ABIES (SILVER FIRS) 
1. Leaves, Arrangement of—Although radially arranged on 
upright stems, on the lateral side-shoots they are either : 
(1) Truly or nearly pectinate (Latin, pecten=a comb), 
twisted at the base and lying back and flat like a comb. 
(2) Or with a V-shaped depression—that is to say, leaves 
pointing sufficiently upwards to leave a gap in the 
shape of the alphabetical letter V. 
“3 (3) Or with median leaves—that is to say, leaves growing 
in the middle, on the upper side of the twig, pointing 
forwards, except in the case of A. Numidica, where 
they point backwards. 
(4) Orin the two excepted cases of A. Pinsapo and Cephaloni- 
ca, the leaves of which are arranged radially, like those 
on the Spruce, on the lateral as well as the upright 
stems. 
2. Leaves, shape of—Linear, flat, 2-sided in transverse 
section (except A. Magnifica, which is quadrangular). 
3. Stomata, on one side only, except when expressly stated 
otherwise in table (e.g. Nos. 1, 2, 5, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26). 
4. Base of leaf circular. When pulled off or fallen away, a 
circular scar is left. 
N.B.—This differentiates. Silver Fir from Spruce, where, when 
leaf is pulled off, it tears away the rind, and when fallen away 
leaves evidences of the projections. 
5. Apex of leaf (vide illustration, p. 68). 
BrRaNCHLETS 
1. Cortex, or rind, is either: (¢) corrugated and_ fissured ; 
(b) wavy or undulating ; or (c) smooth, 
2. Are either with or without pubescence, or with pubescence 
in grooves of corrugated stems, ; 
3. Branchlets are whorled, and the sheath and bud scales make 
show at base of each season’s shoot. 
ConES 
1. Shape.—Cylindrical more or less, except perhaps in case of 
Bracteata, Firma, Religiosa, when they are more egg-shaped. 
2. Position—In Abies (Silver Firs) always erect. Bracts 
(outer scales) obvious. In Piceze (Spruces) always pendulous. 
Bracts (outer scales) hidden. 
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