136 Some Notes on the ConifercB of California. 



SOME NOTES ON THE CONIFERS OF CALIFORNIA. 



1. Finns tw/Z^^r/a (Douglass). — The twisted-branch pine. A small tree, 

 five to twenty feet, but averaging only from five to fifteen feet. Bark red- 

 dish, and nearly smooth ; branches almost at a right angle with the main 

 axis, and generally from five to seven in a whorl ; leaves of a dark vivid 

 green, and somewhat succulent (Bolander, in Proc. Calif. Soc. N^at. Science, 

 vol. iii. p. 227). Specimens of the cones and shoots, with leaves, were sent 

 to the London Horticultural Society's Herbarium in 1825-7 ; but no young 

 plants were raised (Loudon's Arboretum, p. 2292). Cones scarcely two 

 inches in length, ovate when closed, but nearly globose when expanded. 

 North-west coast, near the seacoast, as far as Cape Disappointment (Torrey, 

 in Bot. Pacific R. R. Route). It seems to prefer moist ground and swampy 

 situations ; and, if introduced, might thrive near the sea, where our pitch- 

 pine would not readily grow. 



2. P. insignis (Douglass). — The Monterey pine. "This tree," says Lou- 

 don, "is well named insignis ; its general appearance being indeed remark- 

 able, and totally different from that of any other species. The leaves are of 

 a deep grass-green, thickly set on the branches, twisted in every direction, 

 and of different lengths" {Arboretum, p. 2265). It covers many thousands 

 of acres near Monterey and Carmelo, forming extensive forests, the height 

 of the trunk being sixty to a hundred feet ; the outline of the tree being 

 very irregular, consisting of only a few rigid spreading branches ; leaves 

 dense, of a vivid green color ; cones persistent ; bark thick and chinky. 

 The wood, though extremely resinous and rather coarse-grained, is excellent 

 for planks, and for floors and bridges (Bolander, oJ>. cit.). There seem to 

 be several synonymes, according to Loudon and others ; but the opinion is 

 unanimous, that the veritable species which Douglass designated as insignis 

 is a very handsome tree, and very hardy. 



3. P. Lambertiana (Douglass). — Lambert's Pines, plate 34. A stately 

 and beautiful tree, not excelled by any in California for its timber. When 

 the trunk is wounded or burnt, a sweet substance exudes ; and from this 

 circumstance it is familiarly known as the sugar pine (Torrey, op. cit.). Ac- 

 cording to Douglass, the trunk of this pine grows from a hundred and fifty 



