TAXACEAE 



California Torreya. California Nutmeg 



Torreya calif ornica Torr. [Tumion calif ornicum 

 (Torr.) Greene] 



HABIT. A rare, small tree 15-70 feet high and 1-2 feet in 

 diameter; clear, often malformed bole; crown pyramidal, with 

 slender, spreading branches. 



LEAVES. Persistent many years; linear-lanceolate; spirally 

 arranged, appearing 2-ranked; 1-3 J/2 inches long; acuminate 

 and often bristle-tipped; flat; rigid; dark green and lustrous 

 above; pale below, with 2 narrow, distinct bands of stomata; 

 petioled; decurrent, 



FLOWERS. Dioecious; male solitary, consisting of numerous 

 stamens in whorls of 4; female in pairs, i4 inch long, the ovule 

 surrounded by and finally enclosed in fleshy sac. 



FRUIT. Drupe-like; a single seed with a woody outer coat 

 completely enclosed in a thin, fleshy, green to purple envelope; 

 ellipsoidal; 1-1 Vi inches long; maturing in 2 years, but requir- 

 ing additional year before germinating. 



TWIGS. Slender, drooping. Winter buds: small, ovoid, 

 acute; of few overlapping, shining, opposite scales. 



BARK. Thin {Yi-Vz inch); gray-brown; in narrow, scaly 

 ridges. 



WOOD. Unimportant; soft; light clear yellow. 



SILVICAL CHARACTERS. Tolerant; growth slow; long- 

 lived; reproduction sparse, but stumps sprout vigorously; lateral 

 roots. 



HABITAT. Dependent on moist sites; in pure, dense thickets 

 or mixed with hardwoods. 



* * * 



Florida Torreya. Stinking-cedar 



Torreya taxifolia Arn. [Tunion taxifolium (Arn.) Greene 



This is a rare, small, handsome tree found only along the 

 bluffs of the Apalachicola River in Florida and southern Georgia. 

 It differs from the western species in having needles slightly 

 rounded on the back and about 1 Yz inches long. 



["7] 



