SCIADOPITVS. 



301 



composed of several consolidated free scales, formed into a solid 

 fleshy cone, of a depressed form, with a very irregular surface, 

 owing to many of the scales being abortive, while the ends of 

 the whole retain their original form, are free, rather spiny, and 

 constitute so many tough, sharp tubercles, pointing in all direc- 

 tions. Seeds, a pale brown, glossy, ovate nut, with a short, thin, 

 jagged membrane, enveloping the base of the seed only. 



A small tree or bush, growing thirty feet high or^ the moun- 

 tains of Patagonia, with very much the appearance of the com- 

 mon yew, but wanting its fine sombre green. It is, as a botanical 

 curiosity, very interesting, but of little value as an ornamental 

 plant in England, being more or less tender. 



Gen. SCIADOPITYS. Siehold. The Umbrella Pine. 



Flowers, monoecious, or male and female on the same plant, 

 but separate, the male ones terminal, the females solitary, and 

 growing from among the scaly buds. 



Cones, elliptic or cylindrical, obtuse at the ends, large, and 

 solitary. 



Scales, persistent, leathery, thin, regularly imbricated, wedge- 

 shaped, half-rounded on the upper part, and with a short 

 bractea adhering. 



Seedsy elliptic, compressed, seven under each scale, with a 

 leathery covering, tapering into a membranaceous wing, attenu- 

 ating to the base and apex. 



Leaves, in whorls like an umbrella, persistent, without any 

 footstalks, linear, flat, and obtuse-pointed. 



Name derived from ' skidos,' shade, and ' pitys,' pine, the 

 Umbrella Pine. 



A large shrub or small tree, found on the mountains in Japan, 

 but even there very rare. 



