68 HARDY CONIFEROUS TREES. 



LIBOOEDRUS (Endlicher). 



THE INCENSE CEDARS. 



Floivers moncecious ; male catkins cylindrical or nearly so ; 

 females solitary, globular. 



Cones oblong, woody, and composed of from four to six 

 scales, of which the middle pair alone is fertile. 



Scales leathery in texture, face to face in opposite pairs, 

 and furnished with a terminal incurved point. 



Seeds unequally two-winged, singly or in twos under each 

 scale. 



Cotyledoyis two. 



Leaves flattened, decussate, in four imbricated rows. 



Large evergreen trees, with flattened branches and scale- 

 like leaves. 



Libocedrus chilensis, Endlicher. {Synonym: 

 Thuya chilensis,'Don.) Chilian Andes. 1847. Although not 

 to be relied upon as perfectly hardy generally throughout this 

 country, yet the present species is well worthy of culture in 

 suitable situations in our southern or western counties. It is 

 highly ornamental, forming in a young state a very distinct 

 and graceful plant of pyramidal outline, the habit of growth 

 being neat and pleasing, and with glaucous deep green pointed 

 leaves, which are of a silvery tone beneath. The cones are 

 oblong, and J of an inch in length. Cool, rather moist soil 

 and partial shelter are necessities to its successful cultivation. 



L. decurrens, Torrey. {Synonyms: Thuya Craigianay 

 Murray ; Thuya gigantea of gardens.) Mountains of North- 

 Western America. 1853. As seen in this country, where it 

 has long been confused with Thiya gigantea, this is of dense, 

 columnar habit, with short frondose branches, and deep green 

 foliage, which colour is retained throughout the winter. Cones 

 erect, oblong, an inch in length, and composed of usually two 

 pairs of scales. The stem is usually carrot-shaped in this 

 country, and the bark a rich brown, that gleams out here 

 and there between the tiers of thickly matted branches. 



