SKETCH OF THE CONIFERS OF JAPAN". 



411 



practically resolve themselves into one authority only, namely, that 

 of the first describers, Siebold and Zuccariui, whose statements 

 alone rest upon actual observation, those of the other authors 

 being merely transcripts of or opinions formed from a perusal of 

 their descriptions, \Yith the exception of Carriere, who appears to 

 have had an opportunity of examining Siebold's specimens of the 

 leaves and brancblets of the so-called A. bifida. 



Siebold and Zuccariai's materials, however (at least, so far as 

 regards that variety, and probably as regards both), extended no 

 further than leaves and twigs ; the more essential portions 

 (flowers and fruit) not having come into their possession. They 

 tell us, that ** they had only seen this fir in cultivation, and 

 unfortunately without flowers or fruit; " and further, '* tbey had 

 only received from their Japanese friends fragments with leaves " 

 (et de meme nous neregumes de nos amis Japonais qxie des echan- 

 tillons a Jeuilles.) A legitimate inference from this expression 

 seems to be, that although they may have seen it growing, their 

 botanical and specific examination was not made upon the trees 

 they saw, but on the '' echantillons a feuilles" which they 

 received from their Japanese friends. This is a matter of some 

 importance in deciding on the value to be attached to their 



observations, for it now turns 

 out that the character on which 

 they depend as readily dis- 

 tinguishing their A, bifida 

 from A,Jirma, is a mere phase 



yna at a 



fi 



neighbouring 



particular stage of its growth. 



They say " besides, it is 



sufficiently distinguished from 



species by the 

 termination of its leaves cut 

 out 'into two sharp points/* 

 The outline (fig. 75) is copied 

 from Siebold and Zuccarini's 

 drawing of the leaf In 

 other respects their description 



and figure of A. hifid 



show 



Under side. Fig. 75. Upper side. ^^ ess'ential difference from 



ose they have given of A.Jirma, 



As to their A, homolejns, it would almost seem that they were 



