CONIFERiE. 41 



gular and soft, generally two under each scale ; and the mng appen- 

 dage comparatively large. 



Branches, these are numerous, dense, and regularly disposed ; the 

 upper ones aspiring, the lower ones horizontal ; the hranchlets are also 

 numerous and regularly disposed ; the hark on the young plants 

 smooth and glossy, and even on old trees and when matured, it is 

 comparatively smooth and fine for fir hark, hence it is sometimes called 

 Picea Leioclada, (smooth-hranched Pitch Fir.) It is found common 

 on the Crimean Mountains, and the Alpine regions east of the Black 

 Sea, attaining heights of from seventy to ninety feet ; generally 

 straight stemmed, and from two to three feet in diameter. It is 

 thoroughly hardy, sturdy, iron constitutioned, and seems to do well in 

 almost any soil, if in a healthy condition, in this country. Situations 

 cold or hot, high or low, will suit it, for it seems to thrive in all kinds 

 and degrees of them. The timher of Nordmannlana and Pinsapo I 

 consider the best of those of any of the silver firs, not excepting, even, 

 the prototype Pectinata. It well deserves to he extensively planted in 

 Britain, as a most beautiful small-sized ornamental tree, producing 

 tolerably good timber. 



PiGEA Pectinata : The Pectinate Leaved Fir. 



So called from its leaves being disposed in two rows like the teeth of 

 a comb. 



This I take as the original prototype and present representative of 

 this Picea, or my second section of the S.D. Abietinece, inasmuch as it 

 has in a more or less marked degree all the distinguishing character- 

 istics of the Silver Firs. 



Leaves, solitary, flat, stiflE, leathery, obtuse ; their points curved 

 and aspiring, from one-half, to one-and-a-half inch long ; dark shining 

 green above, with the two silver bands below. 



Cones, from five to eight inches long, and from one to two inches 

 broad ; cylindrical in form, growing erect and axillary on the branches; 

 at first yellowish green, changing to greenish red, and when matured 

 brown in colour : the scales are rounded and thin margined ; the 

 bracts longer than the scales, and sharp though flat pointed ; the seeds 

 angular, soft, and surcharged with resinous juice, surmounted by a 

 membranaceous wing appendage. 



Branches, regularly disposed in horizontal whorls ; the hranchlets 

 are all also regularly disposed and uniformly clothed Avith foliage. 

 This fir was introduced into this country about the beginning of the 

 sixteenth century ; and it may be termed an European tree ; inasmuch 



