CHAP. CXI II.

CONl'FF.Ilffi. 7’'lNUS.

2199

mm

tally, and remaining on the tree for many years. At Dropmore, there arecones adhering to the trunk and larger branches of more than 20 years’ growth,giving the tree a very singular appearance; and rendering its trunk easilydistinguishable, even at a distance, from those of all others of the pinetribe. The geographical range of this tree, according to Michaux, is verylimited, it being chiefly found on the Table Mountain in North Carolina ,one of the highest points of the Alleghanies , at nearly 300 miles from thesea, which summit it covers almost exclusively, being rare on the adjoin-ing ones. Pursh only mentions the Grandfather and Table Mountains as itshabitats; but Mr. William Strickland, who introduced the species into Eng-land, stated to Mr. Lambert that he observed large forests of it on the BlueMountains, on the frontiers of Virginia. Of all the forest trees of America ,Michaux observes, this is the only species restricted to such narrow limits;and it will, probably, be among the first to become extinct, as the mountainswhich produce it are easy of access, are favoured with a salubrious air and a fer-tile soil, and are rapidly peopling; besides which, their forests are frequentlyravaged by fire. P. pungens was introduced into England in 1804; and, ascones are frequently imported, it is occasionally to be found in collections.The largest tree we know of is at Dropmore; where, in 1837, it was 34 ft.high; the diameter of the trunk 1 ft. 9 in., and of the head 33 ft. Fig. 2080.18 a portrait of this tree. There is a tree in the Horticultural Society’sGarden, 8 ft. high; and a small plant at Messrs. Loddiges’s. In America ,