Gymnospermae — Coniferae — Pinoideae — Cupressineae. XI. 



CUPRESSINEAE : a conventional series of Conifers (lo), characterized by- 

 small whorh'd, foliage-leaves, and small ivhorled cones of simple organization; the 

 most familiar being Cupressus (15), Thuya (5), Juniperiis (35). Others are forms 

 more particularly of the southern hemisphere [Callitris, 1,5); Libocedrus (8) ranges 

 from New Zealand and Chili to California and Japan ; the finest trees follow the 

 Pacific Slope [Cupressus, Chamaecyparis, Thuya), but Cupressus and Juniperus are 

 common forms of the Mediterranean region. Fossil forms with the extreme special- 

 ization of Libocedrus are described from, the Cretaceous. 



As one of the simpler available types (B.G.O.) may be taken : — 



Cupressus Macnabiana, a shrubby species, California, 10-40 ft., and i ft. diam. 



Branch-system based on decussate phyllotaxis and small closely adpressed 

 scale-leaves ; no bud-scales. Foliage-shoots green, leaves 2 mm., with central resin- 

 gland, spaced on main shoots by internodes of 10 mm. Ramification from axils of 

 a few, with no special rule, 1-2 at a node ; divergent in all directions : slightly com- 

 pressed in the plane of 2 rows, but no other dorsiventrality. Current year's growth 

 green ; scale-leaves functional for 2-3 years ; smooth bark in 4th ; laterals similarly 

 produced to the 3rd degree. Smaller ramuli i mm. diam., with smooth surface. 



Staminate flowers terminating short ramuli of the second year ; cylindrical or 

 4-angled ; of 1 2 scales, each with 4 pollen-sacs : pollen spherical, not winged. 



Ovulate flower, similarly situated, small, 3 mm., of 6-8 scales, decussate, 

 divergent, displaying numerous erect ovules with micropyle and drop-mechanism ; 

 about 40 ovules (10 per scale) seen from above. Pollination in March ; scales close 

 over ovules to green cone. Fertilization in June. Cones ripened in Oct., as spherical 

 woody structures, -f in. diam., of 8 scales, close-fitting by margins {^valvate'), of 4-5- 

 angled facets, with central spinous process (2 mm.). Remaining on tree 1-2 years ; 

 usually not opening: intended to diverge and scatter small seeds (2 mm.) with 

 2 lateral wing-edges, brown. Embryo with 2 cotyledons. Juvenile leaves acicular. 



C. semperinrens, Mediterranean Cypress, with similar foliage and habit ; cones 

 I in. or more long, of 8-14 scales. Ultimate ramuli i mm. diam., leaf-scales with 

 sharply pointed tips adpressed on old shoots, divergent on younger ones. 



C. macrocarpa, Monterey Cypress, the finest form; 70 ft,, and 6 ft. diam., 

 old trees table-topped; similar branch-systems spreading in all directions. Cones 

 I J-2 in., light brown, ellipsoidal, with massive valvate scales : cotyledons 3-4. Ulti- 

 mate ramuli stouter, 1-5 mm. diam.; leaf-scales broadly ovate, adpressed, with 

 indistinct cyst and two longitudinal grooves. 



Cupressus (= Chamaecyparis) Nootkatensis, Siika Cypress, forest-tree of 

 British Columbia and Alaska; 120 ft., and 5 ft. 6 in. diam., more specialized in shoot- 

 organization, but with reduced cones (ovules only 2 or so per scale). 



Branch-system : Similar decussate foliage-scales, and absence of bud-scales. 

 Main leaders flexuous : lateral leaders to the 4th degree are formed only from leaves 

 of 2 flanking orthostichies, giving a system thus extending in one plane, as pinnated 

 ramuli alternating at nodes of even numbers, to give ' dorsiventral ' frondose systems 

 {phylloDiorphs) resembling compound leaves, and similarly deciduous (by ' cladoptosis ') 

 after 3-4 years. First year's stem green, 2nd year with red-brown bark, 3rd with 

 grey-brown (more or less) ; 4th and 5th with smooth rind and little trace of scales. 

 Ramuli of 2nd and 3rd degree flatten in the same plane, as phyllomorphs in ' leaf- 

 mosaic '. Laterals of first degree at intervals of 2-4-6 nodes : of second degree at 

 2-4 ; of third degree at 2 (or ' at every other node on opposite flanks ') ; with 

 characteristic omission of ramuli along basal regions of each degree to suit the leaf- 

 mosaic. Laterals of the second degree shed in the 4th year or so. 



Staminate flowers borne on the ends of ramuli in second season, yellow, 3 mm., 

 of 10-12 stamens, each with 3 pollen-sacs; fully formed in Dec; pollination in 

 March : pollen spherical. 



Ovulate cones similarly situated on different shoot-systems, matured same year 

 as small cones, 12 mm. diam., of 4 fertile scales, and total of 10-12 seeds, 2-3 per 

 scale ; shed in autumn. Brown cones of 4 divergent cruciate scales, each with central 

 spine and prominent seed-scars, characteristic : seeds flattened, 5 mm. broad, with 

 Aving-margins : cotyledons 5. Primary leaves linear ; i -inch stem in ist year ; growth 

 about one foot a year. 



23 



