which is characterized by having villous anthers. This 
section includes the two species D. Ruyschiana, Linn., and 
D. austriacum, Linn. To these two plants D. argunense 
is very closely allied, especially to the former, from which 
it is only to be satisfactorily distinguished by its much 
larger flowers; the latter, which agrees with our plant as 
regards the size of its flowers, is readily distinguished by 
being much more hairy and by usually having divided 
leaves whose segments are spinescent at the tip. In his 
recent Flora Mandshuriae, however, Mr. Komarov has 
retained D. argunense as a distinct species, a decision with 
which we fully concur. Komarov also unites with our 
plant the Japanese one described by the late Professor Gray 
as D. Ruyschianum, var. japonicum, though it has to be 
remarked that the specimens of this Japanese plant in the 
Kew herbarium have the calyx much more hairy. The 
typical form, now figured, is a native of Dahuria, 
Mandshuria, the Amur region and the province of Chili 
in North China. It is an old denizen of European gardens, 
having been first introduced in 1822. The Japanese form 
was apparently first introduced by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, 
who had it in cultivation at Coombe Wood in 1879, when 
it was figured in the Gardeners’ Chronicle under the name 
suggested by Gray. This introduction was effected through 
the agency of the late Mr. C. Maries, who had obtained the 
plant on the central mountains of Japan. The reintro- 
duction of the typical form has again been due to Messrs. 
Veitch, who received’ seeds in October, 1909, from their 
collector, Mr. W. Purdom. These seeds were obtained at 
Weichang in Northern Chili; the plants raised therefrom 
reached a flowering size in August, 1910, when the material 
on which the accompanying figure has been based was sent 
from Coombe Wood, where, Messrs. Veitch inform us, the 
plant grows well in good sandy loam and in a sunny 
situation. 
Descriprion.— Herb, perennial; stems slender, usualiy 
several, simple, 1-2 ft. high, more or less hairy, especially 
at the nodes, sometimes nearly glabrous lower down. 
Leaves linear, linear-lanceolate or lanceolate, 14-23 in. long, 
1-2 rarely as much as 5 lin. wide, obtuse, or occasionally 
slightly emarginate, narrowed at the base to a very short 
