766 The Trees of Great Britain and Ireland 



two lateral sets, separated by an acute V-shaped depression. Lower ranks with the 

 longest leaves (about f inch), those in the other ranks gradually diminishing in size 

 as they approach nearer the middle line above. Leaves linear, flattened, uniform in 

 width except at the gradually tapering base, about ^^b^ inch, rounded and slightly 

 bifid at the apex ; upper surface dark green, shining, with a continuous median 

 groove and without stomata ; lower surface with two broad conspicuously white 

 bands of stomata, each of ten to twelve lines ; resin-canals median. 



Leaves on cone-bearing branches shorter than on barren branches, those on 

 the upper side of the shoot crowded and directed upwards, so that the V-shaped 

 depression between the lateral sets is scarcely visible. 



Cones on short stalks, cylindrical, slightly narrowed at the base and apex, 

 4 inches long, ij inch in diameter, purple when growing, brown when mature. 

 Scales very thin and flat ; lamina fan-shaped, i^ inch long by | inch wide, upper 

 margin entire, lateral margins with denticulate short wings ; claw short and obcuneate. 

 Bract short, not extending half-way up the scale; with a sub -orbicular finely 

 denticulate lamina, tipped by a minute mucro, and a short obcuneate claw. Seed 

 with wing about f inch long, the wing about i^ times as long as the body of the 

 seed. In cultivated specimens, the scales of the cone and the seeds are smaller 

 than in wild specimens. The very thin flat scales with the short minutely 

 denticulate bract distinguish well this species. 



Identification 



This species has short leaves very white underneath, with an acute 

 V-shaped depression between the lateral sets on the upper side of the branchlet, 

 and is best distinguished by the very prominent pulvini and grooves on the branchlets. 

 The bark of the branches and young stems begins to scale very early, an 

 unusual character in the silver firs, and conspicuous in this species, in A. homolepis, 

 and in A. Webbiana. The resinous buds, glabrous shoots, and leaves with median 

 resin-canals are additional points in the discrimination of y^. brachyphylla. 



(A. H.) 



Distribution 



According to Mayr this tree occurs on the main island of Japan, between lat. 

 36° and 38°, in the interior of the mountainous provinces ; where it attains its 

 maximum development in the zone of the beech forests, some trees attaining as 

 much as 130 feet in height. The Japanese informed Mayr that it was also present 

 on the highest peaks of Shikoku ; but Shirasawa limits its distribution to the central 

 chain of Honshu above 3000 feet elevation, and says that it grows in mixture with 

 broad-leaved trees. 



To most Europeans it is the best known of the Japanese silver firs, as it grows 

 abundantly at Chuzenji, a favourite tourist resort. Here at 4000 to 5000 feet it is 



