THE CYPRESS SUB-FAMILY. 



333 



than its parent, although not sufficiently so for our more 

 northern States. The form is compact and globular, the 

 color a lively yellowish green, and the foliage more deli- 

 cate in texture than the species. Its maximum height 



will perhaps not ex- 

 ceed six feet. A 

 specimen in our own 

 collection, (see fig- 

 ure 47), which is 

 probably one of the 

 oldest in the country, 

 is over five feet high, 

 and a perfect model 

 of beauty. An ob- 

 jectionable feature 

 in this plant is its 

 liability to lose the 

 lower branches and 

 foliage, which great- 

 ly disfigures its ap- 

 pearance ; this es- 

 pecially occurs when 

 planted in unsuit- 



Fig. 48. BIOTA ORIEOTALIS, VAR. AUREA. 



able soil. 



Var. Sieboldii, Endlicher. Syn. B. Japonica, Siebold ; 

 B. orientalis nana, Carriere, &c., &c. A pretty little 

 dwarf variety, with a round, conrpact form, and bright 

 green color. We have imported a B. Japonica from Bel- 

 gium which is quite distinct from this plant, having a 

 fastigiate tendency, instead of a globular form. On account 

 of the peculiar branchlets and leaves of this variety, the 

 Japanese have given it the name of " Peacock's Tail." 



Var. variegata aurea, Carriere. This very pretty 

 plant originated, we believe, in the collection of M. Dau- 

 vesse, at Orleans, France, and was discovered in a bed of 



