230 CUPRESSUS THURIFERA. 



economy ; its name also occurs in Holy Writ. In the Middle 

 Ages the Cypress became associated in the south of Europe with 

 cemeteries and places of worship, much in the same way as the 

 Yew in more northern countries ; and later when horticulture became 

 more generally practised, it was, and is still much used in terrace and 

 other gardens laid out and planted to enhance architectural effect. 

 In the Mediterranean region it lives to a great age, and frequently 

 attains a large size. There are in France and Italy ancient Cypresses 

 of historic interest, and others associated with illustrious names in 

 literature and art. The Cypress of Somma in Lombardy, figured by 

 London, is one of the most famous ; " besides its great age it is- 

 remarkable for having been wounded by Francis I., King of France, 

 who is said to have struck his sword into it in his despair at losing 

 the battle of Pavia ; and for having been respected by Napoleon, who, 

 when laying down the plan for the great road over the Simplon, 

 diverged from the -straight line to avoid injuring this tree."* Three 

 Cypresses of the fastigiate form in the garden of the Convent of the- 

 Chartreuse at Koine, planted by Michael Angelo (1474 1563), are 

 still standing, one in a state of decay, the other two in robust health. 

 One of the oldest and largest Cypresses in France is standing near 

 St. Remy in Provence, and is supposed to be upwards of four hundred 

 and fifty years old ; and Carriere gives the dimensions of a venerable 

 tree standing near Montpellier supposed to be eight hundred years old 

 and known to the inhabitants of the neighbourhood as " L'arbvc 

 de Montpellier. "f 



The economic value of Cupressm sempervirens is restricted to the- 

 amount of timber available for use which does not appear to be very 

 considerable. The wood is virtually indestructible by ordinary agents; 

 except fire ; this remarkable durability was known to the Greeks and 

 Romans who employed Cypress-wood in the construction of various- 

 articles of furniture, also for vine-props, posts and palisades, and 

 especially for coffins which were found to resist decay for ages after 

 being buried in the earth. 



Cupressus thurifera. 



A tree 50 60 feet high with spreading branches, the lower ones 

 reflexed at the apex.J Branchlets slender, the axial growths at first 

 pale green but changing to orange-brown in the second year; ramification 

 tetrastichous, the herbaceous growths very slender and bipinnately 

 branched, light green. Leaves in decussate pairs, oblong-lanceolate, 

 acuminate, imbricated and free at the acute tip ; on the axial growths- 

 longer, glandular on the back, concrescent to beyond the middle and 

 becoming effete in the second or third year. Stamiuate flowers 

 numerous, oblong, obtuse, with eight ten anthers. Strobiles globose or 

 sub-globose, somewhat less than an inch in diameter, composed of six 

 ligneous scales in decussate pairs each bearing two three wingless- 

 seeds. 



* Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum, IV. 2471. 



t Traite General des Coniferes, ed. II. p. 149. 



Ex Kunth, loc. cit, Hartweg reported that he saw duin-essus tlnn-ifcru near Real del 

 Monte, 120 feet high. Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London, ser. II. Vol. 

 III. p. 124. 





