286 PYRUS 



long, covered with white wool ; calyx very woolly. Fruit ij to I* ins. 

 diameter, dull yellowish green. 



As has already been stated under P. coronaria, this tree is one of a closely 

 allied group of N. American crabs, but it has a more western habitat than 

 the other two, being found in the Central United States. It differs from 

 both its allies in the much more downy branchlets, leaves, and other young 

 parts of the tree (a frequent characteristic in the most western forms of 

 American trees). 



Var. FLORE PLENO. The Bechtel Crab. In the year 1891, Messrs Bechtel, 

 of Stanton, Illinois, U.S.A., sent out this beautiful double-flowered crab under 

 the name of " P. angustifolia flore pleno." In the prevailing confusion as to 

 the identity of these three species, it has also been called " P. coronaria 

 flore pleno." The individual flower, which on young healthy plants measures 

 2 to 2^ ins. across, is the finest of all the Malus group, the numerous petals 

 being of a lovely delicate pink. With a delightful odour suggestive of 

 violets, and coming into bloom in early June, this crab has a claim to 

 recognition in every garden. 



P. LATIFOLIA, Syme. SERVICE TREE OF FONTAINEBLEAU. 



(P. rotundifolia, Bechstein ; Sorbus latifolia, Persoon.") 



A tree 30 to 45 ft., sometimes over 60 ft. high ; branchlets downy when 

 young, becoming by winter shining and quite smooth. Leaves roundish 

 ovate, 2 to 4 ins. long, often nearly as wide at the base as they are long ; 

 the apex pointed, the base either truncate or broadly wedge-shaped ; margin 

 either cut into triangular, pointed lobes which are sharply toothed, or simply 

 jaggedly toothed ; smooth, dark lustrous green above, covered beneath with 

 a greyish felt ; ribs six to ten on each side ; stalk downy, ^ to i in. long. 

 Flowers white, f in. across, borne in corymbs 3 ins. wide during May ; stalks 

 and calyx very woolly. Fruits globular, ^ in. diameter, dull brownish red. 



This interesting tree was first discovered in the forest of Fontainebleau 

 early in the eighteenth century. Its origin has given rise to considerable 

 difference of opinion, but it is generally believed to be a hybrid between P. Aria 

 and P. Torminalis. In many respects, notably in shape and woolliness of 

 leaf, and in colour of fruit, it is certainly intermediate between them. Whether 

 the Fontainebleau tree be a hybrid or not (and it is said to come true from seed), 

 very similar ones found in middle Europe are almost certainly hybrids. The 

 tree in various forms is found in the west of England. It has been much 

 confused with P. intermedia, and in some of its forms approaches that tree 

 in form of leaf. But it is usually much less downy on the lower surface by 

 the end of the summer, the winter buds are paler, and the angle between the 

 marginal lobes of the leaf is wider, often ninety degrees in P. latifolia, whereas 

 in P. intermedia it is frequently a mere slit at the base. There is a very fine 

 old specimen in the Earl of Bathurst's woods at Cirencester, between 70 and 

 80 ft. high and 1 1 ft. in girth of trunk. 



P. MALIFOLIA, Spach. 

 (Sorbopyrus malifolia, C. K. Schneider?) 



The only tree with which this is likely to be confused is P. auricularis, the 

 hybrid between P. Aria and communis. P. malifolia is also palpably a hybrid, 

 and of an origin very similar to the other. Spach, who named and described 

 this tree in 1834, says the original specimen at that time grew in the 

 Menagerie du Jardin du Koi at Paris, and was 30 ft. or more high. He suggests 

 that it may be a hybrid between P. auricularis and a pear, but I think it more 



