Libocedrus
(from libanos, incense, and Cedrus, the Cedar; referring to the fragrant wood). Incense Cedar. ORD. Coniferae. A genus comprising eight species of handsome hardy or half-hardy evergreen trees, with the habit of Thuya (under which the present genus was formerly included). Two are natives of Chili, two of New Zealand, and one each of New Caledonia, Japan, China, and California. Flowers monoecious, or male and female on same plant, but separate and terminal; male catkins almost cylindrical; female ones solitary and globular. Leaves scale-formed, compressed in opposite pairs, and in four imbricated rows, the under and upper ones much the smallest. Cones oval, more or less obtuse, woody, composed of from four to six scales, which are flat, or slightly concave on the inner face, For culture, see Thuya. L. chilensis (Chilian). l. glaucous-green, oblong-trigonous, appressed, obtuse. Branches compressed, spreading, pendulous, but somewhat ascending towards the summit, and quite erect at the top. cones 1/2in. long, drooping, on short footstalks. h. 60ft. to 80ft. Chili. This handsome, densely-branched, conical tree is not hardy except in favourable situations, and only attains a shrub-like aspect. The wood possesses an aromatic fragrance, and is very hard and yellowish. SYN. Thuya chilensis. (L. & P. F. G. i. 47.) A variety known as viridis is a handsome form of the type, having bright green foliage, and branchlets entirely devoid of glaucous bands.
L. decurrens (decurrent).* l. bright rich glossy green, small, linear, scale-like, quadrifariously imbricated, acute at the free apex, with long decurrent base, elongated on the older branches. Branchlets numerous, alternate, and plaited or flattened laterally. cones erect, solitary, on the ends of the upper branchlets, 1in. or more long, 1/2in. wide, olive-brown. h. (in its native habitat) 40ft. to 140ft. Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. A handsome, distinct, erect, compact-growing tree, with a stout trunk, distinguished by its glandless decurrent leaves and columnar habit. SYN. Thuya gigantea, of gardens. (W. & F. 1884, 191.) L. Doniana (Don's). l. very like those of L. chilensis, but more closely set on the branchlets, and without any silvery line on the under surface. Branches spreading, tortuous, with flattened fern-like branchlets. h. 30ft. to 70ft. New Zealand, 1847. A very beautiful species where it can thrive well, but it is exceedingly tender in our climate. SYN. Thuya Doniana. L. tetragona (four-sided). l. small, ovate, scale-like, obtuse, pale green, imbricated in four rows. Branches spreading, depressed; branchlets tetragonal. cones consisting of six coriaceous scales, in three pairs. h. 40ft. to 80ft. Patagonia, 1849. A handsome, compact, pyramidal shrub or tree, more hardy than the others generally. It is, however, rarely seen in our gardens. SYN. Thuya tetragona. (G. C. 1850, 439.)