CONIFEK^. 



59 



Cones, small, ranging from acorns to walnuts in size, and roundish, 

 or globular in form : scales entire, minus bracts, imbricated, uneven 

 surfaced, and somewhat wedge-shaped ; seeds in twos, threes, or fives 

 under each scale, with their wing appendage small, and the shell thin 

 and rispid. 



ArTHROTAXIS CuPRESSOIDES : The Cypress-like. 



This attains heights of from fifteen to thirty feet in Tasmania, and 

 forms a numerously-branched, straight-stemmed, little tree ; with 

 slender, spreading, and pendent branchlets, which are thickly clothed 

 with the small, thick, smooth, shining, and scale-like leaves. There 

 are several forms of it ; two of which, Laxifolia, (open or loose-leaved,) 

 and Imhricata^ (imbricated-leaved,) may or may not be quasi-species ; 

 but all of them being from Van Dieman's Land, are somewhat too 

 tender and delicate for our climate. Yet, in a good healthy soil, and 

 warm locality, or sheltered situation, it deserves a place as a distinct 

 and interesting conifer. 



ARTHROTAXIS SelaGINOIDES: The Selago-like Cypress. 



This also is a native of Tasmania ; an alter ego of Cupressoides : a 

 spreading evergreen bush, with forked or trident-like branches, and 

 the branchlets covered with small, ovate, leathery, incurved scale-like 

 leaves, which are somewhat convex and keeled ; at first light, changing 

 to dark glossy green. It is somewhat too tender for the climate of 

 Britain, and so is the quasi Tetragona, 



§ 3. CryptOMERIA: The Cedar-like Cypress. 



From KpvTTTog, hidden, and Mepog, a part; in some of its dis- 

 tinguishing characteristics obscurely related to the Cedar, while in 

 most more related to the Cypress. 



Flowers, male and female, upon the same plant, but separate. 



Leaves, generally disposed in five rows, alternate, sickle-shaped, 

 somewhat four- sided, acute-pointed, persistent, and comparatively small, 

 and minus footstalks ; seed-leaves generally in threes, sometimes in 

 twos, sometimes in fours. 



Cones, small, globular, loosely imbricated, singly or in gregarious 

 clusters on the branches ; minus footstalks ; seeds generally from three 

 to seven under each scale and crustaceous. 



CRYPTOMERIA JapONIGA : The Japan Cedar. 



This is a Japanese, and a most distinct conifer, but it is all that 

 can be advanced in its favour ; for although hardy enough for our 

 ordinary winters, it is much too dainty and fastidious in its likes and 

 dislikes of soil and situation; and will never succeed, much less luxu- 



