446 PICE A POLITA. 



the highest limits that can be reached, a circumstance that accounts 



for its hardiness in a higher latitude. 



Nothing authoritative is found respecting the economic uses of 

 Picea orientalis. Whatever may be the quality of its timber it is 

 probably not much used in the Caucasian provinces, that of Aides 

 Nordrnanniana being more easily accessible. In this country Pir?ct 

 orientalis is planted solely as an ornamental tree, and as such it is one 

 of the most effective of the Spruce Firs ; * although the habit is of 

 the same pyramidal character the formality is much diminished by the 

 projection of many of its slender branchlets, which makes the outline 

 peaked and pointed. The colour of the foliage is not only distinct 

 but also attractive ; when the buds first cast off their scaly protection, 

 and burst iuto growth in spring, the tender shoots are bright yellow, 

 and as they lengthen, the leaves become a soft delicate green, forming a 

 beautiful contrast to the rich colouring of the mature foliage. A. orienfali* 

 should have a place in every collection of Conifers ; it is quite hardy, 

 but of rather slow growth in dry soils ; a space with a radius of not 

 less than 15 to 20 feet should be allowed for it. 



Picea polita. 



A tall or medium-sized tree according to situation and environment, 

 in exceptional cases attaining a height of 100 feet in the warmer parts 

 of Japan. In Great Britain the oldest trees scarcely exceed 30 feet 

 high, with a broadly conical outline interrupted by projecting branches. 

 Bark of trunk rugose, reddish brown. Branches spreading or 

 ascending, much ramified at the distal end, and covered with brown 

 bark roughened by the convex pulvini of the fallen leaves. Branchlets 

 distichous and opposite, with many adventitious shoots of weaker 

 growth both on the upper and lower side of the branch ; bark 

 light yellow-brown with oblique i-onnded ridges. Buds globose-conic, 

 0*25 0-4 inch "long, with ovate shining reddish brown perulse. 

 Leaves persistent seven nine years, spirally arranged around their 

 axes, spreading on all sides from it, or slightly curved upwards, 

 acicular, 0*5 0'75 inch long, obscurely four-angled, flattened at the tip 

 into a pungent mucro, light green. Cones ovoid-cylindric, obtuse, 3 4 

 inches long and 1 '5 2 inches in diameter ; scales suborbicular, 

 abruptly cuneate at the base, the outer margin rounded - and minutely 

 erose. Seed-wings obovate-oblong, two-thirds the, length of the scale. 



Picea polita, Carriers, Traite Conif. ed. I. 256 (1855) ; and ed. II. 342 (1867). 

 Masters in Journ. Linn. Soc. XVIII. 507 ; Gard. Chron. XIII. (1880). p. 233, 

 with fig. ; and Journ. R. Hort. 'Soc. XIV. 223. Mayr, Atjiet. des Jap. Reiches, 46, 

 Tafel III. fig. 7. Beisf-ner, Nadelholzk. 380, with fig. 



Abies polita, Siebold and Zuccarini, Fl. Jap. II. 20, t. Ill (1842). Murray, 

 Pines and Firs of Japan, 77, with figs. Gordon, Pinet. ed. II. 16. 



Pinus polita, Endlicher, Synops. Conif. 121 (1847). Parlatore, D. C. Prodr. 

 XVI. 417. 



Eng. Prickly Fir, Tiger's-tail Spruce. Fr. Epicea a queue de Tigre. Germ. 

 Stachelfichte, Rosenfichte. Glattzweigigeh'chte. Jap. Hari-momi, Tora-momi. 



* Among the many fine specimens of Picea orientalis scattered over Great Britain and 

 Ireland, those at Highnam Court, Bayfordbury, Orton Hall, Dunkeld, Murthly Castle, 

 Abercairny, Penrhyn Castle, Fota Island, Powerscourt, are especially noteworthy. 



