2l8 



FLORA AND SYLVA. 



of the Maple known ; it differs from Acer in I 

 having pinnate leaves and fruits which are 

 winged all round the margin. Tetracentron is 

 very remarkable ; it has short lateral branches, 

 on which are borne a leaf and an inflorescence 

 of many small flowers. This tree grows to an 

 enormous size and is very widely distributed 

 in China. I discovered it in Hupeh, and years 

 afterwards found it again south of the Red 

 River close to Indo-China, where it is com- 

 mon in the forests. Kcelreuteria bipinnata is 

 another striking tree, with great panicles of 

 yellow flowers and peculiar capsules. It is also 

 widely spread, as it has been found by me in 

 Hupeh, Formosa, and Yunnan. Emmenopterys 

 Henryi, belonging to the Rubiaceae, and with 

 leaves rather like certain Cinchona shrubs, is 

 a tree with one lobe of the calyx modified into 

 a white bract, as in Mussaenda. This persists 

 till the fruit is ripe, and serves not only as an 

 attractive organ at the time of flowering, but 

 as a sail to waft the fruit through the air. 

 Hamamelis mollis is a tall shrub of the moun- 

 tains of medium altitude. In the dark depths 

 of the forest at 9,000 feet, north of Ichang, 

 Fragaria collina (Ehr.) is seen with pink edible 

 fruit. I have collected of Rubus probably sixty 

 or seventy distinct species; not meaning by 

 species the trivial distinction which is imported 

 into the word when British Brambles are con- 

 cerned, but meaning really different plants 

 which no one would unite together. Many 

 of these Brambles have fruit of exquisite fla- 

 vour in the wild state. Currants were common 

 wild in the higher forests of Hupeh in the 

 northern mountains, and were splendid to eat. 

 One species akin to Kibes japonicum has very 

 long racemes of black fruit, I do not wish to 

 say how long, but there are doubtless speci- 

 mens at Kew to see. This shrub should be in- 

 troduced. Actinidia is a genus little known in 

 England. It has a good many Chinese spe- 

 cies, all great climbers, simulating the Grape 

 Vine rather in habit and appearance, and 

 belonging to Ternstroemiacea? ; the flowers 

 are snowy white. Actinidia sinensis (Plan- 

 chon) produces in the wild state excellent fruit 

 about the size of a big plum. This climber 

 would be perfectly hardy in this country, 

 and the fruit would be a great acquisition, I 

 think. 



There are a great many other fruits, as the 

 various' species of Benthamia, and: I was almost 

 going to forget the wild spiny Vitis, which 

 has excellent fruit of a large size. f 1 will, how- 

 ever, further only mention the curious Pyrus 

 De/avayi (Franchet) of Yunnan. This pro- 

 duces large fruits, fairly edible, like an apple 

 in shape. Davidia,a large tree, bears thousands 

 of flowers, which are most peculiar. Inside 

 a pair of white bracts, about the size of the 

 hand, is a head of numerous red anthered 

 stamens, out of which projects a champagne 

 bottle-shaped gynascium. This tree, in full 

 flower, is a marvellous sight, owing to the al- 

 ternate white and green, caused by these large 

 white bracts intermingling with the leaves. 

 Hypericum longistylum is an elegant shrub, with 

 small leaves and flowers 2 inches across. Ipso- 

 pyrum Henryi, a mountain herb, is pretty, with 

 blue flowers 1 inch in diameter. O/igobotrya 

 Henryi is a common Liliaceous plant of the 

 higher forests, with white flowers in a termi- 

 nal inflorescence, thus differing from Polygo- 

 natum, which in other respects it resembles. 

 Petrocosmea sinensis is a lovely little Cyrtan- 

 draceous plant with violet flowers and pilose 

 leaves, which cling closely to the rocks on 

 which the plant grows. Abutilon sinense is a 

 tall and striking shrub, with flowers 2 to 4 

 inches across. It is of wide distribution, as 

 it has been found not only at Ichang, but in 

 Yunnan, south of the Red River. 



Augustine Henry, The Garden. 



A New Poplar. — The Revue Horticole reports 

 the introduction of a newhardy Poplar named 

 Populus pekinensis, from its native district in 

 China. It is said to be nearly related to P. 

 adenopoda, making part of the same group as 

 Populus alba, Bolleana, canescens, tremula, and 

 other species. In common with most of the 

 Poplars, the leaves of pekinensis vary a good deal 

 in different plants, but in the main are clear 

 green above, sometimes bronzed, graceful and 

 shining; the under surface clothed with a 

 dense white down, giving the tree a silvery 

 appearance. The young shoots, also densely 

 downy, are either silvery white or reddish. 

 The tree is said to be hardy, vigorous, and 

 handsome, but no hint is forthcoming as to its 

 habit, or size at maturity. 



