GENUS THUYA. 125 



latter well supplied with scale-like imbricated leaves, arranged 

 in four rows. Cones i an inch long, composed of six scales, 

 and of a dull brown when ripe. There are many forms, the 

 following including the most distinct. 



T. orientalis aurea is one of the most distinct and 

 popular of the many varieties, and is often met with under 

 the specific name of T. aurea. It forms a dense globular 

 bush, the growing foliage being golden-yellow, this subsid- 

 ing into a dull green with age and on the approach of 

 winter. 



T, orientalis densa gflauca, — Whether for its 

 neat habit or pleasing colour, this dwarf conifer will well 

 merit attention ; while it is quite distinct from any of the 

 numerous small growing forms of the Chinese arborvitae. 

 The usual habit is a dense conical mass of rather feeble 

 branches, the foliage of the most pleasing glaucous-green 

 shade — a colour that is constant at all seasons of the year. 

 Being of seedling growth, this marked characteristic is retained 

 under cultivation. 



T. orientalis elegfantiSSima is of narrow pyra- 

 midal habit of growth, the foliage being of a constant 

 golden-green. It is more stiff in outline than T. orientalis 

 aurea. 



T. orientalis ericoides {^Synonym: — Retinispora 

 ericoides) is one of the neatest and dwarfest of the tribe, it 

 being usually seen as a dense, compact shrub of not greatly 

 over I yard in height. The change in colour of foliage from 

 a light, clear green in summer to a bronzy-violet in winter, is 

 both curious and beautiful. Both branches and branchlets are 

 slender and numerous, while the primordial foliage is ar- 

 ranged in pairs, and distinctly glaucous beneath. 



T, orientalis falcata has a rather irregular habit 

 of growth, though of dense somewhat conical outline, and is 

 well-furnished with brownish-green foliage. It is rendered 

 curiously distinct by reason of the cone-scales terminating in 

 sickle-like spines. Each cone is \ of an inch long, and com- 

 posed of six scales and six wingless seeds. 



