76 



PINACE^. 



and well sheltered situation, it would form a handsome small-sized 

 tree, or large shrub in these isles. 



Sub. § 3. RktiNOSPORA : Eesinous-Seeded Cypress. 



Erom Greek pr)TivTj, retine ; Latin resina, resin ; and cTropa, 

 s2J07'a, seed : their seeds being regularly coated with a resinous 

 pitch. 



Flowers, male and female, on the same plant, but separate ; males 

 cylindrical in form ; females small and rounded, generally both on the 

 same branches and terminal. 



Leaves, linear, scale-formed, sickle-shaped, angular, flat, ovate, 

 rhomboid, or rounded; some acute and some blunt-pointed, some 

 spiral, some reflexed, generally in opposite pairs and four-rowed, in 

 some in threes or fours in whorls : some spreading, others closely 

 pressed to the stems; from one-twelfth to three-eighths of an inch 

 long ; rich green in colour, and with more or less conspicuous silvery 

 bands, some on the upper face, others have them on their lower face : 

 all the leaves are very persistent, generally remaining on the plant for 

 five or seven years. 



Cones, about the size of peas or small beans, ovate or globular in 

 form ; at first yellowish-green, changing to yellowish-brown as they 

 arrive at maturity : scales from six to twelve in number, wedge- 

 shaped, angular, ovate, rhomboid, and woody : seeds small, resinous, 

 and winged, generally two under each scale. 



We have, in this Sub-Section, a small group of real beauties, some of 

 which are said to attain a height of one hundred feet in their native 

 habitat, Japan ; yet, although, they produce good timber, none of them 

 will eYQT be of any economic value as timber trees in this country. 

 They are, however, most beautiful shrubs or small trees while in the 

 young state; but all of them require the best soils, warmest localities, 

 and best sheltered situations to ensure their life or growth in this 

 country. 



RetINOSPORA ERIGIODES \ The Heath-like. 

 This is a most beautiful, compact, conical, slender-branched, little 

 evergreen bush, never exceeding a couple of yards in height. 

 ReTINOSPORA ObTUSA: The Obtuse. 



This is the largest sized of the group, but it will never attain any- 

 thing more than a large shrub or small tree stature in this country ; in a 

 good soil, warm and sheltered situation, it will form a nice compact 

 growing shrub. There are the following varieties of it : — Argentea, 

 (the silvery,) Aurea, (the golden,) Lycopodioides, (clubmoss-like,) 



