4i6 



Phyllocladus rhomboidalis. 



Rich., Conif. 130. t. 3. 

 "CELERY TOP PINE." 



Habitat. 

 Tasmania, Denvent River, R.Br., and dense forests in the mountains and 

 southern parts of the island J. D. Hooker). 



I. HISTORICAL. 



(]'idc supra.) 



II. SYSTEMATIC. 



A small tree, reaching its ma.ximum height (60 feet) on the lower levels, 

 and becoming dwarfed on the higher altitudes of the mountain ranges, the branches 

 showing a tendency to a verticillate form of growth ; the cladodia cuneate, or 

 rhomboidal, obtuse, bluntly toothed or lobed, i to 2 inches long, the leaf scales 

 very small, and subulate. Male and female amenta, fruit and seed as described 

 above. 



Remarks. 



This tree occurs associated with Athrotaxis selaginoides in the dense scrubs 

 surrounding \\'illiamsford, Tasmania. Like Athrotaxis, it occurs on the 

 summits of the neighbouring mountains, in a much stunted form. Normally, 

 Phyllocladus is a medium-sized tree, with a height up to 60 feet, and a diameter 

 from 2 to 3 feet. It is very unlike a pine in appearance. The unbranched stem 

 varies from 20 to 40 feet, and the only pine-like character is the tapering shape 

 of the foliage on the branches. The branches are irregular and thick in 

 proportion to their length. — (C. F. Laseron.) 



III. LEAVES. 



These are too small for any economics, and, in view of the rudimentary 

 part played by them in the life history of the plant, being practically super- 

 seded by cladodia, their investigation has been passed over for these latter, and, 

 in this case, more important organs which are, in spite of their origin ami the 

 position assigned to them, to all intents and purposes leaves, — for it is a (juestion 

 whether function or origin should decide a designation. 



