224 Pines found in the Taurian Caucasus. 



Art. V. Pines found in the Taurian Caucasus. By C. Stevens. 



[Translated from the " Bulletin de la Societe Imperiale des Naturalistes de 

 Moscou." An 1838.] 



In the Flora Taurico-Caucasica are enumerated four species of 

 Pinus, viz. Pinus sylvestris, P. Laricio (which the author at first 

 considered to be P. halepensis), P. Picea, and P. orientalis. 

 The researches of Sovitz, Nordmann, and Wittmann have since 

 made us acquainted witli many other forms ; but amongst these 

 I can discover only two species, the remainder appearing to me 

 to be varieties. 



The genus Pinus should, I think, be retained entire, as ori- 

 ginally proposed by Linnaeus : for the characters by which Tour- 

 nefort, and many others after him, and lately Link, distinguish 

 Pinus, ^4 v bies, Picea, and Z,arix, although very convenient for 

 the separation of cognate species, are totally insufficient for the 

 constitution of genera. The strobile of the A s h\es Link [Picea 

 Arb. Brit.'], in which the scales are deciduous, closely resembles 

 that of the Picea [/4 v bies Arb. Brit.], in which they are per- 

 sistent ; nor do those of Z/arix differ from this last, though Z,arix 

 rather resembles Pinus in its grouped leaves. Their generic 

 affinity is further demonstrated by the grafting of P. Cedrus, 

 which Pott (Du Roi, Baumzucht, 2. 124.) found to succeed on 

 ^4 v bies and Picea, and which I have myself seen successful in 

 the Nikita Garden on P. taurica mihi. True distinctions are to 

 be sought in the nuts themselves ; but these, although they vary 

 in different species, do not afford generic characters. For the 

 division of the genus, the best characters are those proposed by 

 Link. 



I. yfBiES Link. [Picea Arb. Brit.] Leaves flat, solitary. 



1, Vhius Vicea L. Leaves solitary, in double series, two-rowed. 

 Strobiles erect, subcylindrical ; scales orbiculately obovate; 

 bracteas nearly as long as the scales, acute. 



The author of the Flora Taurico-Caucasica merely states that it 

 is found in the upper forests of the Caucasus, without indicating a 

 specific locality. Sovitz sent me branchlets from the summit of 

 Adshar, above Guriel; where, also, Nordmann saw it. Tourne- 

 fort observed it, long ago, above Trapezas. My branchlets, 

 which were without flowers or fruit, very much resemble those 

 of Pinus Picea of Europe, except that they are smooth, whilst 

 the latter are uniformly pubescent : whence I suspect that it is a 

 distinct species, and should be called P. leioclada, although 

 Tournefort expressly says that it differs in no respect from that 

 of the Alps and Pyrenees. 



As my European specimens want the strobiles, I have adopted 

 the character of Link, in the Linncea Liter., Ber. 1833, p. 36. 



