CONIFERS. 



127 



ing characteristic from AfugJw, is that it forms no main or leading and 

 continuous stem ; but produces numerous rival stems, which, from 

 their creeping and spreading habit, render this pine a spreading bush, 

 rather than a stemmed tree. Eoth Pumilio and Muglio, be it remem- 

 bered, are but quasi-species or dwarf forms of their prototype Sylvestris, 

 Of Pumilio we have several varieties ; two of which I mention : — 

 Rotundata (small round-coned), and Vai^iegaia (variegated). 



PiNUS PUNGENS: The Bitter-Juiced Pine. 



This Pine was introduced from the Table Mountains of North 

 America early in the present century : and being of no use whatever 

 in this country, it may be here disposed of as a coarse-wooded, not 

 glaucous-leaved, and inelegant Pine ; which but for its not glaucous 

 leaves, and old persistent cones, could scarely be distinguished from a 

 common Scotch Pine — Pinus Sylvestris. 



Pmus PyreNAICA: The Pyrenean Pine. 



This was introduced from the Pyrenees about seventy years ago. 



Leaves, generally in twos ; exceptionally in threes ; from five to 

 eight inches long ; straight, fine, stiff, sharp-pointed, and of a very 

 bright green colour. 



Cones, from two to three inches long, and one to two inches broad ; 

 conical in form, but tapering to apex and slightly so to base : scales 

 small, rounded externally, elevated centrally, angular and depressed in 

 the middle : seeds small, with the wing-appendage long and narrow. 

 The cones when ripe are of a pale yellow, or yellowish-brown colour. 



Branches, numerous, regular, spreading, stout, and well furnished 

 with laterals, regularly covering and spreading in all directions round 

 the stem, all of which are well clothed with the bright green foliage. 



It attains heights of from fifty to eighty feet : the wood is compara- 

 tively good for Pine timber ; but its use in Britain is ornament ; and 

 for this it is indeed well adapted ; being thoroughly hardy, of free 

 growth, not particularly fastidious as to soil and situation : and its 

 bright orange-coloured branchlets, its candelabrum branches, its 

 picturesque form, and perfect symmetry, place it in the first rank as a 

 beautiful Pine for ornamental purposes in the climate of Great Britain 

 and Ireland. There are more forms of it than one, which will be found 

 in the alphabetical list or index. 



PiNUS RaDIATA : The Ptadiated-Coned Pine. 



Introduced from California about a quarter of a century ago, and 

 although a quasi-species of Insignis yet it is more constant in the 

 disposition of its leaves ; Avhicli are very generally three in a sheath, 



