TAXACEAE 47 



previous year's growth, ovoid or oblong, composed of numerous stamens 

 in whorls of 4 on a slender axis, surrounded at the base by several pairs 

 of scales ; the stamens consist of 4 pollen sacs united to form a half ring 

 by a projecting connective. Pistillate flowers scattered, sessile, consisting 

 of a solitary ovule surrounded at the base by a fleshy urn-like disk or 

 arillus and several scales, becoming at maturity a drupe-like fruit with a 

 long seed pointed at the apex, entirely covered by a fleshy husk. 



4 species, 2 in E. Asia and 2 in N. America. 



Torreya resembles the CephaloUjLXus superficially, but they may be 

 distinguished from each other by the leaves, which in Torreya are bristle 

 pointed and marked by stomatiferous lines beneath, while in Cephalotazus, 

 the leaves are short pointed, and covered on the under surface by 2 broad 

 stomatiferous bands. The buds of Cephalotazus have numerous scales 

 which persist at the base of the branchlet, while Torreya has fewer bud 

 scales which are, for the most part, non-persistent. The drupe-like fruit 

 separates this from all other evergreen trees. The wood of Torreya is pale 

 yellow, handsome and durable in contact with th^ soil. It is used for 

 furniture, house construction and for fence posts. The stumps of felled 

 trees sprout freely. Propagated by seeds and cuttings. 



Torreya grandis Fortune. 

 (Vei Shu.) 



Tree sometimes 25 m. tall, occasionally shrubby, and producing 

 fruit when very young. Bark gray-green. The leaves and branchlets 

 have a very slight, if any, disagreeable odor. Branchlets green, turning 

 yellow-brown the following year. Leaves 12-25 mm. long, linear lanceo- 

 late, bright shiny green above, with 2 white bands beneath. Fruit ovoid 

 or globose, 2-2.5 cm. long; husk without pungent odor. Nut reddish- 

 brown, with irregular, shallow fissures on the surface. 



Chekiang, Fukien, Hupeh, Szechuan. 



Fortune first came upon fine specimens of this tree 25 m. tall, in the 

 mountains above Ningpo in 1855, but it is now most commonly seen in 

 its shrubby form. Although the seeds are said to have a purgative 

 property, they are eaten when roasted and may be found exposed for sale 

 in the markets. The medicine Fei Shu is derived from this nut. 



This is the only species found in China, the other Asiatic species, 

 T. nucifera, being confined to Japan. 



