plants raised from seed obtained by Wilson have proved 
quite hardy. From one of these plants, which flowered 
in July, 1909, was obtained the material on which our 
figure is based. The genus Meliosma has a special interest 
for growers of ornamental shrubs owing to its being the 
only genus of the family Sabiaceae members of which can 
be grown in the open air in the average climate of Great 
Britain. Indeed, prior to the introduction of JL euneifolia, 
the only one that had flowered in England was M. myriantha, 
Sieb. & Zuce., which is, however, much more tender, and 
is only suitable for the mildest parts of this country. 
Botanically the two species are very closely allied, and our 
plant differs chiefly from M. myriantha, which is a native 
of Japan and Corea, in having the leaves narrowly cuneate 
at the base. Another very nearly allied species is M. 
dilleniaefolia, Wall., from Northern India; from this latter, 
which is not hardy, our plant is readily distinguished by 
its smaller leaves, which are glabrous except on the mid- 
rib and lateral nerves. A third species, M. Veitchiorum, 
Hemsl. (Kew Bulletin for 1906, p. 155, and for 1910, 
p. 173, with plate), from the highlands of Central China, 
also nearly allied but with much larger and entire leaflets, 
shares with our plant the advantage of being hardy ont of 
doors in Southern England. There is a considerable degree 
of variation in the amount of tomentum on the ovary in 
M. cuneifolia; the original specimens on which the species 
was based have distinctly pubescent ovaries, while those 
raised from Wilson’s seed have the ovaries quite glabrous. 
Intermediate conditions, however, occur, and in other 
respects the specimens are identical. In a wild state 
M. cuneifolia attains the dimensions of a tree; in cultiva- 
tion the plants, which now flower annually in July, form 
healthy bushes 4-5 feet high. They have not. yet ripened 
fruits, so that for their propagation recourse will probably 
have to be had to layering. 
Derscriprion.— Tree or shrub; bark glabrous. Leaves 
narrowly obovate-cuneate, acute or at times shortly and 
abruptly acuminate, gradually narrowed to the base, 
margin repandly toothed, 24-7 in, long, 4-3 in. wide, firm, 
puberulous along the midrib and nerves and with tufts of 
hairs in the nerve angles beneath, elsewhere elabrous ; 
