Juniperus.] LXXVI. CONIFERS. 539 



At Leh it is largely used as fuel (the driftwood that comes down the Zanskar 

 river) ; it burns quickly with a peculiar smell. Charcoal is made of it in places. 

 In Kunawar it is burnt for incense, and is exported for that purpose. The fruit 

 is very turpentiny and not eatable ; under the name of Ahuber, it is medicinal 

 in Sindh, and is said to be used as incense. 



The species closely allied to this are : 1. J. cJdnensis, Linn., China and 

 Japan, very similar to J. excelsa. 2. J. foetidissima, Willd. ; DC. Prodr. xvi. ii. 

 485 (united with J. excelsa by Grisebach Veg. der Erde, i. 572). Forms forests 

 with other conifers on the mountains of Greece, Macedonia, Asia Minor, Ar- 

 menia, Syria, and is also found on the Caucasus ; 1-2 seeds, according to Parla- 

 tore. 3. J. procera, Hochstetter, on the mountains of Abyssinia and Arabia 

 Felix ; 2-3 seeds. 4. J. thurifera, Linn. ; Portugal, Spain, and Algeria, above 

 3000 ft. elevation ; 2-3 seeds. All these are trees, sometimes attaining a con- 

 siderable size ; and in addition to them Grisebach distinguishes 5. J. cegcea, 

 from the Greek Archipelago, with sessile fruit. 6. J. Sabina, Linn., is gene- 

 rally a shrub, rarely a small tree ; seeds generally 1-2, rarely 3-4, Parlatore ; 

 fruit smaller than that of the preceding species/ except J. procera, which also 

 has small berries. The distinguishing characters between these species are some- 

 what uncertain. 



Juniperus virginiana, Linn., the American Pencil Cedar, near the coast of 

 the Atlantic from Maine to Florida, with compact scented red heartwood, and 

 J. bermudiana, Linn., of the Bermudas, the West Indies, and Florida, mainly 

 yield the wood of which pencils are made. 



Juniperus drupacea, Labill. ; DC. Prodr. 476 Syn. Arceuthos drupacea, An- 

 toine & Kotschy is a dioicous shrub or small tree, with large subglobose fleshy 

 and eatable fruit 1 in. diam., consisting of 9 scales, the tops of which are pro- 

 minent in 3 whorls, 6 near the apex and 3 at the base of the fruit. Leaves in 

 whorls of three, lanceolate, rigid, pungent, f in. long, 1-1| lines broad. Moun- 

 tains of Asia Minor, on Lebanon and Antilebanon, rare on the higher mountains 

 of Greece. Attempts might be made to cultivate this useful tree in the drier 

 parts of the Panjab Himalaya. Hardy in England. 



7. TAXUS, Tournef. 



Slow-growing and long-lived evergreen trees or shrubs, with, tough red 

 heartwood. Leaves linear, distichous. Flowers sessile in the axils of 

 leaves, usually dioicous. Male catkins subglobose, stipitate, supported 

 at the base by empty bracts, the axis bearing at its end numerous peltate 

 scales, each on its lower edge with 3-6 anther-cells, dehiscing longitudin- 

 ally. Female flowers resembling leaf-buds, consisting of a few imbricate 

 scales, enclosing an erect ovule, surrounded at the base by a disc which 

 is membranous in flower, but enlarges into a red fleshy cup, surrounding 

 the seed. Testa bony, embryo with 6-7 cotyledons. 



1. T. baccata, Linn. ; DC. Prodr. xvi. ii. 500 ; Hook. Stud. Fl. 349 

 Keichenb. Ic. Fl. Germ. t. 538. Syn. T. nucifera, Wall. Tent. Fl. Nep. 

 t. 44 ; T. Wallichiana, Zucc. Yew. Elbe, Germ. ; If, Fr. ; Tasso, It. 

 Vern. Sarap, badar, Afg. ; Birmi, barma, tung, thunu, sungal, piistul, 

 chogu, Kashmir, Chamba ; Rakhal, Bias ; Barmi, Shali ; Tliuna, Hattu ; 

 Yamdal, Kunawar ; Thuner, geli, gallu, lust, N.W.P. ; Nhare, Tibet ; 

 Tingschi, Sikkim. 



A large tree with dense, dark-green foliage. Leaves linear, 1 line 

 broad and 1J in. long, apex sharp, base narrowed into a short petiole, 



