PlNUS. 



CONIFERS. 



229 



4. Pinus mitis, Michx. Yellow Pine. 



Leaves elongated, slender, usually in pairs, but often in threes, channelled, the sheaths 

 long; cones ovoid-conical (small); scales slightly prominent; with a small slender mucro 

 pointing outward. — Michx. fl. 2. p. 204 ; Michx. f. sylv. 2. t. 137 ; Loud. enc. tr. <£■ shr. 

 p. 974. P. variabilis, Lamb. Pin. t 14; Pursh, fl. 2. p 643; Ell. sk. 2. p. 633; Beck, 

 hot. p. 339. 



A tree from 40 - 60 feet high and 12-18 inches in diameter, with a regular pyramidal 

 head. Leaves 2\ - 5 inches long, dark green. Cones about 2 inches long ; the prickle at the 

 extremity of the scale very slender. 



Sandy soils. On the Hudson, near Albany (Michaux f.). I have not detected this species 

 within the limits of the State, but it is very abundant in New-Jersey. The timber is fine 

 grained, only moderately resinous, and durable. It is extensively employed in the United 

 States, particularly for the flooring of houses ; and great quantities of it are exported to 

 Europe and other countries. 



** Abies, Tourn. Sterile amcnts axillary, aggregated towards the extremity of the branches. Cells of the antliers trans- 

 versely lacerated. Cones scattered, erect. Bracts persistent. Scales somewhat ligneous, at length separating from 

 the axis. Leaves evergreen, solitary, distinctly 2-ranIccd (Picea, D. Don). 



5. Pinus Balsamea, Linn. Balm of Gilead Fir. Balsam Fir. 



Leaves silvery underneath, emarginate or entire, somewhat recurved and spreading ; cones 

 cylindrical, erect, violet-colored ; bracts short, obovate, serrulate and conspicuously mu- 

 cronate. — Linn. sp. 2. p. 1003 ; Lamb. Pin. t. 41. /. 2 ; Pursh, fl. 2. p. 639 ; Ell. sk. 2. 

 p. 639; Beck, bot. p. 340; Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 163. Pinus- Abies balsamea, Marsh, 

 arb. Amer. p. 102. A. balsainifera, Michx. fl. 2. p. 207 ; Michx. f. sylv. 2. t. 150. Picea 

 balsamea, Loud. enc. tr. Sfshr.p. 1044. 



A beautiful tree, which is seldom more than 20 - 40 feet high and 6-12 inches in diameter, 

 but sometimes attaining a height of 50 - 60 feet with a trunk 1 8 inches in diameter. The wood 

 is light colored, with a yellowish heart. Leaves about 6-8 lines long and a line and a 

 half wide, bright green above and silvery white underneath. Cones 3-4 inches long and 

 about an inch in diameter ; the scales very broad and rounded. Bracts slightly projecting, 

 erect, with a slender mucro. Seed small, surrounded by a broad obovate wing. 



On the Catskill mountains, and in the northern counties, particularly among the Essex 

 mountains. Oriskany swamp {Dr. Knieskern). Fl. June. In the Hudson river counties, 

 I have not found this species south of Catskill, and it there attains but a moderate stature. 

 In the vallies of the Essex mountains, however, it becomes a large tree ; while on the highest 

 summits of these mountains it dwindles to the height of only a few inches. The wood is 

 seldom employed for lumber ; but the turpentine, which is obtained by puncturing the blisters 

 of the bark, is used medicinally under the name of Canada balsam : it is also used for optical 



