[53] 



whereas those made of oak or of any other kind of wood had to be replaced every ten or 

 twelve years. 



In remotest antiquity the cypress was consecrated to the god of the dead. It was 

 customary to enclose a cypress branch in the tomb of the deceased and to wrap the 

 remains in its leaves. The cypress always has symbolized sadness and mourning. Ovid 

 said in the words of the oracle of Apollo: [Translator's note: referring to Cyparissus, 

 Metamorphoses 10, 126-142] 



We will mourn together now, 

 and you will mourn for others together with them in their grief. 



The pendent cypress, Cupressus pendula, hherit,[Translator's note: now possibly 

 C. lusitanica] is a small tree with pendent limbs and branches. The leaves are small with 

 sharp points and imbricate on four rows. The fruit is round. 



FLOWERS: in May and June. 



RANGE: Asia. Introduced into Portugal and from there to France. 



NOMENCLATURE. Commonly, cedar ofBousaco [Translator's note: Bucaco (or 

 Bussaco), an ancient forest in north central Portugal], Goa cypress. 



CULTIVATION. These two cypress trees, especially the one from Portugal, are 

 very vulnerable in northern France, but they withstand winters in our southern provinces. 

 They're propagated by seed planting. They must be protected from cold when they're 

 young, especially in the vicinity of Paris. Very few trees tolerate the sun's heat better than 

 the Portugal cypress. 



KEY TO PLATE. 



454. Pendent cypress. 1. Opened frail. 2. Seed. 



455. Common cypress. 1. Male flower, 2. Scale and stamens, 3. Female flower. 

 4. Fruit, longitudinal section. 5. Seed. 



