68 
M. hypoleuca, has lately (Plantae Wilsonianae i. p. 391) been 
made a species by Messrs. Rehder and Wilson. It was originally 
introduced by the latter to the Coombe’ Wood Nursery about 
the end of 1900. From Messrs. Veitch two plants were obtained 
or the Kew collection which are succeeding very well. Probably 
it is in other collections under the name of M. hypoleuca. The 
Veitchian ‘‘ Wilson’? number is 371. 
M. officinalis is a deciduous tree 30 to 50 ft. high, its young 
shoots silky tomentose the first year, becoming glabrous the 
second and turning ultimately a yellowish grey colour. The 
1 ft. long and 9 in. wide. In outline they are obovate, the 
apex rounded, the base cuneate. The upper surface is glabrous, 
the lower one pubescent, glaucous, and minutely reticulate. 
The flower is solitary at the end of a leafy shoot, white, fragrant, 
6 to 8 in. in diameter. Sepals and petals together are nine 
to twelve in number, fleshy. Stamens very numerous, their 
filaments red, making a beautiful and conspicuous centre to the 
ower. Fruits about 4 in. high, half as wide, slightly ovoid, 
- flat at the top. 
According to Wilson this Magnolia is cultivated in Western 
Hupeh and Szechuan, but, although he has no doubt it is a 
genuine native of those regions, he did not find it growing wild. 
So far as can be judged at present, the most perceptible dis- 
tinction between cur young trees and those of J/. hypoleuta is 
in the colour of the young wood which, in the latter species, is 
purple. M. hypoleuca is also the bigger tree. 
Meliosma Beaniana, Rehder § Wilson. Sabiaceae. 
Previous to Wilson’s journeys in Central and Western China, 
the genus Meliosma was represented in gardens by a single 
rather tender species, M. myriantha, Sieb. & Zucc., introduced 
from Japan by Maries about 1879. Four other species at least, 
all apparently quite hardy, are now in cultivation, thanks to Mr. 
Wilson’s efforts. The genus Meliosma has two well-marked 
groups, those with simple leaves like JM. myriantha a : 
cunevfolia, and those with pinnate leaves. To the latter group 
A eaniana belongs. 
2 in. long, the others increasing in size towards the end, where 
they are 2} to 5 in. long and 1 to 2! in. wide, smooth or 
nearly so above, with tufts of reddish brown tomentum in the 
vein-axils beneath. The flowers, for which we may have some 
years to wait, are creamy white and borne below, but with, the 
young leaves in aprng They are in panicies up to 8 in. long; 
and, as in all Meliosmas are small and about 1 in. wide. Fruit 
black, na } in. in diameter. : 
Mr. Wilson speaks highly of the beauty of this tree as see? 
by him wild in Hupeh and Szechuan, When in flower during 
