CHAPTER XV: THE TORREYAS 



Family Taxace/^ 



Genus TUMION, Raf. 



Ornamental evergreens, with spreading, usually whorled 

 branches and ill-smelling sap. Leaves 2-ranked, linear, with paler 

 linings. Flowers dioecious (rarely monoecious), scaly at base. 

 Fruit like a plum; seed large, solitary. Wood hard, durable, 

 strong, close grained. 



KEY TO SPECIES 



A. Leaves linear; branches spreading, pendulous. 



B. Length of leaves f to i^ inches, bark brown, tinged 

 with orange; fruit dark purple, obovate, i to ij 

 inches long. (7. iaxijolium) Florida torreya 



BB. Length of leaves J to |^ inch, bark brownish grey; 

 fruit pale green, streaked with purple, oval, i to i^ 

 inches long. {T. Calijornica) California torreya 

 AA. Leaves lanceolate, spiny pointed; branches spreading, 

 compact; bark bright red; fruit ovoid, less than i inch 

 long. (Exotic.) {T. nucifera) Japanese torreya 



The Torreyas, close relatives of the yews, are yet little known 

 outside their native ranges, though they are coming into cultiva- 

 tion in the warmer parts of the country. They are objectionable 

 only on account of the bad odour of their leaves when bruised. 

 The tree habit is symmetrically pyramidal, the whorled limbs 

 pendulous, and the foliage handsome. The trees furnish some 

 fence posts. The wood is very durable in wet soil, which is their 

 chosen habitat. 



Torreyas are propagated from seeds and by cuttings. The 

 latter grow slowly, producing plants that remain low and bushy 

 for years. The Florida species has proved hardy in sheltered 

 situations as far north as Boston, but the Californian cannot sur- 

 vive the cold of this high latitude. 



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