20. P I N U S A L B A .
WHITE SPRUCE FIR.
P in u s A L B A , f o l i i s s o l i t a r i i s t e t r a g o n i s i n c u r v i s , s t r o b i l i s s u b c y l i n d r a c e i s l a x i s ; s q u a m i s o b o v a t i s
integerrimis.
P. alba, foliis solitariis tetragonis: lateralibus incurvis, ramis subtus nudiusculis, conis subcylindraceis.
Soland. MSS. Ait. Kew. v .3 . 3/ 1 • Willden. Bert. Baum%. 221.
V.laxa, ramulis glaberrimis; phyllophoris elevatis, patentibus; foliis solitariis, sessilibus, subsecundis,
tetragonis, obtusiusculis, lineis quatuor longitudinalibus punctatis; strobilis oblongo-ovalibus, pen-
dulis; squamis obovato-subrotundis, integerrimis, tenuibus, kevigatis. Ehrh. Beitr. v. 3. 24.
P. canadensis, foliis solitariis subulatis bifariam versis, ramulis glabris, cicatricibus sub foliis decurren-
tibus, conis ovato-oblongis pendulis laxis, squamis subrotundis. Die Roi. Harbk. 124. IVangenh.
Beyt. 5 . t. \ . f . 2.
Abies piceæ foliis brevioribus, conis parvis biuncialibus laxis. Hart. Angl. 2. t. 1. Duhajn. Arb.
v . 1 . 3 . n. 8 .
A. canadensis. Mill. Diet. n. A.
Habitat in America Septentrionale
FI. Maio.
D E SCR IP T IO .
/Irbor magnitudine et forma prioris, at cortice albidiore, foliisque magis incurvatis pammque minoribus.
Amenta mascula cernua, longiùs pedunculata, pedunculo gracili ; antherarum crista reniformis, dentata,
antherâ latior: foeminea ovato-cylindracea, erecta; bracteolæ squamis interstinctæ, minimæ, rotun-
datæ, muticæ. Strobili penduli, biunciales, ovato-cylindracei, læves, squamis obovatis, subretusis,
integerrimis.
M y specimens were procured from the Royal Gardens at Kew. P. alba has its name from its bark
being whiter than that of other species. It is found in America from the forty-third degree of north
latitude northward, but farther southward it disappears, requiring a very cold climate. In Canada,
Nova Scotia, and the northern parts of New England, it grows in perfection, as Wangenheim informs
us, and covers the tops of mountains too bleak and of too bad a soil for P. Strobus. The growth of
P. alba is nearly equal to that of P. Abies. It flourishes on poor and rocky land, and also on gravel
when dry, and mixed with clay, and a little good mould. A soil apparently but just sufficient to
hold the roots enables it to grow. The flowers appear towards the end of May. The cones ripen at
the end of October. These are from two inches and a half to three inches in length, and almost one
inch in diameter. The scales are smooth, loose, and contain black winged seeds. The root commonly
sends forth horizontal shoots; but sparingly in light ground. Wangenheim particularly recommends
the cultivation of the white Spruce, because it becomes a tree of the first magnitude, the timber
of which may be very advantageously employed, and because situations which are unfavourable to the
progress of many other pines yield this best. It is much to be wished that advice, founded on arguments
so rational, may be generally followed. We are to consider also that P. alba is one of the most
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