CRAMM0YFAEI8 39 



C. Nutkaensis, var. gracilis, Beiss. (ii. 540). 

 Syn: var. compressa, Hort. 

 According to Beissner this is a small, interesting, 

 crowded branched, dwarf globular form. If it is distinct 

 from var. compacta, it does not appear to be in cultivation. 



C. obtusa, Sieb. and Zucc. (1847). 



Syn.: Retinospora obtusa, Sieb. and Zucc. (1842). 

 Cupressus obtusa, C. Koch (1873). 

 Thuya obtusa, Benth. and Hook (1881). 



The Japanese or Hinoki cypress was introduced into 

 Europe by J. G. Veitch in 1861, but has long been a 

 favourite conifer among Japanese gardeners, who have 

 cultivated and propagated most of its abnormal forms; 

 its blunt leaves, with their rounded apices outlined with a 

 very white glaucous line, makes the type easily recognis- 

 able, and amongst the varieties described will be found 

 some of the most distinct and desirable of dwarf conifers. 

 Many of these are found in gardens under the name of 

 Retinospora, or Retinispora. 



C. obtusa, var. pygmaea, Carr. (" Conif.," ii. 131, 1867). 



Syn.: Retinospora ob. pygmcea, Gord. (" Pinetum," 

 94, 1862). 

 Thuya pygmcea, Veitch (not Hort). 



Branches fan-shaped, spreading close to the ground; 

 almost horizontal. Branchlets brown-red with tips 

 slightly pendulous. Foliage scale-like and stiff; shiny 

 brown-green. Branchlets inclined to grow out sideways 

 rather than forward, and set fairly far apart. The whole 

 making a fairly open, slow-growing, flat-topped, round 

 bush. 



This form — the true var. pygmcea — has been known in 

 European gardens more than half a century, and in 

 Japanese gardens for a much longer period. It is 

 extremely slow-growing. Very old plants are in cultiva- 

 tion, and are rarely more than 18 to 24 inches in 

 height. My best specimen is 20 by 26 inches. 



