THE PIXE SUB-FAMILY. 239 



We noticed young; plants of this new candidate for 

 popular favor in the extensive collection at Wodenethe, 

 on the Hudson, a year or two since, and our American cul- 

 tivators will no doubt soon be informed of its success. 

 Many writers on Japanese plants are" quite sanguine in re- 

 gard to the hardiness of this plant in our country. 



6. SEQUOIA, Encllicher. 



Flowers, monoecious, terminal, solitary. Sterile aments 

 globular, on short, slender peduncles. Cones, oval or 

 globular, with wedge-shaped, persistent scales. Seeds 

 winged, and from 3 to 5 under each carpellary scale. 



This magnificent genus comprises two very distinct spe- 

 cies, both of which are natives of California, one of them 

 being occasionally found more to the northward. Since the 

 discovery of the species known as the " Great Tree of 

 California," it has been attempted to give the genus other 

 and inappropriate names ; the name of Sequoia had been 

 previously established by Endlicher. Only a few, in the 

 face of all botanical rules, still persist in their absurd no- 

 menclature. 



The derivation of the name Sequoia is uncertain, but a 

 recent writer in the " Gardener's Monthly " argues very 

 forcibly that its origin might have been from the celebrated 

 Cherokee Chief " See-qua-yah" whose life has been spent 

 in endeavoring to enlighten his race by inventing an origi- 

 nal alphabet, and by the introduction of mechanical con- 

 trivances and useful implements for their benefit. 



1. S. gigantea, lorrey. GREAT TREE OF CALI- 

 FORNIA. Syn. Wellingtonia gigantea, Lindley, Gordon, 

 etc. ; Washingtonia gigantea, Kellogg. Leaves on the 

 young shoots, spreading, needle-shaped, sharp-pointed, 



