PYRUS 293 



the most ornamental of all true pears. Its leaves and flowers often open 

 simultaneously, and it then presents a very charming picture, the willow-like 

 leaves being of a conspicuous silky white. After the flowers fade, the leaves 

 remain silvery for some weeks, gradually, however, becoming greener on the 

 upper surface. The fruit is harsh to the palate, and of no value. 



Var. PENDULA is a very elegant tree, with the branches more drooping 

 than ordinary ; but in the type they are more or less pendulous. 



P. SAMBUCIFOLIA, Chamisso and Schlectendahl. 



There is no more confusing term in connection with the mountain ash 

 group than " P. sp.mbucifolia." It appears to have been applied to what are 

 by some authors regarded as four distinct species. The true thing is regarded 

 as confined to N.E. Asia, and is probably not in cultivation. In Western 

 N. America the tree commonly called " P. sambucifolia " has been made a 

 distinct species by Prof. Greene ; it is P. SCOPULINA (Sorbus scopulina, 

 Greene]. A small erect tree 4 to 12 ft. high, witfi thick, erect branches. The 

 leaflets, seven to fifteen in number, are broader and more abruptly narrowed 

 at the apex than in P. americana. The flowers and fruits are larger, the 

 latter of a bright red and in trusses 4 to 6 ins. across. P. scopulina is, I 

 think, represented in gardens by the mountain ash known generally as 

 " P. americana nana, :; the stiffest, stoutest, and most erect branched of any. 



The " P. sambucifolia " of the eastern side of N. America is Sargent's 

 P. americana decora, which, he says, is connected with typical P. americana 

 (g.v.} by intermediate forms. Finally, in Japan, is P. MATSUMURANA, 

 Makino, a small tree with smooth shoots and winter buds, the leaflets only 

 toothed at the terminal half. 



P. SARGENTII. 



(Malus Sargentii, Rehder ; Sargent's Trees and Shrubs, i., t. 37.) 



A shrub of bushy habit 3 to 5 ft. high ; young shoots downy. Leaves 

 ovate or oval, 2 to 3 ins. long, i to 2 ins. wide ; pointed at the apex, rounded 

 or slightly heart-shaped at the base, often three-lobed, sharply toothed ; 

 woolly when quite .young, becoming nearly smooth before falling ; stalks 

 downy, \ to i in. long. Flowers pure white, I in. across, produced in clusters 

 of five or six, each on a stalk i to i ins. long ; calyx smooth outside, woolly 

 within. Fruit orange-shaped, \ in. wide, bright red, the apex marked by the 

 scar of the fallen calyx. 



I only know this species by a small specimen sent to Kew by Prof. 

 Sargent in 1908, but it appears to be a pretty plant, and distinct among crabs 

 by its purely bushy habit. It was originally discovered by Sargent in 1892 

 near a brackish marsh, Mororan, Japan, and was named in his honour by 

 Mr Rehder in 1903 (loc. cit. supra}. The author observes that it is most 

 nearly related to P. Toringo, but differs in its larger, pure white flowers with 

 broad overlapping petals and in its larger fruits. From another ally, P. Zumi, 

 it is distinguished by "its broader, often lobed leaves, the shape of the 

 [broader based] petals, the glabrous calyx-tube and the habit." 



P. SCHEIDECKERI, Spatk. 

 (Malus Scheideckeri, ZabtL) 



A tree eventually 20 to 30 ft. high, branches somewhat erect on young 

 trees ; shoots grey-downy early in the season, becoming smooth later. 

 Leaves ovate, rounded or tapering at the base, pointed, coarsely and sharply 



