342 THE BOOK OF EVERGREEN'S. 



genus under the name of Chamcecyparis ; but his course 

 has been followed by very few writers on "the Conifern?. 

 AVe have carefully examined Spach's description, and com- 

 pared it with the recognized characteristics that belong 

 to the Cupressus, and cannot see that he is justified in 

 making the change. 



^j ^ 



I. Lawsoniana, Murray. LAWSON'S CYPRESS. 

 Leaves, lanceolate, changing to ovate at maturity, short, 

 quadrifarious, closely appressed, with glaucous margins, 

 most with a gland on the back. Branches, ascending, 

 and recurved at the extremities, numerous, flexuose. Cones, 

 small, short-peduncled, many-sided, light brown color, 

 with rough, flat, woody scales, (6,) that terminate in a 

 straight point. Seeds, quite large, generally 3 to a scale. 



This very beautiful species is from Northern California, 

 growing in the Shasta and Scots' valleys, and attaining to 

 a height of 100 feet. The discoverer, Murray, mentions 

 it as being the handsomest tree seen by him during his 

 expedition. The habit of the tree is exceedingly grace- 

 ful ; the branches at first curving upwards, like those of 

 the common Spruce, and towards the ends hanging down 

 like ostrich feathers, with the leading shoot, when young, 

 drooping after the manner of the Deodar. 



The delicate beauty of this tree is such that it will in- 

 variably become a favorite wherever known. The charm- 

 ing feathery lightness of the foliage, which is of a bluish- 

 green color, combined with the general character of the 

 whole tree, forms such a striking feature as to render it the 

 admiration of every one. The tree grows rapidly, and the 

 branches are so slender and regular as to impart the ap- 

 pearance of a delicate mass of ferns or rich glaucous-green 

 plumes, curving gracefully to the ground. 



AVhen young, it closely resembles C. ATutJcaensis, but 

 can readily be distinguished from that species by its glau- 

 cous appearance, as well as by the more slender and deli- 

 cate growth. It may not prove so hardy, but it is decid- 



