its occurrence at lower elevations, is distinguished mainly 
by the more attenuated, lanceolate and acute leaves, and 
subsequent authors have not recognised Meisner’s variety. 
Another form, which has tetramerous flowers among the 
typically pentamerous ones, was described and figured 
by Jaubert and Spach (Ill Pl. Or. vol. ii. p- 13, t. 110) 
as A. variabilis, and regarded by them as a distinct 
section (Zragatraphaxis) of the Linnean genus. Boissier, 
however, regarded this fcrm as only a variety (var. 
heterantha) of A. Billardiri, and it differs in no other 
character from the form represented in our plate, which 
has been prepared from a plant in the collection at Kew, 
obtained by purchase from Mr. F. Sundermann of 
Lindau in 1903. The only other representative of the 
genus Atraphaxis which occurs in Europe is the Crimean 
A. spinosa, Linn. In Asia, however, the genus ranges 
rather widely from Sinai, Syria, Asia Minor and the 
Caucasus over the whole of Iran and Central Asia to 
Lake Baikal. It is a distinctly xerophytic type and 
includes about a score of species, similar in habit, which, 
notwithstanding their inconspicuous flowers, produce a 
pleasing effect inthe more or less arid regions they occupy 
owing to the charming coloration of the persistent and 
accrescent perianth-segments. This characteristic is well 
manifested in A. Billardieri which, as grown on a slope 
in the Rock Garden at Kew, forms a dwarf semi-prostrate 
shrub, that thrives well and flowers freely every year in 
midsummer. 
Derscriprion.— Shrub, 13-23 ft. high, more or less prostrate, the sterile twigs 
often ultimately developing into spines ; young shoots finely puberulous; the 
bark at length greyish-brown or grey. Leaves green, glabrous, short-petioled 
and jointed at the junction with the stalk; blade rather variable in outline, 
from ovate-obtuse low down to ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate and acute, }—} in. 
long, rather thick, reticulately veined, with a slightly wavy margin; sheaths 
ultimately shorter than the internodes, with a distinct subulate hyaline tooth 
on each side. Racemes rather congested, up to 8-flowered, ending short leafy 
twigs; pedicels jointed near the middle, }-} in. long, very slender, Perianth- 
segments at length very accrescent, rosy pink except at their greenish centres, 
the 2 outer wide-elliptic, reflexed, nearly } in. long, the 3 inner erect, wide 
orbicular-cordate or reniform, # in. long or longer. Stamens 5. Styles 3, 
short ; stigmas capitate. Fruit trigonous, about half the length of the inner 
perianth segments, 
spain emesis a ee 
Tas. 8820.—Fig, 1, flower ; 2, the same with i ved 5 
3and 4, stamens; 5, pistil :—all enlarged, beara ps geile ence 
