PINACEAE 29 



Szechuan, Yunnan and Hupeh. 



The specific characters upon which A. fargesii and A. faxoniana a.re 

 founded are not sufficiently distinct and constant as to support recogniz- 

 able species. In A. delavayi, the branchlets, leaves and cones show a 

 range of variation which covers Ihe difference ascribed to A.fargesii 

 and A. faxoniana. 



This tree forms extensive forests in the inaccessible regions of W. 

 Szechuan and W. Hupeh, and evidences indicate that at one time, it 

 occurred in great abundance over an extensive range. The tree attains 

 a large size, and for this reason the timber finds its way into the market, 

 although the wood itself is poor in quality. The wood is white, light, 

 soft and not durable, used for interior finish and house construction and 

 for the cheaper grades of coffins as well as for a variety of household 

 purposes. 



Abies recurvata Masters. 



Tree 16-25 m. tall, with reddish brown bark and shiny yellow-gray 

 branchlets. The leaves are crowded, ascending and strongly recurved, 

 shining green or glaucous on the upper surfaces, 10-12 mm. long, 2-3 

 mm. wide. Cones clustered, short stalked, oblong ovoid, .5-9 cm. long, 

 violet-purple when young, gray-brown at maturity. The bracts are 

 inclosed. 



W. Szechuan in the Ming valley. 



The recurved, sharp pointed leaves separate this from all other firs. 

 It is confined to the mountains of the Ming River valley between Mao 

 Chan and Sungpan Ting where it forms pure forests. (Wilson). The 

 wood is fairly close grained and easily worked, used for house con- 

 struction. On young shoots and vigorous branches the leaves are very 

 sharp pointed and twice the normal length. 



Abies squamata Masters. 



Tree 15-38 m. tall. Bark brownish purple, exfoliating or peeling in 

 thin papery layers. Leaves crowded, spirally arranged, short and broad, 

 acute or obtuse, more or less pubescent, 11-20 mm. long, 2 mm. wide. 

 Cones 5-6 cm. long, oblong ovoid, violet-purple, resinous. 



W. Szechuan and Tibet. 



