168 



PINACEiE. 



only useful for adding to the numbers of a large collection of Pinacese. 



FCETATAXUS MyrISTIGA : The Californian Yew. 



This forms a small round-headed, spreading-branched tree; from 

 twenty to forty feet in height. Its leaves are from two to three inches 

 long, and of a very pale or yellowish-green colour. It is tolerably 

 hardy, but of no economic value as a timber tree ; and only useful 

 for increasing our list of ornamental Yews. 



FCETATAXUS NUGIFKRA: The ^^ut-Eearing Yew. 



This is the Chinese " Stinking Yew ; " attaining heights of from 

 fifteen to twenty feet. It is tolerably hardy, but it has nothing to 

 recommend it to our especial notice ; it is, however, a distinct and 

 interesting form of the Yew. 



§ 3. SquAMATAXUS : The Scale-Fruited Yew. 



From the Greek word f c/ca/x/xat, the perfect tense of o-mTrrw, " dig or 

 scratch;" hence Latin squama^ "a scale or peel;" and taxus, "Yew;" 

 the fruit being composed of consolidated, yet free scales ; forming 

 a fleshy cone-like fruit. 



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

 spikes, females in globular heads. 



Leaves, alternate or scattered ; linear, lanceolate, or oblong ; sickle- 

 shaped or re-curved, and somewhat two-rowed ; green above, with a 

 glaucous band on each side of the mid-rib below : generally acute- 

 pointed, and with very short footstalks. 



Fruit, composed of several consolidated, yet, free scales, forming a 

 fleshy cone-formed berry, somewhat depressed in form, angular-sur- 

 faced ; thickly covered with spiny humps, or tubercles. Seeds, ovate 

 nut-like, and of a pale brown colour. 



SQUAMATAXUS AlBKRTIANA: PrinceAlbert's SquamousYe w. 



This is the only species we have in this Section of Taxineoe ; and a 

 very distinct and interesting little tree or large shrub it is. In its 

 native habitat, on the Patagonian Mountains, it attains heights of 

 from fifteen to thirty feet. It is somewhat too tender and delicate for 

 general planting in our chmate ; but in a warm locality, a healthy dry 

 soil, and a sheltered situation it would stand our English winters ; but 

 at best it can only be classed as a distinct species of Pinaceae : a curi- 

 ous and interesting tree in any collection of the Firs and Pines. 



§ 4. YeRATAXUS : The True Yew. 

 Flowers, male and female on different plants. 



