CONIFEK.^:. 



63 



flat and round : all of these variable leaves, are, however, more constant 

 in their colours, being of an ashy-green, or glaucous-grey. 



Cones, somewhat egg-shaped, tapering to base and apex ; scales all 

 rising from the base of the cone, the lower ones small, those extending 

 to the top being, of course, larger ; all of them having a stout blunt 

 point on their outer face, more or less curved. 



This tree, nay, rather shrub, (for it never exceeds a dozen feet in 

 height,) I term an oriental curiosity; sub-aquatic, sub-evergreen, sub- 

 everything ; and in a sub-wet soil, sub-warm locality, sub-sheltered 

 situation, it would stand a sub-English winter ; and be found a 

 sub -superlative addition to a large collection of the firs and pines. 

 Its sub-varieties are nil^ but its sub-synon}Tiis are numerous, to 

 which I have now added one more in designating it Cuprespinnata 

 Heteropliylla, 



§ 6. Thurifer^ : The Arbor- Vitae. 



From Latin TJius, Frankincense, and Fero, To bring forth ; 

 derived from the Greek Qvov^ (thuon^) and 0£|ow, {phero,) or Xifjavog, 

 (Ubanus,) doubtless from Hebrew, n3^'7- Hence the many Scrip- 

 ture names for Incense, its production, and use ; likewise the 

 many compounded terms employed in the classification and nomen- 

 clature of this and the other sections, and sub-sections of the S.D. 

 Cujoressinece : for it is from the leaves, spray, and juices of TJiuriferce, 

 when submitted to pressure or heat, that the most peculiarly exhila- 

 rating and fragrant odours are brought forth or produced : and which 

 were so much esteemed by the ancients, and by them so extensively 

 employed in their burnt-offerings, thank-offerings, and other religious 

 and festive celebrations. 



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



Leaves, generally in opposite pairs, four-rowed, small, scale-like, 

 and inlaid or imbricated ; seed-leaves from two to twelve in number. 



Cones, ovate-oblong, round, or squarrose, with from four to ten 

 scales to a cone ; seeds from two to five under each scale, and in some 

 species the seeds are winged, and in some they are wingless. 



Sub. § 1. Biota: The Oriental Arbor-Vit^. 



From Greek, (Slotyj, life, Latin, Vifa, Tree of Life. 



The disposition of their foliage is by couples, — two and two, 

 alternate on the stems. The name is also employed to distinguish 

 the Chinese or Eastern, from the American or Western Arbor- Yitses, 



