446 



CUPRESSUS 



growth, the branching is spiral (not two-ranked), and the terminal branchlets 

 hang vertically, often I to 2 ft. long, scarcely branched, cord-like, very dark 

 green. Extremely effective as an isolated specimen. 



Var. GRACILIS. A free, elegant form, the spray pendulous, points of leaves 

 usually spreading. GRACILIS PENDULA is more weeping. 



Var. INTERTEXTA. Another very striking and elegant form ; the branches 

 decurved rather than turned up at the ends ; branchlets weeping, the ultimate 

 divisions stout and far apart. It is the stoutness and remoteness of the final 

 ramifications that give this variety its unique appearance. Of glaucous hue 

 and vigorous growth. According to a letter at Kew from Lawsons', of 

 Edinburgh, it was raised in their nursery about 1869. 



Var. KRAMERI. A curiosity. Habit thin and open ; branches contorted ; 

 terminals often unbranched and cord-like. 



Var. LYCOPODIOIDES. Branching spiral and irregular ; branchlets twisted ; 

 a curiosity merely. 



Var. PENDULA. There appear to be two forms in cultivation under this 

 name ; one with horizontal branches, but with the spray pendulous from under- 

 neath the branch (as in C. nootkatensis pendula) ; in the other, sometimes 

 distinguished as PENDULA VERA, the branches as well as the branchlets are 

 weeping. 



C. LUSITANICA, Miller. CEDAR OF GOA. 



A tree up to 100 ft. high (rarely more than half as high in the British Isles), 

 with wide-spreading branches and pendulous spray ; the branching not two- 

 ranked, but spiral and irregular. Branchlets four-sided. Leaves in four rows, 

 scale-like, ^ to ^ in. long, with the terminal part elongated, triangular, finely 

 and sharply pointed, free at the tip. Cones very glaucous, and about the size 

 of peas the first year ; scales six or eight, with a conical, hooked crest in 

 the centre ; the cones become ^ in. in diameter, and shed their seeds the 

 second year, and lose much of their glaucous hue. Seeds brown. 



The native country of this cypress was long a matter of speculation. It 

 appears to have been cultivated in England since the latter half of the seven- 

 teenth century, having been first introduced from Portugal ; hence the name 

 "lusitanica." But it was never found wild either in Portugal or the Portuguese 

 settlement of Goa in Western India, in spite of its common name. It is now 

 certain that it is a native of Mexico, and was, no doubt, introduced to the 

 Peninsula by mariners or members of the religious fraternities, probably in the 

 sixteenth century. The most celebrated plantation of this tree is at Busaco, 

 in Portugal. 



For the ordinary climate of the British Isles this tree is not suited, needing 

 more heat than it affords. Still, in the milder parts, such as Cornwall, S. 

 Ireland, etc., some excellent examples may be found. Near London, young 

 trees are killed in moderately severe winters, and even older ones, although 

 they survive, are not happy. Except from C. Benthami and C. arizonica, it 

 is well distinguished from all the true cypresses by its small, vividly glaucous 

 cones. 



C. BENTHAMI, Endlicher (C. lusitanica var. Benthami, Carrierej C. 

 Knightiana), is closely allied to C. lusitanica, perhaps only a form of it. Its 

 cones are identical in colour, shape, and size, but the branching and habit are 

 remarkably distinct. The tree is of pyramidal form, the branchlets flattened 

 and arranged in two opposite ranks, both on the same plane ; leaves ovate, 

 triangular-pointed, with a roundish hollow in the centre. Native of Mexico ; 

 introduced about 1838. Of about the same hardiness as C. lusitanica. The 

 name " Knightiana " is sometimes given to a slightly more glaucous form. 



