200 CUPRESSUS. 



But while the above characters are common throughout the genus, 

 there occurs a difference in the period of maturation of the fruits, 

 in their size, in the texture of their scales and in the number of 

 seeds borne by each, and these differences are generally but not 

 always accompanied by a difference in the branching and consequently 

 in the form of the branchlet system of the youngest or herbaceous 

 growths, whence the species fall into two groups or sections thus 

 distinguished : 



EUCUPRESSUS. Strobiles large, attaining maturity in the second year; 



scales ligneous, each bearing numerous seeds in one two series. 



Herbaceous branch systems tetrastichous (four -ranked) but often obscured 



from external causes, sometimes distichous (two-ranked). Leaves mostly 



liomomorphic : 



Arizonic.a, Benthamii, funehrfo, Goveniana, lusitaniea, Macnabicma, 



mwrocarpa, sempervirens, thurifera, torulosa. 



CHAMJJCYPARIS. Strobiles small, attaining maturity the first year ; 

 scales coriaceous, bearing two, rarely three five seeds in one series. 

 Herbaceous branch systems distichous, tetrastichous in some of the 

 abnormal forms only. Leaves dimorphic, the lateral pairs more or less 

 conduplicate, the dorsiventral pairs flat : 



Lawsoniana, nootkatensis, obtusa, pisifera, thyoides. 



Variable as is the habit of the Cypresses and the dimensions 

 which individual trees attain, the spreading form in which the 

 branches gradually diminish in length from below upwards during 

 the vigorous life of the tree, appears to be that most natural to 

 them. Instances of pendulosity occur in Cupressus funebris and 

 C. torulosa, and fastigiate forms of C. scmpervircns and C. macrocarpa 

 are common. It is worthy of note that nearly all the species natives 

 of the warmer parts of the temperate zone assume more or less 

 the fastigiate habit in Great Britain. 



The type species Cupressus sempervirens has been known from remote 

 antiquity and has been noted by many authors down to the dawn of 

 modern Botany. By the end of the eighteenth century four other 

 species were known to science, C. lusitanica, C. thyoides, C. nootkatensis 

 and C. funelris ; all the remaining species are discoveries of the nine- 

 teenth century.* The genus now includes fifteen recognised species 

 and two or three more forms whose specific rank is undecided ; all 

 these are distributed over the northern hemisphere from Japan 

 westwards to the Pacific littoral of North America. Most of the 

 species included in Eucupressus are natives of the warmer parts of 

 the temperate zone, while all those in Chamaecyparis have a more 

 northern habitat. For the British climate their value is wholly 

 horticultural, but in their native countries where abundant and of 

 sufficient dimensions, their timber ranks among the best for certain 

 purposes that can be procured. 



* A most useful chronological list of authorities for specific names and also complete lists 

 of synonyms are appended to Dr. Masters monograph in the Journal of the Linnean 

 Society. 



