128 HARDY CONIFEROUS TREES. 



branches much sub-divided at their extremities, thus causing 

 a tufted or crested appearance, some of these ball-shaped 

 crested masses being 3 inches in diameter. It is very- 

 interesting and pleasing of growth. 



TORREYA (Arnott). 



THE FETID YEWS. 



Flowers dioecious ; males solitary ; females in twos or threes. 



Fniit drupaceous, one- seeded, fleshy on the outside, and 

 about the size of a nutmeg. 



5^^^ solitary in each fruit; albumen ruminate. 



Leaves two-ranked, linear, and decurrent at the base. 



Cotyledons two. 



Small evergreen trees or shrubs, with two-ranked leaves 

 and drupacious fruit like a nutmeg. Both leaves and fruit 

 emit an unpleasant odour when bruised. 



Torreya californica, Torrey. {Synonym: T. myri- 

 j-Z/V^, Hooker). California. 185 1. This is a beautiful species, 

 that flourishes well in many parts of the country, but the finest 

 specimens I have seen are growing in the mild, humid atmo- 

 sphere of several parts of Ireland. In this country it forms 

 a well-branched sturdy bush or small tree, with an inclina- 

 tion to form long and somewhat irregular lower branches, 

 which it is well to keep in check by judicious pruning, an 

 operation that it by no means resents. The foliage is of a 

 fresh and distinct shade of green, each leaf being 2\ inches 

 long, flat, sharp-pointed, and with a sunken line on each side 

 of the indistinct midrib. When bruised, the leaves emit a 

 peculiar, not pleasant odour. The fruit, which is fleshy on 

 the outside, like our common plum, and elliptic in shape, 

 averages fully \\ inches long, and contains a nutmeg-like seed 

 covered with a hard, bony shell. When seen in full fruit the 

 contrast between the long green leaves and curious plum-like 

 fruit is remarkable. The soil that would seem to suit this 



