250 A MANUAL 0E THE CONIFEBA 



of Kiusiu (Fl. Jap., ii, p. 41). Tlio figures and description which he 

 gives of the fructification are, however, so nearly identical with those 

 of R. pisifera as to raise doubts as its being specifically distinct. 

 Moreover, we have seen plants of R. squamosa with branches having 

 R. pisifera foliage, thereby umnistakeably indicating its real affinity; It 

 is, in fact, a variety of R. pi&ifera, in which the primordial or acicular 

 foliage only is developed. We have analogous forms in R. ericoides, Biota 

 meldensis, Cupressus funebris in its young state, and others. 



Retinospora squarrosa dubia. — A small compact bush, with 

 glaucous light green foliage. The leaves are generally larger and 

 more erect than those of the preceding ; the secondary branches less 

 furnished with spray and the branchlets more rigid. 



Like the preceding, it is most probably a "juvenile" form of Retinos- 

 pora pisifera. 



Retinospora tetragona aurea. — A dwarf slow-growing plant, 

 "with horizontal branches, tufted at their extremities with short 

 undivided tetragonal branchlets, clothed with short scale-like leaves, 

 of bright golden-yellow, deepening in the second year to dark green." 

 It is a useful plant for the rock garden. 



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

 near Derby. 



III.— BIOTA (Endlicher) . The Chinese Arbor Vim. 



Biota includes but one recognised species, from which, under 

 cultivation, a great number of varieties have been obtained, differ, 

 ing from the normal form, chiefly in habit and colour of foliage, 

 but all having the following common characters : — ■ 



The trunk is usually much divided, the branches numerous, 

 and turned upwards, the ultimate branches much ramified, 

 frond-like, erect, and parallel to each other. 



The leaves are small, scale-like in opposite pairs, imbricated, 

 and closely appressed to the stem; the cones or strobiles are 

 composed of from six to eight " peltate scales, each with a 

 spiny projection, and bearing two wingless seeds. 



It is upon the last-named character chiefly that the generic distinction 



