LXXVII. CONI'FER.E CE N DRUS. 



1057 



1973. L. americana. 



80 or 100 feet high, and only 2 or 3 feet in diameter. Its numerous branches, 

 except near the summit, are horizontal or declining. The hark is smooth and 

 shining on the trunk and larger branches, but rugged on the smaller branches. 

 The leaves are flexible, and shorter than those of the European species. The 

 cones are small and erect ; green in spring, and generally brown when ripe, 

 but sometimes they are found of a violet colour. The wood, Michaux says, is 

 equal to that of the European larch, being exceedingly strong, and singularly 

 durable. In Britain, it can only be considered as a curious or ornamental 

 tree. Seeds are sometimes ripened in this country, and are also sometimes 

 imported ; in consequence of which, both varieties are not uncommon in the 

 nurseries. 



GENUS V. 



CEDRUS Barrel. THE CEDAR. Lin. Syst. Monce'cia Monadelphia. 



Identification. Barrelier, Plants per Galliam, &c., observatae, &c., Ic., 499. 



Synonymes. Plnus Lin. in part ; J'bies Pair, in part ; Lirix Tourn. in part ; Cddre, Fr. ; Ceder, 



Ger. ; Cedro, Ital. 

 Derivation. Some suppose the word Cedrus to be derived from Cedron, a brook in Judea, on the 



hanks of which the cedar of Lebanon was once plentiful : others from kaio, I burn ; from the wood 



of some of the kinds of cedar being burned as incense : and others, from the Arabic kedroum, or 



kedre, power 



Gen. Char. The same as in arix ; but with the carpels separating from the 

 axis, and the leaves evergreen. Cones erect, large, solitary. Anthers 

 crowned by an elliptical scabrous crest. Carpels coriaceous, compressed, 

 deciduous. 



Leaves simple, in alternate fascicles, exstipulate, evergreen ; linear. 

 Flowers yellowish, powdery. Trees majestic in form, and evergreen ; na- 

 tives of Asia and Africa, with large spreading branches. Extremely orna- 

 mental, and one species producing excellent timber. 



t }. C. LIBA'NI Barr. The Cedar of Lebanon. 



Identification. Barrel. Ic., 499. ; Edw. Ornith., t. 188. 



Synonymes. Plnus Cedrus Lin. Sp. PI. 1420. ; P. foliis fasciculatis, &c. Du Roi Harbk. ed. Pott. 

 2. p. 120. ; Larix CSdrus Mill. Diet. No. 3. ; Z,arix orientalis Tourn. Ins. p. 586. ; Cddrus migna 

 Dod. Pempt. 867. ; C. conifera Bauh. Pin. p. 490. ; C. phcenicea Renealm. Sp. p. 47. ; CSdrus 

 Bell. It. p. 162. ; ^bies Cfedrus Pair. Diet. Encvc. 6. p. 510. 



Engravings. Du Ham. Arb., 1. t. 132. ; Lamb. Pin., ed. 2., t. 51. ; the plates of this tree in Arb. 



Brit., 1st edit., vol. viii. ; and our fig. 1974. 



3 Y 



