110 Description of the Vicea Pinsapo. 



tree belonged to the genus Picea, from the only other European 

 species of which (P. pectinata), its other characteristics render it 

 essentially different. They found the Pinsapo abounding in all 

 the higher parts of the mountains, particularly on the northern 

 exposures, reaching even near to the summits, and only termi- 

 nating where the snow lies at least from four to five months in 

 the year. [Hence there is every reason to conclude that it will 

 prove sufficiently hardy for the climate of Scotland. — Trans.'] 



M. E. Boissier resolved on naming his discovery J^bies (Picea 

 Arb. Brit.) Pinsapo; and gives the following distinctive cha- 

 racters between it and the P. pectinata or, silver fir. 



The P. Pinsapo forms a tree, averaging when fully grown from 

 60 ft. to 70 ft. in height. Its branches are regularly verticillate 

 and very densely clothed with laterals, even to their base, those to- 

 wards the ground, when standing exposed, being scarcely longer 

 than those near the top of the tree, giving to its general appear- 

 ance more of a cylindrical than a pyramidal form. The bark 

 is darker-coloured and more scaly than that of the silver fir. 

 The branchlets are also much more numerous, more regularly and 

 horizontally ramified, or cruciform, as before noticed, which cha- 

 racteristic is, however, less marked in the fruit-bearing branches. 

 The leaves are extremely short, not more than half as long as 

 those of P. pectinata, and placed at right angles, regularly over 

 the surface of the branchlets, giving them a cylindrical (not pec- 

 tinate) form. Farther, they are very stiff, and sharp-pointed ; 

 and they are never channeled like those of the silver fir. On 

 the lower parts of the tree, and where least exposed, they are 

 nearly fiat, with a single central nerve on the under surface ; 

 whilst on the upper, and especially on the fruit-bearing branches, 

 they are shorter, more bristly, and of a somewhat quadrangular 

 form, projecting on both surfaces, particular^ the under one, 

 which is also slightly marked by two furrows, one on each side 

 of the projecting centre, thus forming the only and a very super- 

 ficial indication of the two silvery lines so strikingly marked on 

 the under side of the leaves of the silver fir. 



M. Boissier not having seen the plants when in flower, is able 

 to say little on that subject, only the male catkins are, he believes, 

 terminal. The ripe cones are sessile, erect, and placed in great 

 numbers towards the extremity of the top branches (probably on 

 the wood of the previous year ?). Their shape is ovate-oblong, 

 terminating abruptly at the top, often with a small elevated point. 

 They are about the same length as, but thicker in proportion 

 than, those of the P. pectinata ; from which they differ materially 

 in the bracteal appendages being included within, not exserted 

 beyond, the scales, as in that species. The general appearance 

 of the seed is very similar; and it may be farther stated, that the 

 embryo is furnished with 7 cotyledons. 



