60 



riate, unless in good, sweet, moist soils, or in a warm locality or well 

 sheltered situation, where, if the sub-strata were basaltic, granitic, or 

 stony debris, it would form a most handsome ornamental tree, and 

 attain a height of fifty to seventy feet. Its wood is soft, short-fibred, 

 very white, brittle, easily wrought, but not durable unless kept 

 dry, or preserved by paint, and it is of no economic value as a timber 

 tree ; but most useful as an ornamental one. 



There are several varietiesof it ; the most noticesLblQloemg Araucai^oides, 

 (araucaria-like,) Nana, (the dwarf,) Variegata, (variegated-leaved), and 

 Viridis, (the very green-leaved.) There is also an Elegans, a misnamed 

 but somewhat distinct quasi-species, and a much less elegant plant 

 than Japonica. 



§ 4. CupRESSTELLATA: The Star-coned C}i)ress. 



From Latin cujpressus, the cypress, and stella, sl star; a compound 

 word, used to suit my purpose in an adopted term for the classification 

 and nomenclature of this section of the numerous species of the S.D. 

 Cupressinece. . Their star- formed cones, and the construction of them, 

 being the distinguishing characteristic. 



Leaves, generally in whorls of three, exceptionally in twos or fours; 

 disposed at acute angles, ovate-oblong, tapering to apex, but somewhat 

 blunt-pointed ; broad at base, and minus footstalks ; small, but of 

 various sizes, being from one to six Hnes in length, more or less spread- 

 ing on young shoots, on adult branches closely imbricated : when 

 young deep green, with two conspicuous silvery bands on both faces, 

 but when old the glaucous hue and silvery stripes disappear, and the 

 leaves assume a lighter, or yellowish-green colour. 



Cones, these are small star-like formations, being composed of soft 

 glands or club scales; generally the three upper ones the most con- 

 spicuous, the three lower ones the smallest, the three middle ones in- 

 termediate and generally fertile or seed producing ; but sometimes there 

 are only six scales to a cone. Seeds, these are also very irregularly 

 disposed : generally three seeds are found under each fertile scale, 

 sometimes the centre one attached to the scale, and the other two to 

 the axil, while sometimes two are on the scale and three on the axil ; 

 the seeds are generally erect, with an ample wing appendage. 



CUPRESSTELLATA PataGONICA : The Patagonian Star- 

 coned C}^ress. 



This is of recent introduction, a very distinct conifer, and botanically 

 considered a very interesting tree. It attains heights of from fifty to 

 one hunded feet, but it is somewhat too delicate in constitution for 



