THE FIR AND CYPRESS FAMILY. 



199 



Bidwilli are natives of Queensland, the latter being called 

 " Bunya Bnnya,"and the natives periodically visit the forests 

 for the purpose of eating the nuts. They are all valuable 

 timber trees, but tender in this country. Fine specimens 

 may, however, be seen at Kew, two of A. excelsa being intro- 

 duced in 1793, and now form ornamental trees in the con- 

 servatory. 



Eedwood {Sequoia sempervirens). A native of California, 

 attaining the height of more than 300 feet. It has been intro- 

 duced to this country and found perfectly hardy, some 

 specimens being from 30 to 40 feet high, forming fine orna- 

 mental trees. 



Mammoth Tree {Sequoia gigantea). This was supposed to 

 be a distinct genus from Sequoia, and on account of its large 

 size English botanists named it after the great warrioi-, the 

 Duke of Wellington, thus giving it the name of Wellingtonia 

 gigantea. Careful examination has, however, shown me that 

 it is in no way distinct as a genus from Sequoia. It is a 

 native of California, and for some time was thought only to 

 grow in one locality, called the Mammoth grove ; it has, 

 however, been found in several other mountain ranges, but 

 not equal to the size first discovered. Its immense size was 

 well known to visitors to the Crystal Palace, by a portion of 

 the thick bark of one of the trees being set up in the position 

 it occupied when growing, showing its natural dimensions ; 

 the height of the tree felled being 327 feet, and 30 feet in 

 diameter at the ground.* The wood is soft and not durable. 

 It grows freely and fast in this country, forming as yet a 

 very ornamental tree, some having already attained the 

 height of 30 feet. 



Deciduous Cypress {Taxodium distichuTn). A tree of con- 

 siderable size, native of the Southern United States, having 

 horizontal branches, and small flat leaves set in two rows 

 (distichous), and are deciduous ; it is perfectly hardy in this 

 country, attaining the height of 50 or more feet. Its heart 



* Destroyed by fire in 1867. 



