THE CTPEESS SUB-FAMILY. 277 



drus in appearance, and especially in the form and color 

 of its leaves, is, notwithstanding, quite distinct in its fruit, 

 and is also much less hardy with us, but is one of the most 

 beautiful of the family. In England it is pronounced en- 

 tirely hardy, and is considered very desirable ; but our ex- 

 perience with it has been so variable and unsatisfactory 

 that we cannot recommend it, excepting for trial under 

 very favorable circumstances. 



Along the shores of the Mediterranean, on dry, sandy 

 soils, this species nourishes in great luxuriance. In sev- 

 eral portions of Greece it is abundant, especially in 

 rocky localities. It generally grows from 6 to 10 feet in 

 height, and forms a conical outline, with the young branch- 

 lets drooping quite gracefully. Spach considered it as a 

 variety of the J. communis. 



5* J. oblonga j Bieberstein. OBLONG-FRUITED, OR CAU- 

 CASIAN JUNIPER. Syn. J. communis oblonga, London, 

 etc., etc. Leaves rather long, lanceolate, very acute, rigid, 

 sessile, glaucous green color. Branches spreading, and 

 furnished with numerous drooping branchlets. Fruit 

 small, in clusters or whorls of 3, sessile, dark purple color, 

 with a light bloom. 



This species is found principally in Caucasus and South- 

 west Russia, where it grows to the height of 5 or 6 

 feet, but frequently forming only a straggling bush, 

 spreading along the ground. The branches are mostly ir- 

 regularly placed and very crooked, incurved at the apex, 

 but with very pretty, slender, pendent branchlets. The 

 branches are so numerous as to form a dense and com- 

 pact mass, which serves in a manner to disguise their 

 unmethodical arrangement, and in most cases causes it to 

 form a regular and pleasing outline. 



We have found it quite hardy and very distinct from 

 any other species, although nearly resembling the Jl rigida, 

 to which it is closely allied. In a group of evergreen 

 shrubbery the J. oblonga should always have a place, aa 



