(also Retinispora), a unique form occurring in coniferous plants of the family Cupressaceae. The plants, which are used in ornamental horticulture, have acerate needles that are declinate from the branches. (Such needles do not normally characterize adult plants of the family Cupressaceae.) Young plants raised from the seeds of the dwarf cypress or, less often, the seeds of cypress or arborvitae are propagated by cuttings. If the cuttings are made at a very early age, the acerate leaves are retained for several years and are then replaced by the usual scalelike needles. This phenomenon does not occur with propagation by seeds. At one time the plants were erroneously thought to be an independent genus.