118 TORREYA CALIFORNICA. 



of the leaves of the terminal shoots. Fruit solitary, ellipsoid or 



obovoid, 1 1'5 inch long, the fleshy envelope green more or less 



striated with purple, thin and resinous, the inner woody seed-coat 

 strongly furrowed. 



Torreya californica, Torrey in New York Journ. Pharai. III. 49 (1854). 

 arlatore, D. C. Prodr. XVI. 506 (1868). Hoopes, Evergreens, 385. Gordon 

 Pinet. ed. II. 410. Hooker fil, in Gard. Chron. XXIV. (1885), p. 553 



with fig. Masters in Gard. Chron. V. s. 3 (1889), p. 800, with figs. ; and in 

 Jonrn. R. Hort. Soc. XIV. 254. Brewer and Watson, Bot. Califor. II. 

 110. Beissner, Nadelholzk. 188. Sargent, Forest Trees of N. Amer. 10th Census 

 U.S. IX. 186. 



T. rnyristica, Hooker, W. Bot. Mag. t. 4780 (1854). Van Hontte, Fl. des 

 Serres, IX. t. 925 (copied from Bot. Mag.). Carriere, Traite Coiiif. ed. II. 727. 

 Kent in Veitch's Manual, ed. I. 311. 



Tumion californicum, Greene, Pittonia, II. 195 (1891). Lemmon, West Araer. 

 Cone-bearers, 83. Sargent, Silva N. Amer. X. 57, t. 513. 



Eng. and Amer. California!! Nutmeg. Germ. Muskatnuss-Torreye. Fr. Torreya 

 de Californie. 



" The Calif ornian Nutmeg inhabits the borders of mountain streams, 

 and is nowhere common ; it is widely distributed in California from 

 Mendocino county to the Santa Cruz mountains in Santa Clara 

 county in the coast region, where, especially near its northern limit, 

 it grows to its largest size and is most abundant ; it also occurs 

 along the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada from Eldorado to 

 Tulare County at elevations of from 3,000 to 5,000 feet above sea- 

 level."* 



On its native mountains Torreya californica during its best period 

 is a handsome pyramidal tree, in old age a round-headed compact tree 

 with drooping branches and lax foliage. In its adult state it is not, 

 however, always an attractive object as we learn from the sketch of a 

 scraggy tree by Sir J. D. Hooker published in the " Gardeners' Chronicle " 

 of October 31st, 1885 ; this tree was growing in the Yosemite valley 

 and was the best specimen observed. It is not certainly known who 

 was the original discoverer of the California!! Nutmeg ; the materials 

 from which Dr. Torrey first described the tree as Torreya californica 

 in the New York "Journal of Pharmacy" in 1854 were communicated 

 by a Mr. Shelton. Shortly afterwards it was figured and described in 

 the " Botanical Magazine " by Sir William Hooker under the name of 

 Torreya myristica from specimens supplied by Mr. James Veitcli, Senr. 

 which had been gathered by William Lobb. As Torrey's name has 

 priority the latter must sink as a synonym of it. The wood is said 

 to be light and close-grained but not strong, durable in contact with 

 the soil and susceptible of a high polish ; it is not much used. 

 Although introduced into British gardens in 1851, handsome 

 specimens of Torreya californica are but rarely seen.f It has 

 occasionally produced its plum-like fruits in this country, and young 

 plants have been raised from the seeds. J 



* Sargent, Silva of North America, loc. cit. supra. 



t The best specimen known to the author is at Tortworth Court in Gloucestershire, the 

 seat of the Earl of Ducie. 



At Orton Hall, near 'Peterborough, the seat of the Marquis of Huntly, by Mr. Harding, 

 the Gardener. The tree which produced the seeds is monoecious. 



