petiolate and twifted half round at the foot (talk, which is dilated at the bafe; upper fide without ftomata
[fig. 3], under fide with 10 or 11 clofely-placed filvery rows of ftomata arranged on each fide of the midrib
[figs. 4 and s]- Cones erect, axillary, cylindrical, obtufely fufiform at both ends; 5 or 6 inches in length,
and i\ inches in diameter, with eight rows of fcales in the long fpiral; fcales with the exterior margin
rounded, broad, entire, deeply emarginate on each fide, tapering to a point below [fig. 6]; bracts exfcrted,
linear, with a long flat pcduncle and a moderate quadrangular expanfion towards the apex, with a projecting
reflexed tooth in the centre [figs. 8a and 8b magnified]. Seeds triquetral, pointed at the bafe, 3 or 4 lines
in length, with a wing five or fix lines in length [fig. 7].
The male and female flowers have not fallen under our obfervation, nor are they yet defcribed.
We have examined authentic fpecimens of Dr Heldreich's Picea Panachaica, and can fee no fufficient
difference between them and fpecimens of P. Cephalonica to warrant their being regarded as cliftindt fpecies.
To enable our readers to judge for themfelves, we give figures of the leaves, fcales, and feeds of P. Panachaica,
in the following woodcuts [figs. 9, 10, 1 1 , 1 2 , 13, 14, 15. 16«, and 16b\ which they can contraft with
m
ft
1
ä
%
thofe of the true P. Cephalwiica given above. It will be feen that the form of the leaf is nearly the fame,
although fomewhat narrower. The difpofition of the rows of ftomata, and their fize and number, are the
fame; the point of the leaf is not bevelled off from behind, which is the cafe with P. Afiolhnis, but not
with P. Cephalmica. The fears of the phyllula; are a . little more irregular, but that is nothing. The
cone and its fcales are perhaps a very little larger, but that is a variable point, dependent on climate, foil,
&c. The brad (which is a part of great value as (hewing character) is identical in both; and the feed is
only a little larger, which is juft what might be expected from a larger cone, but its proportions are throughout
the fame. ^Looking at all the characters taken together, the fomewhat narrower leaf is the only point on
which we think that even a variety, much lefs a fpecies, could be founded.
P. Cephalonica is clofely allied to P. Apollbiis of Link, Endlicher, and Antoine ; but for the rcafons
which will be found in our defcription of that tree, we confider them diftina The fliape and confiftency
of the leaf are different; the expanfion of the brad is more fquare, and the wing of the feed dopes gradually
from the feed inftead of expanding fuddenly. It is very probable that the two are confounded, not only in
herbaria, but alfo in plantations and nurferies.
Notwithftanding that P. Pinfapo has the bracts of its cones not exferted, there is little doubt that it
is the reprefentative tree in Spain correfponding to P. Cephalonica in Greece.
Defcription.—This tree reaches 60 feet in height, and in its native country, when not confined by
others, affumes a very broad fliape, ftretching out its branches to a great diftance. It is efpecially
beautiful when forming its young wood, the bark of which has a red hue in its early (lages. This, however,
is the time of greateft danger to the tree, as the young (hoots are extremely brittle, and a heavy gale of
wind is apt to break off or diftort them. The young plants alfo, from the stiffnefs of the young leaves, and
the regularity of their arrangement projecting from the branches, ftrike the eye as peculiar. In this refpect
and at this age they have a great refemblance to P. Pinfapo, which has the same noli-vie-tangere kind of
appearance.
Geographical Diflribiition.—lte chief and beft-known locality is the top of a ridge of mountains (the
antient Mount Enos), known as the Black Mountain (from the forefts of this tree which clothed it), in
Cephalonia, about 4000 or 5000 feet above the level of the fea. In 1793 this foreft was 36 miles in
circumference; but during the difturbed ftate of the iflands, about 1798, was, it is fuppofed, wantonly fet on
fire by the peafantry. The fire lafted three months, and although portions of the antient foreft are ftill to
be feen on the mountain, the greater part was deftroyed, fo that the appearance of the mountain no longer
juftifies its name, efpecially on its fouthern fide, where the precipitous point, which rifes by a fingle majeftic
elevation from the bafe to the fummit, is broken by numerous deep gullies, difplaying the white limeftone rock
of which the mountain is compofed. The ridge is very narrow, and its fides fteep and in many places almoft
without foil. The tree frequently fprings from crevices in fuch barren fpots, but is faid by Loudon to attain
a large fize only in mountain hollows,'where the foil is deep and the fituation flieltered. Notwithftanding
the deftrudtion caufed by the fire and other caufes, thoufands (perhaps millions) of trees ftill remain,
efpecially at a place called Rudi; but there is little chance of the foreft ever being reftored, fo long as
goats are allowed to pafture on the mountain. The deftruction of the foreft has ferioufly affected the
climate of fome of the neighbouring diftricts, having loft that amount of moifture in fummer that once
belonged to it. Sifi, once populous and healthy, is at prefent uninhabitable at certain feafons of the year,
in confequence of the infalubrity of the climate.
The tree is alfo found in Greece. The fpecimens called by Dr Heldreich Picea Panachaica were
found at Mount Boidus, but from the fignification of the name adopted by Dr Heldreich it is probable
that it is found throughout the whole of Achaia. Mr Gordon fays that it is found "on the different
mountains in Greece, particularly on the facred Apollo and Mount Parnaffus; alfo on the lofty and
rugged Mount Oeta, on Mount Olympus, and in Attica;" but as in the place where he records this he
confounds P. Apollinis with P. Cephalonica, the reference to Mount Apollo probably refers to the former, and
we cannot affign the other localities with any confidence to either. In his " Supplement" Mr Gordon recognifes
the difference between thefe trees.
Hiflory.—The Black Foreft in Cephalonia was of fome importance in the feventeenth century. It
fupplicd wood to the iflands of Cephalonia, Zante, and Ithaca, as well as to the Venetian arfenal in Corfu.
The fteps adopted for preferving the wood, and its ufe by the inhabitants, will be found in a decree of
Andrea Corner, Proveditor-General, dated 1678.
The late General Sir Charles Napier was the firft to introduce the tree into England. He was
Governor of Cephalonia in 1824 and fubfequent years, and exerted himfelf, with his characteriftic energy, to
develop the refources of the ifland. One of thefe, which he thought might be turned to practical account,
was the foreft of P. Cephalonica on the Black Mountain. He does not feem, however, to have been aware
of its intercft as a diftinct and intcrefting fpecies. To him it was " a fir," and nothing but " a fir." He
fays in his work, "The Colonies," "It is well known to planters that firs growing in high and expofed
fituations poffefs great durability; and this is the cafe with the firs grown on the Black Mountain, the wood
of which is of the hardeft texture." But the inquiries of fome of his friends induced him to fend a packet
of the feeds to this country, from which the oldeft plants in Britain have been raifed.
At the time that Sir Charles Napier was Governor of Cephalonia, Sir Frederick Adam was Lord
High Commiffioner of the Ionian Iflands, and various differences arofe between them, which gave rife to
a fpirit of hoflility, out of which sprung an unmerited charge made by Sir Charles Napier againft Sir Frederick
Adam regarding this tree.
[ 2 ] B Loudon