thuiopsis. 399 



leaf surrounding the branchlet, and three-rowed on both sides, 

 with the two outer ones narrowest and slightly curved inwards 

 at the points, while the centre one is very broad, and quite 

 rounded. Branches vertical, open, and pendulous at the ends, 

 lesser or lateral ones flattened, with the branchlets placed in 

 two rows ; branchlets two-edged, very numerous, alternate, 

 flattened, and irregularly divided. Cones small, ovate, with- 

 out any foot-stalks, squarrose and consisting of eight or ten 

 woody scales, reflexed at the apex, and covering five two- 

 winged seeds. 



A tall evergreen tree, from forty to fifty feet high and from 

 one to two feet in diameter, with a pyramidal-shaped head, and 

 vertical branches drooping towards the points, and according 

 to Professor Thunberg, " a lofty, vast, and beautiful tree, of all 

 evergreens the fairest." 



It is found on the moist slopes of valleys in the Island of 

 Niphon, in Japan, and at Fakonia, where, after passing over 

 the mountains of that name on the road to Yeddo, it is planted 

 by the road sides between Miaco and Yeddo. It is also culti- 

 vated in pots by the Japanese. 



Its Japanese names are " Asufi," and " Asu-naro " (white or 

 silvery beneath), and that of the Chinese, " Gan-si-hak " (white 

 on the under side tree of life). The term " Hak " (tree of 

 life) is applied to all the Arbor- Vitses in China, on account 

 of their being green at all seasons of the year. 



The tree is quite hardy, and prefers a shady situation, and 

 one that is rather moist. There are the following varieties : 



Thuiopsis dolabrata nana, Siebold, the Dwarf Hatchet- 

 leaved Arbor- Vitse. 



Syn. Thuiopsis laetevirens, Lindley. 

 dolabrata leetevirens, Hort. 



This variety forms a very neat, erect, dense bush, seldom ex- 

 ceeding four or five feet in height, with very small leaves and 

 branchlets, of a light shining green colour, like an erect Lyco- 

 pod. 



