THE TRUE PINES. 229 



as pin, in allusion to the slender leaves, which are aptly desig- 

 nated "needle leaves" (Nadelholz) by the Germans, and 

 " acerosa " by botanists. Others, again, derive Pinus from the 

 Celtic word " pen " a mountain, in allusion to the site where 

 these trees grow, and state that it is wholesome to walk in 

 such groves, where the air is impregnated with the balsamic 

 properties of " the Pine that breathes forth fragrance from 

 every wound ;" but the dry air and soil selected by Pines are 

 more probably at the root of the salubrity. The term Fir 

 most probably was derived from fire, the wood being very 

 combustible, Pine forests, in ancient times, being particularly 

 subject to be destroyed by that element, generally through the 

 carelessness of man, but not unfrequently either by lightning 

 or the action of the sun's rays upon the dry, decayed wood of 

 fallen trees. 



All evergreen trees, found in Europe, Asia, and America, 

 with one in Africa (P. Canariensis). 



Section I. BINiE, or those kinds having only two leaves 



IN EACH SHEATH. 



No. 1. Pinus Austriaca, Hoss. The Austrian Pine. 



Syn. Pinus nigricans, Hoss. 

 nigra, Link. 

 Laricio Austriaca, Endlicher. 

 nigrescens, Hort. 

 Laricio nigricans, Parlatore. 



Leaves two in a sheath, slender, straight, and not wavy; 

 dark glossy green, four or five inches long, erect when young, 

 but spreading and curved inwards when old ; outer surface 

 half round, inner channelled, sharp-pointed, rough at the edges, 

 and thickly set on the branches. Sheaths very short, scaly, torn 

 at the ends, and almost disappearing when old. Branches 

 horizontal, in regular whorls, spreading, and with the ends 

 curved upwards ; smaller ones, short, scaly, and with a grayish 

 brown bark, regularly and deeply raised by the insertion of 



