75 6 The Trees of Great Britain and Ireland 



prominent pulvini, separated by pubescent furrows. The cones are similar in size 

 and colour ; but differ in the shape and position of the bracts. The arrangement 

 and character of the foliage are entirely different. 



Var. intermedia. 



Pinus {Abies) sp. nova (?), M'Nab, in Proc. Roy. Irish Acad. ii. 692, f. 19 (1876). 



A tree at Eastnor Castle, planted thirty-seven years ago, and about 60 feet in 

 height with a girth of 3 feet 4 inches, is apparently identical with the form described 

 by M'Nab, who mentions two specimens, one collected in the western Himalayas 

 by Hooker and Thomson, and another from a tree, which formerly grew at Castle 

 Kennedy. Mr. Mullins, the gardener at Eastnor Castle, informs me that the tree is 

 narrowly pyramidal in habit, with dark green foliage, and smooth bark on the stem 

 and branches. 



Specimens, which I have received, show the following characters : Branchlets, 

 buds, bark, and habit, as in A. Pindrow. Leaves more pectinate than in that 

 species, and arranged on the branchlets as in A. Webbiana ; about 2\ inch in 

 maximum length, dark shining green above ; gradually tapering in the upper third, 

 as in A. Pindrow ; thicker than in this species ; lower surface convex ; resin-canals 

 median, in which respect this variety differs from both A. Pindrow and A. Webbiana. 

 Cones about 4 inches long and 2 to 3 inches in diameter, resembling those of A. 

 Webbiana in the position and shape of the bracts. 



This variety is intermediate in many respects between A. Pindrow and A. 

 Webbiana, and is possibly a hybrid. (A. H.) 



Distribution 



Abies Pindrow is more restricted in distribution than A. Webbiana and occurs 

 at a lower elevation. It is met with in the outer Himalayas from Chitral to Nepal, 

 at elevations of 7000 to 9000 feet, occasionally ascending to 10,000 feet ; and 

 commonly grows in ravines with a northerly or westerly aspect. It is often 

 associated with Picea Morinda, Quercus dilatata, the deodar, and Pinus excelsa ; but 

 more often is accompanied by broad-leaved trees, such as the walnut, maples, bird 

 cherry, and Indian horse-chestnut. Madden says that it forms dense forests on 

 all the great spurs of Kumaon and occurs in Kashmir. According to Gamble, it 

 has the same narrowly pyramidal habit with short branches which it assumes in 

 cultivation in England. It grows very tall, but does not attain so great a height as 

 the deodar. The largest trees correctly noted were measured in the Mundali forest 

 in Jaunsar, and had heights varying from 188 to 206 feet with girths of 19 to 25 

 feet. The rate of growth averages 13 rings per inch of radius. It bears intense 

 shade and its natural reproduction is excellent. The timber is employed indis- 

 criminately with that of Picea Morinda, though not quite so good. It is used for 

 planking, tea-boxes, packing-cases, and makes excellent shingles, and would be 

 suitable for railway sleepers if creosoted. 



