[IfaafiK, the yew, and eidca, form ; the foliage having the habit of that plant.]

Flowers monoecious, on the same branches. Staminate aments nume-
rous, arranged in a terminal pyramidal spike or raceme. Stamens few,
inserted towards the apex of the axis, which is naked at base ; filaments
short, thick, produced into a scale-like excentrically peltate connective
bearing 2-5 anther-cells. FERTn.E aments roundish-obovoid, sessile in
pairs at the base of the staminate spike ; scales numerous, inserted on
the axis, imbricated, acute, recurved-spreading at apex. Ovules 2 at the
base of each scale, sessile, erect, perforate at summit. Cone subglobose,
formed of angular subpeltate woody scales. Seeds angular ; embryo in
the axis of scanty albumen ; cotyledons 6-9.
1. T. dis'tichnm, Rich, Le&ves flat, pinnately arranged on short slen-
der deciduous branches which resemble common petioles.
Distichous Taxodium. Cypress. Bald Cypress.
Fio. 239. A scale from a staminate ament of Cypress (Cupressus), with the anthers at
its base. 240. A scale from a pistillate ament, with numerous ovules at its base. 241.
A cone.
Digitized



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342 WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS.
Stem 80-100 feet high, fastigiately branched at summit ; the trunk 2-4 feet, or more,
in diameter, often abruptly and much enlarged at base ; the creeping or spreading roots
protruding a number of large conical hollow hndbs above the surface of the ground.
Leaves one-third to half an inch long, sublinear, acute, pinnately or distichously arranged
on alternate slender herbaceous branches (which rather resemble common petioles) 1-2
or 3 inches in length ; a number of leaves are also solitary, and scattered on the woody
branches.
Swamps, along large streams : Delaware to Louisiana. Fl. Feb. -April. JV. Sept. -
October.
