236 WILSON EXPEDITION TO CHINA 



Rhamnus hupehensis Schneider, sp. n. 



Frutex 1.5-2 m. alius, an inernus?; ramuli hornotini glabri, flavo- 

 brunnei, in sicco striati, vetustiores cinerascentes; gemmae elongatae, 

 acutae, leviter curvatae, 4-6 mm. longae, squamis paucis laxis acutis 

 apice flavcscentibus basi nigrescentibus ciliatis obtectae. Folia dis- 

 tincte alterna; decidua; crasse membranacea^ ovata v. obovata, raro 

 lanceolata, basI acuta, apice subito breviter acuminata, supra viridia, 

 glabra, subtus pallidiora, nervis utrinsecus 5-8 satis parallelis, 

 sparse hirtella, margine praesertim versus apicem crasse crenato- 

 dentata, 5.5-10 cm. longa, 2.8-5 cm. lata; petioli glabri, supra sulcati, 

 10-12 mm. longi. Flores non visi. Fructus 1-2, axillares, ut videtur 

 globosi, nigri, circiter 7 mm. crassi; pedicelli 7 mm. longi, glabri; 

 pyrenae 2 dehiscentes; semina oblonga, laevia, olivacea, circiter 7 mm. 

 longa, dorse plus minusve distincte sulcata, sulco aperto2-5mm. longo. 



Western Hupeh: Fang Hsien, thickets, alt. 2000-2300 m., 

 November 1907 (No, 612). 



I am not quite convinced, that this species really belongs in the same group with 

 the foregoing species, and that it is not more nearly related to R. Wilsonii Schneider, 

 and to its related species. The nervation is somewhat intermediate between these 

 two groups and I cannot decide if the branchlets become distinctly thorny. 



Rhamnus Rosthomii Pritzel in Bot. Jahrb. XXIX. 459 (1900). 

 Schneider, III. Handb, Lauhholzk, II. 283, fig. 195 g-g^ 196 i (1909). 



Western Szech'uan: near Mao-chou, arid places, alt. 1300- 

 2000 m., May 24 and July 1908 (Nos. 872, in part, 3323, in part; bush 

 1-1.50 m. tall, flowers greenish-yellow); Mupin, thickets, alt. 1300- 

 2000 m., May and August 1908 (No. 872, in part; bush 1-1.50 m. 

 tall); Mt. Wa, thickets, alt. 1300-1700 m., September 1908 (No. 

 872*; bush 1-1.5 m. tall); near Mongkong Ting, desert of Hsao-chin 

 Ho, alt. 2300-3700 m., June 1908 (No. 3322; bush 1-3 m. tall); west 

 and near Wen-ch'uan Hsien, alt. 1600 m., September 1908 (No. 



Him; 



typ 



Schneider 



irutex valde spmosus, prostratus v. fere prostratus, ramis 1-2 m. 

 longis ; ramuli hornotini tenuissimi, minutissime pilosi, olivacei, 

 spinosi, vetustiores glabrescentes v. deinde glabri, cortice laevi colore 

 cerasi obtecti, etiam spinosisimi, rectangulares, suboppositi. FoUa 

 decidua, alterna v, subopposita, plerumque in apice ramulorum abbre- 

 viatorum conferta, membranacea, pro eenere minima, oblanceolata 



