15 



The name Callitris sinensis given by A. Tschirch (Die Harze und die Harz- 

 behalter, p. 536), and occurring in other technological works, probably refers to 

 Cunninghamia sinensis, as the Kew authorities inform us that they have no record 

 of such a species as Callitris sinensis* 



II. SYSTEMATIC. 



The following is our synopsis of the three cognate genera : — 

 I. Tetraelinis. North Africa. 



Cone valves — 4, thin, small, free ends of valves more obtuse than in Callitris. 



Branchlets — flattened. 



Leaves — small, decurrent, in whorls of 4. 



n. Widdringtonia. South Africa. 



Cone valves — 4, very thick, free ends of valves truncate. 



Branchlets — terete. 



Leaves — opposite, decussate. 



III. Callitris. Australia and Tasmania. 



Cone valves — 6-8, thick, free ends of valves pointed or acute. 



Branchlets — terete . 



Leaves — small, decurrent, in whorls of 3. 



The Callitris are either trees or shrubs and rarely attain a great size ; the 

 ultimate branchlets being ridged^by the decurrence of the leaves. 



The bark is mostly hard, compact, furrowed, persistent, and extends to the 

 branchlets ; it is, however, loosely fibrous in C. Macleayana. 



The normal leaves are in regular whorls of threes and almost wholly 

 decurrent, only a small triangular portion at the upper end being free, and which 

 is either incurved or appressed ; the primordial leaves are triangular in section, 

 with only a small portion attached to the stem. 



The flowers are monoecious. The male amentum solitary, or in twos or 

 threes at the end of the branchlets. It is cylindrical, oblong, or ovoid, the sporo- 

 phylls being imbricate in whorls of three or four, and having an ovate, 

 orbicular, or slightly peltate scale-like apex, with the anther cells varying in number 

 from two to four. 



*After the above was in print Dr. Stapl informs us that this name has no foundation whatever, and that 

 he intends to write a note on this subject in the Kew Bulletin. 



