Abies pinsapo and varieties. 105 



trees are better adapted; for in such situations where a close humid 

 atmosphere, and drip and shade prevail, it is quite at home."* 



The specific name, pectinata, from pedinare, and this again from 

 pecten, a comb, refers to the comb-like arrangement of the leaves. A. 

 pectinata is the iXarh (elatd) of the Greeks; the Abies of Pliny; the 

 Sapin des Vosges, or Sapin de Norniandie of the French; the Gemeine 

 Weisstanne and Silbertanne of the Germans ; the Abeto bianco and 

 Abeto nostrale'of the Italians. 



Abies Pinsapo.— A large tree of from 60 to 80. feet high, of 

 pyramidal habit, branched almost from the roots, and clothed with 

 stiff prickly foliage, having more of the " noli me tangere " 

 character than that of any other Silver Fir. The branches are 

 not flat or frondose like those of the common species (A. pectinata), 

 but the branchlets are generally whorled, growing from all sides 

 of their primaries, and at right angles to them, forming a dense 

 plexus of twigs that completely hides the trunk from view. The 

 leaves are close set all round the stem, erect, rigid, sharply 

 pointed, and bright green, with very faint silvery lines on the 

 inner side. The cones are cylindrical, from 4J to 5J inches long, 

 and with a diameter of little less than half the length. 



Habitat. — The mountains in the middle and south of Spain ; 

 abundant on the Sierra Nevada at elevations of from 4,000 to 

 6,000 feet, forming large forests. 



Introduced into England in 1839. 



Abies Pinsapo Hamondii. — A remarkable deviation from the 

 species. It has a short stem, with the branches excessively developed 

 and quite prostrate, spreading over the ground to a considerable 

 distance. The branchlets and leaves are smaller than in the 

 species. 



It is named in compliment to Mr. W. Parker Hamond, of Pampesford 

 Hall, in whose fine collection the original plant is growing. 



Abies Pinsapo variegata has the tips of the leaves and portions 

 of the branchlets pale yellow. During the growing season it is 

 very effective. 



Abies Pinsapo is quite hardy, and thrives in almost any soil 

 * Pinaceas, by Senilis, p. 42. 



