412 TORBEYA. 



a half broad, on very short foot-stalks, of a deep glossy green, 

 and convex on both sides of the mid-rib, which is a little sunk 

 on the upper surface, and glaucous white below, except on the 

 centre nerve and margins, which are of a deep glossy green, and 

 rather elevated. Buds furnished with persistent, extended, 

 acute-pointed scales. Branches numerous, either in whorls, 

 alternate, or scattered along the stem, spread out, horizontal; 

 and covered with scaly bark. Branchlets two-rowed, spreading; 

 and rather short. Male catkins oval, or cylindrical ; female 

 flowers in pairs, or in threes in close heads on short peduncles. 

 Fruit the size of a large nut, three-quarters of an inch long; 

 and half an inch broad, oval, or ovate-oblong, largest at the 

 base, slightly tapering to a small point at the apex, and covered 

 with a firm, fleshy, thin, green tissue, very smooth, and glossy 

 outside. Seed oval, with a hard bony shell. Seed-leaves in 

 twos. 



A small tree, growing from twenty to thirty feet high on 

 the mountains on the Islands of Nippon and Sikok, in Japan, 

 but cultivated all over Japan, where an oil is made from the 

 kernels of the nuts, which is said to be used for culinary pur- 

 poses, though the kernel itself is too astringent to be eaten, 

 and all parts of the plant when bruised emit a disagreeable 

 odour. Its Japanese names are Kaja-Ksa (strong-scented yew) 

 and " Fi-Koja " (slender Yew) and, according to Ksempfer, it 

 is very frequent in the northern provinces of Japan, where it 

 forms a tree twenty feet high, with many opposite scaly 

 branches. Dr. Royle erroneously (as pointed out by Major 

 Madden) extends its habitat to the Choor and Kedarkanta 

 Mountains in Sirmore and Gurwhal, in India. 



It is tolerably hardy. 



No. 3. ToREEYA TAXIFOLIA, Arnott, the Yew-leaved Torreya. 



Syn. Taxus Montana, Nuttall. 



„ Torreya Montana, Hort. 



Leaves, on the stems and principal shoots, alternate, spread- 

 ing, or reflected, and rather distant, those on the branchlets 



