516 ORDER CXVII. — CONIFERS. 



Genus III.— CUPRES'SUS. L. 19—15. 

 (From kits, to produce, and parisos, equal, in allusion to the branches.) 



Flowers monoecious. Sterile flowers ; the anient ovate, im- 

 bricate. Scales peltate. Anthers 4, sessile. Fertile florets; 

 ament a cone. Perianth none. Ovaries 4 — 8 under each 

 scale. Nuts angular, compressed. 



1. C. dis'tica, (L.) A large tree. Leaves small, linear, acute, flat, 

 deciduous. Sterile flowers paniculate; catkin sub-globose. — Ma}'. Deep 

 swamps. 90 — 100 feet. Cypress. 



2. C. thtoi'des, (L.) A large tree, with compressed branches. Leaves 

 imbricate, in four rows, ovate, tuborculate at the base ; catkin globose. 

 — 7 2 . May. Swamps. 70 — 8U feet. While Cedar. 



The Cypress is one of our most remarkable trees. It grows to its greatest dimen- 

 sions in deep, miry soil. The base of the trunk is conical and usually hollow. Its 

 roots are immense, and produce remarkable protuberances, which rise to the hight 

 of 2— 3 feet. These are conical and hollow, covered by the same kind of bark as the 

 root: never produce branches or leaves. Often used for bee-hives. The wood of the 

 Cypress is the most durable of any in exposed situations. 



Genus IV.— THUYA. L. 19—15. 

 (From thuon, a sacrifice : the resin used as incense.) 



Flowers monoecious. Sterile florets ; ament imbricate. Calyx 

 a scale. Anthers 4, sessile. Fertile flowers in cones, with scales 

 2-flowered. Nut 1-winged. 



1. T. occidenta'lis, (L.) A small tree, with spreading, ancipital 

 branches. Leaves imbricate, in four rows, appressed, naked, ovate- 

 rhomboid al, tuberculate. Cones obovate, with the inner scales trun- 

 cate, gibbous below the summit. — ^ . May. Mountain streams. 15 — 

 20 feet. American Arbor-vitce. 



Genus V.— TOR'REYA. Am. 20—15. 

 (In honor of Professor John Torrey.) 



Dioecious. Staminate flowers ; ament sub-globose, lengthen- 

 ing as it becomes perfected, with bracts at the base, imbricate, 

 in 4 rows, many-flowered ; anther bearing scales, pedicellate. 

 Pistillate flowers ; ament ovate, 1-flowered, bracteate ; ovule 

 solitary, sessile ; seed nut-like ; testa thick, without coriaceous- 

 fleshy, within fibrous. Small trees, with spreading branches. 



1. T. taxifo'lia, (Arn.) (Taxus montana, Nutt.) An evergreen tree. 

 Branches spreading ; branchlets distichously forked. Leaves approx- 

 imate, solitary, distichous, on short petioles, linear, mucronate, shining 

 above, paler beneath ; vein broad, about one inch long. Fruit about 

 one. inch long, ovate, rough; outside covering brittle. — Middle Florida. 

 20 — 40 feet. Florida Yew-tree. 



