THE CYPKESS SUB-FAMILY. 367 



with lighter colored wood being designated as the White 

 Cypress, whilst the darker hued varieties are known as 

 the Black Cypress. It is also called the Southern States 

 Cypress. 



The timber of the T. distichum is, without doubt, of in- 

 estimable value, being fine-grained, soft, very elastic, 

 strong, and exceedingly durable. This last quality is per- 

 haps unequalled by the timber of any other tree, and it is 

 admirably adapted for use where it will be exposed to the 

 weather. But either from a scarcity of the article or dif- 

 ficulty in obtaining it, the Cypress shingles and other 

 forms of this lumber are now quite scarce, and rarely seen 

 in our Northern markets. 



Many of the varieties are mere sports, whilst others 

 perpetuate their distinctions when grown from seed. The 

 most prominent among the latter class is 



Var Mexicanum, Gordon. It is known by seven or 

 eight different synonyms. Specimens of this variety are 

 growing in Mexico, which are of immense size and great 

 age, especially the celebrated " Cypress of Montezuma" 

 at Chapultepec, that measures about 100 feet in circumfer- 

 ence. This variety differs from the species in the leaves 

 being very persistent and slender, with the long branches 

 broadly spreading. The strobiles are larger, and the scales 

 armed with a stout, acute point. This tree is entirely too 

 tender for our climate. 



Var. fastigiatum, Knight. This variety forms a remark- 

 ably fastigiate tree, with short and erect branches. It is 

 a native of our extreme Southern States, particularly in 

 Florida, where it forms a small-sized specimen. 



i denildatnm, Leroy's Catalogue. This differs from 

 the species in having long, slender, drooping branches, and 

 with the leaves scattered and of unequal size. It origi- 

 nated in Leroy's Nursery, at Angers, France. 



