36 WILSON EXPEDITION TO CHINA 



of the long-petioled leaves of the older plant is rather variable, being lanceolate- 

 elliptic or elliptic-ovate with an acute base, or ovate, even round-ovate, with an 

 obtuse, round or slightly cordate base and an acute or shortly acuminate apex. 

 The largest measure over 13 : S cm. The color is rather dull green above and whitish 

 beneath. The branchlets, petioles and the midribs of the leaves are commonly more 

 or less pubescent. According to Henry the fruits are slightly pubescent. 1 have 

 not yet seen female flowers or fruits. Dode distinguishes the typical P. laurifolia 

 by its glabrous fruits from P. Lindleyana with pubescent capsules. 



13. Poptilus Simonii Carriere. See p. 21. 



Populus Simonii, f. pendula Schneider. See p. 22. 



Populus Simonii, f. fastigiata Schneider. See p. 22. 



Sect. 4. AIGEIROS Duby in De CandoUe Bot. Gall. ed. 2, I. 427 (1828). — 

 Gombocz in Math. Termesz. Kbzl. XXX. 75 {Monog. Gen. Populi) (1908). 



Populus, subgen. Eupopulus Dode, sect. Aegiri Dode in Mem. Soc. Hist. Nat. 

 Autun, XVIIl. {Extr. Monog. Ined. Populus, 14, 34) (1905). 

 Folia ramulorum turionumque satis similia, subtus vix v. pauUo discoloria, viri- 

 descentia, utraque pagina stomatifera, basi glandulifera; petioli plus minusve 

 compressi, semper satis longi; gemmae plus minusve viscosae. Disci flonmi persis- 

 tentes, sinuati; stigmata 2-4, plus minusve sessiha; stamina pleraque 15-30, 

 antheris subglobosis, non apiculatis. Capsulae variabiles. 



V , 14. Poptilus afghanica Schneider, n. sp. 



Populus nigra, var. afghanica Aitchison & Hemsley in Jour. Linn. Soc. XVIII. 

 96 {Fl. Kuram Vail.) (1880). — Gombocz in Math. Termesz. Kdzl. XXX. 91 

 (Monog. Gen. Populi) (1908). 



AFGHANISTAN : Kuram valley, 1879, J. E. T. Aitchison (No. 161, sterile). 



The authors' description is quite sufficient. They say: " possibly it may prove 

 a distinct species; but in the absence of very complete material we have not ven- 

 tured to give it that rank. A large tree, fully 100 feet in height and 8 feet in girth; 

 quite wild, also cultivated in the vicinity of Shdlizdn, but only at one shrine. In 

 the Haridb district it is common, cultivated, and apparently wild also; in fruit 

 May." 



The extremely small leaves show on the upper side the same numerous stomata 

 as the typical P. nigra Linnaeus. The branches are exceedingly slender. Dode 

 seems to have overlooked the description of this peculiar species. 



15. Populus nigra Linnaeus, var. italica Du Roi, Harbk. Baumz. II. 141 (1772). 



Populus nigra, var. pyramidalis Sp&ch in Ann.Sci. Nat. ser. 2,XV.31 (1841). — 

 Gombocz in Math. Termesz. Kdzl. XXX. 89 {Monog. Gen. Populi) (1908). 



? Populus nigra, var. sinensis Carriere in Rev. Hort. 1867, 340. — Wesmael in 

 De CandoUe Prodr. XVI. 2, 327 (1868); in Mem. Soc. Sci. Hainaut, III. 

 258 {Monog. Populus, 59) (1869). — Maximowicz in Bull. Soc. Nat. Mosc. 

 LIV. 50 (1879). — Burkill in Jour. Linn. Soc. XXVI. 536 (1899). — Gom- 

 bocz in Math. Termesz. Kdzl. XXX. 91 {Mong. Gen. Populi) (1908). 



Populus sinensis Dode in Mem. Soc. Nat. Autun, XVIII. {Extr. Monog. Inid. 

 Populus, 50, t. 12, fig. 72) (1905). 



CHINA. Northern China: without locality, G. E. Simon (fide Carriere). 

 Southern Kansu: P. J. Piasezfci (fide Maximowicz). Shensi: 1875, P.J. 

 Piasezki (fide Maximowicz). 



