CHAP. CXIII.

CONI'PER/E. Pl'NUS.

2225

Spec. Char., fyc. Leaves in pairs. Cones ovate, obtuse, nearlyas long as the leaves, their scales with recurved deciduouspoints. Seed bony, with very short wings. Crest of theanthers jagged. (Smith) The buds (see Jig. 2106 ) resemblethose of Pinaster, but are smaller in all their dimensions,much less pointed, more woolly, and wholly without resin.

The surrounding buds are nearly as large as the central one.

The leaves are from 5 in. to 7 in., and sometimes 8 in., long,serrated; sheaths, at first, i in. long, afterwards becominglacerated, shortened to half their length, and ringed withfour or five rings. Cone from 5in. to 6 in. in length ; andfrom 3J in. to 4 in. in breadth; scales large and woody,from 2 in. to 2J in. in length, and from 1 in. to l£in. in 2106

breadth, with the thickened part pyramidal, rhomboidal, and sometimeshexagonal in the plan, resembling those of P. Pinaster, but having fourribs from the four angles, instead of two from the lateral angles. Theribs meet in a small rhomboidal pyramid, of a grey colour, which terminatesin a broad blunt prickle. The colour of the entire cone is much lighter thanthat of P. Pinaster, and is of a pale wainscot colour. Seeds, without thewing, a in. long, and from fin. to fin. broad; with the wing, lin. long.Cotyledons 9 to 11. The tree flowers, in the climate of London, in thelatter end of May or the beginning of June.

Varieties.

i ? P. P. 2 fragilis N. Du Ham., v. p. 242., is the only variety mentionedby Continental authors; and it only differs from the species in havinga tender shell to the seed. It is cultivated in the kingdom ofNaples on this account, and because the kernel, like that of thespecies, is white, mild, sweet, and agreeable to the taste. It is aremarkable fact, that, though this variety has been known since thedays of Pliny, and though its excellence is universally acknow-ledged, it has never been introduced into France. If the P. Pfneawere to be cultivated in the warmer parts of England, as a fruit tree,this variety would deserve to be preferred.

t P. P. 3 cretica Hort. — There is a plant of this variety in the Horti-cultural Society’s Garden, which, after being seven years planted, is5 ft. high. The leaves seem to be rather finer than those of thespecies.

i P. P. 4 americana Hort. — The plant in the Horticultural Society’sGarden bearing this name is 4 ft. high, and appears not to differfrom the species. The name of americana, sent with the plant byF. Bourne, Esq., would imply that the seed was received fromAmerica, where, however, the stone pine is known not to be in-digenous.

Description. In the south of Europe, this species is a lofty tree, with aspreading head forming a kind of parasol (see Jig. 2108.), and a trunk 50 ft. or60 ft. high, clear of branches. The bark of the trunk is reddish, and some-times cracked; but the general surface of the bark is smooth, except on thesmaller branches, where it long retains the marks of the fallen leaves, in theshape of bristly scales. The leaves are of a deep green, but not quite sodark as those of the pinaster; they are semicylindrical, 6 in. or 7 in. long,and in. broad, two in a sheath, and disposed in such a manner as to forma triple spiral round the branches. The catkins of the male flowers are yel-lowish ; and, being placed on slender shoots of the current year, near theextremity, 20 or 30 together, they form bunches, surmounted by some scarcelydeveloped leaves. Each catkin is not more than J in. long, on a very shortpeduncle, and with a rounded denticulated crest. The female catkins arewhitish, and are situated two or three together, at the extremity of thestrongest and most vigorous shoots. Each female catkin has a separate

7 E 2