THE PIXE SUB-FAMILY. 117 



we could obtain from other cultivators, think that on 

 suitable, light, well-drained soil and in a favorable situa- 

 tion, this species will eventually succeed in the southern 

 portion of the Middle States, and probably may thrive in 

 in a still lower temperature than we anticipate. That 

 such may be the case we sincerely desire, as the surpassing 

 beauty of our California pines is unexcelled in the world. 

 Owing to the want of sufficient knowledge in respect to 

 this tree, London, in his Arboretum, places it as a synonym 

 of the P. Sdbiniana; but more recent investigation has 

 proven it essentially distinct, and it has been designated 

 as a separate species. 



25, P. ponderosa, Douglas. HEAYY-WOODED PIXE. 

 Syn. P. Beardsleyi, Murray ; P. Engelmanni, Torrey ; 

 P. Benthamiana, Martweg. Leaves, from 9 inches to 1 

 foot in length, short sheaths, broad, crowded, flexible, tor- 

 tuous, and deep green color. Cones, 3^ inches long, ovate, 

 reflexed, clustered, short-peduncled ; with the long, flat- 

 tened scales armed with a small, sharp, recurved prickle. 

 Seeds, rather small, with long, yellowish-brown wings. 

 Buds, cylindrical, long, tapering gradually to an obtuse 

 point, and covered with, a light glaucous bloom. 



A fine hardy species from our Pacific coast, growing, 

 according to Gordon, " 100 feet high and 4 or 5 feet in di- 



o o 



ameter, with 30 or 40 feet of the stem free from branches ; " 

 whilst those observed by N"uttall were "growing in a 

 poor soil, and not more than 12 to 20 feet high." Dr. 

 Parrv found it " common through all the lower vallevs 



! / 



and less elevated districts of the mountains, associated- 

 with Abies Douglasii and A. Menziesii ; a most valuable 

 timber tree." 



It is very common through some districts in XortliAvestern 

 America, particularly in portions of Oregon, where Doug- 

 las found it growing in large quantities on t'hc banks of 

 the Spokane and Flat-head Rivers, and near the Kettle 

 Falls of the Columbia River. In the Rose River Valley, 



