PIGEA 101 



narrowly conical. Largest specimen, 4 feet 6 inches by 

 2 feet 6 inches. Owing to the fact that the lower branches 

 on all these specimens have been cut away to show the 

 trunk, the dimensions through them are smaller than one 

 would expect in plants of this age and height 



The first mention of var. pygmcea, is Loudon's de- 

 scription of it in 1837, when the Leonardslee specimens 

 would be already over forty- five years old. He describes 

 it as a form only recently seen in London, having been 

 planted in the Horticultural Society's Gardens in 1835, 

 and in 1837 being 6 inches high. It is possible that the 

 age of the Leonardslee specimens when Veitch bought 

 them from shorn' s was over- stated, as, if true, it would 

 make this form as old, or older than, the original var. 

 Clanbrasiliana (a plant of which had been growing in 

 London for over thirty years when Loudon described it 

 and var. pygmcea). But even if we do not accept their age as 

 stated, we may very fairly assume that they must be very 

 early propagations of probably the original " mother 

 plant " of this variety, and they are as interesting in 

 their way as is the plant of var. Clanbrasiliana at Tully- 

 more Park, which is stated to be either the original mother 

 plant or the earhest propagation existent of that variety. 



P. excelsa, var. nidiformis, Beiss. (ii. 235 and 630). 



Buds. — Small — about J inch, conical, acute, dark brown. 



Branches. — Very crowded and ascending. 



Branchlets. — Annual growth | inch to If inches. Light 

 whitey-brown ; very densely crowded, spreading, and 

 very fine, all pointing forward at an acute angle and 

 upward. Tips sometimes decurving. 



Leaves. — Pectinate, branchlets bare below; lower ranks 

 point out at right angles or slightly forward, above (few), 

 pointing forward and slightly up. Very flat, thin, narrow, 

 dark green; slightly curved; about | inch long; apex 

 abruptly tapering to a slightly incurved cartilaginous 

 point. About two to three stomatic lines on each side. 



