148 BWABF AND SLOW-GROWING CONIFERS 



P. sylvestris viridis compacta, Hort. 



Buds. — Oval; very pointed; J to J inch; crimson-red; 

 very resinous. 



Branchlets. — Annual growth ij to 2 inches; green- 

 yellow. 



Leaves. — In twos, stiff; much twisted; ij to 3 inches; 

 deep lustrous green both sides ; margins serrulate. Leaf- 

 sheath about yV inch ; red-brown. A fairly slow-growing 

 small conical tree of very open growth, distinct on account 

 of its vivid grass-green foliage. 



P. sylvestris, var. saxatilis, Carr. (" Conif.," ii. 483, 1867). 



Carriere describes this as a prostrate, spreading shrub — 

 branchlets very numerous and slender, leaves 12 to 25 mm. 

 long — which was found by M. Seneclauze. When Carriere 

 examined it, it had made no leading shoot, but was flat 

 on the grass like a mat. It was of dehcate constitution, 

 and there is no trace of it or of propagations from it. 

 Recently I found a similar absolutely prostrate form which 

 is now in my garden; it has made a similar mat about 

 4 inches high and 2 feet across. 



PODOCARPUS. 



Of the many podocarps which inhabit Australia and 

 South America, there are only three which I can consider 

 hardy in this climate. They are akin to the yews. 



Podocarpus alpina, R. Brown. 



Habit drooping. 



Branchlets. — Slender ; interlacing in whorls ; smooth and 

 green. 



Leaves. — About J by t2 inch linear ; base tapering ; apex 

 round or pointed; dark green (not shining) above, paler 

 with stomatic bands beneath. 



Fruit. — Red; J inch in diameter. 



Inhabits Victoria and Tasmania, and grows very slowly. 

 Thirty-year-old plants at Kew are only 4 feet high. 



