222 VARIETIES OF CUPRESSUS OBTUSA. 



var. Keteleerii. 



As seen in British gardens of denser habit and more regular outline, 

 than the typical form ; the branchlets and foliage of a deeper green 

 with many of the terminal growths light yellow. 



var. lycopodioides. 



A low tree of conical, but sometimes of irregular outline, with 

 thicker brandies and branchlets, the latter numerous and irregularly 

 arranged on all sides of the axial growth, more closely set at the 

 extremities where they are frequently more or less fasciated ; leaves 

 crowded, thickened, closely adpressed and of a deep green colour. 



C. obtusa lycopodioides, supra. Retinispora lycopodioides, Gordon, Pinet. ed. II. 

 364. Chanifecyparis obtusa lycopodioides, Carriere, Traite Conif. ed. II. 132. 



var. Mariesii. 



Differs from the typical form in having all the terminal growths of 

 the current year light yellow or cream- white. 



var. pendula. 



A pendulous variety -with long stoutish spreading branches and 

 slender, elongated pensile branchlets which originated from Japanese 

 seed sown in the garden of Prince Lobkowitz at Eisenberg in Bohemia.* 



C. obtusa pendula, supra, Chamsecyparis obtusa pendula, Beissner, Nadelholzk. 96. 



var. pygmsea (syn. nana). 



A singular little bush rarely exceeding a foot high ; it spreads horizon- 

 tally on all sides forming a dense tuft of green sprays as ornamental 

 as it is curious. 



Cupressus obtusa is one of the few instances occurring in the 

 Conif er< f e whose native country is unquestioned but whose existence 

 in the wild state is either altogetlrer unknown or involved in much 

 uncertainty. It is undoubtedly endemic in Japan, but the presence 

 of a dense population with its constantly recurring need of timber 

 for constructive purposes, for which that of C. obtusa is one of the 

 very best the country produces, has long since brought about the 

 destruction of every accessible wild tree. Two potent causes have, 

 however, contributed to preserve the species from extinction : The 

 tree is held sacred by the followers of the Shinto faith whose 

 temples are built exclusively of its timber, but at the same time it 

 is always planted in numbers around them and these trees are 

 carefully guarded from injury : its timber is the best in the country 

 for the interior of the more expensively furnished houses, being 

 strong, fragrant, fine in grain and susceptible of a high polish. \ It 



* Probably not identical with the Cupressus obtusa pendula of Maximowicz seen by him in 

 Japanese gardens around Tokio, but not known to be in cultivation in Europe. 



+ Sargent, Forest Flora of Japan, p. 73. The palaces of the Mikado at Kioto are 

 built of the wood of Cupressus obfusa. 



