HARDY CONIFEROUS TREES 193 



Leaves two-ranked, linear, and decurrent at the base. 



Cotyledons two. 



Small evergreen trees or shrubs, with two-ranked leaves 

 and drupaceous fruit Hke a nutmeg. Both leaves and 

 fruit emit an unpleasant odour when bruised, except in 

 T. grandis. 



ToRREYA CALIFORNICA, Toney. (Synonym : 

 T. Myristica, Hooker.) California. 1851. — 

 This is a beautiful species, that flourishes well 

 in many parts of the country, but the finest 

 specimens I have seen are growing in the mild, 

 humid atmosphere of several parts of Ireland, 

 particularly the south and west. In this country 

 it forms a well-branched sturdy bush or small 

 tree, with an inclination to form long and some- 

 what irregular lower branches, which it is well 

 to keep in check by judicious pruning, an opera- 

 tion that it by no means resents. The foliage 

 is of a fresh and distinct shade of green, each 

 leaf being 2 J inches long, flat, sharp - pointed, 

 and with a sunken line on each side of the 

 indistinct mid -rib. When bruised, the leaves 

 emit a peculiar, unpleasant odour. The fruit, 

 which is fleshy on the outside, like our common 

 plum, and elliptic in shape, averages fully i| 

 inches long, and contains a nutmeg-like seed 

 covered with a hard, bony shell. When seen 

 in fruit the contrast between the long green 

 leaves and curious plum-like fruit is remarkable. 

 The soil that would seem to suit this species best 

 is that mainly composed of peat, and where the 

 situation is well sheltered. One of the largest 

 specimens I know of, and from which I have 

 received specimens, is growing, with many other 



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