85 



XXVIII. 



ABIETINE^. 



LARICE^. 



THE CEDAR. 



CEDRUS. 



The three cedars are so much alike in the 

 construftion of their leaves and organs that in all 

 probability they are only varieties from one parent, 

 and this is the view that was evidently taken by 

 Sir Joseph Hooker. In growth they are easily 

 distinguished. The cedar of Lebanon throws out 

 rigid horizontal branches, slightly depressed at the 

 ends, and the foliage is of a dark bluish green ; 

 the branches of the Deodar are drooping, ,the 

 leading stem is deflected, and it is of a lighter 

 green ; and in the Atlas cedar, the branches 

 ascend, while the general tint is of a greyish 

 green. 



The cedar produces its leaves in tufts and 

 retains them for two years. The cones appear in 

 August, and are erect on the upper sides of the 

 leaves. Some botanists say that the cedar should 

 be in the order of the silver fir. The leaves 



