1462 The Trees of Great Britain and Ireland 



circular, or saddle -shaped area, representing the outer surface of the integument 

 where it is free from the aril ; and below this are two opposite minute shield-like 

 prominences, each with a minute aperture. The seed is subsessile or short-stalked, 

 and subtended at the base by six decussate scales,' from which it separates, when it 

 falls after ripening. 



Seedling : see under T. californica. 



All species of Torreya sprout freely from the stump and roots when cut ; and 

 bear pruning freely. They are propagated by cuttings ' or by grafting on the common 

 yew or on species of Cephalotaxus. 



During the tertiary period the genus inhabited the Arctic region, and spreading 

 southward existed in Europe. All the living species produce handsome, close- 

 grained, pale yellow wood,^ useful for cabinet-making, and durable when placed in 

 contact with the soil as posts for fencing. 



The species of Torreya superficially resemble those of Cephalotaxus ; but the 

 two genera are readily distinguishable. 



Torreya. — Leaves with long spines at the apex, and narrow stomatic bands 

 beneath. Buds with few decussate scales, all deciduous or two to four persisting 

 minute and inconspicuous at the base of the branchlet. 



Cephalotaxus. — Leaves with short-pointed apices; under surface with broad 

 stomatic bands extending from the midrib almost to the outer margin. Buds with 

 numerous imbricated scales, which persist at the base of the branchlet. 



The four living species of Torreya are distinguishable as follows : — 



L Leaves and branchlets fostid. 



1. Torreya taxifolia, Arnott. Florida. See p. 1466. 



Leaves linear, | to i^ in. long, \ in. broad, pale green beneath, with a broad 

 midrib and narrow scarcely depressed stomatic bands ; petiole, -^^ in. 



1 1 . Leaves and branchlets pungent-aromatic. 



2. Torreya californica, Torrey. California. See p. 1465, 



Leaves linear, i|- to 3 in. long, \ in. broad ; glaucous beneath with a broad 

 midrib and slightly depressed narrow stomatic bands ; petiole, ^ in. 



3. Torreya nucifera, Siebold and Zuccarini. Japan. See p. 1463. 



Leaves lanceolate-linear, f to i;J in. long, |- to ^ in. wide ; green beneath with 

 deeply depressed broad stomatic bands, about as wide as the midrib. 



in. Leaves and branchlets devoid of any peculiar odour or taste. 



4. Torreya grandis, Fortune. China, See p. 1464. 



Leaves lanceolate-linear, ^ to i in, long, \ in, wide ; thinner in texture than 

 those of T nucifera, but with similar stomatic bands. (A, H.) 



* These are the four decussate scales and bract of the flower which develops — the sixth scale being the bract and remains 

 of the other flower which does not develop. 



2 Rehder states, in Bailey, Cycl. Am. Hort. iv. 1822 (1902), that plants raised from cuttings grow slowly and remain 

 bushy. This may account for the few good specimens of Torreya which exist in cultivation. The seeds are difficult to 

 transport, as they soon become rancid. 



' Figured by Mayr, Fremdland. Wald-u. Parkbdume, 423, pi. x. 23 (1906). 



