62 



Illustrations of Conifers. 



PSEUDOLARIX KAEMPFERI (Gordon). GOLDEN LARCH. 



Gardener* Chronicle, Vol. XXI. p. 584 (1884) wi 



Vol. XLI. p. 844 (1907). 

 Veitch't Man. Conif. ed. 2, p. 403 (1900). 



A HANDSOME tree, resembling a larch in appearance, attaining in 

 eastern China a height of 120 to 130 feet with a trunk about 8 feet 

 in circumference. Bark brown, fissured into irregularly shaped 

 plates. Branches widely spreading. 



Branchlets of two kinds, long shoots with solitary leaves spirally 

 arranged, and short shoots or spurs bearing the leaves in tufts at 

 their extremities. Leaves deciduous, green, but turning golden before 

 falling, linear, acute 1 to 2 inches long. 



Male flowers in umbels at the tips of the lateral spurs, stalked, 

 each consisting of about 20 anthers. Cones ovoid, 2 inches long, 

 with deciduous scales, diverging at their apex, obtuse or notched at 

 the tip, each with a minute bract. Seeds two on each scale with 

 wings equalling the scale in length. 



This conifer is a native of China where Fortune discovered it 

 in the province of Chekiang and sent seeds to England in 1853. 

 It is also recorded from Kiangsi by Franchet and Wilson. It is rare 

 both as a wild tree and in cultivation, and is much valued as an or- 

 namental tree on account of its handsome foliage. A specimen was 

 planted at Bayfordbury in 1908. 



The illustration represents foliage and young cones from a tree 

 at Coombe Wood. The mature cone, collected by Maries, was kindly 

 lent by Messrs. Veitch. 



