248 



A MANUAL OP THE CONIFERS. 



beneath. The strobiles or cones are about the size of small peas, 

 which suggested the specific name — pea bearing. 



The timber of Retinospora pisifera is like that of R. obtusa, and is 

 used for similar purposes. 



Retinospora pisifera is the common Cypress of Japan ; it occurs more 

 frequently and in greater abundance in a wild state, and it is also 

 spread over a greater area than R. obtusa. 



Retinospora pisifera aurea has the whole of its foliage and 

 young growth of a rich golden-yellow. It is a very pretty variety, 

 quite distinct from B. plumosa aurea described below. 



It originated in the Nursery of Messrs. Barron & Son, at Borrowash, 

 near Derby. 



Retinospora plumosa. — A dense tree, of conical habit, distin- 

 guished by the following characters : — The branches are numerous, 



sub-erect, and thickly 

 furnished with lateral 

 shoots ; the branchlets 

 close set, slender, in- 

 curved, and with their 

 foliage of a deep green 

 colour; and the leaves 

 subulate or awl-shaped, 

 sub-erect or spreading, 

 and much pointed. 



Retinospora plumosa 

 and its varieties are of 

 moderate growth ; their 

 short feathery branch- 

 lets and the rich colour 

 of their foliage render 

 them beautiful plants 

 for garden decoration ; 

 they are among the best 

 of Conifers for geome- 

 tric and formal gardens, 

 and also for winter and 

 permanent bedding. 



Retinospora plumosa albo-picta.— A variety of the preceding, in 



Fig. SS.—Betinosfora plumom. 



