BOTANY AND ZOOLOGY OF CHINA 



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in breadth, 1.5 cm. in thickness; with stones of 1.5-1.6 cm. 

 in length, 1.1 cm. in breadth. The second variety had fruits 

 more circular in shape (see PL I, Fig. 6-7) 2.2 cm. in length 

 and breadth and with stone, of 1.5 cm. in length and 1.3-1.4 

 cm. in breadth. 



The fruits are hard, bitter in taste and unpalatable. 



The common apricot tree (Prunus armeniaca L.) differs 

 from the wild apricot tree in the shape of their leaves, their 

 margins (see PI. II, Fig. 1-2), flowers and the pedicles 

 of the flowers. The following 20 varieties of these apricot 

 trees were examined at Harbin. 



Plate II. 



1. — The apricot tree with thin branches, very small 

 leaves, small flowers of 1.1-1.3 cm. in breadth and small 

 yellow fluted fruits (see PI. II, Fig. 2-5) of 2.4-2.7 cm. in 

 length, 2-2.5 cm. in breadth and 1.6-1.8 cm. in thickness 

 and the pedicle of 1-1.5 m.m. The stones are 2 cm. in 

 length, 1.5-2 cm. in breadth. The pericarp of this variety 

 is hard and bitter when the fruits ripen, it cracks and falls 

 off. This specie is one of the most ornamental of the trees, 

 at Harbin. 



