ABIES, OR SPRUCE FIRS. 7 



young, dark purple, but when old, pale brown. Mule flowerp, 

 or catkins, two eighths of an inch long, and of a violet colour. 

 The timber is of a reddish colour, close, and fine grained, and 

 remarkable for its strength and durability, and as an ornamen- 

 tal tree for parks or pleasure grounds, or for general planting, 

 no tree can be more recommendable ; and, judging from the soil 

 and situation in which it grows, it may be considered the hardi- 

 est of all the Californian kinds. 



Mr. William Lobb found it in abundance, on the high- 

 est peaks of the Sierra Nevada, near the head waters of 

 the north tributary of Feather River, and more to the south, 

 towards Lake Bigler ; forming immense trees, in habit of 

 growth and general appearance much resembling the "Deodar," 

 but being more thickly branched, and densely clothed with 

 foliage ; by far the handsomest tree. 



Page 12. 

 Abies Smithiana, Loudon, the Himalayan Spruce. 

 Syn. Abies pendula, Griffith. 

 „ „ spinulosa, Griffith. 



„ „ Thunbergii, Lambert. 

 In the Himalayas this Fir is called " Morinda^^ (Nectar, or 

 honey of flowers), on account of the resinous drops or tears 

 found on the young cones and other parts of the tree, resem- 

 bling honey. The mountaineers about Simla call it '* Rai," 

 " Re," " Rhai," and " Ray-ung ;" and the people of Gurhwal, 

 " Realla," " Rhei," and " Rayha," all variations in their dialects 

 for Fir tree, Prickly fir, and Wood pine. It is also called by the 

 same people " Roo," " Roo-ee," and " Row ;" all signifying to 

 weep or shed tears ; either on account of its resinous drops, or 

 the drooping appearance of the full-grown trees. Dr. Royle's 

 barbarous local name, "Khutrow,^' should either be "Koodrow " 

 (weeping fir), or " Koodrai " (prickly fir), its true vernacular 

 names about Simla ; and of which latter Dr. Griffith's temporary 

 botanical one,* spinulosa, is a translation. In the Simla juris- 



^ The Babjloaian confusion iu the botanical nomenclature of Conifers 

 may well reconcile mortals to the unity of names, however hardorpedan- 



