CONIFERS. 



103 



PiNUS Aristata: The Awned-scaled Pine. 



This is another of the said-to-be new Pines ; its existence was recorded 

 by Captain Gunnison in 1853, he having found it on Pike's Peak, 

 Snowy Mountains, in Xorth America, attaining heights of Irom thirty 

 to fifty feet. It was, however, only introduced into this country in 

 1861-62, by Dr. Parry, and has been described by that 'cute smjgester, 

 Dr. Englemann, who says of it: — ^'Its leaves are generally five in a 

 sheath, one to two inches long, and light green on both sides ; 

 bianchlets spreading and twisted ; with ihin, smooth bark, of a light 

 greyish-brown colour ; cones oval-obtuse, two to three inches long, one 

 to two broad, of a purplish-brown colour ; timber white, tough, and 

 not very resinous." That it may have awned scales may be true, for 

 this is not a remarkable feature in some Pines, but not having seen its 

 scales, which, too, we profitable or ornamental planters value but little, 

 all that I have seen of this said-to-be new Pine being its seeds and 

 seedlings, and young plants of it; these already have shown me enough 

 to satisfy me that it is none else than an altered form of these now 

 numerous intermediate suhs or quasi -s])QQ,iQ^ of Cembra-Strohus, Avhich 

 are becoming as plentiful as new ferns, and which are creating so much 

 confusion and annoyance in our futile attempts to rectify and correct 

 the classification and nomenclature of the Firs and Pines. This kind, 

 however, will never be of any economic value in this country, but 

 it may prove to be useful as a variety in a large collection of 

 Pinacese. 



Pin US Australis : The Southern Pine. 



This was introduced from America, 1730, Avhere, in the Southern 

 States, it is called ''Broom Pine;" in the Northern States, ^'Eed 

 Pine," Pitch Pine," and " Yellow Pine ;" "Broom," evidently from 

 its broomy or bushy growth when young; " I\ed," from its long, red, 

 bud-like young shoots; ''Pitch," from its abundance in resinous 

 juice ; and " Yellow," from its old and matured trunks. It attains 

 heights of from forty to eighty feet, robust, distant, and irregu- 



larly disposed branches ; leaves from six to twelve inches long ; stout, 

 and somewhat reflexed when old ; a brilliant green in colour, and 

 generally three in a sheath ; cones from six to nine inches long, cylin- 

 drical in form, tapering to base and apex, two to three inches diameter 

 at the broadest part, and chesnut or rich brown in colour. The timber 

 is of fair average pine quality, the tree is somewhat distinct and orna- 

 mental, but rather too delicate in constitution for our climate, and 

 fastidious as to soil and situation. It is of no economic value to us as 



