110 DWABF AND SLOW-GROWING C0NIFEB8 



Nos. 1 and 2 are very similar. Beissner describes them 

 as having a more or less erect leader with pendulous 

 branches (in some cases the branches hang almost straight 

 down, as if they were clinging to the main stem). Beissner 

 records many specimens having sKght variations, but in 

 Nos. 1 and 2, at any rate, the tendency is for the trees to 

 form upright leaders, and he mentions specimens of nearly 

 60 feet in height. 



As regards No. 3, Beissner distinguishes it from the others 

 as a low pendulous bush, but the matter is not quite clear. 

 The owner of one well-known nursery that speciaUses in 

 dwarf conifers informs me that he has imported many 

 of these forms from various sources, and he finds them all 

 liable to (a) throw up a leader and grow as Nos. 1 or 2, 

 or (6) " knuckle over " and form a pendulous bush as No. 3. 

 He states that plants from the same consignment may 

 grow on in either of these ways. I grow both forms; I 

 have not yet propagated the upright form, but I have 

 young plants of No. 3 which so far show no signs of throw- 

 ing up a leader. Form No. 3 is one of the most effective 

 of all conifers for high rocks. My old plant started to 

 throw up a leader, but about 8 inches from the ground it 

 suddenly " knuckled over " Hke a bent finger with the 

 knuckle on top, and from the end of the " finger " a wide 

 mat of branches and branchlets has flowed down the side 

 of one big rock, run along the ground, and is now going 

 down the face of another rock. The growth is almost as 

 strong and vigorous as that of the normal P. excelsa. 

 FoUage very deep green and branchlets red-yellow. This 

 No. 3 form is labelled " var. reflexa." 



In any case, from the number of old specimens of Nos. 1 

 and 2 recorded by Beissner, it would seem clear that, once 

 having thrown up a leader, the upright form maintains 

 the character of an arborescent tree, and as such is unsuit- 

 able for retention amongst dwarf conifers. On the whole I 

 am inclined to retain two names, retaining the oldest name, 

 var. pendula, for Nos. 1 and 2, and var. reflexa for No. 3. 



