Part 36 (1/2)

Leaves needle-shaped, 1 to 15 in. long, almost cylindric, 2, 3, or 5 together in cl.u.s.ters, with a sheath, more or less persistent, at the base. Flowers monoecious, both staminate and pistillate in catkins, usually insignificant and unnoticeable. In spring. Fruit a cone, persistent and formed of more or less woody, overlapping scales.

* Leaves usually 5 together in bundles. (=A.=)

=A.= Leaves 6 in. or more long, glaucous green and very pendulous 1.

=A.= Leaves under 4 in. long. (=B.=)

=B.= Cones over 10 in. long, on stalks 3 in. long, pendulous when ripe 2.

=B.= Cones 4 to 10 in. long. (=C.=)

=C.= Scales of cones thin, unarmed 3, 4.

=C.= Scales of cones thick and woody, obtuse, 1 in. broad 5.

=B.= Cones under 4 in. long; scales slightly hooked but pointless 6.

* Leaves usually in threes, rarely in twos; scales of cones with spines or p.r.i.c.kles. (=D.=)

=D.= Scales of cones with short, rigid, straight spines; leaves 6 to 10 in. long 7.

=D.= Scales with sharp, bent p.r.i.c.kles. (=E.=)

=E.= Leaves over 5 in. long, sometimes 15 in. long 8, 9.

=E.= Leaves 3 to 5 in. long, rigid and flattened, from short sheaths, 10.

* Leaves usually in twos; cones rarely over 3 in. long. (=F.=)

=F.= Leaves over 3 in. long. (=G.=)

=G.= Cone-scales with dull spines 11.

=G.= With small or minute, persistent p.r.i.c.kles 12, 13, 14.

=G.= With no p.r.i.c.kles, or small ones, early deciduous 15, 16.

=F.= Leaves 3 in. or less long. (=H.=)

=H.= Cone-scales with straight or slightly curved, rigid spines 17.

=H.= Cone-scales with stout, recurved spines 18, 19.

=H.= Cone-scales with small p.r.i.c.kles which are early deciduous 20.

=H.= Cone-scales without spines or p.r.i.c.kles 21, 22.

[Ill.u.s.tration: P. excelsa.]

1. =Pnus excelsa=, Wallich. (BHOTAN PINE.) Leaves in fives, from short, fugacious, overlapping, membranaceous sheaths, 6 to 7 in. long, very slender, of a glaucous-green color, and very pendulous. Cones 6 to 9 in.

long, and 2 in. in diameter, drooping and cl.u.s.tered, with broad, thick, wedge-shaped scales. A large beautiful tree from southern Asia, much subject to blight when planted in this country. Owing to its peculiar drooping branches it has been called the Weeping Fir.

[Ill.u.s.tration: P. Lambertiana.]