534 LXXVI. CONIFERS. [Cupressus. 



face of Chinar Peak, above Naini Tal, on clay-slate, but in the vicinity of lime- 

 stone rocks. Not uncommon in Garhwal and Kamaon, and in Nepal. Grows 

 at SahajanpuT, at Poona, at Calcutta, and thrives vigorously on the Chikalda 

 Hill in Berar at 3000 ft. elev. Madden states that the tree is indifferent to the 

 nature of the rock, and that it is found both on limestone and on silicious rocks. 

 What I have seen of its growth makes me think that it prefers limestone. Fl. 

 Jan.-Peb., the cones ripen in Oct.-Nov. of the second year, and are often long 

 persistent on the trees. Attains generally 70-80 ft., and a girth of 6-8 ft., but 

 larger trees are not uncommon. Dr Stewart records one near Girar on the 

 Belj, a feeder of the Ravi, at 6500 ft., 15 ft. girth, and over 120 ft. high ; and 

 Madden speaks of 15-17 ft. girth, and a height of 150. The roots often embrace 

 masses of rook, and the base of the trunk swells out in such cases. At Naig, 

 south of Lobha, Stewart records a famous grove, the trees 12-17 ft. girth, and 

 one 27 ft. girth near the ground, with enormous roots clasping great rocks, pro- 

 bably not under 1000 years old. The growth, as far as known, appears to be 

 slow. Dr Stewart records 12-18 rings on one inch of radius. Bark very thin, 

 barely J in. thick, the outer layer peeling off in numerous long narrow dark- 

 grey thin strips, which are often spirally twisted round the trunk ; inner sub- 

 stance of bark reddish brown. The surface of the bark is rougher and darker 

 than that of Juniperus excelsa', with which this Cypress is often confounded. 

 Wood white, with a tinge of red or yellow, deeper coloured in the centre, fra- 

 grant, the scent similar to the scent of the Cypress wood from Turkey and 

 Greece, even-grained, not hard, easy to work, but not strong. Medullary rays 

 distinct, somewhat darker than the rest of the wood, annual rings consist of an 

 inner softer and an outer harder and darker belt. At Naini Tal it has been 

 much used for building, particularly for indoor work, and on the Ravi and 

 Sutlej it is sometimes used for beams. But, as a rule, the tree is not used for 

 secular purposes. In Kullu images are made of it, and the poles to carry the 

 sacred ark, for which purpose Birch and Elm are also employed. The'wood is 

 often burnt as incense in temples. 



G. glauca, Lam. ; DC. Prodr. xvi. ii. 470 ; Dalz. Bomb. Fl. Suppl. 83. — Syn. 

 0. ludtanica, WUld, Commonly cultivated in gardens in Western India above 

 Ghat ; does not succeed below Ghat, according to Dalzell. Largely cultivated 

 in Portugal, believed to have been introduced from Goa. Supposed to be dis- 

 tinguished from the two preceding species mainly by the bluish colour of the 

 leaves and cones, and by the projecting subulate boss of the scales. The 

 value of the former character, 'however, is demonstrated by the Deodar, which 

 is commonly bluish when cultivated in Europe, and occasionally in the Hima- 

 laya, but the great mass of which, in its native forests, is dark green. The 

 character taken from the scales of the cone may be more constant, but the 

 specific distinctions between the three Cypresses described, sempervirens, torit- 

 losa, and glcmca, seem to invite farther inquiry. 



C.fwnSrii, Endl. ; the weeping Cypress — Vern. Ohandang, Sikkim— an ele- 

 gant tree, with hanging distichous branches and lanceolate mucronate leaves, 

 with a spreading apex, is planted in China near pagodas, also planted in 

 Bhutan near temples and monasteries, between 2000 and 7000 ft., and on the 

 great Ramit river in Sikkim near oonvenls and cemeteries ; also in Nepal. 

 Grows at Calcutta. 



Biota orientalis, Endl. — Syn. Thuja orimtalis, Linn., the Arbor vitce, is a 

 small evergreen tree, indigenous in Japan and China, much cultivated in India 

 and Europe, with the foliage similar to that of the Cypress, but the cones con- 

 sisting of 3-4 pairs of decussate oblong woody Scales, with the apex recurved, 

 and at the base of each 1 or 2 unwinged seeds. 



