14 ABIES, OR 



dusky reddish brown. Scales very thin, rounded blunt, and 

 when ripe undulated or wavy and jagged on the margin. Seeds 

 small, with little stiff wings. 



A taU tree, with a rough brown or blackish bark, attaining 

 a height of from 70 to 100 feet, and 2 J feet in diameter, with 

 horizontal branches, and a remarkably straight stem, diminish- 

 ing regularly from the base to the top. Timber light, elastic, 

 strong, and of a clea,r yellowish- white colour. 



It is found in the coldest regions of North America, but is 

 most abundant in Lower Canada, Newfoundland, New Bruns- 

 wick, Nova Scotia, in the district of Maine, Vermont, and the 

 upper parts of New Hampshire, in Pennsylvania, on the Black 

 Mountains in South Carolina, and in California. It is the 

 Double Spruce of the Canadians, and the Gum Spruce of the 

 American lumberers, and the tree from which they make spruce 

 beer. It has the following variety : — 



Abies nigra pumila, Knight. 

 Syn. Abies nigra fastigiata, Hort. 

 „ Picea nigra fastigiata, CarrUre. 

 A dwarf variety, growing 3 or 4 feet high, and rather slen- 

 der, with smaller foliage and a more compact habit. 



No, 8. Abies obovata, Loudon, the Obovate-coned Siberian 



Spruce. 

 Syn. Pinus Abies, Pallas. 

 „ „ obovata, Antome. 

 „ Picea obovata, Ledebour. 

 Leaves partially four-sided, more or less curved or straight, 

 closely placed all round the shoots, very slender, stiff, and 

 sharp-pointed ; they are bright green on the upper, side, pale 

 beneath, and from half to three-fourths of an inch long. 

 Branches numerous, horizontal, and in regular whorls; 

 branchlets mostly opposite, but not unfrequently growing on 

 the upper side of the branch ; they are slender, straight, stiff, 

 spreading, dense, and nearly horizontal. Buds small, numerous. 



