TAXACEAE. 37 



axillary; berry-like cones sessile or very nearly so, dark blue, 6-8 mm. diameter. 

 On dry hills, N. S. to Br. Col., south to N. J., Penn., Mich., Neb. and in the Rocky 

 Mts. to N. Mex. Also in Europe and Asia. The fruit is used for flavoring gin, 

 April-May. Fruit ripe Oct. 



2. Juniperus nana Willd. Low JUNIPER. (I. F. f. 132.) A depressed rigid 

 shrub, seldom over o. 5 m. high, forming circular patches often 3-4 m. in diameter. 

 Leaves similar to those of the preceding, but stouter, similarly channeled and often 

 whitened above, appressed-ascending, rather rigid, spiny-tipped, 8-12 mm. long, 

 mostly incurved, densely clothing the twigs, verticillate in 3's; aments axillary: 

 berry-like cones blue, 8-iomm. in diameter. In dry, open places, Lab. to Br. Col., 

 south to Mass., N. Y., Mich, and in the Rocky Mts. to Col. and Utah. Also in 

 Europe and Asia. The characteristic growth in a depressed circular patch gives 

 the plant a very different aspect from the true Juniper. April-May. 



3. Juniperus Virginiana L. RED CEDAR. SAVIN. (I. F. f. 133.) Atree, 

 reaching a maximum height of about 32 m. and a trunk diameter of 1.6 m., conic 

 when young, but the branches spreading in age. Leaves mostly opposite, all those of 

 young plants and commonly some of those on the older twigs of older trees subulate, 

 spiny -tipped, 4-8 mm. long, those of the mature foliage scale-like, acute or subacute, 

 closely appressed and imbricated, 4-ranked, causing the twigs to appear quadrangu- 

 lar; aments terminal; berry-like cones light blue, glaucous, about 6 mm. in di- 

 ameter, on straight peduncle-like branchlets of less than their own length, 1-2 

 seeded. In dry soil, N. B. to Br. Col., Fla., Tex., N. Mex. and Ariz. Also in 

 the \V. I. Wood used in large quantities in the manufacture of lead pencils. 

 April-May. Fruit ripe Sept.-Oct. 



4. Juniperus Sabma L. SHRUBBY RED CEDAR. (I. F. f. 134.) A de- 

 pressed shrub, seldom more than 1.3 m. high. Leaves similar to those of the pre- 

 ceding species, those of young plants and the older twigs of older plants subulate, 

 spiny-tipped, those of the mature foliage scale-like, appressed, 4-ranked. acute or 

 acuminate; aments terminal; berry-like cones light blue, somewhat glacuous, 8-IO 

 mm. in diameter, borne on recurved peduncle-like branchlets of less than their own 

 length. 1-4 seeded. On banks, N. S. to Br. Col., south to Mass , N. N. Y., Minn. 

 and Mont. xVlso in Europe and Asia. April-May. 



Family 2. TAXACEAE Lindl. 



Trees or shrubs, resin-bearing except Taxus. Leaves evergreen or de- 

 ciduous, linear, or in several exotic genera broad or sometimes fan-shaped, 

 the pollen-sacs and ovules borne in separate clusters or solitary. Perianth 

 wanting. Stamens much as in the Pinaceae. Ovules with either one or 

 two integuments ; when two, the outer one fleshy ; when only one, its outer 

 part fleshy. Fruit drupe-like or rarely a cone. About 8 genera and 75 

 species, of wide geographic distribution, most numerous in the southern 

 hemisphere. The Maiden-hair Tree, Gtnkgo biloba, of China and Japan, 

 with fan-shaped leaves, is an interesting tree, formerly included in the 

 group, much planted for ornament, now regarded as forming a distinct 

 natural family. 



i. TAXUS. 



Evergreen trees or shrubs, with spirally arranged short-petioled linear flat 

 mucronate leaves, spreading so as to appear 2-ranked, and axillary and solitary, 

 sessile or subsessile very small aments; staminate aments consisting of a few scaly 

 bracts and 5-8 stamens, their filaments united to the middle; anthers 4-6-celled. 

 Ovules solitary, axillary, erect, subtended by a fleshy, annular disk which is 

 bracted at the base. Fruit consisting of the fleshy disk which becomes cup- 

 shaped, red, and nearly encloses the bony seed. [Name ancient.] About 6 

 species, natives of the north temperate zone. Besides the following, another occurs 

 in Fla., one in Mex. and one on the Pacific coast. 



I. Taxus Canadensis Marsh. AMERICAN YEW. GROUND HEMLOCK. (I. F. 

 i 135.) A low shrub, seldom over 1.5 m. high. -Leaves dark green on both sides, 

 narrowly linear, mucronate, narrowed at the base, I2-2O mm. long, nearly 2 mm. 

 wide, persistent on the twigs in drying; staminate aments globose, 2 mm. long, 

 usually numerous; ovules usually few; fruit red and pulpy, resinous, oblong, 



