CONIFERS. 



269 



Monoecious. Cones oblong. The cone-scales are dry, as in the 

 Cypress, but leathery and imbricate, and not shield-like ; each 

 cone-scale bears 2-3 seeds. The leaves are most frequently 

 dimorphic; those leaves which are situated on the edges of the 

 flat branches are compressed, and only these bear buds, which 

 fire developed with great regularity, generally alternately, on both 

 sides of the branch ; those which are situated on the flattened 

 surfaces are pressed flat and broad, and never bear branches 

 (Fig. 271). Along the central line of each leaf there is a resin- 

 canal (Fig. 271). Cham(ecyparis,Callitris,Libocedrus, Tlnijopsis (1 species : 

 T. dolabrita; in Japan). 



FIG. 273. Branch of Juniper with 

 " berry-cones." 



FIG. 274. Cupressus lawsoniana. Lonsi- 

 tudinal section through female cone. Two 

 ovules (ou) are bisected; /ovuliferous scales. 



OFFICINAL. Junipervs sabina from Central and South of Europe (the young 

 branches yield an essential oil). The wood of J. communis is used in the 

 production of an essential oil, and J. oxycedrus in the production of empy- 

 reumatic oil. The ' berry-cone " of J. communi* is officinal, and is also used 

 for gin. The wood of J. virginiana (N, Am.) is known as red cedar, and is 

 used for lead-pencils. Sandarack resin is obtained from Callitris quadrivalvis 

 (N.W. Africa). 



THE FOLLOWING ARE CULTIVATED IN GARDENS: Thuja occid entails (Arbor vitae) 

 (N. Am.), and orientalis (China, Japan); Juniperus salina and virginiana; 

 Thvjopsis dolabrata (Japan) ; Cupressus laivsoniana (California), C. sempervirens 

 (S. Eur., W. Asia), and other species, are grown especially in conservatories, 

 and in Southern Europe particularly in cemeteries. The Retinospora species 

 which are so often planted, do not belong to an independent genus, but are 

 obtained from cuttings, taken from seedling-plants with acicular leaves (see page 

 267). 



