114 HARDY CONIFEROUS TREES. 



becomes thin and the tree stunted and starved in appear- 

 ance. 



When seen under favourable circumstances the redwood is 

 of informal pyramidal appearance, with a well-formed trunk 

 covered with thick, spongy, reddish-brown bark. In young 

 trees the leaves are long and linear, while in those of older 

 growth they are usually closely appressed, and of as deep a 

 colour as the yew. The cones are about half the size of those 

 of the former species. 



In deep and rich soils, and where shelter is afforded, the 

 redwood in this country is of truly noble growth, many speci- 

 mens being over 80 feet in height, and with trunks over 4 feet 

 in diameter. Unlike the generality of coniferous trees, the red- 

 wood sends up suckers from the base of the stem, and in conse- 

 quence has been planted for coppice wood in Southern England. 



S. sempervirens adpressa.— This is a distinct 

 variety, with short, thick, and closely appressed leaves, which 

 are of a very conspicuous shining bluish-green colour. 



S. sempervirens alba spica has many of the 

 branch tips of a yellowish white tint, but it is patchy, and of 

 no particular value. 



TAXODIUM (Richard). 

 THE DECIDUOUS CYPRESSES. 



Flowers monoecious ; males in branched catkins ; females two 

 or three together near the base of the spike of male flowers. 



Cones globular, with thick peltate scales. 



Seeds two at the base of each scale, erect, angular, and 

 wingless. 



Leaves deciduous, in two rows, flat, and linear. 



Cotyledons from four to nine in number. 



Large-growing, swamp-loving trees, with deciduous foliage. 



Taxod i U m d ist ich u m, Richard. The Deciduous Cy- 

 press. {Sy?iony}ns: — Cupressus disticha, Linnaeus; T.niicrophyl- 

 lian, Brongniart ; T. adscendens, Brongniart.) Southern States 

 of America. About 1640. — This is a tree of great beauty, the 



