64 A HANDBOOK OF CONIFERS 



shoots, linear, |-1| in. long, convex and shining on the upper 

 side with recurved margins and a prominent midrib, paler and 

 yellowish-green beneath with ill-defined lines of stomata, gradu- 

 ally tapering at the apex to a horny point. Male and female 

 flowers usually on different trees (rarely on the same specimen). 

 Male flowers in stalked, globose heads arising from the axils of 

 the leaves on the under-sides of the branchlets of the previous 

 year, each consisting of 6-14 stamens with short filaments, anther 

 scales peltate. Female flowers solitary, green, from the leaf 

 axils. Seed erect with a bony shell, borne in a scarlet fleshy cup 

 or aril, ripening the first year. Cotyledons two. 



There are numerous varieties, of which the following are the 

 more important : — 



Var, adpressa, Carriere. 



T. adpressa, Gordon ; T. brevifolia, Hort. ; T. tardiva, Lawson. 



A female shrub of spreading habit, with densely crowded 

 branches. Leaves much shorter and relatively broader than in 

 the common form, dark dull green above, |-| in. long, elliptic 

 linear with a rounded apex ending in a short point. Seed three- 

 angled, depressed at the apex, aril broad and shallow. A very 

 distmct variety, which is stated to have arisen as a seedling among 

 other yew seedlings in the nursery of James Dickson & Sons at 

 Chester in 1838, although another account says that it appeared 

 in a bed of thorn seedlings ten years earlier. 



Var. adpressa aurea. 



Resembles the former in every respect except that the leaves 

 are conspicuously variegated with gold. 



Var. adpressa stricta. 



T. baceata adpressa erecta ; T. baccata adpressa fastigiata. 

 This form differs from the type in its stiff, erect habit and less 

 dense foliage. 



Var. adpressa variegata. 



The points of the young shoots are sometimes variegated with 

 silver. It is not very effective. 



Var. albo-variegata. 



A form with clusters of white leaves appearing amongst the 

 green foUage. The variegation is not constant and the plant is 

 not ornamental. 



Var. argentea. 



Many of the leaves are margined with white. The plant is 

 less useful than the varieties with golden foliage. 



