330 THE BOOK OF EVEEGREENS. 



21. BIOTA, Don. ORIENTAL OR EASTERN ARBOR 

 VIT^E. 



Flowers monoecious, on separate branches ; sterile aments, 

 elliptical, or somewhat elongated; fertile aments, spherical. 

 Leaves small, ovate rhomboid, or scale-like, rather obtuse, 

 imbricated in four rows, opposite, appressed, and glandu- 

 lose. Strobiles elliptic, with thick, ligneous, or coriaceous 

 scales, placed in opposite pairs, and furnished with a re- 

 curved, horny point. Seeds, 2 at the base of each scale, 

 larger than in Thuja, ovoid, with a bony testa, and wing- 

 less. 



This genus was separated from Thuja by Don, who con- 

 sidered them so widely different as to warrant the change. 

 In this he has received the support of Carriere and others 

 of our modern writers on the Coniferae. 



The Thujas are confined exclusively to the Western con- 

 tinent, whilst the Biotas are natives alone of the Eastern. 



The Biotas are medium-sized trees, growing mostly in 

 an upright or fastigiate form, and, as a general rule, less 

 compact than the Thujas. 



This defect may possibly be owing to the severity of 

 our climate, injuring the young, unripened wood, for for- 

 eign writers allude to the compactness of its growth in the 

 highest terms of praise. 



The Eastern Arbor Vitses are natives of China, India, 

 and Japan, and were first introduced into England about 

 the year 1752. The name Biota is derived from 52, " two," 

 and otis, an " ear." 



1. B. orientalis, Don. CHINESE ARBOR YITJE. Leaves 

 small, opposite, appressed, convex, obtuse, bright green 

 color. Branches recurved and erect. Branchlets, numer- 

 ous, 2-edged, and thickly covered with leaves. Strobiles 

 rather large, roundish or elliptical, with thick, coriaceous 

 scales, opening lengthwise, and disclosing the naked, ovoid, 

 wingless seeds. 



