Page:TheTreesOfGreatBritainAndIreland vol01.djvu/142

114 14. Var. glauca.

A vigorous shrub, with leaves, which are shining and dark green on the upper surface, and glaucous blue beneath.

E. Variety with differently coloured fruit.

15. Var. fructu luteo.

This variety only differs from the common yew in the aril of the fruit being yellow. A tree of this kind was discovered about the year 1817 at Glasnevin, near Dublin, growing on the property of the Bishop of Kildare.

Cuttings, however, were first distributed from a tree noticed in the grounds of Clontarf Castle in 1838. This tree was about 50 feet high in 1888. At Ardsallagh, Co. Meath, the residence of Mrs. M'Cann, there is a tree 30 feet high and 7 feet in girth, with yellow fruit, occurring in an avenue of old yews. There are several trees of this kind at Powerscourt, the best one of which was about 40 feet high in 1888. Bushes raised from the seeds of these trees are reported to be bearing yellow berries, from which it would appear that this variety comes true from seed. It is remarkable that all the yellow-berried yews known, except the one mentioned above as collected at Manipur, should occur in the neighbourhood of Dublin.

F. Variety with small leaves.

16. Var. adpressa.

A large spreading shrub with densely crowded branchlets, bearing remarkably small broad leaves, arranged on the shoots, as in the common yew. The leaves are dark green above, ¼–½ inch long, elliptic linear in outline, with a rounded apex, from which is given off a short mucro. The aril is broad and shallow, not covering the seed, which is 3-angled and often depressed at the summit.

This is by far the most distinct of all the forms, geographical and horticultural, not only in foliage, but also in fruit. It has been considered by many botanists to be a distinct species, conjecturally of Japanese or Chinese origin. It is not known in Japan, except as a plant introduced from Europe; and there is no reason for doubting the positive information as to its origin given by Messrs. James Dickson and Sons and by the late Mr. F.T. Dickson of Chester, though there is a slight discrepancy in their two accounts. The latter states that it was found as a seedling by his father amidst some yew seedlings about 1838, while the former give