IAP. CXIII. 



CONI'FER/E. PI'CKA. 



2349 



are decumbent. The bracteas are low and recurved, and but little changed from the ordinary 

 aves, which gives the cones a singular appearance." (Lamb. Pin., vol. iii.) " When on the tree, 

 being in great clusters, and at a great height withal, the cones resemble the inflorescence of a 

 Banks/a, a name I should like to give this species, but that there is a P. Bfenksj'i already. This tree 

 attains a great size and height, and is on the whole a most beautiful object. It is never seen at a 

 lower elevation than 6000 ft. above the level of the sea, in lat. 36, where it is not uncommon." 

 (Dovgl. in Comp. to But. Mag., 2. p. 152.) From the singular appearance of the cones, and general 

 beauty of the tree, this seems to be a most desirable species for introduction. 



* 11. P. RELIGIONS A Humb. et Kunth. The sacred Mexican Silver Fir. 



Synoni/mes. Plnus religiosa Humb. et Kunth Nov. Gen. et Sp. PL, 2. p. 5., Schiede et Deppe in 



Schlecht. Linncea, 5. p. 77-, Lamb. Pin., 1. t. 43. ; ^ v bies religibsa Lindl. in Penny Cyc. 

 Engravings. Lamb. Pin., 1. t. 43., and vol. 3. t. 95. ; and our Jig. 2257. 



Spec. Char., fyc. Leaves linear, acute, quite entire, somewhat pectinate. Cones roundish-oval ; 

 scales trapezoideo-cordate, lamelliform ; bracteoles the length of the scales, spathu late-oblong, 

 sharply dentato-serrate; wings of the seed plicate. (Don in Lamb. Pin., iii.) Leaves 1$ in. long. 

 Cones 2f in. long, and 2 in. broad. Seed small and irregular. Cotyledons, ?. 



Description, S(C. A tall tree. Branches covered with a brown bark. Leaves scattered in inser- 

 tion, but 2-rowed, somewhat pectinate, linear, acute ; obtuse on the margin, quite entire, coriaceous, 

 glabrous ; 1 in. long, marked above with a depressed line, silvery beneath, especially when young ; 

 afterwards both sides of the same colour. Cone like that of the cedar, roundish-oval, IJin. long, 

 very obtuse, brown ; scales very broad, lamelliform, deciduous, somewhat trapezoidal ; heart-shaped 

 at the base ; acute, quite entire and incurved on the margin ; angles lengthened, coriaceous, rigid ; 

 stalk very short, wedge-shaped, keeled on both sides, the under angle more elevated. Bracteoles 

 about the length of the scales, spathulate-oblong, obtuse, membranaceous, sharply and irregularly 



dentato-serrate. Seeds of a pale bright brown, wedge-shaped, a little compressed ; exterior testa widely 

 disjoined on the inner side ; wing axe-shaped, thinly membranaceous, somewhat transparent, folded 

 lengthwise. Nucleus entirely covered with the interior testa, obliquely crowned with a very short 

 wing. (Lamb.) This is a tall and elegant tree, found by Humboldt on the lower hills of Mexico, 

 between Masantln and Chilpantzingo, at an elevation of. 4000 ft. Deppe and Schiede found it upon 

 the cold mountains of Orizaba, at the highest limit of arborescent vegetation. The leaves are 

 larger, and the branches more slender than those of any other of the silver fir tribe; and they are 

 used by the Mexicans for adorning their churches. The flowers have not yet been described by 

 European botanists. It is easily recognised from every other species of silver fir by the shortness of 

 its cones, which, in form and structure, bear a marked resemblance to those of the cedar of Lebanon, 

 although they are considerably smaller. From the elevated situation on which it grows, there can 

 be little doubt of its proving perfectly hardy in Britain ; and the botanists now exploring Mexico 

 will, no doubt, soon send home seeds of it. 



? P. Mrttlla ; A^ica hirtella Lindl. in Penn. Cyc., No. 11. ; Plnus hirtella Humb. et Kunth, L c.; has 

 the young branches covered with hairs. Leaves arranged in 2 rows, flat, acute, glaucous beneath ; 

 about IJin. long. Flowers and cones unknown. Found on the mountains of Mexico at an eleva- 

 tion of 8000 ft. or 900011. A low tree, from 18 ft. to 20 ft. high ; not yet introduced. 



