Cephalotaxus
(from kephale, a head, and Taxus, the Yew; referring to the general appearance of these trees). Cluster-flowered Yew. ORD. Coniferoe. A small genus of coniferous plants, with Yew-like foliage. Flowers dioecious, in clusters. Fruit large, plum-like, two or three together. Leaves linear, two-rowed, sharply pointed. Primary branches whorled, spreading. They are hardy, and succeed in almost any soil, but do best in sheltered spots. Propagated by seeds, or by cuttings. The latter should be inserted in August or September, in sandy soil, under handlights, or in a cold frame kept shaded during bright weather.
C. coriacea (coriaceous). A synonym of C. drupacea.
C. drupacea (drupaceous).* l. yellowish, glossy green above, glaucous beneath, crowded, 1in. to 2in. long, linear, arranged in two opposite rows. fr. purple, oval-oblong, about 1in. in length. h. 6ft. to 8ft. Japan, 1844. SYNS. C. coriacea, C. foeminea, Podocarpus coriacea.
C. filiformis (thread-like). A synonym of C. Fortunei. C. foeminea (female). A synonym of C. drupacea.
C. Fortunei (Fortune's).* l. dark green above, lighter beneath, 3in. or more long, gradually narrowing to a sharp point, arranged in two rows. Branches long, slender, pendulous. h. 6ft. to 8ft. China, 1848. Probably the species best adapted to the English climate. SYNS. C. filiformis, C. mascula, and C. pendula. (B. M. 4449.) C. mascula (male). A synonym of C. Fortunei.
C. pedunculata (peduncled).* Lord Harrington's Yew. l. bright green above, marked with two broad glaucous lines beneath, 1in. to 2in. long, arranged in two rows. fr. large, drupaceous, on long peduncles. h. 6ft. to 8ft. Japan, 1837. SYNS. Taxus Harringtoniana, T. sinensis. (G. C. n. s., xxi. 113.) The variety fastigiata (=Taxus Fortunei, T. japonica) and Podocarpus koraiana is very distinct and ornamental, having bunches as erect as the trunk, and the leaves scattered or spirally arranged around them. C. p. sphoeralis differs principally in the globular, berry-like fruits. (G. C. n. s., xxi. 117.) C. pendula (pendulous). A synonym of C. Fortunei.