(Yl'KKSSfS MACROCARPA MONTEREY CYPRESS. 53 



entire or denticulate ; leaves on vigorous young shoots commonly awl-shaped or 

 linear-lanceolate and spreading; branchlets not forming flat sprays. Flowers 

 appear in early spring, monoecious, in small catkins terminating the leafy branch- 

 lets ; the staminate aments oblong or cylindrical, consisting of a few pairs of 

 decussately opposite, yellowish ovate or orbicular subpeltate scales attached to 

 the under sides of each of which are two to six subglobose pendulous anther- 

 cells opening by a longitudinal slit ; pollen-grains simple. The pistillate flowers 

 terminate short branchlets, subglobose, scales thick, ovate acute and bearing 

 attached to their bases on the inner surface generally numerous, erect, orthotro- 

 pous bottle-shaped ovules. Fruit a subglobose, short-stalked, rugose woody cone, 

 generally maturing the second year, scales closely valvate peltate, polygonal in 

 outline at apex, flattened and bearing more or less prominent central bosses, at 

 maturity opening along their margins and persisting after liberating their numer- 

 ous irregularly compressed acutely angled thick-coated seeds, which are borne in 

 several rows on the base of the scale ; embryo erect in fleshy albumen, cotyledons 

 usually two. 



Genus consists of resinous trees with generally fragrant wood of considerable 

 economic value, especially in Japan. About a half dozen species are found in the 

 United States along the Pacific slope. 



(Cupressus is the classical Latin name of the Cypress tree. ) 



195. CUPRESSUS MACROCARPA, GORD. 



MONTEREY CYPRESS. 



Ger. , Cypresse von Monterey Fr. , Oypres de Monterey ; Sp. , Cipres 



<!<> Monterey. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: Leaves broad ovate, about J- in. long, dark green, 

 acute, closely appressed or slightly spreading at apex, thick and obscurely gland- 

 ular-pitted on the back and often with a longitudinal furrow on each side. Those 

 on young plants spreading and acicular ; branchlets short and covered with red- 

 dish-brown bark with papery scales. Flowers (February and March) yellow ; the 

 staminate small, about ^ in. long, oblong, quadrangular, with 6-8 decussately 

 opposite stamens with broad peltate connectives slightly erose on margins and 

 each bearing 4-5 orange-colored pollen sacs : pistillate flowers oblong, terminal, 

 about ' in. long and with spreading acute scales. Fruit subglobose or oblong 

 clustered cones, maturing the second season, from 1~H m - l n '. puberulous, with 

 short peduncle about | in. in length, with four or six pairs of peltate scales 

 having elevated or sab-conical central bosses ; the upper and lower pairs of scales 

 smaller than the others and sterile, and beneath each of the other scales are pro- 

 duced about twenty light brown angular seeds about ^ in. long. 



(The specific name is the Greek for large fruit.} 



This exceedingly interesting tree is found only in or near its famous 

 home on the bluffs of Cypress Point, which projects out into the Pacific 

 near Monterey, California. They are there trees of very striking 

 aspect, with sturdy contorted trunks, sometimes 5 or 6 ft. (1.80 m.) in 

 diameter, and huge gnarled branches supporting a dense flat top, 

 almost like a platform composed of the flat sprays of the topmost 

 branches, 50 or 60 ft. (18 m.) above ground, and with little or no 

 other foliage. This arrangement offers the least resistance to the 

 ever-prevailing winds from the ocean and the greatest amount of sur- 

 face to the sun. Sheltered by these giant vanguards the trees grad- 



