HARDY ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS. 



333 



glaucous-green, imbricated foliage. This is a state of 

 Cupressus thyoides, amongst a batch of seedlings of which 

 it was first noticed. 



R. obtusa (Cupressus obtusa). — Described as a tree 60 

 to 100 feet high. It has closely-imbricated, obtuse, 



Fig. 412.— Retinospora filifera. 



tubercled leaves, of a deep-green in exposed parts, silvery 

 below and where shaded. Aurea and argentea are prettily 

 variegated varieties; and pygmcea (Thuja pygmcea) is a 

 miniature form. Japan, 1850. 



R. pisifera (Cupressus pisifera). — A desirable small 

 tree, with slender, feathery, light-green branchlets, and 

 scale-like, very sharp-pointed, imbricated leaves. Var. 

 aurea is variegated with gold, and argentea has silvery 

 foliage. Japan, 1850. 



R. plurnosa. — -The forms under this name belong to R. 

 pisifera. They are exceedingly beautiful in a young state. 

 The variety argenteo-variegata has soft silvery and pale- 

 green acicular leaves and very slender branchlets. Japan, 

 1850. 



R. squarrosa. — This is also a state of R. pisifera. It 

 is a dense shrub with pale glaucous foliage, and is one of 

 the most ornamental of this set of Retinosporas, charac- 

 terized by short, needle-shaped leaves. 



Saxe-Gotieea conspicua. — A small tree with Yew-like 

 foliage, from the mountains of Patagonia, and too tender 

 for our climate generally. 1845. 



Sciadopitys verticillata, Umbrella Pine (fig. 413). — A 

 lofty hardy evergreen tree 50 to 150 feet high. Leaves 

 2 to 4 inches long and about a sixth of an inch broad, 

 whorled. A strikingly beautiful tree. Mountains of 

 Japan, 1861. 



Sequoia. — Gigantic evergreen trees, with linear, spread- 

 ing or scale-shaped and imbricated leaves, and small cones. 

 The two species rank with the largest trees known. 



8. gigantea ( Wellingtonia gigantea), Mammoth Tree. — 

 The largest and tallest tree of the northern hemisphere, 

 and, with the exception possibly of some of the Gum-trees 



of Australia, of the whole world. It was first discovered 

 in 1850, and was introduced by William Lobb three j'ears 

 later. The largest specimens whose measurements have 

 been authenticated had attained a height of a little over 

 320 feet, with a girth outside the bark of 90 feet at 6 feet 

 from the ground. Estimates as to the age of the oldest 

 trees range between 2000 and 3000 years. It has proved 

 hardy in the greater part of the British Isles, and in 

 favoured spots in Ireland has already reached a height of 

 80 feet. It should be planted when young in a sheltered 

 and permanent position, as it resents transplanting when 

 once established. Sierra Nevada, Upper California. 



S. sempervirens (Taxodium semp/ervirens), Redwood. — 

 This, although not so colossal in its proportions as the 

 other, attains the height of from 200 to 300 feet. It is 

 scarcely so hardy as >S'. gigantea, though it thrives very 

 well and grows rapidly in thoroughly drained soils. In 

 aspect it is very different, the leaves being linear, about 

 half an inch long, and spreading in two ranks. California, 

 1843. 



Taxodium distichuvi, Deciduous or Bald Cypress. — 

 One of the few deciduous Conifers. It forms a handsome 

 tree, sometimes exceeding 100 feet in height, with linear 

 leaves in two ranks, variable in length. It succeeds best 

 in sheltered situations in a moderately rich moist soil 

 In moist ground it sometimes develops knee-like humpy 

 roots which project a foot or two above the ground. 

 North America, 1640. The variety pendula (Glyptostro- 

 bus pendulus) is a beautiful slender tree with extremely 



Fig. 413.— Sciadopitys verticillata. 



fine pendulous branchlets, the leaves being at first closely 

 pressed to the stem. 



Taxus. — The Yews may be known by their bright- 

 coloured fleshy-cupped fruit. Much difference of opinion 

 exists as to the number of good species. 



T. adprcssa. — Of doubtful origin, and referred by 



