(7th ed. ) v. iii. p. 815. — Gray’s Nat. Avr. v. ii. p. 223. — Limll. Syn. p. 241. — Hook. 
Brit. FI. p. 411. — Macr. Man. Brit. Hot. p. 219. — I.iglitf. FI. Scot. v. ii. p. 587. — 
Thornt. Fain. Herb. p. 783, with a figure. — Mem. Caled. Hort. Society, v. i. p. 121. — 
Davies’ Welsh. Bot. p. 91. — Ilook. FI. Scot. p. 275. — Grev. FI. Edin. p. 204. — 
Winch’s FI. of Nortliumb. and Durh. p. 62. — Lindl. FI. Med. p. 553. — Dick. FI. 
Abred. p. 56. — Irv. Lond. FI. p. 113. — Mack. Catal. of PI. of Irel. p. 83. ; FI. Hib. 
p. 258. — Pinus sylvestris foliis brevibus ylaucis, con is parvis albentibus, 
Ray’s Syn. p. 442. — Pinus sylvestris vulyaris, Bauh. Hist. v. i. pt. ii. lib. 9. 
p. 253, with a figure. 
Localities. — In many parts of the Highlands of Scotland, where it constitutes 
vast natural forests. 
Tree. — Flowers in May and June. 
A straight, hardy, long-lived, evergreen tree, from 60 to 80, or 
sometimes 100 feet high, with horizontal branches at regular inter- 
vals, disposed in whorls of from 2 to 4 together, sometimes 5 or 6. 
Leaves in pairs, sheathed at the base, rigid, from an inch and a 
half, to two inches and a half long, strap-shaped, narrow, minutely 
serrulated, striated, smooth, blunt, with a small white point ; slightly 
concave on the upper surface, convex on the under ; of a light 
bluish green when young, becoming of a daik green afterwards. 
Sterile Catkins (figs. 1 & 2.) in a whorl or whorls at the extremity 
of the branch of the preceding year, with several chafy, scaly, con- 
cave bracteas at their base. Anthers sessile, with a profusion of 
pollen, which has sometimes been carried to a distance by the wind 
in such quantities, where this tree abounds, as to alarm the ignorant 
with- the notion of its raining sulphur. Fertile Catkins (fig. 4.) so- 
litary, globular, variegated with purple and green, with several 
serrated, pointed, scaly bracteas (see fig. 5). The first year, after 
impregnation, the young fruit becomes lateral, stalked, and re- 
flexed, green, of an egg-shaped figure ; and the second year ripens 
into egg-shaped, pointed, hard, tessellated but unarmed, woody 
cones, whose dry scales finally gape and allow the winged seeds to 
escape. Cotyledons from 5 to 7. 
The Scotch Fir is truly wild in the Highlands of Scotland, where. Dr. 
GtiEvn.LE says, “ it is a magnificent tree, and differing as much from the formal 
ornament of the plantation , as the hardy monnlaineei from the sedentary me- 
chanic of a crowded city.” It is also a native of Denmark, Norway, and 
Sweden. It appears to have been formerly abundant in Ireland, as trunks of 
this species, of very large dimensions, are often found in bogs, sufficiently fresh 
for roofing houses. Next to the Larch this species affords the most valuable and 
useful timber. Two varieties of it afifoid the white and red deal of commerce. 
It also yields abundance of turpentine, resin, pitch, and tar. The resin is pro- 
cured by wounding the tree, the tar by distilling the wood, especially that of the 
roots. The bark has been used with much success in tanning ; and in the 
northern parts of Europe it is made into a wretched substitute for bread. An 
infusion of the buds has been recommended as an antiscorbutic; as are the fresh 
cones boiled, which also are a principal ingredient in spruce beer. The resinous 
roots are dug out of the ground in many parts of the Highlands of Scotland, and 
being divided into small splinters, are used by the inhabitants instead of candles, 
the younger individuals of a family holding them in turn. Fishermen make ropes 
of the inner bark. 
The following fungi are parasitic on different parts of the tree. On the leaves, 
Sphce'ria pindstri ; and JEcidium Pini. On the branches, Cena'nyium fer- 
ruyinAsum ; and Sphce'ria yelatinosa. On the fallen cones, Pesiza coniyena ; 
and Hysterium coniyenum. On the bark, Phacidivm Pini. On the dead 
wood, Pesiza chrysAcoma ; Stictis parallela ; Dacrymy'ces stilldtus ; 
Ayy'rium riifutn ; Sjihcc’ria striyAsa; Sph. sorddria ; Sph. pilifera ; Lo- 
phium mytilinum ; and Lophium eldtum. See Hook, llrit. FI. v. ii. pt. ii. 
Every particular that is known respecting the history, properties, uses, pro- 
pagation, culture, statistics, &c. &c. of the Scotch Fir, is given in the Arboretum 
et Fruticetum Britannicum, by Mr. Loudon ; a work of inestimable value to 
every one who is at all interested in the subject of which it treats. 
