TICEA 117 



gracilis, but looser and not quite so stiff. Another form 

 differs from that described above only in the colour of its 

 branchlets, which are orange, and its shape, which is a 

 broad rather flat-topped bush. 



P. excelsa, var. nana, Carr. (" Conif.," 2nd ed., 332); 

 Beiss. (ii. 235). 

 Syn.: var. brevifolia, Cripps (Beiss., not Gord.). 



Buds. — Variable in size; round, flat-topped; orange- 

 brown. 



Branches. — Ascending; obliquely spreading. 



Branchlets. — Short; annual growth ^ to 1 inch; thick; 

 rigid; bright orange- yellow; pulvini strongly marked. 

 Often swollen or monstrous, rarely fasciated. 



Leaves. — Arranged radially and almost appressed; 

 about J inch, but varying in size with that of branchlet; 

 thick, widest at lower third; stiff, abruptly tapering to 

 sharp point. Leaves few and set wide apart. Size of 

 branchlets and leaves very irregular, especially on top of 

 the plant, where often abnormally thick branchlets bear- 

 ing larger and thicker leaves and very stout buds crop out. 



A very distinct and abnormal slow-growing form, 

 making a conical or flattened globose bush of very crowded 

 ascending branches and short branchlets. The abnormal 

 branches which appear on the top and occasionally stick 

 out at the sides of the plant are very distinct, and in 

 consequence the form is particularly easy to recognise. 

 Notwithstanding this, it never appears to be sent out 

 under its own name. I have seen and also received it as 

 vars. Gregoriana, pygmcea, and elegans f 



Two plants over twenty-five years old at Fenagh, Co. 

 Carlow, now measure 2 feet 7 inches and 2 feet 10 inches 

 respectively by about 2 feet diameter. 



Beissner makes var. brevifolia (Cripps, not Whitrock) 

 a synonym of this, but from the earher description of 

 Cripps' var. brevifolia in Gordon's " Pinetum " (1875, 

 p. 7) it is quite distinct. 



