E.ETINOSPORA. 369 



Retinospoea obtusa PYGMiEA, Gordon, the Pigmy Japan 



Cypress. 

 Syn. Thuja pygmfga, Veitch. 

 „ Retinospora obtusa nana, Hort. 



This very singular variety forms a dwarf, cushion-shaped, 

 little bush, which seldom grows more than a foot or two high, 

 but spreads out in a horizontal direction all round, to more 

 than double that distance, and forms a large, dense, flat tuft of 

 glossy-green spray when old, with branchlets and leaves 

 exactly like those of the species. 



A very curious miniature evergreen bush, much coltivated 

 in the Japanese gardens about Yeddo, on account of its very 

 dwarf habit, dense, compact appearance, and glossy deep green 

 colour. It is quite hardy, and forms an interesting object for 

 rock-work or miniature gardens. 



No. 9. Retinospoea pisifeea, Siebold, the Pea-fi-uited 

 Retinospora. 

 Syn. Chamsecyparis pisifera, Endlicher. 

 Leaves in four rows, decussate, all scale-formed on the adult 

 plants, and remaining on the plant for five years, those grow- 

 ing over the axis of the branchlets almost adnate even to the 

 apex, but those on the sides adhere only by the lower face ; 

 the upper and lower ones are ovate-lanceolate, tapering to a 

 hard point, keeled on the back, and smooth, the lateral ones 

 compressed at the edges on both sides, almost sickle-shaped, 

 equally long, acute-pointed, and marked on the under side 

 with two white glaucous bands. Branches numerous, thickly 

 covered with branchlets, the lateral ones in two rows, and 

 very thickly covered with leaves ; male and female flowers on 

 the same plant ; the male catkins terminal on the upper 

 branchlets, cylindrical, obtuse, and numerous; female ones 

 terminal in the same manner as the males. Cones ovate- 

 globose, about the size of a large pea, and composed of ten or 

 twelve scales in opposite cross pairs, regularly imbricated. 

 Scales ovate-rhomboid, a little pointed, crenulate, wedge- 

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