COXIFER.E. 801 



Female floweis in cones mostly ovate, their scales dry, thickened at 

 the tips and spiny, inclosing 2 ovules. Cotyledons :i or none. 

 Flowers appear in spring ; seeds mature in the autumn of the fol- 

 lowing year. 



Travellers and naturalists speak of the pine forests of Carolina and Missis- 

 sippi as possessing au unsurpassing roniautic beauty. The tall trunks rising 

 50 to 70 feet without a branch, witii no undergn^wtli to break the view, the 

 branches festooned with the gray tillandsia mingling and contrasting with 

 the deep-green foliage, give the appearance of a vast decorated roof supported 

 by a countless number of graceful colunnis, which, fading away in the dark 

 distance, present a scene whose beauty is exceeded only In- its grandeur. 

 These valuable piue forests are undergoing rapid destruction, and unless 

 some mode of economic forestry be at once adopted, this valuable timber will 

 soou be exhausted. 



1. P. monophylla, Torr. and Fremont. (Single-leaved Nut-pine.) Small 

 tree, branching irregularly, forming an unsymmetrical head. Bark ]>ale, and 

 falling off in plates. Leaves solitary, tapering, 1| inches long, terminating 

 iu a spine ; sheaths one third to half an inch in leugtli. Male flowers inclosed 

 by 6 bracts ; cones nearly glol)ular, about 2 inches in diameter ; seeds long 

 egg-shaped, half an inch in lengtli, sliell thick, yellowish-brown ; cotyledons 

 10 or less. 



Geography. — The nut-piue is an American tree ; the zone of growth is 

 between the parallels of 30° and 45° north latitude. It grows along tlie 

 eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at great elevations, iu arid 

 localities. 



Eti/mologi/. — Pinus is derived from the Latin piniis, a ])ine-tree. Mouo- 

 phylla is from the Greek fx6t/us, one, and <pvWov, leaf, one-leaved, referring to 

 the solitary leaf. 



Use. — The tree is of no value iu planted grounds on account of its small 

 size and irregular branching. The wood is. hard, and makes excellent fuel; 

 it is too small for use as lumber. The fruit is sweet and edible ; it cou.sti- 

 tutes an important article of food for the wandering aborigines of the Pacific 

 slope. It is collected and sold to passengers on the line of the Northern 

 Pacific Railway. 



2. P. Austriaca, Iloffm. (Austrian Pine.) Synonym, P. nigra, Link. Stem 

 from 80 to 120 leet in height. When growing iu open grounds it forms a 

 subcyliudrical head, branching regularly, though the branches are crooked. 

 Bark grayish. Leaves long, rigid, slender, mucrouate iu twos, incurved, and 

 inclosed in short, dark-green sheaths ; cones 2 to 3 inches long, curved, light- 

 brown ; scales smooth, shining, armed with a blunt spine. 



Geofjraphi/. — Its geographical range is Lower Austria, Carinthia, Styria, 

 and tlie neighboring regions. 



Eti/wolof/i/. — The sjiecific name, as well as the common name <»f this tree, 

 is from the country where it is found native, Austria. 



History. — It is not long since it was brought to the notice of nurserymen 

 and planters. Its fine head, hardy character, and deep dark-green foliage 

 have brought it into favor. 



Use. — The tree is valuable for ornamental ])urpo!<es, and is found iu mo.st 

 planted grounds. The wood is good for lumber and for fuel. 



