332 



THE GARDENEE'S ASSISTANT. 



of 80 to 100 feet, and even in its early stages has a 

 majestic aspect. Mountains of California, 1832. 



P. insignis (P. calif omica). — A handsome Pine, with 

 rich deep-green twisted foliage. In valleys or damp 

 situations it is killed in severe winters, and small plants 

 need protection; but it is nevertheless an indispensable 

 Conifer for the sea-coast and well-drained soils. Cali- 

 fornia, 1833. 



P. monophylla (P. Fremontiana). — A small tree, with 

 rigid leaves 2 to 3 inches long. On young trees the 

 leaves are solitary, distinguishing this from any other 

 Pine. California, 1847. 



P. ponderosa (P. Benthamiana). — A large tree forming 

 immense forests in the Western United States. The 

 branches are somewhat distant on the main stem, which, 

 together with the comparatively short duration of the 

 leaves, gives the tree a rather bare appearance. It is, 

 nevertheless, a striking and characteristic Pine. 1827. 

 P. Jeffreyi is very similar to this. 



P. riyida, Pitch Pine. — A variable tree according to 

 situation, quite hardy and of vigorous growth when young. 

 Eastern United States, 1750. 



P. Sabiniana. — A tree attaining 40 to 100 feet in 

 height in its native country ; the leaves very long, glau- 

 cous. Said to be tender in some localities, but we belie v- 

 it is quite hardy, except perhaps in the coldest parts of 

 Britain. California, 1832. 



§ 3. Leaves usually Fire in each Sheath. 



P. Ayacahuite. — A somewhat tender, very handsome 

 Pine, similar to P. Strobus, but with twisted cones over 

 1 foot long. Mexico. 



P. Ccmbra, Siberian Stone Pine. — The Siberian form 

 of this is rather slow -growing, but the Swiss form grows 

 from 50 to 80 feet high. The variety pygmcea is extremely 

 diminutive, attaining, it is affirmed, a height of only 5 

 or 6 feet in a hundred years. The leaves are short and 

 closely appressed to the stem, and, like most of the follow- 

 ing, of a glaucous line. Introduced 1746. 



P. excclsa, Bhotan Pine. — A handsome slender tree 

 with loose foliage of a silvery-gray colour. This is perhaps 

 the most desirable species of this section, being a rapid 

 grower, and freely producing its ornamental cones. Moun- 

 tains of Northern India, 1823. 



P.jlexilis. — A slow-growing tree with wavy branches 

 and short rigid leaves. Mountains of California, 1863. 



P. Lambertiana, Sugar Pine. — One of the loftiest, 

 reaching in its native state a height of 200 feet. Its 

 leaves are 4 to 5 inches long and the cones lh foot long. 

 California, &c, 1827. 



P. Montezuma . — A long-leaved Mexican Pine, only 

 hardy in the extreme south-west. 1837. 



P. monticola. — A compact, conical, and haixly tree, 

 resembling P. Strobus, but denser, with shorter lighter- 

 coloured leaves, which are silvery when young. Northern 

 California, 1831. 



P. Strobus, Weymouth Pine. — A tall tree, producing 

 the wood known as white pine. As a young tree it is 

 remarkably ornamental, but loses its beauty with age. The 

 bark of this species is quite smooth, and of a pale ash- 

 gray. North America, 1705. 



Podocarpus. — This genus belongs to the same group 

 as the Yew, and has similar foliage. The fruit is fleshy 

 and drupoid. The two species mentioned are hardy in 

 the southern parts of the country only. 



P. alpina. — A low spreading shrub, with slender 

 branches and finely-pointed dark-green leaves about ^ 

 inch long. Tasmania. 



P. chilina. — An interesting and handsome small tree, 

 with dark-green narrow leaves 2 to 3 inches in length. 

 Chili and Peru, 1853. 



Prumnopitys elegans (Podocarpus andina). — A small 

 pyramidal tree or shrub, with coriaceous glossy leaves in 

 two rows and about an inch long. Southern Chili, 1860. 



Pseudolarix Kampferii (Larix Kampferii), the 

 Golden Larch. — Where it succeeds, this is by far the most 

 beautiful of all Larches. It has much the same character 

 of growth as the common one, but the leaves are larger; 

 in spring the foliage is bright yellowish-green, and again 

 in autumn it assumes a bright-golden colour. China, 

 1846. 



Pseudotsuga Douglasii (Abies Douglasii). — The 

 Douglas Fir is a lofty, handsome tree reaching a height 

 of 200 to 300 feet in a wild state. The leaves are of a 

 deep, vivid-green, and over 1 inch long. Cones 2 to 3 



Fig. 411.— Cone of Pseudotsu.Ta ( Abies) Douglasii 



inches long, pendulous (fig. 411). Some of the finest 

 specimens in this country have already attained 120 feet 

 in height. The variety taxifolia has longer leaves and 

 is of dwarf er, denser habit. North America, 1827. 



E^tixospora. — As a convenient arrangement for gar- 

 den purposes we retain this genus here, although it is 

 not now recognized by botanists. With the exception of 

 obtusa and pisifera those here mentioned are really forms 

 of growth of various species of Cupressus and Thuja, 

 to whose normal characters they may eventually revert. 

 The following kinds comprise some of the most beautiful 

 and elegant of all dwarf Conifers. 



F. ericoides. — A dwarf, compact, conical bush with 

 small, pointed leaves which assume a ruddy tint in winter. 

 It is a form of Thuja orientalis, in which the characters 

 of the original seed-leaves are retained. 



F. filifera (fig. 412). — A very distinct plant, with long, 

 thread-like pendent branchlets. There is a golden variety 

 in cultivation. A state of F. obtusa. 



F. leptoclada. — An erect-growing compact shrub, with 



