224 ATHROTAXIS ATRAPHAXIS 



exposed part ^ to ^ in. long, diamond-shaped, convex or somewhat keeled on 

 the back, dark green. On the main branches the leaves are much larger, and 

 sharply pointed. Cones % in. diameter before expanding, scales ten or twelve. 

 A small tree, 20 to 45 ft. high in Tasmania. It is easily distinguished from the 

 other two species in the very closely appressed leaves and smaller cones. 



A. LAXIFOLIA, Hooker fil. (A. Doniana, Maule). From the preceding 

 species this differs in the longer, much less appressed leaves, the points of 

 which are sharp and incurved but quite free. Branchlets round, slender, the 

 final subdivisions (including the foliage) in. wide, bearing leaves ^ to ^ in. 

 long, ovate-lanceolate, keeled and thickened down the middle, with a sharp, 

 rather hook-like point. Cones f to f in. in diameter. A tree 25 to 35 ft. high in 

 Tasmania. I have seen fine specimens at Kilmacurragh in Co. Wicklow, and 

 at Menabilly in Cornwall. There is a good plant at Grayswood Hill, Hasle- 

 mere, and one has lived out-of-doors at Kew for a few years past. The shoots 

 rather resemble those of Sequoia gigantea, but are stronger. In cultivation the 

 tree is of densely pyramidal habit. It is intermediate in character between the 

 other two, but more resembles A. cupressoides. It is the hardiest of the genus. 



A. SELAGINOIDES, D. Don. A tree up to 40 or more ft. high in a wild 

 state, very distinct from the two preceding species in the stout branchlets and 

 in the size of the leaves, which are J to \ in. long, awl-shaped, ending in a 

 sharp point, keeled at the back, hollowed inside, and with a band of white 

 stomata each side the midrib. The leaves are incurved, but stand away from 

 the twig at angles of 30 to 45. The branchlets with their foliage are about 

 f in. in diameter. Cones I in. across, the scales tapered towards the base, and 

 with a thin, pointed, triangular apex. Good examples of this species are at 

 Kilmacurragh and Castlewellan in Ireland, and there is a healthy plant at 

 Osborne, Isle of Wight. Fossil Athrotaxis found in Sheppey is said to be 

 scarcely distinguishable from this species. 



ATRAPHAXIS. GOAT WHEAT. POLYGONACE^E. 



Four or five species of Atraphaxis are sometimes grown, but they 

 are scarcely known in gardens generally. They are amongst the few 

 hardy woody representatives of the Polygonum family ; being lax-habited 

 shrubs with alternate leaves, and pale, transparent, slender stipules that 

 clasp the stem and terminate in a point at each side. .The flowers have 

 no petals, but four or five sepals prominently veined, the inner ones of 

 which persist, keep their colour, and enlarge, ultimately surrounding the 

 fruit. Flower-stalks jointed. They are exclusively Old World plants, 

 extending in a wild state from S.E. Europe to Central Asia. As they 

 do not ripen seed in this country, at any rate commonly, they are best 

 propagated by layers. A sunny position is best for them, and a well- 

 drained sandy soil. 



A. BUXIFOLIA, Jaubert. 



(Polygonum crispulum, Sims^ Bot. Mag., t. 1065.) 



A deciduous shrub, 2 to 2j ft. high ; branches not or slightly spiny, often 

 decumbent ; young wood pale, very minutely glandular. Leaves dull green 

 obovate, oval, or roundish, \ to f in. long, from half to nearly as wide, smooth, 

 tapering at both ends, margins wavy and decurved ; stalk \ in. or less long 

 with a pale, membranous, chaffy stipule at each side j in. long. Flowers 

 pinkish white, produced in June in racemes that are I to i^ ins. long ; each 

 flower is \ in. diameter. Of the five divisions of the calyx, three remain 



