[*][*] Cones terminal; leaves long and slender, in twos or threes.
8. P. resinòsa, Ait. (Red Pine.) Leaves in twos from long sheaths, elongated (5–6´ long), dark green; cones ovate-conical, smooth (about 2´ long), their scales slightly thickened, pointless; sterile flowers oblong-linear (6–9´´ long), subtended by about 6 involucral scales which are early deciduous by an articulation above the base.—Dry woods, Mass. to N. Penn., Mich., and Minn., and northward.—A tall tree, with reddish, rather smooth bark and hard wood, not very resinous.
9. P. palústris, Mill. (Long-leaved, Yellow, or Georgia Pine.) Leaves in threes from long sheaths, very long (10–15´), crowded at the summit of very scaly branches; sterile flowers 2½–3´ long, rose-purple; cones large, cylindrical or conical-oblong (6–10´ long), the thick scales armed with a short recurved spine. (P. australis, Michx.)—Sandy soil, S. Va. to Fla. and Tex. A large tree, with thin-scaled bark and exceedingly hard and resinous wood.
(Addendum) 10. P. ponderòsa, Dougl., var. scopulòrum, Engelm. Leaves in twos or usually threes from long sheaths, 3–6´ long, rather rigid; staminate flowers 1´ long; cones subterminal, 2–3´ long, oval, often 3–5 together, the prominent summit of the thick scales bearing a stout straight or incurved prickle.—Central Neb. and westward in the Rocky Mountains.—A large tree with very thick bark.
2. PÌCEA, Link. Spruce.
Sterile flowers axillary (or sometimes terminal) on branchlets of the preceding year; anthers tipped with a rounded recurved appendage, their cells opening lengthwise. Fertile catkins and cones terminal; cones maturing the first year, pendulous; their scales thin, not thickened nor prickly-tipped, persistent. Leaves scattered, needle-shaped and keeled above and below (4-sided), pointing every way. Otherwise nearly as in Pinus. (The classical Latin name.)
1. P. nìgra, Link. (Black Spruce.) Branchlets pubescent; leaves short (usually 4–8´´ long), either dark green or glaucous-whitish; cones ovate or ovate-oblong (10–20´´ long), mostly recurved, persistent, the rigid scales with a thin denticulate edge. (Abies nigra, Poir.)—Swamps and cold mountain woods, New Eng. to Penn., central Mich., Minn., and northward, and south in the mountains to Ga. A tree 40–70° high.—Var. rùbra, Engelm. Leaves larger and darker; cones larger, bright red-brown, more readily deciduous.
2. P. álba, Link. (White Spruce.) Branchlets glabrous; leaves more slender, pale or glaucous; cones nodding, cylindrical (about 2´ long), pale, deciduous, the thinner scales with an entire edge. (Abies alba, Michx.)—Northern New Eng. and N. Y. to L. Superior, and northward.—A handsomer tree than n. 1, 50–150° high, in aspect more like a Balsam Fir.
3. TSÙGA, Carrière. Hemlock.
Sterile flowers a subglobose cluster of stamens, from the axils of last year's leaves, the long stipe surrounded by numerous bud-scales; anthers tipped with a short spur or knob, their confluent cells opening transversely; pollen-grains simple. Fertile catkins and cones on the end of last year's branchlets; cones maturing the first year, pendulous; their scales thin, persistent. Leaves scattered, flat, whitened beneath, appearing 2-ranked. (The Japanese name of one of the species.)