RETINOSPORA. 365 



purplish-brown in winter, and quite distinct from Retinospora 

 ericoides. 



It is a native of Japan, and hardy. 



No. 6. Retinospora leptoclada, Zuccarini, the Slender or 

 Flat-branchletted Retinospora. 



Syn. Retinospora squarrosa leptodlada, Siebold. 

 „ Chamsecyparis squarrosa leptoclada, Endlicher. 

 „ Andelyensis, Hort. 



Leaves of two kinds, the primordial ones being in whorls of 

 three, spreading, and curved more or less backwards ; linear, 

 flat on the upper surface, and awl-shaped at the points ; thickly 

 placed somewhat spirally all round the shoots, one fourth of 

 an inch long, bright green above, and furnished with two 

 glaucous white bands on the under side, which separate the 

 thickened margins and green mid-rib. The foliage on the 

 mature two-edged branchlets of adult plants are small scale- 

 formed bodies, closely imbricated in four rows, in opposite 

 pairs, the marginal ones being keeled on the back, overlapping 

 on both sides, mucronate, and sometimes a little incurved, and 

 more or less extended at the points, while those along the 

 centre, qn the upper and lower sides of the branchlets, are 

 flatly placed in straight rows, of an ovate-rhomboid figure, and 

 glossy-green towards the points, with a transparent gland on 

 the back, and two glaucous white marginal bands, which only 

 extend along the lower half of the leaf, and are partially 

 covered by the points and sides of the hinder leaves. Branches 

 thickly placed along the stem, spreading and horizontal, lateral 

 ones compact, very dense, more or less irregularly clustered 

 towards the points of the branches, and composed of slender, 

 closely imbricated, two-edged, strap-shaped branchlets, little 

 forked, but thickly placed laterally on the fan-shaped spray, 

 in irregularly arranged clusters, especially towards the outer 

 parts of the principal branches. Cones globular, solitary, 

 about the size of a pea, and terminal on the points of the pre- 



