Illustrations of Conifers. 



ABIES AMABILIS (Forbes). 



Gardeners' Chronicle, Vol. XIV. p. 720 (1880) with figs. 



Vol. III. new series, p. 754 (1888) with fig. 



Veitch's Man. Conif. ed. 2, p. 489 (1900). 

 Trees of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. IV. p. 782 (1909). 



A TREE attaining in America a height of 200 feet. Bark in young 

 trees thin, pale and smooth, covered with blisters containing aromatic 

 resin, becoming thick, fissured and scaly in older specimens. Branch- 

 lets grey and covered with a loose pubescence. Buds small and 

 globose, encrusted with resin. 



Leaves persistent 8-10 years, spirally crowded, those on the lower 

 side of the branchlets pectinate ; those on the upper side more or 

 less appressed to the shoot and pointing forward, linear, flattened, 

 more or less curved, 1J to l inch long by one-fourteenth inch broad, 

 with a truncate and bifid apex. Upper surface dark green and 

 shining, lower surface with two broad white bands of stomata. 



Cones ovoid-cylindric, slightly narrowed at the apex, dark purple 

 at first but becoming brown when ripe, 3| - 6 inches long by 2 - 2| 

 inches in diameter. Scales an inch or more wide and nearly as long 

 as broad ; bracts rhombic or obovate-oblong, shorter than the scale. 

 Seed i an inch long with a wing about f inch in length. 



A useful distinguishing character is afforded by the peculiar scent 

 of the leaves when bruised, resembling that of a Tangerine orange. 



This fir is a native of western North America, occurring on high 

 mountain slopes and terraces, from British Columbia southward along 

 the Cascade Mountains to northern Oregon and on the coast ranges 

 of Oregon and Washington. The contrast of colour afforded by its 

 whitish bark, dark green, glossy foliage and large purple cones make 

 it a most handsome tree in its native habitats. It was discovered by 

 Douglas on a mountain south of the Columbia River in 1825, and intro- 

 duced into cultivation five years later. 



Small trees are not infrequent in collections. The specimen at 

 Bayfordbury is now 18 feet high ; the date of planting is unknown. 

 A young tree was added in 1906. 



The illustration is a reproduction of a photograph kindly lent by 

 Mr. G. B. Sudworth of Washington. 



