554 WILSON EXPEDITION TO CHINA 



Pieris villosa, var. pubescens Rehder & Wilson, n. comb. 



Pieris ovalifolia, var. pubescens Franchet in Nouv. Arch. Mus. Paris, s6t. 2, 

 X. 44 {PI. David. II. 82) (1887). 



Western Szech'uan: west and near Wen-ch'uan Hsien, alt. 2000 



m., July 1908 (No. 3191; bush 1 m. tall, flowers white). 



This variety is chiefly distinguished from the type by its pubescent ovary. Our 

 specimen differs from Franchet's description in the glabrescent calyx; in the speci- 

 mens of typical P. villosa the calyx is rather densely pubescent, but the ovary ia 

 glabrous; this separates Franchet's variety from typical Pieris villosa. 



GAULTHERIA L. 



Gaultheria Veitchiana Craib in Gard. Chron. ser. 3, LII. 188 (1912). 



Gaultheria fragrantissima, var. hirsuta Franchet in Nouv. Arch. Mus. Paris, 

 ser. 2, X. 44 {PI. David. II. 82) (non Clarke) (1887). 



Western Szech'uan: Mupin, thickets, alt. 2300-2800 m., June 

 to August 1908 (No. 829; decumbent shrub, 0.3-1 m. tall, flowers 

 white, fruit indigo blue); south-east of Tachien-lu, thickets, alt. 

 2600 m., June 1908 (No. 829=^) ; Ching-chi Hsien, Ta-hsiang-ling, alt. 

 2600-3000 m., August 1908 (No. 829^'; shrub 0.3-0.75 m. tall); west 

 of Kuan Hsien, summit of Niu-tou-shan, alt. 3300 m., June 20, 1908 

 (No. 2712; shrub 20-30 cm. tall, flowers white); without precise 

 locality, alt. 2000-3300 m., May 1904 (Veitch Exped. No. 3916, 

 type). 



This species is widely distributed in western Szech'uan, growing on most moun- 

 tain-sides, margins of woods and thickets. Usually the branches are prostrate or 

 nearly so, but occasionally it forms a bush 3 ft. tall. In No. 2712 all the flowers 

 are globose in shape, but otherwise agree with those of the type. Gaultheria 

 Veitchiana is a very charming little shrub with its evergreen leaves, white flowers 

 and indigo-blue fruits. It is in cultivation and is perfectly hardy in England. 



Gaultheria pyroloides Hooker f. & Thomson apud Miquel in Ann. 

 Mus. Bot. Lugd.-Bat. I. 30 (1864). — Maximowicz in Bull. Acad. Sd. 

 St. Petershourg, XVIII. 44 (1872). 



Gaultheria pyrolaefolia Clarke in Hooker f., Ft. Brit. Ind. III. 457 (1882). 



Wilson's specimens differ distinctly from the type and are referred to the 

 following variety. 



Gaultheria pyroloides, var. cuneata Rehder & Wilson, n. var. 

 Frutex 15-50 cm. altus; ramuli hornotini dense et minute villosuli, 

 graciles. Folia coriacea, obovata v. oblongo-obovata, rarius oblanceo- 



