SCIADOPITYS SECURINEGA 507 



at the apex of the shoot. In the axils of this terminal group of true 

 leaves are borne, what, for convenience sake, we usually term leaves, but 

 which, nevertheless, are really "cladodes" or modified, leaflike branchlets. 

 They are produced at the end of "the year's shoot in whorls, and are 

 2 to 4^ ins. long, ^ in. wide; slightly narrowed at top and bottom, 

 minutely notched at the tip ; dark glossy green on both sides, except that 

 beneath there is a yellow groove traversing the whole length. These 

 leaflike organs sometimes show their true nature by branching (see Revue 

 Horticole, 1884, p. 16). Male flowers in a terminal raceme i in. long, 

 carrying about ten flowers, each f in. long, egg-shaped. Cones 2 to 3 ins. 

 long, i to 2 ins. wide, borne on a short stout stalk; scales with broad 

 reflexed margins. 



Native of Japan ; introduced by John Gould Veitch in 1861. In 1853, 

 however, a single plant had been sent from Java by Lobb, that had been 

 cultivated in the Buitenzorg Garden. The popular name refers to the 

 arrangement of the so-called leaves, which resembles the ribs of an 

 umbrella. This remarkable and beautiful tree "stands alone amongst 

 Coniferae with no obvious affinities or immediate allies, and must be 

 conjectured to have come down to us from a remote geological past which 

 has obliterated all trace of its immediate ancestors " (Thiselton-Dyer). In 

 gardens it makes a distinct and striking shrub or small tree of pyramidal 

 form. It should have an isolated position, and thrives in a warm, loamy 

 soil which contains no calcareous substances and is well enriched with 

 decayed leaves. It is very hardy, but slow growing. 



Var. PENDULA. Sargent observes (Forest Flora of Jap an , p. 78) that 

 there is a remarkable specimen with pendulous branches in the Shiba 

 Park, Tokyo. The only plant I have seen with a similar habit in 

 cultivation is in Mr L. Rothschild's garden at Gunnersbury Park. 



SECURINEGA RAMIFLORA, Mueller. EUPHORBIACE^;. 



(Geblera suffruticosa, Fischer?) 



A deciduous shrub, 3 to 5 ft. high, with erect stems and long, graceful, 

 slender, horizontal branches, all the parts devoid of down. Leaves 

 alternate, oval, or slightly obovate ; f to 2 ins. long, J to i in. wide ; 

 mostly blunt or rounded at the apex, margin minutely undulated; dull 

 green above, pale, rather glaucous beneath; stalk \ in. long. Plants 

 unisexual ; flowers greenish yellow, very small (^ in. across), produced 

 during August and September in the leaf-axils of the current year's growth. 

 The male flowers are densely packed a dozen or more together, opening 

 successively ; each flower on a stalk T ^ in. long ; sepals and stamens five. 

 The longer-stalked female flowers are borne singly in the leaf-axils. The 

 seed-vessel, borne on a stalk \ to J in. long, is about the size of a pepper- 

 corn, three-celled, the calyx adherent at the base. 



Native of N.E. Asia, including China, Manchuria, and Siberia; 

 introduced from the last named in 1783. It is allied to Buxus and 

 Andrachne ; it flowers very freely, but has little to recommend it except 

 its graceful habit. 



