172 ‘CYPRESSES AND JUNIPERS 
- C. Noorxatensis.—The larger cones, the darker 
pendulous foliage, the absence of white streaks on 
the leaves beneath, the yellow flower, make the 
identification of the Nootkatensis, as apart particu- 
larly from the C. Lawsoniana, as clearly outstanding 
as an undraped nigger in a snowfield. 
The distinction between the Lawson and the 
ordinary C. Pisifera is a far harder nut to crack. In 
using this metaphor it must be explained that we are 
rather referring to the leaf than the cone differences. 
Undoubtedly, if looked at closely, the leaf of the 
C.. Pisifera is a differently formed, more sharply 
_ pointed leaf, and there seems little else to go by. As 
the more original and natural form of Pisifera is far 
more seldom seen than its more fluffy variety, the 
Plumosa, or its more acicular silvery-looking variety, 
the Squarrosa (which, by the way, is more commonly 
spoken of as the Retinospora Squarrosa), the situation 
of being called upon to decide between the two will 
probably not be of frequent occurrence. 
C. Ostusa.—The intricacies of the Obtusa, and any 
family likeness it may show to those in the same 
Group, requires no genius to cope with. You have 
only to look at the more densely crowded, thick, 
cobby appearance and character of its shapes and. 
-its-leaves to arrive at a quick and sure conclusion. 
If you look at it more closely, the small, round-shaped 
little leaf on the upper facial (dorso-ventral) surface 
in the middle, shouldered in between his two big 
brother lateral leaves, recalls the impression made 
in our early days of the picture of the Dormouse 
snuggled up between the Hatter and March Hare, at 
the mad tea party in Alice in Wonderland. 
. As a tree it bears no mean record in his native 
country Japan. It has a royal halo about it, since 
it is reserved for uses imperial. It has also a religious: 
