Page:TheTreesOfGreatBritainAndIreland vol03B.djvu/200

564 parents, and sometimes more closely resembling one of them. As seen in cultiva- tion, the bark is smooth, like that of A. Andrachne. The branchlets have the glandular pubescence of A. Unedo, and the leaves are serrate, as in that species; but have the slightly glaucous tint and conspicuous veins of the other species ; petioles glandular-pubescent. The flowers are borne in spring in large drooping panicles, which are usually glandular-pubescent. The fruit is of moderate size, and slightly tubercular on the surface.

According to Loudon, var. Milleri, with large leaves and pink flowers, was raised in the Bristol nursery, being a cross between the red-flowered variety of A. Unedo and A. Andrachne. This seems to be rare in cultivation.

Arbutus hybrida originated in the Fulham nursery early in the nineteenth century. It is, however, known in the wild state, being recorded by Heldreich and Halacsy for several localities in Greece. It is also reported to have been found by Albow? at Pizunda, on the north-eastern shore of the Black Sea, which is re- markable, as A. Unedo does not occur wild in this district, and the identification was possibly erroneous.

A tree growing at Sedbury Park, near Chepstow, the residence of Colonel Marling, V.C., is by far the finest we have seen of this hybrid. It measures 39 feet high by 5 feet 10 inches at 5 feet, and 7 feet 4 inches at 3 feet from the ground. It is grafted on a stock of A. Unedo, but shows more of the character of A. Andrachne in its habit and bark. It has been propagated by inarching, and seems to be a hardier tree than A. Unedo (Plate 158).

There are fair-sized trees at Kew.

A large shrub or small tree, attaining 30 to 4o feet in height. Bark peeling off in thin papery layers, smooth, thin, and reddish brown. Young branchlets reddish or green, glabrous ; older branchlets olive-green or brownish, smooth. Buds minute, reddish. Leaves, larger usually in cultivated trees than those of Arbutus Unedo, oval-oblong, contracted into short blunt points at the apex, tapering at the base; upper surface dark green, glabrous, shining ; lower surface glaucescent, glabrous, with prominent midrib and distinct lateral veins ; margin entire. Petiole glabrous, about ½ inch long.

Flowers in erect viscid glandular-pubescent panicles, yellowish white, appearing in spring. Calyx-lobes deep, ovate, acute. Corolla contracted at the apex, with five reflexed short rounded ciliate lobes. Ovary pubescent. Fruit small, about ⅓ inch,

1 Radde, Pflanzenverb. Kaukasusländ., 127, note (1899).