224 CUPEESSUS PISIFERA. 



Cupressus pisifera. 



A smaller and more slender tree than Cupressus dbtusa with which 

 it is everywhere associated in Japan, and generally with a more open 

 crown and the trunk covered with darker bark which (in England) 

 peels off in longitudinal flakes exposing a cinnamon-brown inner cortex. 

 Primary branches slender, spreading or more or less depressed and 

 sparingly ramified except at the distal end ; secondary branches and 

 branchlets ramified as in C. oltusa. Leaves persisting green (ex Siebold) 

 five years, in England becoming effete in the third, rarely in the 



Fig. 67. Cupressus pisifera. 

 (From the Gardeners' Chronicle.} 



fourth year, ovate-oblong, acute, elongated on the axial growths, 

 imbricated or concrescent, free at the apex, dark green, but during the 

 growing season with a decided yellow-brown tint where fully exposed 

 to the sun, marked with white marginal lines on the under side of 

 the branchlets. Staminate flowers cylindiic, obtuse with eight ten 

 stamens in decussate pairs. Strobiles sub-globose, not larger than an 

 ordinary garden pea,* composed of ten twelve scales obscurely five or 

 * Whence the specific name pisifera (pea-bearing). 



