Taxus.] CONIFERS. 259 



small. Br. Fl. 1. p. 411. E. Fl. v. iv. p. 158. E. Bot. t. 

 2460. 



Now almost, if not entirely extinct, in a wild state. Fl. May, 

 June. T? . This tree appears to have been abundant in Ireland, as 

 trunks of very large dimensions are often found in bogs, sufficiently 

 fresh for roofing houses, and found to be very durable. A section of a 

 trunk was lately sent me from the Queen's County by the Rev. Doctor 

 Vignoles, that had been lately dug out of a bog, whose diameter is 

 two feet eight inches, indicating by its circles or rings of wood about 

 eighty years' growth. The resinous roots are sold in Dublin as fire- 

 wood, and are used by the peasantry in the west of Ireland in lieu of 

 candles. 



2. JUNIPERUS. Linn. Juniper. 



Barren fl. Scales of the catkin subpeltate. Perianth none. 

 Stamens 4 8, 1-celled. Fertile fl. Scales of the catkin few, 

 united, at length fleshy and surrounding the 3-seeded berry. 

 Name, jeneprus, in Celtic, rude, rough, as is the plant it- 

 self. Dicecia. Monadelphia. 



1. J. communis, Linn. Common Juniper. Leaves three in 

 a whorl, mucronate, spreading or imbricated, longer than the 

 berry. Br. Fl. 1. p. 438. E. Fl. v. iv. p. 251. E. Bot. t. 

 1100. J. nana, Willd. E. Fl. v. iv. p. 252. E. Bot. Suppl 

 t. 2743. 



Woods at Killarney, &c. P. On many of the mountains all over the 

 country. Fl. May. J? A shrub growing to a considerable size in 

 woods. The var. 3. retains its procumbent form when cultivated. 

 The berries, which are bluish-black, form an important article of com- 

 merce in Holland, where they are employed in the distillation of 

 Geneva, and impart to it that peculiar flavour by which it is distin- 

 guished from other spirituous liquors. 



3. TAXUS. Linn. Yew. 



Barren fl. Perianth single at the base. Stamens numerous. 

 Anthers peltate, 6 8-celled; cells opening beneath. Fertile 

 fl. Perianth single, urceolate, scaly. Style none. Drupe 

 fleshy, perforated at the extremity. Name; TO^OI/, an arrow; 

 it is said because arrows were poisoned with its juice. 



Dicecia. Monadelphia. 



1. T. baccata, Linn. Common Yew. Leaves 2-ranked, 

 crowded, linear, acute; flowers axillary, sessile. Br, Fl. 1. 

 p. 439. E. FL v. iv. p. 253. E. Bot. t. 746. 



Fine specimens of a very great age are to be met with in church- 



