444 C n ifcrtz Thuja. . 



species usually called Thuja Lobbii in gardens. But there is 

 no doubt that the plant bearing the name of Thuja gigdntea 

 in many collections is the true Libocedrus decurrens. The 

 only matter for surprise is that these two wholly dissimilar 

 shrubs should have been mistaken the one for the other. 



2. Th. occidentalism American Arbor Vitse. In the low 

 swampy districts of the Northern States of the Union and in 

 Canada this forms a compact tree from 20 to 50 feet high, but 

 with us it rarely exceeds the dimensions of a large shrub. The 

 branchlets are crowded, compressed, and rather massive, and 

 the small leaves quadrifariously imbricated. The leaves of the 

 lateral ranks are destitute of tubercles, whilst those in the 

 centre on the upper and lower surfaces of the branchlets are 

 mostly furnished with a conspicuous tubercle immediately 

 below the acute apex. The foliage of this is of a bright light 

 green in Summer, but like nearly all of the Arbor Vitaes it 

 changes to a rusty hue in Winter, hence it should be avoided 

 where bright cheerful verdure is desirable at that season of the 

 year. The fruit is small, with about six slightly coriaceous 

 persistent bracts. This is one of those trees whose seeds 

 produce an infinity of more or less distinct individuals, but 

 these differences are so slight as to be unworthy of perpetuation. 

 There are, however, several very distinct varieties or races which 

 come true from seed, whilst others can only be preserved by non- 

 sexual propagation. Amongst the most interesting we may 

 enumerate the variety tSibirica, syn. Wareana, Tartdrica, etc. 

 This is commonly called the Siberian Arbor Vitse, though its 

 native country is unknown. In fact, it is said to have been 

 raised from seed in the nursery of a Mr. Weire at Coventry, but 

 whence the seeds came is not stated. It forms a compact, 

 conical, very densely branched bush, with rather smaller closer 

 rather obtuse leaves in which the tubercles are less prominent. 

 Besides the dwarfer, more bushy habit of this variety, we must 

 not omit to mention that the foliage is of a darker green. In 

 addition to the above names it has received about a dozen 

 others, but it usually bears one of the three quoted. Th. o. 

 plicata is another well-known form remarkable for the twisted 

 branchlets being in pairs, giving it a plaited appearance. 

 There is a variety of this variegated with yellow and green. 

 The variety pendula has drooping branches with tufts of 

 branchlets at their extremities ; cristdta is a similar form ; 

 pumila, minima, and compdcta are dwarf bushes ; ericoldes is 



