406 THE BOOK OF EVERGREENS. 



erect. Fruit, drupe-like, standing in the fleshy disk, which 

 covers the base. Cotyledons, 2. Leaves deciduous, pli- 

 ca tely-involute in the bud, fan-shaped, long-petioled, and 

 marked with longitudinal nerves. 



This curious, yet beautiful genus consists of a single 

 species, which is a native of Japan and portions of China. 

 It was dedicated by Smith to Anthony Salisbury, an Eng- 

 lish botanist of distinction, although first described and 

 named by Linnaeus as G-irikgo biloba. 



S. adiantifolia, Smith. MAIDEN-HAIR TREE. Leaves 

 fan-shaped or wedge-shaped, very broad, and incised at 

 the apex, thick, coriaceous, more or less fasciculate on the 

 adult branches, but distant and scattered on the young 

 shoots, pale green color. Branches, sometimes straggling, 

 mostly ascending or horizontal. Fruit, globular or ovate, 

 one inch in diameter, on long, slender peduncles. 



The Ginkgo has always appeared to us an anomaly, 

 differing from all other trees in several particulars. The 

 leaves remind one of a large Adiantum-like tree-fern ; and 

 the veining is more like that of the monocotyledonous, 

 than the dicotyledonous class to which it belongs. The 

 wood, being entirely devoid of resin, is very apt to mis- 

 lead the student. The fruit, however, which in almost 

 every instance forms the best criterion, in this case plainly 

 points out its true character. 



This tree is a native of Japan and China, and is quite 

 abundant in some provinces, growing to the height of from 

 40 to 80 feet, and in particular situations 100 feet high, 

 with the trunks from 6 to 12 feet in diameter. There is a 

 vast difference in the form of the tree ; those propagated 

 from layers or cuttings are almost invariably crooked, 

 whilst seedlings are generally straight, and present an 

 evenly balanced and conical head. In either case, how- 

 ever, it is very quick-growing, and speedily forms a tree. 



The Salisburia has long been a favorite with us, and we 

 can heartily endorse the following remarks by one who 



