354 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and grows in a diversity of climates. The species is variable, and possibly 

 the form which Wilson sent from China may prove of hardier constitu- 

 tion than its Indian relative. 



It is said to form a tree 20-40 feet in height, and to be common in 

 the neighbourhood of Ichang in the Yangtsze Valley. 



The leaves are evergreen and glabrous, of leathery texture, lance- 

 shaped in outline, with entire or slightly toothed margin, and glaucous 

 under surface. When the young leaves first appear in spring they are 

 bright shining red, and particularly handsome. The fruits are freely pro- 

 duced in dense corymbs ; they are of a buff-yellow colour, with drooping 

 wings measuring 1J inches in length. The wood is brown thickly pitted 

 with lenticels. 



In the "Gardeners' Chronicle" for January 24, 1904, Dr. A. Henry 

 enumerates four varieties of oblongum, which differ either in colour, or 

 form of foliage, or size of fruit, from the typical species. (Fig. 95.) 



Acer griseum, a beautiful species, the Chinese representative of the 

 handsome Acer nikoense, is stated by Dr. Henry to form trees of large 

 dimensions, and from Wilson's notes it appears that he found it 

 ranging from 15 to 40 feet in height. 



The young foliage is coloured in the spring, and the bark peels off 

 in a manner similar to that of our common Silver Birch. 



The dried specimens only show the young foliage, and the growing 

 plants are not yet strong enough to produce normal well-developed leaves, 

 but the leaves are clearly very large, measuring 8 inches long by 9 wide 

 exclusive of the petiole. The fruits are also large, with prominent hori- 

 zontal cells, and are densely tomentose ; the wings are divergent, measuring 

 over an inch long and \ inch broad. (Fig. 98.) 



Acer latum var. tricaudatum is a new form discovered by Wilson, 

 with 3-5-lobed leaves, the lower pair of lobes being often obsolete. The 

 apices of the lobes are acutely pointed, and the petiole is slender and 

 bright rose-pink, forming an agreeable contrast to the dark green of the 

 leaf-blade. The plant appears to be a compact grower, and promises to 

 make an elegant, though small, tree. (Figs. 100, 102.) 



Another form of a latum, called cultratum, has distinctly 5-lobed 

 leaves of a lively shining green colour, borne on rather a dwarf -growing 

 plant. (Fig. 101.) 



A very pretty Maple, which at present it is impossible to identify from 

 the dried specimens, is growing at Coombe Wood under Wilson's seed 

 number (831). It has 5-lobed leaves resembling those of an Aconite in 

 appearance. The terminal lobe is four inches long by one inch broad ; 

 the other four lobes are smaller. 



When first produced the leaves are of a delicate pale green, suffused 

 with red towards the margins ; as they mature they become bright green, 

 retaining a reddish tint on the petioles. (Figs. 99, 103.) 



The following is a complete list of the Maples collected in China by 

 E. H. Wilson, as determined by Professor Sargeant of the Arnold 

 Arboretum, Mass., U.S.A. Those marked with an asterisk are in cultiva- 

 tion at Coombe Wood : — 



Acer bctidifolium, Maxim. (A. tctramcrum, Pax). 

 „ cordatum, Pax. 



