416 WELLINGTONIA. 



Palace, to show the great size this tree attains in its native state, 

 gives the following as the dimensions of one of the largest of 

 eighty trees, growing in a grove at San Antonio, viz. : height, 

 363 feet ; circumference near the ground, 93 feet ; circumference 

 100 feet from the ground, 45 feet; bark, 18 inches thick; age 

 according to annual rings, from 3000 to 4000 years. 



It is found growing on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada, near 

 the sources of the Stanislaus" and San Antonio, in Upper Cali- 

 fornia, in sheltered valleys, at an elevation of about 5000 feet. 

 It is quite hardy and grows rapidly. 



Wellingtons gigantea variegata, Hort, the Variegated 



Wellingtonia. 



A very striking variety, with about one-fourth of the branch- 

 lets of a delicate straw colour. 



Gen. WIDDRINGTONIA. Endlicher. The African 



Cypress. 



Flowers dioecious, or male and female on separate plants, 

 and terminal ; the male catkins oblong or cylindrical ; the 

 female ones globular, and without foot-stalks. 



Cones globular, either solitary or two or three together, and 

 composed of four valves or scales. 



Scales, or valves, four in number, oval, mucronate, somewhat 

 in whorls round a depressed axis, with the edges converging. 



Seeds frequently few from abortion, but with from five to 

 ten ovules at the base of each scale, in one or two series, and 

 covered with a somewhat crustaceous tegument, spreading on 

 each side into a membranaceous wing. 



Seed-leaves in twos. 



Leaves thickly set, alternately or in whorls, linear or needle- 

 shaped, spreading, but sometimes very small, scale-formed, and 

 approaching imbricate, with a gland on the back. 



Named in compliment to Captain Widdrington (formerly 

 Cook), who travelled in Spain. 



