CONIFERS. 



121 



Alps of south-western and central Europe, where it is finally superseded 

 and represented by its alter ego Pumilio, on the eastern mountain 

 chains of Austria and Hungary. Its leaves are generally two in a 

 sheath, from one to two inches long ; stiff, broad, spreading, and 

 twisted ; and dull green in colour. The cones are from one-and-a-half 

 to three inches long ; ovate in form, unequal-sided, somewhat hooked or 

 tuberculated on the outer side ; generally two or three together, and 

 with very short footstalks. It attains heights of from fifteen to fifty 

 feet, with numerous branches .on its trunk stem ; the upper ones 

 somewhat ascending^ the lower ones more horizontal ; all of them well 

 clothed witfi foliage. 



It is thoroughly hardy, not fastidious as to soil or situation, and 

 useful for cover, shelter, or the ornamentation of bleak districts, or for 

 hill planting in this country ; but it is at best but a quasi-species of 

 its prototype, Sylvestris ; and so is Pumilio, its congener. Mugho is 

 found in many forms or varieties, the most noticeable being : — Brevifolia 

 (short-leaved). Nana (very ds\arf), Rotundata (round-coned), Rostrata 

 (beaked-scaled), and Variegata (variegated-leaved). 



PiNUS MURIGATA : The Prickl^^-Coned Pine. 



This is the " O'Bispo," or Bishop's Pine, of the Californians, intro- 

 duced into this count y about twenty years ago. It attains heights of 

 from fifteen to thirty feet. Its leaves are generally two in a sheath ; 

 from three to five inches long; stiff, somewhat broad, blunt-pointed, and 

 deep green in colour. The cones are from two to four inches long, and 

 from one to two inches broad, at the swell, and tapering to the point, 

 which is blunt ; when young of a reddish-brown, when old ashy-grey 

 in colour. Branches, irregular, few, and stout. It is perfectly hardy, 

 and though somewhat related to its congener, Insignis, it is neverthe- 

 less distinct, and useful as a small- sized ornamental Pine in this 

 country. 



PiNUS OCGIDETQ TALIS : The West Indian Pine. 



Leaves, generally five in a sheath, from five to ten inches long ; 

 slender but stiff, thinly set on the branches, sharp-pointed, and bright 

 green in colour. Cones, three to four inches long, and from one to two 

 inches broad at the swell; rounded at base, with long footstalks; conical 

 in form, and tapering to apex. In port somewhat resembling ITal- 

 epensis, but it is much too tender and delicate for an ordinary English 

 winter, and of no economic value in this country either for its timber 

 or its beauty. 



