PiNus. CONIFER^:. 229 



4. PiNus MiTis, Mkhx. Yellow Pine. 



Leaves elongated, slender, usually in pairs, but often in threes, channelled, the sheaths 

 long ; cones ovoid-conical (small) ; scales slightly prominent, with a small slender mucro 

 pointing outward. — Michx. ft. 2. p. 204 ; Michx. f. sylv. 2. <. 137 ; Loud. enc. tr. <^ shr. 

 p. 974. P. variabilis, Lamb. Pin. ^ 14 ; Pursh, fl. 2. p. 643 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 633 ; Beck, 

 hot. p. 339. 



A tree from 40 - 60 feet high and 12-18 inches in diameter, with a regular pyramidal 

 head. Leaves 2^-5 inches long, dark green. Cones about 2 inches long ; the prickle at the 

 extremity of the scale very slender. 



Sandy soils. On the Hudson, near Albany (Michatix /.). I have not detected this species 

 within the limits, of the State, but it is very abundant in New-Jersey. The timber is fine 

 grained, only moderately resinous, and durable. It is extensively employed in the United 

 States, particularly for the flooring of houses ; and great quantities of it are exported to 

 Europe and other countries. 



•* Abies, Tourn. Sterile amenis axillary, aggregated towards the extremity of the branches. Cells of the anthers trans- 

 versely lacerated. Cones scattered, erect. Bracts persislerU. Scales somewhat ligneous, at length separating from 

 the axis. Leaves evergreen, solitary, distinctly Cranked (Picea, D. Don). 



6. PiNus Balsamea, Linn. Balm of Gilead Fir. Balsam Fir. 



Leaves silvery underneath, emarginate or entire, somewhat recurved and spreading ; cones 

 cylindrical, erect, violet-colored ; bracts short, obovate, serrulate and conspicuously mu- 

 cronate. — Linn. sp. 2. p. 1003 ; Lamb. Pin. ^ 41. /. 2 ; Pursh, fl. 2. p. 639 ; Ell. sk. 2. 

 p. 639 ; Beck, bot. p. 340 ; Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 163. Pinus- Abies balsamea, Marsh, 

 arb. Amer.p. 102. A. balsamifera, Michx. fl. 2. p. 207 ; Michx. f. sylv. 2. t. 150. Picea 

 balsamea. Loud. enc. tr. <^ shr. p. 1044. 



A beautiful tree, which is seldom more than 20 - 40 feet high and 6-12 inches in diameter, 

 but sometimes attaining a height of 50 - 60 feet with a trunk 1 8 inches in diameter. The wood 

 is light colored, with a yellowish heart. Leaves about 6-8 lines long and a line and a 

 half wide, bright green above and silvery white underneath. Cones 3-4 inches long and 

 about an inch in diameter ; the scales very broad and rounded. Bracts slightly projecting, 

 erect, with a slender mucro. Seed small, surrounded by a broad obovate wing. 



On the Catskill mountains, and in the northern counties, particularly among the Essex 

 mountains. Oriskany swamp {Dr. Knieskern). Fl. June. In the Hudson river counties, 

 I have not found this species south of Catskill, and it there attains but a moderate stature. 

 In the vallies of the Essex mountains, however, it becomes a large tree ; while on the highest 

 summits of these mountains it dwindles to the height of only a few inches. The wood is 

 seldom employed for lumber ; but the turpentine, which is obtained by puncturing the blisters 

 of the bark, is used medicinally under the name of Canada balsam : it is also used for optical 



