96 A MANUAL OF THE CONIFER*. 



leaves arise. The leaves are spirally arranged around the branchlets, 

 hut point laterally in two directions; they are from half an inch 

 to an inch and a quarter in length, quite rigid, coriaceous in texture, 

 deep glossy green above, paler beneath, with the silvery lines common 

 to the tribe, but faintly traced. They are very variable in form and 

 appearance; on young trees, and on the lower and sterile branches 

 of adult trees they are bifid, the cleft in the larger leaves being so 

 great as to make them appear bi-cuspid; on the upper and fertile 

 branches the cleft is much smaller, and frequently absent, so that the 

 apex is then rounded or obtusely pointed (see figs. 17 to 22). The 

 cones too are very variable both in size and shape, generally they 

 are cylindrical or slightly dilated near the base, obtuse at both ends, 

 from 3 to 6 inches long, and well distinguished by their deep brown 

 imbricated scales, bearing protruding keeled bracts, terminating in 

 a sharp point, and with the free edge notched or crenulate. 

 Habitat. — Japan, throughout the whole extent. 

 Introduced in 1861 by Mr. J. G-. Veitch. 



Abies firma is the common Silver Kr of Japan ; it is met with 

 everywhere throughout the country, both in a wild state, and in 

 cultivation. Its timber is inferior, and is used chiefly for cases and 

 boxes for the conveyance of merchandise. A. firma is perfectly hardy 

 in England ; it grows freely when established, and its erect lofty port, 

 and richly coloured foliage, make it a tree of great beauty, both for 

 the lawn and the park. 



The specific name firma refers to the texture of the leaves (coriaceo- 

 firmis, Sieb. et Zuc, Fl. Jap., ii., p. 15). 



Abies Fraseri closely resembles A. balsamea, from which it may 

 be distinguished by the shorter and more oval cones with largely 

 projecting reflexed bracts. It is a small tree, growing from 30 to - 

 40 feet high, but frequently much less, with branches somewhat more 

 slender, and leaves smaller than those of A. balsamea. The leaves 

 are either distichous in double rows, those in the upper rows being 

 shorter than those below, or sometimes scattered; emarginate, or 

 pointed, according as they are on barren or fertile branches, deep 

 green above and silvery beneath. 



Habitat. — The highest summits of the Alleghany Mountains in 

 North Carolina. 



Introduced in 1811 by Mr. Eraser, a Nurseryman of London 

 after whom it is named. 



