CONIFERS. (PINE FAMILY.) 493 



1. L. Americana, Michx. (AMERICAN or BLACK LARCH. TAMARACK. 



HACKMATACK.) Leaves short; cones ovoid (6-9" long), of few rounded 

 scales, arranged in f order. Chiefly in cold swamps, N. Penn. to N. Ind. and 

 central Minn., and far northward. A slender tree, 30- 100 high, with hard 

 and very resinous wood. 



6. TAXODIUM, Richard. BALD CYPRESS. 



Flowers monoecious, the two kinds on the same branches. Sterile flower* 

 spiked-panicled, of few stamens ; filaments scale-like, shield-shaped, bearing 

 2-5 anther-cells. Fertile catkins ovoid, in small clusters, scaly, with a pair 

 of ovules at the base of each scale. Cone globular, closed, composed of very 

 thick and angular somewhat shield-shaped scales, bearing 2 angled seeds at 

 the base. Cotyledons 6-9. Trees, with narrow linear 2-ranked light and 

 deciduous leaves ; a part of the slender leafy branchlets of the season also de- 

 ciduous in autumn. (Name compounded of rdos, the yew, and elSos, resem- 

 blance, the leaves being Yew-like.) 



1. T. distichum, Richard. (AMERICAN BALD CYPRESS.) Leaves linear 

 and spreading ; also some awl-shaped and imbricated on flowering branchlets. 

 Swamps, S. Del. to S. 111. and Mo., and southward, where it is a very large 

 and valuable tree. March, April. 



7. CHAM^CYPARIS, Spach. WHITE CEDAR. CYPRESS. 



Flowers monoecious on different branches, in terminal small catkins. Sterile 

 flowers composed of shield-shaped scale-like filaments bearing 2-4 anther-cells 

 under the lower margin. Fertile catkins globular, of shield-shaped scales de- 

 cussate in pairs, bearing few (1-4) erect bottle-shaped ovules at base. Cone 

 globular, firmly closed, but opening at maturity ; the scales thick, pointed or 

 bossed in the middle ; the few angled or somewhat winged seeds attached to 

 their contracted base or stalk. Cotyledons 2 or 3. Strong-scented evergreen 

 trees, with very small and scale-like or some awl-shaped closely appressed- 

 imbricated leaves, distichous branchlets, and exceedingly durable wood. (From 

 Xjuat, on the ground, and Kv-rrdpiaro-os, cypress.) 



1. C. sphseroidea, Spach. (WHITE CEDAR.) Leaves minute, pale, 

 ovate or triangular-awl-shaped, often with a small gland on the back, closely 

 imbricated in 4 rows ; anther-cells 2 under each scale ; cones small (3 - 5" in 

 diameter) of about 3 pairs of scales: seeds slightly winged. (Cupressus thy- 

 oides, L.) Swamps, S. Maine to Fla. and Miss. A tree 30-90 high, the 

 wood and fibrous shreddy bark, as well as foliage, much as in Arbor Vitse. 



8. THUYA, Tourn. ARBOR 



Flowers mostly monoecious on different branches, in very small terminal 

 ovoid catkins. Stamens with a scale-like filament or connective, bearing 4 

 anther-cells. Fertile catkins of few imbricated scales, fixed by the base, each 

 bearing 2 erect ovules, dry and spreading at maturity. Cotyledons 2. Small 

 evergreen trees, with very flat 2-ranked spray, and closely imbricated, small, 

 appressed, persistent leaves ; these of two sorts, on different or successive 

 branchlets ; one awl-shaped ; the other scale-like, blunt, short, and adnate to the 

 branch, (via or va, the ancient name of some resiii-bearing evergreenj 



