442 CUPRESSUS 



providing in their entirety a singular variety of form and colour. 

 In the adult state the leaves are always minute, mostly scale-like, and 

 flattened to the branchlet, being superposed in four rows. The ultimate 

 divisions of the branchlet are square or compressed, and either arranged 

 in opposite ranks on the larger branchlets, or irregularly and spirally. In 

 the former^ case the spray is flattened. Flowers unisexual, both sexes on 

 the same tree, but on different catkins. Males composed of numerous, 

 short-stalked stamens ; fruit a globose or elliptical cone composed of 

 mushroom-shaped (peltate) scales with a "boss" or enlargement in the 

 centre. There are two distinct sections of the genus, sometimes regarded 

 as distinct genera : 



i. TRUE CYPRESSES. 



Cones over ^ in. in diameter, except in lusitanica, Benthami, and funebris ; ripening in 

 the second year ; each scale bearing numerous seeds. (See arizonica, Benthami, 

 cashmeriana, funebris, Goveniana, lusitanica, Macnabiana, macrocarpa, semper- 

 virens, and torulosa.) 



2. CHAM^CYPARIS. FLAT-LEAVED CYPRESSES. 



Cones small, under ^ in. in diameter, ripening (except in nootkatensis) the first year ; 

 each scale bearing two (rarely more) seeds. Branchlets always flattened in the 

 normal state. (See Lawsoniana, nootkatensis, obtusa, pisifera, and thyoides.) 



The leaves of seedling and juvenile plants of cypress (also of Thuya) 

 are very different from those of adult trees, being needle-like or awl-like, 

 up to J in. long, and spreading. Individuals of some species have shown 

 the remarkable characteristic of retaining this juvenile type of foliage 

 permanently, or, at any rate, for an indefinite period, and thereby have 

 originated some very pretty garden trees. In the early years of their 

 cultivation in Europe these juvenile forms were thought to belong to a 

 distinct genus, and were called RETINISPORA. Their true character has 

 since been revealed through the raising of seedlings, and by the occasional 

 appearance of adult or typical cypress foliage on the originally introduced 

 " Retinisporas." (See Cupressus pisifera, also Thuya occidentalis and 

 T. orientalis.) 



A few years ago Messrs Sander put in cultivation a curious little 

 shrub they called JUNIPERUS SANDERI, a dwarf, sturdy bush of rounded, 

 dense habit, with stiff, spreading, awl-shaped leaves, -J to -J in. long, of a 

 very glaucous blue tint, and borne in decussate pairs. The origin of this 

 shrub is not known, but it does not appear to be a juniper. Dr Masters 

 and Mr Beissner were both of opinion that it was a juvenile state of 

 Cupressus obtusa. 



The true cypresses are nearly all tender in the average climate of 

 Great Britain, the hardiest being arizonicaj Macnabiana, and especially 

 macrocarpa; at Kew even these are tender when young. They thrive 

 in either loamy or peaty soil, well-drained; and should be given a 

 sheltered place, as they are subject to injury by wind, especially where 

 they grow fast. Some species of this group, notably macrocarpa and 

 sempervirens, show two curiously diverse types of habit, viz., the 

 horizontal-branched and the fastigiate, but most of them are, when young, 

 of columnar or pyramidal form. 



The Chamsecyparis group, on the other hand, is very hardy, and 



