PINACE^ 165 



CALLITRIS, Ventenat. 

 Cypress Pines. 



Frenela, Mirbel ; Fresnelia, Steudel ; Leichhardtia, Sheph. ; Pachylei)is, 

 Brongniart ; Octoclinis, F. Mueller ; Parolinia, Endlicher. 



Evergreen trees and bushes natives of Australia and Tasmania. 

 Bark hard, furrowed, or fibrous. Branches short, erect, divided 

 into slender branchlets which are ridged by the closely pressed, 

 sheath-like leaf bases. Bmls hidden by leaves. Leaves in whorls 

 of three, those of the adult stage closely clasping the shoot except 

 at the triangular scale-like tip, which is sometimes slightly thick- 

 ened and incurved ; leaves of juvenile plants narrow, pointed, 

 ^1 in. long. Male and female flowers on the same plant. Male 

 flowers solitary, or 2-3 together at the ends of the shoots, cylind- 

 rical or oblong, the stamens in whorls of 3-4. Female flowers 

 solitary or in clusters composed of 6-8 scales, bearing numerous 

 ovules. Cones globular, ovoid or pyramidal, persisting for 

 several years after shedding the seed ; scales 6-8 arranged in one 

 whorl, alternate ones shorter and narrower than the others, broad 

 at the base, pointed at the apex, thick and woody, smooth or 

 warty on the outer surface, not enclosed by bracts. Seeds oblong, 

 2-9 on each scale, with 2-3 broad wings. 



Callitris is allied to Tetraclinis and Widdringionia. From 

 them it is distinguished by the larger number of cone-scales 

 (normally four in each of the other genera). From Tetraclinis 

 it also differs in its leaves being in whorls of three (in Tetraclinis 

 they are in fours and the shoots have a distinctly jointed char- 

 acter), whilst Widdringionia has the leaves in alternately opposite 

 pairs. 



Wood variable ; dark, or light-coloured, with distinct heart- 

 wood and sapwood ; hard, close-grained, fragrant, sometimes 

 beautifully figured, finishes with a smooth surface, polishes well, 

 and said to be proof against white ants, owing to the presence of 

 a phenol and other chemical bodies. The timber is valuable for 

 building purposes, furniture, panelling, pedestals, etc. Other 

 economic products are tannin from the bark ; fragrant oils by 

 distillation of shoots, leaves, and cones ; and resin, similar to 

 sandarac of commerce, from wounds in the bark. 



The species of Callitris are peculiarly adapted for dry, arid 

 regions and are amongst the most useful Australian conifers, 

 for, apart from their value in arid places, the resistance of the 

 wood to the attacks of white ants makes it specially valuable. 



Their culture in Europe is restricted to gardens and scientific 

 collections. They thrive in the S. of France and may be grown 

 out of doors in the warmer parts of Britain. Several species 

 are cultivated in the Temperate House at Kew. 



The following account of the species is based on the elaborate 



