Page:TheTreesOfGreatBritainAndIreland vol04B.djvu/271

A small tree. Branchlets grey, densely covered with short stiff erect pubes- cence. Leaflets, nine to thirteen, subsessile, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, about 2 inches long, ½ to ⅝ inch wide; apex prolonged into a sharp-pointed and often curved acumen ; base unequal and tapering; margin ciliate, unequally and sharply serrate ; both surfaces covered with a scattered grey pubescence. Rachis of the leaf, with pubescence like that of the branchlets, densest at the nodes; narrowly grooved on the upper side.

Flowers (section Fraxinaster), without calyx or corolla, in short racemes, perfect in the single specimen seen ; ovary pubescent. Fruit unknown.

This species resembles F. angustifolia in the shape and size of the leaflets; but differs in the copious pubescence on the branchlets and leaves. The buds are quadrate, with four dark brown scales, very pubescent at the tips.

F. holotricha was discovered by Koehne in Spiath’s nursery near Berlin, and in the botanic gardens at Berlin and Dresden, where it had received the erroneous name of F. potamophila. Its native country is unknown. The specimen, from which I have drawn up the above description, was sent me from Metz by Messrs. Simon- Louis. Three young plants were sent by Spath to Kew in 1908. (A.H.)

A tree attaining about 60 feet in height and 6 feet in girth, with smooth ashy- grey bark. Young branchlets slender with white lenticels, usually glabrous, occasion- ally glandular pubescent, marked with a ring of brown hairs at the base of the shoot. Leaflets (Plate 265, Fig. 26), five to nine, 2 to 3 inches long, the terminal one obovate and stalked, the lateral ones with distinct stalklets, which are about ¼ inch long and brownish pubescent; ovate to oblong, base rounded or broadly cuneate, apex shortly acuminate, finely and irregularly serrate, under surface glabrous except for brown woolly pubescence on the midrib. Rachis of the leaf grooved, the groove deepest in the upper part of its length, usually glandular pubescent, with tufts of brown hairs opposite the insertions of the leaflets.

Flowering branches developed from terminal buds, which contain leaves as well as flowers, the inflorescences being usually accompanied by two pairs of leaves and consisting of five panicles, the largest one terminating the branch, four smaller ones arising in the axils of the leaves, the whole forming a drooping compound panicle. Pedicels long and slender. Calyx divided into four triangular acute persistent sepals.