VIEW OF THE GENUS CUPRESSUS. 217 
shaped, oblong and lanceolate to linear. Their surface is flat, 
convex, as in C. Nootkatensis; scoop-like or concave in some 
forms of C. Lawsoniana. In direction they spread horizontally 
or at an angle, generally upwards, sometimes vertically, at other 
times downwards, as in the pendulous varieties. 
The branching is all in one plane as in the section Chame- 
cyparis, or the branchlets are in two planes and more or less 
decussate. The ultimate branchlets are densely crowded when a 
shoot is produced in the axil of each lateral leaf, or they are 
“remote,” as when a shoot is formed in the axil of only a few of 
the leaves, the remainder being destitute of buds. The shoots 
of the last order are more or less 4-cornered or rounded ; 
they are all nearly of the same length, from the base to within 
a short distance of the apex of the axis from which they 
proceed (see figure of C. Benthami var. Knightiana, at p. 341), 
or they are manifestly unequal in length, some being much 
shorter than others. In some instances, as also in various species 
of Thuya, no branchlets are produced on one side of the shoot 
near the base. The branch-system becomes thus oblique at the 
base and often more or less falcate in outline. Space is thus left 
for the more free development of the adjoining shoot, as in the 
case of branchlets of the lime, elm, and other plants bearing 
alternate and oblique leaves. This mode of branching is shown 
in the annexed figure (fig. 2). 
The general appearance or “habit” of the tree depends very 
much on the arrangement and direction of the branches as just 
described ; but habit is of little value for differential purposes, as 
each species subjected to the same conditions may produce 
similar variations in habit*. Many of them have pendulous 
branches ; in some certain of the shoots, “ leaders," “ extension 
shoots ” as they are called, grow more rapidly than others, the 
leaves are more deeply conerescent and at wider distances apart. 
In other cases this disproportionate growth is less observable, 
the shoots are more nearly of the same length, and a compact 
rounded form is the result. The ordinary form of Cupressus 
Lawsoniana has,like the Deodar, long slender terminal shoots 
gracefully bending over at the tip; whilst other forms of the 
* For details concerning the ramification of the Cupressinezm, see Journ. 
Linn. Soc. xxvii. p. 286. 
