TAXACE^ 21 



and an inner, woody, acorn-shaped shell enclosing the kernel 

 (endosperm) and embryo. Cotyledons two. 



Cephalotaxus is distinguished from Torreya, which it closely 

 resembles in foliage, by the non -spiny leaves not longitudinally 

 furrowed beneath and the more numerous bud scales. 



Wood yellowish, straight-grained, soft or moderately hard, 

 but usually too small to be of any particular economic value, 

 although used locally for various purposes. A fatty oil is obtained 

 from the seeds of C. drujjcicea and probably from those of other 

 species. 



The species of Cephalotaxus are hardy in Britain and thrive 

 under similar conditions to yew, although less suited to chalky 

 soils. They form handsome, spreading bushes, either in the 

 open or in partial shade, and make excellent screens for blocking 

 out undesirable objects from the garden. As they withstand 

 pruning well, they could probably be successfully used for hedges. 

 Propagation may be effected by seeds, which ripen freely, or by 

 short cuttings inserted in sandy soil in a close frame during July 

 or early August. 



Key to Cephalotaxus. 



Leaves abruptly pointed, f-l| in. long . . . C. drujiacea. 

 Leaves gradually narrowing to a long point, 1^-3 



in. long C. Fortunei. 



Cephalotaxus drupacea, Siebold and Zuccarini. (Fig. 2.) 



Cow's-TAiL Pine. 



A small tree 20-40 ft. high in China and Japan, with wide- 

 spreading branches forming a broad, rounded crown. Bark 

 grey, dividing into narrow strips. In cultivation it is shrubby 

 in habit, scarcely exceeding 10 ft. in height. Leaves arranged 

 like those of C. Fortunei, but much smaller, straighter, and more 

 abruptly pointed, l-l\ in. long, not arranged in one plane, but 

 spreading outwards and upwards in a V-shaped manner. Male 

 flowers \ in. in diameter on very short, scaly stalks. Seeds brown 

 when ripe, |-1 in. long, slightly pear-shaped, broadest at the 

 rounded apex, oily. 



Var. pedunculata, Miquel. 



C peduncvilata, Siebold and Zuccarini ; Taxus Harringtoniana,i 

 Knight and Perry, 



Almost intermediate between C. Fortunei and C. drupacea in 

 foliage, the leaves being less regularly arranged and more curved 

 than in C. drupacea, 1|-2| in. long, longer than in the latter 

 species, but shorter than in C. Fortunei. Male floivers in clusters 



^Pinet. Woburn. t. 66 (1839). 



