1 1x6 The Trees of Great Britain and Ireland 



This species,^ which closely resembles P. sylvestris in the bark and buds, is 

 readily distinguishable by the dull green longer leaves and the glaucous branchlets. 



Numerous varieties of P. densifiora are in cultivation in Japan, no less than 

 twenty-two being enumerated by Mayr. Some are dwarf, pendulous, globose, or 

 otherwise peculiar in habit ; whilst others have variously coloured foliage, golden, 

 striped, variegated, etc. These are apparently unknown ^ in England. The hybrids 

 between P. densifiora and P. Thunbergii are mentioned under the latter species. 



P. densifiora appears to be confined to Japan, as the herbarium specimens from 

 Korea and the Shantung hills ^ in China, supposed to belong to this species, are 

 different in appearance, though undoubtedly closely allied. The representative of 

 this species in central China is P. Henryi* Masters, not yet introduced into culti- 

 vation. (A. H.) 



This species, which is known by the Japanese as aka-matsu, red pine, or 

 me-matsu, female pine, is the commonest conifer in Japan ; but in most cases is 

 planted, as it has been cultivated from ancient times, usually on poor dry soil, 

 where other trees will not thrive. It is considered to be a native of the hilly 

 mountainous district, generally between 500 and 3000 ft. elevation, scarcely ever 

 ascending into the higher region, which is occupied by the silver firs and spruces, 

 and being absent* from the sea-coast, where it is replaced by P. Thunbergii. According 

 to Mayr it is rare in the subtropical forests at low elevations in the southern islands ; 

 but occurs as far north as south-western Yezo. In the wild state, I found the tree 

 scattered here and there through the mixed forests, up to about 2000 ft., generally 

 on dry ridges or sandy stony river banks. In the forest near Koyasan, it was 

 larger than elsewhere, up to 12 ft. in girth ; and one tree standing alone in a dense 

 forest of Cupressus obtusa and Sciadopitys had a clear trunk of 60 ft. high or more, 

 and measured about 100 ft. by 11 ft. 9 in. The best planted trees which I saw, 

 were near the foot of the low pass between Shimonosuwa and Shiojiri in Shinshu, 

 in private grounds by the roadside. These were over roo ft. high and 8 or 9 ft. in 

 girth, clean to 70 ft., and though not so straight in the stem as P. sylvestris, were 

 very fine trees. More often, however, this pine has a crooked unsightly stem, and 

 does not grow to any great size, being usually crowded, and cut when young ; and it 

 is only rarely that it has a chance of showing its full development, and becomes a 



> It is often known in cultivation, both in Europe and in the United States, as P. Massoniana, a species of southern 

 China, not in cultivation. 



2 The varieties mentioned in Kew Handlist Conifera, in (1903), are not in cultivation in Kew Gardens. 



3 Mayr brought home from Korea living plants, which he considered to be this species. The Shantung tree, which 

 grows on the hills near Chefoo, is imperfectly known, and has been mentioned by Masters 'mjourn. Linn. Soc. (Bot.) xxvi. 551 

 (1902), as Pinus Massoniana, Lambert, var. planiceps, Murray, MS. in Mus. Brit. It bears cones different in colour from 

 those of P. dmsiflora ; and is certainly quite distinct from P. Massoniana, a long-leaved species, inhabiting the plains of 

 central China and the low hills of southern China. The Korean pine is P. funebns, Komarov, referred to on p. 1 144, 

 note 2. 



* Pinus Henryi, Masters, in Joum. Linn. Soc. (Bot.) xxvi. 550 (1902) and xxxv. 618 (1904). This species, discovered 

 by me in 1888, is a small tree, rarely exceeding 40 ft. in height, forming open woods, at 4000 to 6000 ft., in the 

 mountams of Hupeh, Szechwan, and Shensi. The cones are subterminal, shortly-stalked, ovoid, i^ in. long, shining reddish 

 brown ; scales oblong, f in. long, § in. wide ; apophysis rhomboidal, slightly raised, with four radial ridges, and a depressed 

 umbo, tipped by a minute prickle. Seeds light brown, with short, broad, dark brown wings. The foliage resembles that of 

 P. densifiora. 



6 



Mayr says that it is occasionally planted near the coast, and is sometimes found on the second range of hills near the 

 coast, P. Thunbergii occupying the strand and the first range. The largest trees, up to 120 ft. in height, which he saw, 

 were m the warm valleys of the central mountains of Hondo. 



