Torreya 14^7 



branchlets yellowish red. Buds as In T. californica. Leaves f to \\ in. long, \ in. 

 wide ; linear, tapering in the anterior third to an acuminate spine-tipped apex ; shining 

 green above ; lower surface pale green, with two stomatic bands, scarcely depressed, 

 and narrower than the midrib and the external bands ; rounded at the base, with a 

 short petiole, about ^ in. long. 



Staminate flowers, \ in. long ; connective minute, rounded, not dentate. Fruit 

 obovoid, I to i^ in. long, dark purple; flesh foetid, coriaceous; shell smooth, light 

 brown ; inner coat brownish and not so deeply folded into the albumen as in 

 T. californica. 



This species, of which I have seen no living specimen, appears to be very 

 similar to T. californica, but has smaller leaves, with very short petioles, and, 

 according to Sargent, is different in odour. 



T. taxifolia is restricted to north-western Florida, where it grows on limestone 

 cliffs and in swamps ^ along the banks of the Appalachicola River, from River Junction 

 to near Bristol in Gadsden County. The wood, according to Sargent, is hard, strong, 

 clear bright yellow, with thin lighter-coloured sapwood, and is used locally for fence- 

 posts. Owing to the peculiar odour of the whole tree, noticeable also in the wood 

 when burnt, it is known as "stinking cedar." Dr. Torrey informed Arnott that a 

 blood-red turpentine, of a pasty consistence, flows sparingly from the bark, and is 

 soluble in alcohol. 



This species was discovered in 1833 by H. C. Croom, and was introduced^ into 

 England, in 1840, by A. J. Downing, who sent a living plant to London, which was 

 propagated ^ by Masters of the Canterbury Nursery. It probably proved unsuitable 

 to our climate ; and I have seen no specimen which could be identified with this 

 species. 



According to Sargent * it can be kept alive in eastern Massachusetts in sheltered, 

 well-shaded situations ; and occasional individuals have survived a number of years 

 near New York and Philadelphia. (A. H.) 



1 Cf. Britton, N. Amer. Trees, 126 (1908). 2 Loudon, Card. Mag. xvi. 658 (1840). 



' Loudon, Trees and Shrubs, 944 (1842), states that it was propagated by grafting on the yew. 



' Sargent, in Garden and Forest, x. 400 (1S97). 



