Tsuga Mertensiana 
var. Hookeriana 
Native of North-West America. 
Nat. Order: ConIFERA. Tribe: ABIETINEZ. 
Tsuga Mertensiana, Sargent, “Silva N. Amer.” xii. 77, t.606 (not Carriére) ; 
Veitch, Manual, ed. ii. 468; 7. Pattoniana, Engelmann in Brewer 
and Watson’s ‘Bot. Califor.” ii. 121 (1880); Z. Hookerana, Carriére, 
“Traité Conif.” ed. ii. 252 (1867); Adzes Pattoniana, Balfour ; 
A. Hookeriana, Murray; A. Williamsonit, Newberry. And others. 
A handsome slow-growing tree from North-Western 
America, of a glaucous green colour. The branches grow out 
horizontally from the main stem, and it is well clothed with 
foliage to the very base of the branches. It will not endure 
cutting winds ; they frequently burn the top branches as if with 
fire, and more especially the leader, but it very often, and in fact 
generally, recovers, though it may have looked as if it were 
going to die for some time. It makes a yearly growth here 
of about a foot. There has long been much confusion about the 
name of this tree, which has only recently been cleared up. It 
was originally discovered by Mertens in 1827 in Sitka, at its 
northern limit, and his name, accompanied by a brief descrip- 
tion, was applied to it by the Russian botanist Bongard. 
Unfortunately Bongard’s name was taken up by later botanists 
for another Hemlock fir which grows in Sitka, Zsuga 
A lbertiana, and when, thirty years after Mertens’ discovery, 
T. Mertenstana was found by Jeffrey in Oregon while collect- 
ing for the Scottish Association, it was re-named 7. Pattoniana 
in compliment to one of the most prominent members of the 
Association. Subsequently the glaucous variety was discovered 
on Mount Scott, and was named after Sir William Hooker in 
the belief that it was another species. 
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