2 
PINETUM BRITANNICUM. 
{harp on the Tides, the umbo or protuberance developed into a folid point, which is frequently recurved 
like a hook, particularly in the bafal fcales, and then confounded with the apophyfis itfelf. Seeds 
nearly an inch long, half-an-inch broad, oblong-ovate, flattened on the infide; teft dark-brown, hard and 
cruftaceous; kernel good to eat, of an agreeable nutty flavour ; feed-wing varying in length, but ufually as 
long as the feed. Cotyledons io to 12 in number. 
Defeviction. —Speaking of this fpecies and of its ally, P. Coulteri , Loudon fays that “ they may be 
deferibed as of furpaffmg beauty.” This opinion will fcarcely be endorfed by thofe who have feen the 
plants in their prefent ftate of advancement in this country, nor does it appear to be entertained by thofe 
who have feen them in their native forefts. On the contrary, their mode of growth, which is ftraggling and 
irregular, combined with their fcanty clothing, has caufed them rather to be viewed with disfavour. There 
is, however, one point in their appearance which has a certain charm when feen in their native forefts, 
namely, the colour of the foliage, which is of a hazy blue, and makes them readily diftinguifhable from other 
Pines at a great diftance. The traveller in California, when he fees the Tides of the hills of the diftant 
landfcape looming of this peculiar hue, can tell that they are clothed with this tree as furely as we can 
indicate the wild Birch from its mifty grey in our own Highlands. Loudon fays that the trees are of a 
tapering form, ftraight, and of regular growth, from 40 feet to 120 feet in height (Douglas fays 140), with 
trunks from 2 to 12 feet in circumference. This defeription fcarcely applies to the majority of thefe trees. 
Straight and tapering trees are no doubt often met with. Two fuch (which may ftill furvive) were left 
ftanding in the village of Shafta, in Upper California, on account of their unufual fize and beauty; but the 
majority of the trees in their native forefts are irregularly fhaped and ftraggling. In their young ftate in 
this country, they are at firft, until the branches extend, fufficiently handfome, the long leaves on the 
fhort branches being fufficient to clothe the trunk ; but when the branches grow longer and leave large 
fpaces unfilled up, the two years’ leaves at their end are infufficient to cover it, and the trees look poor, 
tufty, and thinly clad. 
The magnificent cones, however, are amply fufficient to atone for any fuch defeats. A tree bearing 
numbers of thefe extraordinary fruits muft always be an objedt of intereft. An early explorer of the wilds 
of California fpeaks of his party camping for the night in a grove of thefe trees, and after having lighted 
their fire under one, and compofed themfelves to reft, being awakened by the wind rifing and fending the 
giant cones tumbling about their ears. To efcape injury, they had to take to their heels, and remake their 
camp out of reach of fuch a bombardment. 
It is fometimes called the Digger Pine by the Americans, on account of the feeds being ufed as 
food by the Digger Indians ; but is more generally known as the Nut Pine, in confequence of the feeds 
being ufed as nuts, and having fomething of their flavour. 
Hiftory .—This fpecies was firft found by Douglas in 1826 ; but his fpecimens, along with the notes 
which he had made, were loft in crofting a rapid ftream on his way northwards. It was not until 1831 
that he again met with it. He then fent a detailed account of it for publication in the Horticultural 
Society’s Tranfaffiions, but unfortunately this account was never received. The cones, feeds, and fpecimens 
which he fent, however, arrived in fafety in 1832, and from thefe feeds were reared the oldeft fpecimens 
of the trees now in this country. One of thefe ftill ftands in the Horticultural Society’s Arboretum 
at Chifwick. It was firft deferibed by Lambert, and was named by him Sabiniana, in accordance with 
the MSS. name given to it by Douglas. It was fo named by him in compliment to Mr Sabine, then 
Secretary of the Horticultural Society of London, to whom Douglas confidered himfelf under obligations, 
which his generous nature felt fo ftrongly, that when, in confequence of a domeftic revolution in the affairs 
of the Horticultural Society, Mr Sabine reftgned the office of Secretary, Douglas, from the oppofite fide 
of the globe, followed his example, and reftgned his appointment as Plant Collector to the Society. He 
ftill, however, intended to fend his collections and notes to the Society; and a few (among which were 
the 
