amidst the luxuriant coniferous vegetation of California it forms a 

 distinct feature of the landscape, appearing in the distance more 

 like an Olive tree or a Willow than a Pine ; its loose and widely- 

 branched habit and its thin grey pendulous foliage tufted at the 

 ends of its crooked straggling branches render the tree so pervious 

 to light that it affords no shade, but at the same time clothes it 

 with pale colouring so distinct, that in the distance this Pine can 

 be easily recognised amidst the darker surroundings. As it occurs 

 along the torrid foot-hills throughout the coast range, it is one of 

 the first of the true Pines met with by the traveller ascending the 

 mountains from the west ; it springs up here and there singly or 

 in groups, never forming forests of itself, usually mixed with an 

 undergrowth of shrubby Oaks (Quercus Douglasii) and Ceanothus, but 

 sometimes in sterile, rough rocky places where nothing else grows.* 

 The economic value of Pinus Sabiniana is unimportant ; the wood 

 is light, very soft and cross-grained ; it soon decays on exposure 

 to the weather, but it is one of the best of firewoods ; the tree 

 yields excellent turpentine, but its most useful product is the large 

 seeds of a nutty flavour which are much eaten by the Indians. 

 The seeds, however, are not much relished by the whites, and their 

 economic value as an article of food will doubtless cease with the 

 extinction of the race of red men that now consumes them. 



Pinus Sabiniana was discovered by David Douglas during his first 

 exploration in California in 1826, but his specimens were unfortunately 

 lost in crossing a stream on. his return northwards. Cones and seeds 

 were received from him in 1832 by the Horticultural Society of 

 London, and plants were subsequently distributed among the Fellows 

 under the name it now bears, which Douglas had given it in 

 compliment to Mr. Joseph Sabine, at that time secretary of the 

 Society and the author of many of the papers published in the earlier 

 Transactions of the Society. In Great Britain this Pine has proved 

 fairly hardy ; in the west and south-west of England, where it has in 

 places attained a considerable size, it possesses many of the peculiar 



*Muir in Harper's Magazine ex Gardeners' Chronicle, Joe. cit. 



