246 TAXACE^ 



could wish. Nor does it seem inclined to show that 

 natural attachment which we should like to see a 

 distinguished New Zealander display towards the 

 mother country. So far as the lately arrived batch 

 has progressed among us, we might, ill-naturedly 

 possibly, but not without some show of reason, 

 describe it in its present condition as without a look 

 to bless itself with. 



TORREYAS 



(Of the tribe SALISBURINE.^, of the family 

 TAXACEiE, of the order CONIFERS) 



All green was vanished save of Pine and Yew, 

 That still displayed their melancholy hue. 



Crabbe. 



The Torreyas are another set of the long-leaved 

 relations of the Yew. Their nearest tribal relations 

 are the Cephalotaxi. 



As the Equidae family comprise among their ranks 

 many members — to wit, the horse, the zebra, and 

 the ass — combining glaring differences and certain 

 resemblances, so there are to be found in the family 

 circle of the Taxacese all sorts and conditions of 

 singularities. As the ass, in spite of his longer ears 

 and other discrepancies, still retains a close relation- 

 ship to the horse, so do the Torreyas and Cepha- 

 lotaxi, in spite of their longer leaves and other 

 differences, still remain members of the family of 

 Yews. 



As the ass has become a term of derision among 

 men, so have the Torreyas generally incurred un- 

 complimentary distinction among botanists. They 

 have been dubbed with such actionable prefixes ^s 

 Fetid and Stinking, both adjectives spelt in large 



