36 



bluntly pointed, glabrous, glanduliferous. Flowers dioecious. 

 Male catkins terminal, solitary; female ones, lateral. Cones 

 globose, 4 valved ; valves woody, erect, mucronate. 



This valuable tree, if not disturbed, attains a very considerable size. 

 Its usual height, however, is from 15 to 20 feet, and its diameter from 3 

 to 4. The wood resembles fir, has a peculiar smell, and makes valuable 

 timber for ship and housebuilding. It is also useful to the cabinetmaker 

 for various kinds of furniture : chests, drawers, chairs, tables, Avardrobes, 

 &c., which are durable on account of the resinous smell of the wood, 

 which keeps them from the aggressions of insects. 



Sir James Alexander, in his exploring expedition into the interior 

 of Africa (vol. I., pag. 230, sqq.), in making mention of the Cedar tree^ 

 remarks, that one of them was cut down in 1836, which was 36 feet in 

 girth, and out of w^hose giant arms 1,000 feet of planking were sawn. 

 He bitterly complains, that this noble tree is fast disappearing in the 

 Cedar Mountains. Mr. W. von Meyer,* another South African traveller. 

 Bays, that in former days the whole of the mountainous chain, to which 

 the Cedar Mountains belong, was studded with these trees, but that of 

 late the axe and conflagrations have done their utmost to destroy the 

 valuable forests. 



From the branches and cones of this tree exudes a gum, which soon 

 hardens in the air, becomes solid, yellowish, and transparent, and 

 scarcely ditfers from the Gummi Olibanum, an article well known to 

 commerce. This gum is successfully used in the form of fumigations ia 

 gout, rheumatism, or oedematous swellings ; and is also employed for 

 the purpose of compounding plasters or preparing varnish. 



Found only in the Cedar Mountains, in the Clanwilliam district. 



99. Widdringtonia Cupressoides. Endl. {Sa'pree-wood.) — 

 Branches alternate, erect. Leaves quadrifarious, imbricate, sessile, 

 oppressed, oblong, blunt, smooth. Inflorescence ?ind. fructification 

 like that of the preceding species. 



Attains the height of ]2 feet, and measures 6 to 8 inches in diameter. 

 The wood is rather light, but said to be of service for cooper's w^ork, 

 especially in the manufacture of pails. 



Not uncommon in elevated localities throughout a great portion of 

 the Colony, but seldom allowed to grow to maturity, in consequence of 

 the destructive fires already alluded to. 



TAXINE^. Rich. 



100. Podocarpus Elongatus, VKerit. (^Outeniqua Yellow- 

 wood.) — Branches whorled, spreading; ^?y^^.s^ angular, somewhat 

 compressed. Leaves almost sessile, alternate, narrow, linear- 

 lanceolate, acutely mucronate, entire, smooth. Flowers dioecious; 

 male catkins terminal, clustered, spiked, surrounded at base with 



* Reisen in SUd-Africa, wahrend der Jahre 1840 und 1841. Hamburg, 1843, 8vo. 

 pag. 131. 



