Metasequoia TAXODIACEAE Cryptomeria 



widely-spaced If. axils of slender drooping brs.: ovulate cones solitary and terminating 

 slender pendulous lfy. brs., subquadrangular-globose, 16-23 mm. in diameter, with 

 woody peltate scales: each scale bearing 5-9 compressed seeds which are winged all 

 around. One species, native to western China. (Greek: met a, after; and Sequoia.) 



1. Metasequoia glyptostroboid.es Hu & Cheng 7Jc|^ (Shui Shan; Water Fir) (Fa. B. 

 n.s. 1:154). Tree, to 35 m.; fls. II; fr. IX-X. Staminate cones axillary and 

 solitary. Introduced from western China; locally in Ku. Planted. 



2. Taxodium Rich. ^m&M (Lo Yu Sung Shu) 



Deciduous or evergreen trees: lvs. alternate, often appearing distichous, subulate 

 or flat and linear, with two stomatic bands beneath: staminate cones in drooping 

 panicled lea/less spikes: ovulate cones scattered, near the ends of the brs. of the 

 preceding year: frtg. cones globose or ovoid, short-stalked, ripening the first season, 

 consisting of many thick coriaceous peltate scales; each fertile scale with two 3-angled 

 winged seeds. 3 species, in eastern United States and Mexico; 2 planted in China. 

 (Greek term meaning "similar to Taxus.") 



Key to the Species 



Lvs. subulate, appressed : branchlets upright 1 . T. ascendens 



Lvs. linear, spreading, distichous: branchlets horizontal 2. T. distichum 



1. Taxodium ascendens Brongn. Pond Cypress ft&ffi (Ch'ih Po) (R.M.49). Tree, to 

 25 m.; fls. IV; fr. VIII. Introduced from southeastern United States; locally in 

 Ku. Planted. 



2. Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich. Bald Cypress Hj^^S (Lo Yu Sung; Falling-feathers 

 Pine) (R.M.49). Tree, to 50 m.; fls. IV; fr. VII. Introduced from southeastern 

 United States; locally in Ku. Planted. 



3. Glyptostrobus Endl. 7k&M> (Shui Sung Shu) 



Tree with deciduous lateral brts. and foliage lvs. dimorphic, slender needles on 

 the sterile brs. and scale-like to acicular on the frtg. brs.: staminate cones solitary 

 on the tips of lfy. brs.; anthers 3-4-celled: frtg. cones tapering to a narrow base, 

 with slender wedge-shaped scales, bearing 2 seeds under each scale. One species, in 

 South China. (Greek: glyptos, carved; and strobil, cone.) 



1. Glyptostrobus pensilis (Staunt.) K.Koch Chinese Deciduous Cypress 7j<fe (Shui 

 Sung; Water Pine) (Lee 78). Tree, to 5 m.; fls. I; fr. XL South China; locally 

 in Che., Ki., Ku. Planted, ornamental. 



4. Cryptomeria D. Don Japanese Fir tyV&W* (Liu Shan Shu) 

 Lvs. awl-shaped, stiff, spirally arranged around and pointing towards the tips of 

 the drooping brts.: cones globose, with woody wedge-shaped scales each bearing a 

 mucro and 3-5 stiff -pointed processes: bracts with sharp recurved tips: seeds narrowly 

 winged, 2-5 on each scale. One species, in China and Japan. (Greek: kryptos, 

 hidden; and meros, part.) 



1. Cryptomeria japonica (L.f.) D. Don $1^ (Liu Shan; Willow Fir) (R.M.50). Tree, 

 to 50m.; fls. Ill; fr. X-XI; cones clustered. Japan and China; locally in An., 

 Che., Ki., Ku. Often planted. Fig. 39. 



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