50 BIOTA, OR 



All the plants belonging to this genus were formerly included 

 in that of Thuja, and are large bushes or small trees, found in 

 China, Tartary, Japan, and the North of India, 



SECTION I. 



No. 1. Biota Orientalis, Don, the Chinese Arbor-Vit ae. 



Syn. Thuja Orientalis, Linnceus. 

 acuta, Mosnch. 

 Cupressus Thuja, Targ-Tozz. 

 Platycladus strictus, Spach. 



Leaves on the adult plant very small, in four rows, ovate, 

 rhomboid, acute-pointed, scale-like, imbricated, adpressed, 

 decurrent, and furrowed along the base, the outer or marginal 

 ones lapping over on both sides, the upper and lower ones flat, 

 with the points thickened, glaucous, green, and shining when 

 young; afterwards dull green when old, and glandless. 

 Branches somewhat vertical and horizontal at first, but soon 

 afterwards turn up at the ends, and finally become fastigiate, 

 with the stem; branchlets disposed in two rows, densely 

 crowded along the extremities of the branches, and placed 

 sideways. Cones, ovate-elliptic, six-valved, solitary at the 

 ends of the small branchlets, half an inch long, green when 

 young, but light brown when ripe, and composed of six scales, 

 two being central and four around the sides. Scales blunt, 

 central ones truncate, with a short stout projecting point below 

 the apex, each scale covering two naked, egg-shaped, some- 

 what angular, wingless seeds. 



A low evergreen tree, or pyramidal bush, densely clothed 

 with deep green branchlets, found abundantly in China and 

 Japan, growing in rocky situations and on the mountains, 

 where it attains a height of 18 or 20 feet. It has the follow- 

 ing varieties : 



Biota Orientalis aurea, Hort.,the dwarf golden Arbor -Vitie. 

 Syn. Biota pyramidalis pumila, Carriere. 



lit 



