7t> Illustrations of Conifers. 



TAXODIUM DISTICHUM, Var. mucronatum (Henry). 

 Taxodium Mucronatum (Tenore). 



Trees of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. I. p. 175 (1907). 



This variety which was described as a species by Tenore is ap- 

 parently only a geographical form differing from the type (Vol. II. 

 p. 70) in the more persistent foliage, which generally lasts two 

 years on the tree, and in the time of flowering which is autumn. 

 The leaves are usually shorter, lighter green in colour and blunter 

 at the apex. The panicles of male flowers are generally more 

 elongated than those of the United States tree. 



It occurs in Mexico, but specimens of the typical form found 

 at high elevations in Texas resemble it in foliage ; and the panicles 

 of flowers in some Florida specimens are as large as any occurring 

 on Mexican trees. Sargent, who has seen the tree in Mexico, 

 was unable to distinguish it by either foliage or habit from the 

 type. 



There are extensive forests of Taxodium in Mexico, and some 

 isolated examples of very old and enormous trees are known to 

 exist. The most famous of these is one near the city of Oaxaca, 

 which is reported to have a girth of no less than 198 feet at about 

 six feet from the ground and a height of over 100 feet. 



Taxodium mucronatum was first described from a specimen 

 growing in the Botanic Garden at Naples ; and is said to have been 

 introduced into Europe in 1838. 



The illustration represents a specimen obtained from this tree. 



