sparingly in N.E. Afghanistan, as in the Kuram Valley, 
where Dr. Aitchison describes its use in making a wicker- 
work which, plastered with clay, is the building material 
of the inhabitants. According to Gamble its wood, which 
is pinkish-red, hard, heavy, and very close-grained, is 
highly esteemed for walking-sticks, tent-pegs, native bowls, 
&c.; and the flexible twigs are twisted into thick ropes 
often 300 ft. long, used in the construction of bridges. 
The Royal Gardens are indebted to Mr. Robert Ellis of 
the Forest Department, Panjab, for seeds of this interesting 
plant, received in 1879. The plants raised from these have 
attained eight feet in height, three feet six inches in 
diameter, and are of a pyramidal form. They flowered in 
the Arboretum in March of the present year. Plants of it 
have also been received from our indefatigable correspon- 
dent, Mr. Max Leichtlin. As implied above, the leaves 
present no bright colours preceding their fall in autumn. 
Deser.—A shrub or small Hazel-like tree, attaining 
fifteen to twenty feet in height, with spreading, flexuous 
branches. Leaves up to four inches long and _ broad, very 
shortly petioled, orbicular, subquadrate, or very broadly 
obovate, tomentose on both surfaces with stellate hairs ; 
margin crenately toothed, sometimes obscurely lobed ; 
stipules oblong, pubescent. Flowers about twenty, in 
dense globose sessile heads, one-half to three-quarters of 
an inch in diameter, surrounded by four to six orbicular 
ae 
or obovate white unequal bracts, the largest half an inch 
diameter, which are sprinkled on the back and margins 
with a red-purple scurf ; stipules oblong, obtuse, pubescent. 
Flowers densely crowded, sessile, appearing as a head of 
golden stamens. Calyx a very small toothed pubescent 
cup embracing the pubescent ovary; teeth small, subulate. 
Petals 0. Stamens about fifteen, filaments a quarter of an 
inch long, linear, erect; anthers shortly oblong; connec- 
tive produced into an obtuse top. Ovary 2-celled, with 
two filiform sessile stigmas. Fruit a crustaceous 2-beaked 
nut, dehiscing between the beaks. Seeds oblong, smooth, 
polished.—J. D. H. 
Fig. 1, Stellate hairs; 2, flowers; 3, calyx and ovary; 4 and 5, anthers; 
6, section of ovary: all enlarged; 7, head of fruits, and 8, sced, both of the 
nat, size, 
