168 A MANUAL OF THE CONIFEEJ!. 



Habitat.— Western America, from British Columbia southwards to 

 the Mexican boundary, and eastwards from the Sierra of California 

 through Nevada, Utah, Colorada, New Mexico, and Arizona. 



Introduced by David Douglas, from Oregon, in 1827, and twenty 

 years afterwards by Hartweg, from California, under the name of 

 Pinus Benthamiana. 



The economic value of Pinus ponderosa is very considerable to the 

 inhabitants of the Pacific States of North America. The wood is very 

 resinous, and heavy ; it is also brittle, and has the grain much twisted. 



Pinus ponderosa is spread over a greater area, and occurs in greater 

 abundance than any other Pine in western America. On the Sierra 

 Nevada, between 4,000 and 6,000 feet elevation, mixed with P. Lam- 

 beriiana, it forms the forest, and on the slopes- lower down it is 

 predominant, but intermixed with Abies grandis, Libocedrus decurrens, 

 P. Sabiniana, and other trees. " In the sterile regions of the interior, 

 whole day's marches may be made in forests of P. ponderosa, of 

 which the absolute monotony is unbroken, either by other forms 

 of vegetation, or the stillness by the flutter of a bird, or the hum of 

 an insect. In this region it is a noble tree, although never rivalling 

 the gigantic dimensions attained in more favoured localities."* 



In a range so extensive, Pinus ponderosa is found to show some 

 variation, but no more than might be accounted for by difference of 

 soil and situation. Generally speaking, in the southern portion of its 

 habitat it attains a larger size, and the leaves are somewhat longer 

 and more closely set than those of the more northern trees. 



Among the most distinct forms we have met with in cultivation 

 is one in the Pinetum at Highnam Court, near Gloucester, named 

 Pinus Pamjana, in compliment to the proprietor, Mr. Gambier Parry. 

 It has a more striking aspect than the common form ; the branches 

 are more numerous, and better furnished with foliage, and the leaves 

 longer and more pendulous. Another in the collection of Mr. "W. 

 Parker Hamond, at Pampesford Hall, near Cambridge, called P. Sin- 

 clairiana differs from the usual type in having numerous sub-erect 

 branches, clothed at their extremities with thicker and shorter leaves 

 that are quite glaucous. 



In England, Pinus ponderosa is quite hardy, and its growth moderately 

 rapid, but owing to the limited persistency of the leaves, it has a 

 rather tufted and bare appearance. It is, however, a useful and distinct 

 Pine for the park and landscape. 



The specific name ponderosa, " heavy," was given by Douglas, on 

 account of its dense heart-wood, which is so heavy as scarcely to 

 float in water. It is called by the settlers "Pitch Pine," from its 



* Dr. Newberry, Pacific Railway Beport. 



