Page:TheTreesOfGreatBritainAndIreland vol01.djvu/141

 dense shrub, making no definite leader, with the tips of the branchlets pendulous. Var. gracilis pendula is said to have the branches and branchlets more elongated, and to attain a larger size than var. pendula.

9. Var. horizontalis.

This resembles the Dovaston yew in the verticillate arrangement of the spreading branches. The branchlets, however, instead of being pendulous, are turned slightly upwards at the ends of the branches.

10. Var. recurvata.

A large shrub, with branches somewhat ascending and elongated, and pendulous branchlets, which bear the leaves so arranged as to be all directed upwards, each leaf being recurved. The leaves resemble those of the Dovaston yew.

11. Var. procumbens.

A low prostrate shrub, keeping close to the ground, with branches long and ramified. This is distinct from Taxus canadensis in characters of leaves and buds.

D. Varieties with leaves distichously arranged, in which the leaves are variously coloured.

12. Var. aurea, Golden Yew.

A golden yew is mentioned in Plot's History of Staffordshire as occurring in that county in 1686. There are many kinds of golden yew, which are of different origin. The form generally known as aurea is a dense shrub or low tree, with narrow falcate leaves which are variegated with yellow. Golden yews of this kind are said to be all male trees. The original was reared by Lee of Hammersmith, and was afterwards planted at Elvaston Castle. It was monœcious, and from it Barron reared several varieties. The variety known as var. Barroni has the leaves more decidedly yellow than those of the common golden yew; and one form of it is female and bears berries.

A great number of variegated yews of different kinds have been raised at Knap Hill, at the Chester Nurseries, and elsewhere. These have been obtained as seedlings in various ways; some were obtained by planting Irish yew amongst common golden yew; in other cases the seed-plants used were varieties like elegantissima, erecta, adpressa, etc.

13. Var. Washingtoni.—A low dense shrub, in which the leaves on the young shoots are golden yellow in colour. Rh