290 Andrew Murray's Description 



Leaves slightly curved, with a rib in the middle, both above 

 and below, and sometimes depressed above, so as to give the 

 leaf a triangular or boat-shaped form ; from \ to Jths of an 

 inch long, not silvery beneath. They are closely but irregu- 

 larly set along the young branches, chiefly on the upper side 

 of the branch, except at the extreme shoot, where they closely 

 surround the whole twig. The general appearance of the fo- 

 liage is crowded. Cones cylindrical, oblong, from If to 2 

 inches long, and Jth of an inch broad, pale fawn-coloured. 

 Scales somewhat concave or saucer-shaped, dull and opaque, 

 more especially where they have been covered by the other 

 scales, slightly thickened at the exposed edge, not crenulated, 

 but gently impressed with two or three faint raised lines ; these 

 lines, irregular and evanescent, generally running straight 

 down the exposed part of the scale, or only sloping slightly 

 towards the centre. Sides of the scale cut out unequally on 

 the opposite sides, and ending with a tooth curving inwardly 

 at each side of the root. A small bract is situated at the 

 bottom of each scale, fastened firmly to the back, and ad- 

 pressed upon the scale. It is nearly two lines long. There is 

 a yellowish tooth in the middle, which is a mere prolongation 

 of the nerve by which it is attached to the scale, and which is so 

 firmly fixed that the scale may be torn off, leaving the greater 

 part of the nerve sticking like .a, thread to the scale. The 

 top, on each side of this scale, is purple. At about one-third 

 of its length from the top the breadth of the bract is suddenly 

 contracted and from thence slopes gradually to its root. 



This species is allied to A. alba. The cones have consider- 

 able resemblance. They are of the same colour, and the scales 

 in both are somewhat saucer-shaped, and have their edges 

 smooth ; but Hookeriana has the cone, and more especially 

 the scale, seed and wing larger. These, as well as the bract 

 at the back of the scale, are differently shaped, as will be seen 

 from the figures in the etching. The habit of the tree, and 

 the manner of growth of the leaves, is also different. In A. alba 

 the leaves are inserted pretty regularly along the branch. In 

 Hookeriana they are crowded together, curling upwards a 

 little, after the fashion of A. nobilis. 



This A bies has also considerable resemblance to A. Patton- 



