422 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Sequoia continued. 



are better grafted. All are almost indifferent as to soil. 

 When seeds are to be had, they should be sown in a cold 

 frame, in spring, and the seedlings transplanted, as soon 

 as they are large enough to handle, to the open ground. 



FIG. 476. YOUNG BRANCH OF SEQUOIA GIGANTEA. 



S. gigantea (gigantic).* Big-tree ; Mammoth-tree. I. needle- 

 shaped, spirally alternate, spreading, light green on young plants* 

 those on adult trees scale-formed, closely inlaid, rounded at back, 

 concave above ; those on the branchlets much shorter, very close, 

 and regularly imbricated ; those on the larger branches longer, 

 looser, decurrent at base, and tapering to an acute point, cones 

 solitary on the ends of the branchlets, 2in. long, ovate, blunt. 

 Branches horizontal, much divided; branches cylindrical, fre- 

 quently pendulous, thickly leafy. 1853. See Figs. 476 and 477. 

 SYN. Wellingtons gigantea (B. M. 4777-8 ; F. d. S. 892-3). 



FIG. 477. BRANCHLET OF SEQUOIA OIGANTEA, WITH CONE. 



Sequoia continued. 

 S. g. aurea (golden). This differs from the type only in the 



golden or yellowish colour of some of the smaller 



is a pretty form when in good condition. 

 S.i 



twigs. It 



i. g. pendnla (pendulous).* Branches numerous, deflexed from 

 their base, drooping regularly one over the other, so as to pro- 

 duce an elegant, compact, conical plant. 1871. 



S. sempervirens (evergreen).* Calif ornian Evergreen Redwood. 

 fl., males globular, solitary at the tips of the branchlets, on 

 slender footstalks, thickly covered with small, scale-like leaves. 

 I. on the lateral branches and branchlets linear, blunt, two-rowed, 

 flat, alternate, straight, rarely falcate, shining, iin. to lin. long ; 

 those on the main branches and terminal points of the flower- 

 bearing branchlets very short, narrow, sharp-pointed, or scale- 

 like, imbricated or closely spiral, cones solitary, terminal, 

 globular or egg-shaped, lin. long ; scales cuneiform. Branches 

 horizontally spreading, irregularly scattered alternately along 

 the stem ; branchlets very numerous, in two rows, frequently 

 drooping. The leaves turn purplish-brown in winter. 



S. B. albo-spica (white-spiked). A form in which the tips of 

 the young shoots are of a creamy-white colour. 



glanca (glaucous). 1. linear, acute, iin. long, of 

 fine glaucous-blue tint, particularly below, either loosely imbri- 



S. s. 



cated or openly disposed round the branches. Branchlets very 

 much narrower and slenderer than in the type. 



FIG. 478. FRUITING BRANCHLET OF SEQUOIA SEMPERVIRENS 



TAXIFOLIA. 



S. B. taxifolia (Yew-leaved). This variety only differs from the 

 type in having somewhat broader leaves. See Fig. 478. 



SERANG-ITJM. A synonym of Monstera (which 



SERAFHYTA (from ser, a silkworm, and phyton, a 

 plant; in allusion to some fancied resemblance between 

 the flower and the silkworm). OED. Orchidew. A mono- 

 typic genus. The species is a stove, epiphytal Orchid, 

 formerly included under Epidendrum (which see for 

 culture). 



S. diftusa (diffuse). /. greenish-white, rather small, loosely 

 racemose, pedicellate, forming a terminal panicle ; sepals and 

 petals equal, spreading ; lip undivided, broadly cordate, the 

 claw as long as the column. April. I. coriaceous, oblong or 

 rather broad ; sheaths closely appressed. Stem leafy, sheathing, 

 and scarcely fleshy at base. h. 1ft to 2ft. West Indies, 1816. 

 SYN. Epidendrum diffiisum (B. M. 3565 ; L. B. C. 846). 



SERAFIAS (the old Greek name given by Dios- 

 corides to one of the Orchids, and derived from 

 the Egyptian deity Serapis). SYN. Helleborine. OED. 

 Orchidece. A small genus (four or five species) of hardy, 

 terrestrial Orchids, natives of the Mediterranean region, 



