i8o Trees with Simple Leaves. [c i 



Genus THUYA, L. (Arbor Vitae.) 



From a Greek word meaning to sacrifice, because of the use of the fragrant wood in 



sacrifice. 



Fig. 93. Arbor Vitae, White Cedar. T. occidental^, L. 



Leaves, SIMPLE ; INDETERMINATE in position because of 

 their smallness and closeness. They are scale-like, 

 somewhat egg-shape, overlapping each other, and 

 closely pressed in four rows up and down the very 

 flat branchlets. Each leaf has at its centre a raised 

 gland, easily distinguished if held between the eye 

 and the light. 



Bark, fibrous. The " spray " (formed from the flat branch- 

 lets) is itself flat and of rather a bright green. 



Cones, about five twelfths of an inch in length, long oval 

 or reverse egg-shape, nodding, yellowish-brown as they 

 ripen, dry and opening to the base when ripe. Scales, 

 pointless, oval or egg-sJiape, smooth (i. e., not pointed 

 on the edge or near the centre.) Seeds, one to two 

 under each scale, long and narrow (like a small 

 caraway seed) ; broadly winged all around, with the 

 wing notched at one end. 



Found, along the Alleghany Mountains from the high 

 peaks of North Carolina to Northern Pennsylvania 

 and Central New York, northward into Southern 

 Canada and westward ; along rocky banks of streams 

 and in swamps ; very common at the North, where it 

 often occupies large areas of swamp land. It is very 

 widely cultivated, especially in hedges. 



A tapering evergreen tree, twenty to fifty feet high, 

 with close, dense branches, and a light and durable wood. 



