THE JOINTED ARBOR- VIT^E. 57 



SECTION II. Doubtful Kinds. 



No. 3. Biota Meldensis, Lawson, the French hybrid Arbor- 



Vitse. 

 Syn. Thuja hybrida, Hort. 

 Meldensis, French Gardens. 



Leaves needle-shaped, decurrent, sharp-pointed, and in oppo- 

 site distant pairs, somewhat spirally placed along the branches, 

 glaucous on both sides when young, but of a light shining green 

 when old, quite stiff, and extended outwards. Stem and 

 branches ascending, lateral ones loose, spreading, and irregularly 

 placed along the main branches. Branchlets very slender, 

 rather drooping, and distantly clothed with sharp-pointed 

 leaves. Cones said to be like those of the common Arbor- 

 Vitas. 



This plant is said to be a hybrid between the Chinese Arbor- 

 VitaB and the common Red Cedar, and to have been raised at 

 Meaux in France. It, however, has very much the appearance, 

 when young, of an attenuated variety of the Virginian or Red 

 Cedar, and is a very doubtful hybrid, having not the least ap- 

 pearance of the Arbor- Vitse in it. 



It is quite hardy. 



Gen. CALLITRIS. Ventenat. 



Floivers, monoecious, or male and female on the same plant 

 but separate and terminal, the male catkins globular, female 

 ones solitary. 



Cones, globular or somewhat four-sided, and composed of 

 four-valved woody scales, the alternate pair much the smallest. 



Valves or Scales, in opposite pairs, regularly truncated on 

 the top, and four in number. 



Seeds, one or two at the base of each scale or valve, the 

 larger pair of scales having two seeds each, the smaller pair 



