136 
DECORATED SILVER FIR. 
ABIES nobilis, foliis falccctis brevibus acutis subtus argenteis , strobilis 
erectis , ovato-cylindraceis eiongatis , squamis latissimis , bracteolis dila - 
tato-spathulatis dejiexis squamas tegentibus , erosis medio subulato-acu - 
minatis. 
Pinus nobilis. Douglas, MSS. Lamb. Pin. vol. 2, last figure. Hooker, 
Flor. Bor. Amer. 2, p. 162. 
Picea nobilis . Loudon, Arboret. 4, p. 2343, figs. 2249 and 2250. 
According to Douglas, this singular species is a majestic 
tree, forming vast forests on the mountains of northern 
California, and produces timber of an excellent quality. 
“ I spent 3 weeks in a forest composed of this tree,” he 
says, 44 and day by day could not cease to admire it.” 
According to Dr. Gairdner, specimens were brought to 
Fort Vancouver by the Indians, from the Great Falls of 
the Columbia. (It is known to them by the name of Tuck - 
tuck .) 
The cone, 6 to 7 inches long and 8 to 9 in circum- 
ference, is quite peculiar, having its scales entirely con- 
cealed by the large reflected and even imbricated brac- 
teoles (or inner scales), torn on the margin and terminated 
in the centre by stiff projecting awl-shaped points. The 
true scales are broadly lamellar, stalked beneath, copiously 
covered with minute down, incurved and quite entire on 
the margin. The leaves are crowded in 2 rows, linear, 
somewhat falcate, usually acute, compressed, trigonal, flat 
above, and marked with a depressed line, silvery or paler 
beneath, and scarcely one inch long. 
To me this species appears very evidently allied to A. 
