THE CYPRESS SUB-FAMILY. 355 



in C. thyoides. It belongs among those which were sep- 

 arated by Spach under the name of Chamsecyparis. 



Gordon, after recognizing it in his Pinetum as a dis- 

 tinct species, thus inelegantly and unkindly passes it over 

 in his Supplement: "The kind misnamed Chamcecyp- 

 aris thurifera by one of our great botanical advisers, 

 and so extensively distributed by lottery or otherwise, is 

 identical with the Chinese Arbor Vita3 (Biota Orientalis.)" 

 Now we are not able to see how a Chinese Arbor Vita3 

 could possibly be palmed off on an unsuspecting public, 

 especially when the published botanical description of 0. 

 thurifera is so very different from that of the former 

 plant; and also, Chinese Arbor Vita)s do not grow in 

 Mexico. 



18, C. torulosa, Don. Although this is a remarkably 

 handsome species and very desirable, were it sufficiently 

 hardy, it cannot be grown in the Middle States. It comes 

 from India, where specimens have been measured 150 feet 

 in height. The timber is fragrant, durable, and valuable ; 

 and the whole tree is especially adapted for ornamental 

 purposes in a suitable climate. In some of the mountain- 

 ous districts of India, it is held in religious veneration by 

 the natives, and the branchlets and fruit are considered by 

 them as sovereign remedies for all the ills that flesh is 

 heir to. In fact, death is the penalty to all who injure this 

 tree, so great is their belief in its efficacy. 



Gordon mentions the following varieties, viz. : 



Var. Viridis, JETort. With bright, glossy green leaves 

 and slender branches. 



Var, majestica, Hort. Of a very robust habit, and 

 more hardy than the species ; and 



Var. iiciiia, Hort. A curious dwarf and compact little 

 plant. 



