7. CHAMÆCÝPARIS, Spach. White Cedar. Cypress.
Flowers monœcious on different branches, in terminal small catkins. Sterile flowers composed of shield-shaped scale-like filaments bearing 2–4 anther-cells under the lower margin. Fertile catkins globular, of shield-shaped scales decussate in pairs, bearing few (1–4) erect bottle-shaped ovules at base. Cone globular, firmly closed, but opening at maturity; the scales thick, pointed or bossed in the middle; the few angled or somewhat winged seeds attached to their contracted base or stalk. Cotyledons 2 or 3.—Strong-scented evergreen trees, with very small and scale-like or some awl-shaped closely appressed-imbricated leaves, distichous branchlets, and exceedingly durable wood. (From χαμαί, on the ground, and κυπάρισσος, cypress.)
1. C. sphæroídea, Spach. (White Cedar.) Leaves minute, pale, ovate or triangular-awl-shaped, often with a small gland on the back, closely imbricated in 4 rows; anther-cells 2 under each scale; cones small (3–5´´ in diameter) of about 3 pairs of scales; seeds slightly winged. (Cupressus thyoides, L.)—Swamps, S. Maine to Fla. and Miss. A tree 30–90° high, the wood and fibrous shreddy bark, as well as foliage, much as in Arbor Vitæ.
8. THÙYA, Tourn. Arbor Vitæ.
Flowers mostly monœcious on different branches, in very small terminal ovoid catkins. Stamens with a scale-like filament or connective, bearing 4 anther-cells. Fertile catkins of few imbricated scales, fixed by the base, each bearing 2 erect ovules, dry and spreading at maturity. Cotyledons 2.—Small evergreen trees, with very flat 2-ranked spray, and closely imbricated, small, appressed, persistent leaves; these of two sorts, on different or successive branchlets; one awl-shaped; the other scale-like, blunt, short, and adnate to the branch. (Θυἶα or Θύα, the ancient name of some resin-bearing evergreen.)
1. T. occidentális, L. (Arbor Vitæ. White Cedar.) Leaves appressed-imbricated in 4 rows on the 2-edged branchlets; scales of the cones pointless; seeds broadly winged all round.—Swamps and cool rocky banks, N. Brunswick to Penn., along the mountains to N. C., west to Minn. A tree 20–50° high, with pale shreddy bark, and light, soft, but very durable wood.
9. JUNÍPERUS, L. Juniper.
Flowers diœcious, or occasionally monœcious, in very small lateral catkins. Anther-cells 3–6, attached to the lower edge of the shield-shaped scale. Fertile catkins ovoid, of 3–6 fleshy coalescent scales, each 1-ovuled, in fruit forming a sort of berry, which is scaly-bracted underneath, bluish-black with white bloom. Seeds 1–3, ovate, wingless, bony. Cotyledons 2.—Evergreen trees or shrubs, with awl-shaped or scale-like rigid leaves, often of two shapes in § 2. (The classical name.)
§ 1. OXYCÉDRUS. Aments axillary; leaves in whorls of 3, free and jointed at base, linear-subulate, prickly-pointed, channelled and white glaucous above.
1. J. commùnis, L. (Common Juniper.) Shrub or small tree, with spreading or pendulous branches; leaves rigid, more or less spreading (5–9´´ long); berry dark blue (3´´ or more in diameter).—Dry sterile hills, common.