RETINOSPORA SQTJARROSA. 



249 



whioli the tips of many of the branchlets are pure white, giving 

 the whole plant a speckled and spotted appearance. 



Retinospora plumosa argentea has nearly the whole of its young 

 growth creamy-white, which becomes green on attaining maturity, but 

 not before it is succeeded by the white growth of the following season. 



Retinospora plumosa aurea has its terminal shoots and foliage 

 when first formed, of light golden -yellow, which gradually subsides 

 to deep green as the season advances, and till it is succeeded in 

 the following season by a renewal of the yellow growth. It is a 

 very distinct variety. 



Retinospora squar- 

 rosa. — A low tree, 

 sometimes taking the 

 form of a large dense 

 bush with a well defined 

 outline. The trunk is 

 usually . much divided 

 and forked, the divisions 

 being furnished with 

 numerous branches ; the 

 branchlets are also 

 numerous and spread- 

 ing, and with their foli- 

 age of a light glaucous 

 green, suffused with a 

 tint of almost silvery 

 whiteness, quite unlike 

 that of any other Coni- 

 ferous tree ; the leaves 

 are short, needle- 

 shaped, and slightly 

 bent towards the 

 branchlets, upon which 

 they are arranged in 

 alternate opposite pairs. 



Retinospora squarrosa is described by Siebold as a species which is 

 said to grow wild (sponte nascens dititur), on Sukejama in the island 



Fig. 59.— Melinotpora squarrom. Grown at Linton Park. 



