CERCIDIPHYLLACEAE. — CERCIDIPHYLLUM 317 



park-like areas or glades, always in moist situations where the soil is rich; a favor- 

 ite site is alongside the mountain torrents. 



This Chinese tree is now in cultivation and, for the present at any rate, it would 

 appear best to consider it as a variety distinct from the Japanese type. In time 

 we may learn more from the cultivated trees of both forms and their taxonomic 

 rank may then be more accurately determined. 



The Chinese Cercidiphyllum is abundant in the mountains of the Lungan pre- 

 fecture, in north-western Szech'uan, and trees of huge dimensions occur. It is 

 fairly common around the base of Wa-wu-shan in the Yachou prefecture, western 

 Szech'uan. In the highlands of the Han-Yangtsze divide, in the districts of Hsing- 

 shan and Fang, western Hupeh, it is also plentiful. Both in height and girth this 

 tree exceeds all other broad-leaved deciduous trees known from China. It attains 

 a great age and is very tenacious of life. Old, hollow stumps of trees, broken 

 down by winds and partially destroyed by fire, still continue to develop green, 

 leafy branches until utterly destroyed and up-rooted. Owing doubtless to some 

 obscure resemblance in the foliage and general appearance of the two trees the 

 Cercidiphyllum is colloquially known by the same name as the Ginkgo, viz. "Peh- 

 k'o." Pictures of this tree will be found under No. 095, 096, 086, 0276 of 

 Wilson's collection of photographs and also in his Vegetation of Western China, 

 No. 163. 



