304 The Conifers. 



Africa, Australia, and South Ameivca, but may be cultivated to ad- 

 vantage in some parts of the United States. 



II. The Bald-Cypeess and Allied Family (Taxod-lsa), includ- 

 ing the Japanese cedar {Cryptomeria) , bald cypress (Taxodiuni), red- 

 wood and giant tree (Sequoia), and two other Australian and East- 

 ern Asiatic genera. 



III. The Yew Family (Taxece), including the yew (Taxus), Cal- 

 ifornia nutmeg (Torrega), ginkgo (Salisburia) , and three other Aus- 

 tralian and South American genera. 



IV. The Podoearpea, of which three genera occur in Asia, Africa, 

 Australia, and South America. 



V. NoEFOLK-IsLAND PixE FAMILY (Araucariece) , three species 

 of which are found in Eastern Asia, China, Australia, South Pa- 

 cific Islands, and South America. 



VI. The Pine and Fie Family (AbietineoB), embracing the pines 

 (Pinm), cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus), spruce (Picca), Hemlock 

 (Tmga), Douglas fir (Pseudotmga), fir (Abies), and larch (Larix). 



1246. In the cypress family we have 14 species of the CalUtris or 

 Atlas cedar, the stump and roots of which afford the costly " thuja'' 

 of cabinet-makers, and one of the finest of woods. The gum-senegal 

 of commerce comes from trees of this genus. None of them are 

 found in North America, but are natives of Africa, Madagascar, 

 Australia, and New Caledonia. Two other genera, Actinostrobvs 

 and Fitzroya, are also exotic. 



1247. The California White Cedar (lAbocednis decurrens). 

 This is sometimes calhd " incense cedar," and occurs widely distrib- 

 uted in California and Oregon, chiefly uj;on the mountains of the 

 interior, where it sometimes grows to six or seven feet in diameter, 

 at a yard from the ground, and to a height of 100 to 150 feet. 

 There are about 8 species known, but this is the only one within our 

 limits. In general habit and quality of wood, it much resembles the 

 common white cedar of the Atlantic States (Thvja oeeidentalis), and 

 it thrives very well in the east, where it forms a fine ornamental 

 evergreen. 



The Aeboe-vit^es oe White Cedaes (Genus Thuja). 



1248. These as now arranged by the authors above cited, embrace 

 under this genus a dozen species, of which five occur within the United 

 States. The cones consist of scales, from eight to twelve in number, 

 which have a pair of ovules at the base of each. The seeds ripen 



