2^6 A HANDBOOK OF CONIFERS 



9,000 ft. elevation. It also occurs in W. Szechuen, China, where, 

 according to Wilson,^ it is a common tree throughout the arid 

 upper reaches of the Tung River between 5,000-8,000 ft. alti- 

 tude, and at one time evidently formed extensive forests in this 

 region. It was introduced into European cultivation by Dr. 

 Wallich in 1824. Although planted in many places since that 

 date, it has never become a common tree, the best examples 

 being found in the mild chmate of the western and south- 

 western counties. 



Wood hard, close-grained, even in texture, pale yellow with 

 light brown heart wood, medullary rays, very fine. Gamble ^ 

 says that it is very durable and that in tests upon buried sleepers 

 made at Dehra Dun between the years 1881 and 1892 the wood 

 of this tree resisted decay better than any other wood for the 

 eleven years. He regards it as equal to deodar for sleepers and 

 says that it is a good building wood and often used in the Hima- 

 laya for temples, images, and poles for carr3dng the sacred arks. 

 The wood is also burnt as incense. He reports that young plants 

 are subject to attack by the fungus Gymnos'porangium Cun- 

 ninghamianum, which also attacks Pyrus Pashia as an alternate 

 host. 



DISELMA, Hooker fil. 



A monotypic genus endemic in Tasmania, belonging to Pinacece 

 and characterized by minute, scale-like, closely-pressed leaves ; 

 male and female flowers borne on different plants ; and by the 

 small cones made up of two pairs of scales, the upper pair fertile. 



Diselma Archeri, Hooker fil. 



Fitzroya Archeri, Bentham and Hooker fil. 



An erect bush or small tree, 5-20 ft. high, of compact or strag- 

 gling habit according to situation, the branchlets divided into 

 fine spray. Leaves scale-like, closely pressed, and overlapping, 

 alternately opposite or sometimes whorled, blunt at the apex. 

 Male and female flowers borne on different plants, the former 

 terminal, oblong, with the stamens in 3 or 4 pairs ; female flowers 

 terminal, solitary. Cones small, composed of 2 pairs of scales, 

 the upper pair with 2 three -winged seeds. 



Native of the Western Coast Ranges and Lake St. Clair, Tas- 

 mania, growing at elevations of 3,000-4,000 ft. The plant has 

 no economic value. 



Baker and Smith, Pines of Australia, 299 (1910). 



iPZ. Wils. ii, 55 (1914). 



2 A Man. of Ind. Timbers, 696 (1922 ed.). See also Elwes and Henry, loc. cit. 

 V, 1158 (1910). 



