TAXODIUM. 305 



Gen. TAXODIUM. Richard. The Deciduous Cypress. 



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

 but separate ; the male ones in compound pyramidal spikes, the 

 females two or three together, near the base of the spike of male 

 flowers. 



Cones, globular, ligneous, and with an uneven surface. 



Scales, imbricated spirally, thick, and raised in the centre. 



Seeds, irregularly-shaped, woody, and two at the base of each 

 scale. 



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



Seed-leaves, from five to nine in number. 



Name, derived from rafo? (Yew) and 6t8o9 (like), from its 

 supposed resemblance to the common Yew. 



All deciduous trees, found in North America, Mexico, and 

 China. 



No. 1. Taxodium distichum, i?zcAa'c?, the Deciduous Cypress. 

 Syn. Cupressus Virginiana, Plukenett. 

 „ ,, „ Tradescanti, Ray. 



„ „ Americana, Cateshy. 



„ „ disticha, Linnceus. 



„ Schubertia disticha, Mirbel. 

 . j, Taxodium distichum patens, Endlicher, 

 „ „ „ nigrum, Hort. 



„ Cupressus disticha patens, Aiton. 



Leaves, in two rows, flat, rather distant, pectinate, spread 

 out horizontal, and twisted at the base ; linear, tapering to a 

 sharp point, bright green, and thin at the margins, half an 

 inch long, and one line broad, somewhat arched with the convex 

 side outwards, and changing in the autumn from a light 

 green to a dull red, and soon after falling ofl". Branches, 

 stout, stiff", horizontal, or rising upwards at the ends, lateral 



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