1885.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 503 



CONIFERiE. 



Pine timber is restricted to the Guadalupe, Limpio, Chisos, and Organ 

 Mountains. No attempt has as yet been made to utilize it in the some- 

 what inaccessible Guadalupe and Chisos Mountains, while saw-mills 

 have been in operation at several "pineries" in the Limpio Mountains. 



Firms ponderosa, Dougl. (Yellow Pine.) 



The prevalent and most valuable Pine of the Guadalupe and Limpio 

 Mountains; trunk 1 to 2 feet in diameter; hard, heavy, durable wood, 

 making excellent lumber and very good fuel. 



Pinus flexilis, James. (White Pine.) 



In the Guadalupe and Limpio Mountains; a smaller tree than the 

 preceding, and also inferior to it in the quality of its wood. 



Finus edulis, Engelin. (Pinon; Nut Pine.) 



Common in the Guadalupe, Limpio, Organ, and Chisos Mountains ; 

 also found on the higher ridges and bluffs of the Great Bend of the Eio 

 Grande as far north as the Southern Pacific Eailroad, on the forks of 

 the Nueces River and along the edges of the high plateau of the Staked 

 Plains. In the Chisos Mountains, which it occupies exclusively, it be- 

 comes a tree with straight trunk 1 foot in diameter and could be sawn 

 into useful lumber of very fair quality. It reaches about the same pro- 

 portions in the Limpio and Organ Mountains. Elsewhere it is seldom 

 large enough for anything but fuel and fence rails. 



The Pinon bears small globose-ovate cones containing a few roundish, 

 wingless seeds ; these consist of a thin, fragile shell inclosing an edible 

 kernel which is eaten raw or roasted. 



Fseudotsuga (Abies) Douglasii, Carriere. (Douglas' Spruce.) 



On the Guadalupe Mountains, the only Fir in Western Texas; a large 

 tree, next in prevalence, size and quality to the Yellow Pine in those 

 mountains. 



Juniperus occidentalis, Hook. (Western Red Cedar.) 



Very common shrub or stunted tree on the mountains, foot-hills, 

 high ridges, and many of the bluffs of Western and Southern Texas ; 

 only fit for fencing and fuel. The variety conjungens, common on the 

 Xueces and north of San Antonio, is quite rare west of the Pecos. 



Juniperus pachyphlcea, Torr. (Thick-bark Juniper.) 



Found in moderate abundance in the Guadalupe, Limpio, and Eagle 

 Mountains. A larger tree than the preceding; trunk, 1 to 2 or more 

 feet in diameter, but seldom mqre than 10 feet high. It is probably 

 this tree which near Santa F6, according to Dr. Loew, furnishes, by 

 tapping the lower part of the trunk, a yellow, aromatic, transparent 

 balsam used in various urinary disorders. Wood reddish, close-grained, 



