242 FLOWERING PLANTS OF THE RIVIERA 



in A. excelsa (8-10 cm.), with prominent bracts. Scales dentate, shortly 

 petioled, and falling with the seeds. Heart-wood light grey. A tree with 

 horizontal branches and erect shoots. 



Mountain woods in the north of the Var and in the Maritime Alps, a few 

 descending to the neighbourhood of Menton. April-May. 



A. excelsa Pair. = Picea excelsa Lk. Spruce Fir. Leaves mucronate, 

 somewhat 4-edged, green, disposed equally all round the twigs. Cone cylindri- 

 cal (10-15 cm.) pendulous, without bracts. Scales dentate, sessile and persistent. 

 Heart- wood brown. 



A tree with horizontal branches and pendent shoots, found in the Maritime 

 Alps where it scarcely descends below 800 m. May. 



LAR1X Mill. 



Larix decidua Mill. The Larch is abundant in the Maritime Alps, but 

 rarely descends below 1200 m. 



JUNIPERUS L. JUNIPER. 



J. communis L. Common Juniper. A much-branched evergreen shrub. 

 Leaves in whorls of 3, linear, acicular, 10-15 mm. long, ending in a prickly point, 

 green above, glaucous beneath. Catkins very minute. Berries globular, 

 purplish-blue, as large as bilberries when ripe, the second year. 



Dry hill-sides and mountain woods. March-May. 



J. Oxycedrus L. A branched prickly shrub, 3-20 ft. high. Leaves linear, 

 sharp pointed, spreading, whorled in threes ; with 2 glaucous lines above. 

 Fruit globular, reddish and shining when ripe, rather large (8-10 mm.). 



Hill-sides and woods, very common in the littoral region. March-May. 



J. phcenicea L. A shrub or small tree, 3-20 ft. high, with brownish-red 

 bark. Leaves very minute, oval rhomboidal, imbricate and in the form of little 

 scales covering the stems and branches. Flowers usually monoecious. Fruit 

 red and shining when ripe, globular, large (6-10 mm.), erect, with firm fibrous 

 flesh. Seeds small and angular. 



Rocks and hill-sides throughout the littoral district. February-April. On 

 the coast near Hotel Beau Rivage, Carqueiranne, there is a large specimen with 

 a trunk about 3 ft. in circumference (see Plate III). 



CUPRESSUS L. 



Cupressus sempervirens L. Cypress is often cultivated in the Riviera 

 and the tall dark trees form a characteristic feature in the landscape, as e.g. 

 about Hyeres where it is sometimes subspontaneous. It is a native of Eastern 

 Europe and Western Asia. 



TAXUS L. 



Taxus baccata L. Yew. Damp mountain woods, uncommon. Fine 

 specimens can be seen in the Forest of Sainte-Baume and elsewhere in the Var, 

 but it is rare in the Maritime Alps. March-April. 



The curious Bphedra distachya L., belonging to Gnetaceas, does not 

 appear to grow nearer our district than the Dept. of the Bouches-du- Rhone. 



VASCULAR CRYPTOGAMS. 



The following are the ferns and fern allies which occur within the area 

 treated in this work : 



ISOETACEjE. 

 These plants (Quillworts) were formerly placed in the next family. 



Isoetes velata A. Br. Damp places near St. Raphael and Le Muy (Var). 

 May-July. 



I. adspersa A. Br. Borders of pools and land flooded in winter; very 

 rare, and possibly now extinct. Near St. Raphael and Frejus. April-June. 



