38 WILSON EXPEDITION TO CHINA 



Western Hupeh: Fang Hsien; Sheng-neng-chia, forests, alt. 

 2600-3000 m., May 1907 (No. 2096, in part; tree 12-33 m. tall, girth 

 2-4 m.); Hsing-shan Hsien, woods, alt. 2000-3000 m., July 1907 (No. 

 2096, in part; tree 15-20 m. tall, girth 2 m.); same locaHty, May 

 and October 1901 (Veitch Exped. Nos. 572, 1898, seed No. 952); 

 Changyang Hsien, on cliffs, alt. 2000-2300 m., November 1907 (No. 

 2096, in part; tree 8-20 m. tall, girth 1-2 m.); without locality, A. 

 Henry (No. 6907). Eastern Szech'uan: Taning Hsien, wood- 

 lands Jirne and October 1910 (No. 4453; tree 16-25 m. tall, girth 

 1.5-4 m.); Cheng-kou Ting, alt. 2500 m., P. Farges (Nos. 808, type, 

 29). Western Szech'uan: Ching-chi Hsien, near summit of Fei- 

 yiieh-ling, forests, alt. 2800 m., August 1908 (No. 2097; tree 12-33 m. 

 tall, girth 2-4 m.); north-east of Tachien-lu, Ta-p'ao-shan, forests, 

 alt. 2300-3000 m., July 1908 (No. 2100, in part; tree 10-40 m. tall, 

 girth 1-5 m.); Wen-ch'uan Hsien, temple grounds, alt. 1300 m.. May 

 1908 (No. 2100, in part; tree 13 m. tall, girth 2 m.); west of Kuan 

 Hsien; ascent of Pan-lan-shan, forests, alt. 2600-3800 m., common, 

 June 1908 (No. 2100, in part; tree 10-20 m. tall, girth 1-3 m.); same 

 locality, October 1901 (No. 4072; tree 20^0 m. tall, girth 2-6 m.). 

 Shensi: southern slopes of the Tai-pai-shan, alt. 2300 m. 1910, W. 

 Purdom (No. 668; tree 5 m. tall). 



This Hemlock which is very widely dispersed in central and western China is 

 everywhere partial to steep cliffs. In Hupeh it is usually met with in the form of 

 a rather small, densely pyramidal tree, large specimens being rare. In the ex- 

 tensively forested regions of western Szech'uan it is fairly abundant and trees of 

 very large size are common, and ta these the habit is loose and open. The species 

 is characterized by its pubescent yellow-grey shoots, relatively long and broad, 

 and always rounded and emarginate leaves which at maturity are nearly always 

 green on both surfaces, and by its polished cones with cone-scales usually slightly 

 infiexed at the summit. It is very closely related to T. diversifolia Maximowicz, 

 which is chiefly distinguished by its shorter leaves, more hairy shoots, and by its 

 slightly different cone. 



The young leaves of T. chinensis often have two white, longitudinal bands on 

 the underside and are occasionally furnished with a few remote bristle-like teeth 

 which disappear with age. On the specimens before us the leaves vary from 10 

 to 28 mm. in length and from 1.5 to 3 mm. in width; and the cones from 15 to 30 

 mm. in length. The degree of pubescence on the shoots varies considerably but 

 on none can it be described as dense. The cones are pendulous as in all other 

 species, not erect as described by Franchet, and in appearance vary according to 

 age, but are usually shining. 



This Hemlock is called the Tieh-sha (Iron Fir) by the Chinese and the timber 

 though soft is considered very durable. It is used in general construction work 

 and is largely made into shingles and used for roofing purposes. 



Tsuga formosana Hayata (in Gard. Chron. ser. 3, XLIII. 194 (1908) very prob- 

 ably belongs here. 



Pictures of Tsuga chinensis will be found under Nos. 175, 176 of the collection 

 of Wilson's photographs and also in his Vegetation of Western China, No. 489. 



