262 WILSON EXPEDITION TO CHINA 



Fructus e basi latiore subspathulato-lanceolatus, apice acutus v. 

 raro obtusus, 2-3.5 cm. longus, 0.3-0.4 cm. latus. 



Western Szech'uan: Mupin, side of streams, alt. 1600 m., 

 August 1908 (No. 2777; tree 8 m. tall). 



This new species, certainly a member of the Omaster group, is related to Frax- 

 inns chinensisy var. acuminata, but differs from that tree in the number of the 

 leaflets and in the velvety pubescence of the vegetative parts. 



Sect. FRAXINASTER DC. 



Subsect. Melioides Endl. 



Fraxinus platypoda Oliver in Hooker^s Icon. XX. t. 1929 (1890). 

 Diels in BoL Jahrh XXIX. 531 (1900). — Schneider, III Handb. 

 Laubhohk. II. 822 (1912). 



Western Hupeh : Fang Hsien, rare, alt. 2300 m., May 1907 (No. 

 2776; tree 20 m., girth 2 m.).. 



This Ash resembles in the form of the leaves Fraxinus Paxiana Lingclsheim, 

 especially in the dilatated base of the rhachis, but can easily be distinguished by 

 the papillose epidermis of the leaves. 



Fraxinus inopinata Lingelsheim, n. sp. 



Arbor circiter 20-metralis; gemmae griseo-tomentosae; ramuli 

 cinerei, velutino-pubescentes. Folia satis petiolata, 15-30 cm, longa, 

 3-4-juga, rhachide dense pubescente instructa; foliola sessilia, sub- 

 coriacea, ambitu oblongo-elliptica, apicem versus sensim acuminata, 

 7-12 cm. longa, 2-3 cm. lata, supra glaberrima simulque impresso- 

 reticulata, laete viridia, subtus secus nervos primaries et ad basin 

 pubescentia, papillis densissime obsitis albicantia, margine crenato- 

 serrata, Panicula lateralis circiter 15 cm. longa, velutino-pubescens ; 

 flores ignoti. Fructus " periptera " (ala ad basin decurrente) ellipti- 

 cus, planus, 4-5 cm. longus, 1 cm. latus, apice obtusus v. emarginatus, 

 stigma persistente saepius coronatus, calyce pubescente irregulariter 

 fisso praeditus. 



Western Szech'uan: north-east of Tachien-Iu, Ta-p'ao-shan, 

 forests, alt. 2500-3200 m., June 1908 (No. 2779; tree 10-20 m. tall, 

 girth 1-3 m., bark gray). 



The discovery of a second Ash of the MeHoides group in China furnishes an- 

 other proof of the close relationship of the eastern North American and the Chinese 

 floras. The sterile plant might be confounded from a superficial examination 

 with some forms of Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall, but the papillose structure 

 of the epidermis of the leaflets resembles more closely that of Fraxinus americana 

 Linnaeus. The leaves of this new Ash are similar to those of Fraxinus platypoda 

 Oliver, but differ from them in the absence of the dilatation of the rhachis. 



