312 



DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 



flavor gin, and in medicine is administered for kidney complaints ; it is con- 

 sidered one of the most active diuretics known. The J. Virginiaua or red 

 cedar of North America is used sparingly as an ornamental tree, Ijut the wood 

 is very durable, tine grained, and takes a good polish. Its durability makes it 

 valuable for fencing ; its fine grain adapts it to tiue cal>iuet work and for fancy 

 boxes. Trunks are also made of it for storing furs and woollens to protect 

 them against the depredations of the moths, to which its odors are destructive. 

 The wood of this species, as well as that of Bermudiaua, is largely used in the 

 manufacture of lead pencils. 



THUJA, Tourn. (Arbor Vitae.) Flowers monoecious, on the ends 

 of separate branches ; sterile flowers in an egg-shaped anient. Anther- 

 cells 4 in number, on a scale-like connective or filament. Fertile 

 aments or cones rough or angular, subglobose ; scales few. Seeds 

 winged, 2 under each scale, covering membranaceous. Cotyledons 2. 

 Leaves evergreen, imbricated ; scales lying close to the flattish 

 branchlets. 



T. occidentalis, L. (American Arbor Vitse.) Trunk 30 to 50 feet high, 

 and 1 to 2 feet in diameter, branching profusely. Branches upright and com- 

 pact, forming a pyramidal or oblong cylindrical 

 head. Leaves small, scale-like, imbricated, in 4 

 rows on the 2-edged branchlets. Cones egg- 

 shaped ; scales spreading ; seeds winged. The 

 frond-like l)ranchlets are densely ramified, and 

 spread in a lateral direction. The leaves when 

 bruised emit an aromatic odor. 



Geographij. — The T. occidentalis is a native 

 of North America, north of 40° north latitude. 

 It has been introduced into England as an orna- 

 mental tree. 



Etymologi/. — Thuja is derived from tlie Greek 

 word dvia, an African tree with sweet-smelling 

 wood. Occidentalis is Latin for western, and re- 

 fers to the western world, the home of this species. 

 The popular name arbor vitce is Latin for " tree 

 of life," and is supposed to arise from the cir- 

 cumstance that the fruit of some of the species 

 is used for medicine. In the East the cypress is called the tree of life, for the 

 reason that the berries are supposed to be a remedy for all diseases. 



Use. — The Thuja occidentalis is largely used for ornamental purposes in 

 planted grounds. It bears the knife well, and is on that account well adapted 

 for hedging purposes. 



The wood is light, durable when exposed to the weather, and furnishes 

 excellent material for fencing. It is also extensively used in the manufacture 

 of casks for packing 



Thuja occidentalis 



(Arbor Vitae). 



TSTJGA, Endl. (Hemlock.) Flowers monoecious ; aments in ter- 

 minal or nearly terminal clusters. Scales of the cones thin and flat, 

 reflexed and persistent, nearly hiding the subtending bract. Leaves 

 linear, flat, and somewhat 2-ranked. 



