GENUS CUPRESSUS. 45 



branchlets, which oft terminate by tufts of finely divided 

 shoots. The leaves are subulate, distinct, and of a pleasing 

 shade of green ; while the cones or strobiles are about the 

 size and shape of a small pea. It is one of the most distinct 

 and desirable of ornamental conifers. 



C. obtusa lycopodioides is a well-known variety, 

 with curiously flattened branch tips, and of rather loose and 

 ungainly growth. It frequently fails to grow in a satisfactory 

 manner. 



C. obtusa nana is another dwarf-growing form, but 

 in point of beauty is hardly comparable with the latter. 



C. obtusa pygmSQSL is a useful miniature conifer for 

 planting amongst dwarf-growing plants on the rock-work or 

 in the shrubbery. Rarely is it found more than 1 5 inches in 

 height, but the spread is wide proportionately, and flattish, 

 while the foliage does not lose one bit of its rich green hue 

 the whole season through. Of all the miniature conifers, this 

 Selaginella-like variety is one of the prettiest and most in- 

 teresting. 



C- (Retinispora) pisifera, Koch. {Synonyms: 

 ChamcBcyparis pisifera, Siebold et Zuccarini ; Retinispora 

 pisifera, Siebold ; Thuya pisifer, Masters.) Mountains of 

 Japan. This is readily distinguished from the latter species 

 by its more open habit of growth, and by its more slender 

 and usually longer branches and feathery foliage. The 

 branches are somewhat irregular of arrangement, though 

 the outline of the tree is informly pyramidal, the leaves 

 scale-like, four-rowed, and of a dark bright green, with two 

 glaucous lines beneath. Fruit about the size of a pea, and 

 borne in clusters of from two to ten. 



C. pisifera piumosa is a distinct and well-known 

 variety, with numerous sub-erect branches, well furnished 

 with deep green, awl-shaped foliage. The feathery branchlets 

 and rich colour render it a very desirable garden conifer. 



C. pisifera piumosa arg^entea has silvery tinted 

 foliage, and is highly ornamental. 



C. pisifera piumosa aurea is even a more orna- 



