Page:TheTreesOfGreatBritainAndIreland vol01.djvu/173

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Pyrus
145
24. Pyrus Aria, Ehrhart, var. rupicola. British Isles (Europe?) Leaves obovate-oblong (broadest above the middle), lobulate above, the lobules and teeth acute, nerves 5-9 pairs, pubescence at first as white as in the type, but ultimately becoming greyer.
25. Pyrus Aria, Ehrhart, var. Decaisneana. Origin unknown. Leaves large, elliptic, or oblong, with margin serrated almost uniformly, nerves 12-15 pairs.
26. Pyrus Hostii, Hort. A hybrid. Leaves like 23, but with very sharp, irregular teeth and tomentum thin, white to greyish white.

(27) Leaves grey, densely-woolly pubescent beneath.

27. Pyrus vestita, Wallich. Himalayas. Leaves very large, elliptic, serrate, and occasionally obscurely lobulate in margin; nerves 15-18 pairs.

As many of the species mentioned above are merely shrubs or very small trees, they do not fall within the scope of our work. For this reason, Pyrus hybrida, cratægifolia, Chamæmespilus, alnifolia, and the three species of the section Aronia, will not be further referred to. Pyrus Hostii, a hybrid of inconstant origin, will be briefly mentioned in connection with Pyrus Aria.

Pyrus Aucuparia and its allies will be dealt with in a subsequent part.

The two following species are not known to us to attain timber size in cultivation in the British Isles; but Mr. H.C. Baker tells us that at Chilternhouse, near Thame, there is a specimen of P. vestita 50 feet by 6 feet 5 inches.

Pyrus lanata, Don.[1]

Known in gardens as Sorbus majestica. A tree of the eastern temperate Himalayas; leaves large, oval, oboval, or broadly oblong, with serrate lobes, glabrous above when adult except for some pubescence along the midrib, greyish woolly beneath. Flowers white in densely woolly corymbs; petals glabrous within; styles 2 to 5, free, densely tomentose. Fruit large, about an inch in diameter (½ to 1½ in.), narrowed to the base, red, edible. Judging from wild specimens the foliage is very variable; and the cultivated specimen at Kew bears leaves (figured in Plate 43), which differ from those of wild trees in being less deeply lobed.

Pyrus vestita, Wall.[2]

Often known in gardens as Sorbus nepalensis or Sorbus magnifica. A tree of the temperate Himalayas from Garwhal to Sikkim. Leaves (cf. Plate 43) very large, ovate-acute or elliptic, lobulate-serrate, densely covered with white wool when they first appear, but later in the season becoming shining green and glabrous above, remaining densely woolly beneath. Flowers in very woolly corymbs; petals woolly within; styles 3-5, tomentose only at the base. Fruit large, about ¾ inch in diameter, globose.

  1. Don, Prodromus, 237 (1825). Hook., Fl. Brit. Ind. ii. 375 (1879).
  2. Wallich, Catalogue, 679 (1828). Hook., Fl. Brit. Ind. ii. 375 (1879).