THE ROMANCE OF OUR TREES 



this Beechdesignatedby such varietal names as aspleni- 

 folia, comptoniaefolia, inctsa, laciniata, salicifolia, etc., 

 which indicate the degrees of lacination obtaining. 

 Also there is a form (var. atropurpurea Rohanii) with in- 

 cised leaves of the same hue as those of the Copper Beech. 



The Oak-leaf Beech (var. quercoides) has long- 

 stalked leaves, pointed at the base, with long, 

 drawn-out apex and deeply incised margins with the 

 individual segments pointed. Other forms with 

 green leaves are the Crested-leaf Beech (var. cristata 

 or crispa) a curious, small tree, with small, shortly 

 stalked leaves crowded into dense tufts which are 

 scattered at intervals on the branches; var. macro- 

 phylla with very large leaves; var. rotundifolia with 

 small round leaves; var. grandidentata with conspicu- 

 ously toothed leaves, and several others. 



The Weeping Beech (var. pendula) has the main 

 branches very irregularly disposed and often the 

 outline is rugged. Trees of this Beech may be tall 

 and slender, or low and broad, or quite irregular 

 according to the direction of the larger branches 

 which may grow outward or upward or in almost 

 any direction; the smaller branches only are uni- 

 formly pendulous. The Weeping Beech is a nat- 

 ural variety and has been found wild in the forest 

 of Brotonne in Seine-Inferieure, France. Other 

 forms of pendulous habit are var. borneyensis, which 



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