PICEA 93 



names are absolutely untrustworthy, and have conse- 

 quently persevered in the acquisition of "named" 

 varieties on the chance of receiving some new or rare 

 form. Too frequently one receives only one of the usual 

 Continental masqueraders, but occasionally, as in this case, 

 one is repaid by a '' find." 



This false " pygmcea " answers exactly to Loudon's 

 description. Buds, branchlets, and foliage exactly like 

 var. Clanhrasiliana, but branchlets about as long again, 

 their annual growth being about | to 1 J inches. Branches 

 and branchlets ascending at a very narrow angle, and 

 making, as he describes, a narrow ovate conical bush. 



It is curious that Florence Court should have produced 

 both the fastigiate Yew and this fastigiate form of var. 

 Clanhrasiliana. My specimen is about 3 feet by 2 feet. 



P. excelsa, var. Clanbrasiliana elegans, Seneclauze 

 (" Conif.," 25, 1868). 



Syn. : var. compacta pyramidalis, Beiss. (ii. 363) (not 

 Kew); 

 var. compacta nana, Hort. 



Buds. — Ovoid, about f inch, red-brown, borne in ones, 

 twos, threes, and fours. 



Branchlets. — Crowded, irregular in number on branches; 

 ascending; fairly stout and rigid, shiny white- grey. 

 Annual growth, 1 inch to 2 J inches. 



Leaves. — Imperfectly radial, growing thicker on top and 

 irregular in direction — on some branchlets pointing out, 

 on others pointing directly forward. 



Leaves widest near base, tapering from middle to sharp 

 apex; bright green, up to t inch. 



A compact pyramidal or broadly conical bush closely 

 related to var. Clanhrasiliana, which it resembles in colour 

 of leaf, branchlets and buds, and shape of leaf. It is, 

 however, much faster in growth, and is more irregular 

 and looser in habit. 



This form is occasionally met with under the name of 



