240 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [APRIL 
character found in the seeds which make this the easiest of 
our species to recognize. 
Cupressus pygmaea inhabits the high barren region on the 
coast of Mendocino county, extending from Ten Mile run on 
the north to the Navarro on the south, and, beginning about 
three quarters of a mile from the ocean, does not extend inland 
more than four miles. The soil of these barrens is yellow clay 
covered with deposits of sea sand and a thin layer of peat. On 
this poor soil the plants begin to bear cones when only a foot or 
two high, but on the borders of the barrens and of the deep 
gullies which penetrate them where trees occasionally escape for 
several years the fires which constantly sweep over the region 
they grow in better soil to a height of 30 or 4o feet, but from 
overcrowding rarely develop the spreading branches peculiar to 
all species of Cupressus growing in abundant space. 
The name pygmaea used by Lemmon to distinguish the 
dwarf plant stunted by overcrowding and insufficient nourish- 
ment is unfortunate as a specific name, for there is no difference 
between the smallest and the largest plants except in size; and 
it is probable that individuals of this species on the borders of 
the barrens, if they could be protected from fire, would in time 
grow to a large size, for the oldest plants now standing show no 
signs of maturity and none of them are believed to be much 
more than fifty years old (C. Purdy im Ui#.). 
ARNOLD ARBORETUM. 

