Illustrations of Conifers. 25 



ABIES RELIGIOSA (Schlechtendal). MEXICAN FIR. 



Gardeners' Chronicle, Vol. IX. p. 804 (1891) with figs. 



Veitch's Man. Conif. ed. 2, p. 586 (1900). 



Trees of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. IV. p. 808 (1909). 



A tree attaining a height of 150 feet and a girth of 15 feet. Bark 

 rough and grey. Young shoots brown on the upper side, olive-green 

 on the lower side, covered with minute pubescence. Buds cylindrical, 

 rounded at the apex and resinous. 



Leaves on lateral branches rather thinly set; those on the upper 

 side pointing forwards and slightly upwards ; those on the lower side 

 spreading outwards and forwards. Leaves 1 - 1 inch long, the upper 

 shorter than those below ; upper surface shining dark green ; lower 

 surface with two whitish lines of stomata. 



Cones 4 inches long and 2 inches in diameter, on short stalks, 

 broad at the base and tapering above, blue when young, changing 

 to brown when mature, with long reflexed bracts. Seed with wing 

 about f inch long. 



Abies religiosa occurs throughout the mountains of central and 

 southern Mexico and of northern Guatemala, at altitudes of 4,000 to 

 10,000 feet. It was discovered by Humboldt in 1799, and introduced 

 by Hartweg in 1838. In cultivation it is tender, and will only grow 

 in the milder parts of the British Isles. It is the Oyamel of the 

 Mexicans, who use the branches for decorating their churches. 



The tree planted at Bayfordbury in 1851 was killed by the winter 

 of 1860. The specimen illustrated was grown at Fota Island, Cork. 



