488 A HANDBOOK OF CONIFERiE 



small, scale-like, triangular, |-|^ in. long, the base green, the tip 

 blunt, membranous, and reddish brown, becoming wholly brown 

 before the second year ; (2) leaf -like shoots or cladodes which 

 perform the functions of leaves. ^ These are arranged in whorls 

 of 10-30, surrounded by a ring of scale-leaves. They are 2-5 in. 

 long, To-i in. wide, linear, rigid, dark green and glossy above, 

 paler beneath, grooved on both surfaces, the margins thickened, 

 the apex slightly notched, stomata on the lower surface. Male 

 and female flowers borne on the same tree ; the former in compact, 

 terminal clusters, each flower ^| in. long. Female flowers in 

 terminal cones with conspicuous, lance-shaped, membranous 

 bracts attached to small scales. Cones oblong ovoid, on short 

 stalks, 2|-4 in. long, \\-2 in. wide, ripening during the second 

 year ; scales woody, soon outgrowing the bracts, broadly wedge- 

 shaped or fan-shaped, |-f in. across, green when growing, brown 

 at maturity, upper margin rounded, recurved and thin, surfaces 

 furrowed, the outer convex, the inner concave, the inner surface 

 and the concealed part of the outer surface covered with fine 

 down which is most prominent on mature scales. Seeds 5-9 

 on each fertile scale, oblong or elUptical, \-\ in. long and j in. wide, 

 including the surrounding, narrow, membranous wing. 



Two distinct forms are in cultivation, one usually producing 

 a single erect trunk, the other of slower growth, dividing into a 

 number of stems near the ground. 



Var. pendula, Bean. 

 Branches pendulous. 



Var. variegata. 

 Some of the " leaves " are yellow. 



Sciadopitys is restricted in a wild state to the valley of the 

 Kiso-gawa in central, and to Koya-san and its immediate neigh- 

 bourhood in east central Hondo, the best trees being found in 

 steep, rocky, sheltered situations. Wilson ^ says that it is com- 

 mon and sometimes forms pure forests in the provinces of Mino 

 and Shinano between 1,800-3,300 ft. altitude. 



The umbrella pine was discovered by Thunberg in 1775-76, 

 and it was early introduced to Java by the Dutch. In 1835 

 Thomas Lobb obtained a plant for Messrs. Veitch from the 

 Buitenzorg Botanic Garden, but it soon died. Seeds were, 

 however, sent to England by both Veitch and Fortune in 1861. 



Wood nearly white when freshly cut, darkening on exposure, 



^ The nature of these structures, which are pecuHar to the genus, has given rise 

 to much discussion. One group of botanists regards them as cladodes and another 

 group as double leaves or needles. Instances of shoots arising from them have 

 been recorded. 



^ Conifers and Taxads of Japan, 64, 65 (1916). 



