66 A HANDBOOK OF CONIFERS 



Var. epacridioides. 

 A dwarf erect bush with small leaves rarely more than | in. 

 long, which turn bronze in winter. 



Var. erecta. 



T. baccata stricta ; T. baccata Crowderi. 



Of close, erect habit and formal outline. Leaves deep green 

 up to I in. long. Although of stiff habit it is less compact than 

 the Irish yew. 



Var. ericoides. 



T. baccata empetrifolia ; T. baccata microphylla ; T. baccata Mitchellii. 

 A low spreading plant suitable for the rockery. Leaves 

 small, bronze or purple in winter. 



Var. expansa. 



A very distinct variety of erect and pleasing habit, readily 

 distinguished by its large leaves (1-1| in. long), which show the 

 pale green of the undcr-surface in striking contrast to the rich 

 dark green of the upper surface. 



Var. fastigiata, Loudon. 

 Irish Yew. 



T. fastigiata, LincUey ; T. hibernica, Hooker. Florence Court Yew. 



Columnar and compact in habit, the branches and branchlets 

 directed upwards. Leaves spreading all round the shoot, the 

 apex more or less obtuse. Only female trees are known, which 

 is accounted for by the fact that the two original Irish yews found 

 near Florence Court by a farmer named Willis about 1780 were 

 females and from one of these all the existing trees have been 

 obtained by cuttings or by grafts. One of these trees, planted by 

 Willis in his own garden, died in 1865, the other was presented 

 to his landlord and planted at Florence Court. The first cuttings 

 were given by the Earl of Enniskillen to the London nurserymen, 

 Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, in 1867, and by them the plant was 

 distributed later. 



Var. fastigiata argentea. 



Patches of silvery foliage sometimes occur. The form is of 

 little horticultural value. 



Var. fastigiata aurea, Standish, 



Golden Irish Yew. 



This differs from the type by its golden leaves. It is, however, 

 a variable plant and the colour of the foliage varies in shade 



