PIXACEAE. 



i. Taxodium distichum (L.) L. C. Rich. Bald Cypress. (Fig. 128.) 



Cupressus disticha L. Sp. PI. 1003. 1753. 

 Taxodium distichum L- C. Rich. Ann. Mus. Paris. 16: 

 298. 1810. 



A large forest tree, attaining a maximum height 

 of about 150 and a trunk diameter of 14, the old 

 bark flaky in thin strips. Leaves narrowly linear, 

 flat, thin, "-\Q" long, Y 2 " or less wide, rather 

 light green, acute, those on some of the flowering 

 branches smaller, scale-like ; cones globose or 

 slightly longer than thick, pendent at the ends of 

 the branches, very compact, about i' in diameter; 

 surfaces of the scales irregularly rugose above the 

 inversely triangular scar ; seeds 4 // ~5 // long. 



In swamps and along rivers. Delaware (possibly in 

 southern New Jersey) to Florida, west to Texas, north 

 in the Mississippi Valley region to southern Indiana. 

 Missouri and Arkansas. Wood soft, not strong, brown, 

 very durable: weight per cubic foot 27 Ibs. The roots 

 develop upright conic " knees " sometimes 4 high and 

 i thick. March-April. 



7. THUJA L. Sp. PI. 1002. 1753. 



Evergreen trees or shrubs with frond-like foliage, the leaves small or minute, scale-like, 

 appressed, imbricated, opposite, 4-ranked, those of the ultimate branchlets mostly obtuse, 

 those of some of the larger twigs acute or subulate. Aments monoecious, both kinds ter- 

 minal, the staminate globose ; anthers opposite, 2-4-celled, the sacs globose, 2-valved. 

 Ovule-bearing aments ovoid or oblong, small, their scales opposite, each bearing 2 (rarely 

 2-5) erect ovules. Cones ovoid or oblong, mostly spreading or recurved, their scales 

 6-10, coriaceous, opposite, not peltate, dry, spreading when mature. Seeds oblong, broadly 

 or narrowly winged or wingless. [Name ancient] 



About 15 species, natives of North America and eastern Asia. Besides the following, another 

 occurs from Idaho and Oregon to Alaska. 



i. Thuja occidentalis L. \VhiteCedar. 

 Arbor Vitae. (Fig. 129.) 



Thuja occidentalis L. Sp. PI. 1002. 1753. 



A conical tree, reaching a height of 65 and a 

 trunk diameter of 5, the old bark deciduous in 

 ragged strips. Scale-like leaves of the ultimate 

 brancblets nearly orbicular, obtuse, \"-\%," 

 broad, the two lateral rows keeled, the two other 

 rows flat, causing the twigs to appear much 

 flattened ; leaves of the older twigs narrower and 

 longer, acute or acuminate ; mature cones 4 // -6 // 

 long, their scales obtuse ; seeds broadly winged. 



In wet soil and along the banks of streams, form- 

 ing almost impenetrable forests northward, New 

 Hnin>wick to James' Bay and Manitoba, south to 

 New Jersey, along the Alleghenies to North Caro- 

 lina and to Illinois and Minnesota. Ascends to 

 3500 ft. in the Adirondacks. Wood soft, brittle, 

 weak, coarse grained, light brown; weight per cubic 

 foot 20 Ibs. May-Jum-. 



8. CHAMAECYPARIS Spach, Hist. Veg. ii: 329. 1842. 

 Evergreen trees, similar to the Thujas, with minute opposite appressed 4-ranked 

 scale-like .leaves, or those of older twigs subulate, and small monoecious terminal aments. 

 Staminate aments as in Thuja, but the filaments broader and shield-shaped. Ovule-bearing 

 aments globose, their scales opposite, psltate, each bearing 2-5 erect ovules. Cones glo- 

 bose, the scales thick, peltate, each bearing 2-5 erect seeds, closed until mature, each with 

 a central point or knob. Seeds winged. [Greek, meaning a low cypress. ] 

 Ja "nese * " 9pecie9 ' the followin S of the eastern United States, 2 in western North America. 3 or 4 



