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38 The Trees <strong>of</strong> Great Britain and Ireland<br />
very small and lodged in <strong>the</strong> leaf-scar, which is oval, with <strong>the</strong> bud in <strong>the</strong> centre,<br />
and displays three crescentic small cicatrices left by <strong>the</strong> vascular bundles <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
petiole. The leaf-scar is set obliquely on a projecting leaf-cushion. The branchlets<br />
in winter are <strong>the</strong> same as in summer, but <strong>the</strong>y show more clearly <strong>the</strong>ir zig-zag<br />
nature, and at <strong>the</strong>ir apex will generally be seen a little stub which indicates <strong>the</strong> point<br />
where <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> branchlet fell <strong>of</strong>f in summer, no true terminal bud being<br />
developed. Occasionally a true terminal bud may be seen at <strong>the</strong> apex <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> shoot,<br />
which is open and not concealed in <strong>the</strong> leaf-scar, minute, bearing two scales out<br />
wardly, and very pubescent. 1<br />
VARIETIES<br />
In addition to <strong>the</strong> pubescent form <strong>of</strong> Central China, not yet introduced, a few<br />
varieties occur, concerning <strong>the</strong> origin <strong>of</strong> which little is known.<br />
Var. variegata.—Leaves dull yellowish white in patches. This form is nei<strong>the</strong>r<br />
robust in growth nor attractive in appearance.<br />
Var. pendtila''' (Weeping Sophora). One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most formal <strong>of</strong> weeping<br />
<strong>trees</strong>. It is usually grafted by budding on seedlings <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> common Sophora about<br />
6 to 8 feet high ; and from this elevation <strong>the</strong> branches hang down until on reaching<br />
<strong>the</strong> ground <strong>the</strong>ir tips spread out or turn up. It can be used as an arbour; and<br />
even in winter <strong>the</strong> light, smooth, green branches make it ornamental. The only<br />
trouble is in procuring smooth, straight stems <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ordinary Sophora <strong>of</strong> a sufficient<br />
height. F. L. Temple 3 says: "In spring plant dormant Sophoras about | inch<br />
in diameter in <strong>the</strong> fairly rich earth bottom <strong>of</strong> a greenhouse. Cut <strong>the</strong>m back to <strong>the</strong><br />
ground, and set <strong>the</strong>m i foot apart each way ; and by December first <strong>the</strong>y will be out<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> top <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> house and as smooth as willows. Then lift and keep <strong>the</strong>m protected<br />
in a cellar or frame, or heel <strong>the</strong>m deep in a well-drained place till spring, when <strong>the</strong>y<br />
can be planted in nursery rows, and grafted at <strong>the</strong> same time with <strong>the</strong> most gratifying<br />
results." With regard to <strong>the</strong> origin <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> weeping Sophora nothing is known<br />
definitely; but Fortune* states that at Shanghai in 1853 he saw "pretty specimens<br />
<strong>of</strong> Sophora japonicapendula, grafted high as we see <strong>the</strong> weeping ash in England."<br />
It is probable that this variety was imported early from China.<br />
Var. crispa.—Leaves curled, <strong>the</strong> points <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> shoots resembling as it were<br />
clusters <strong>of</strong> ringlets. We have never seen a specimen <strong>of</strong> this curious variety, which<br />
is not mentioned in <strong>the</strong> Kew Hand-list.<br />
Var. Korolkowii {Sophora Korolkowii, Cornu). 8 This has longer and narrower<br />
leaflets than <strong>the</strong> type, and <strong>the</strong> young shoots, leaf-stalk petiole, and under surface <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> leaflets, are whitish pubescent. The flowers are said to be <strong>of</strong> a dirty white in<br />
colour. Kohne states that one <strong>of</strong> Dieck's introductions from Mongolia is identical<br />
with <strong>the</strong> plant cultivated at Segrez under this name, <strong>the</strong> origin <strong>of</strong> which is unknown.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> summer <strong>of</strong> 1904 I visited <strong>the</strong> Arboretum at Segrez, and saw this<br />
1 A Plate showing buds will appear in a later part.<br />
2 An excellent article upon different species <strong>of</strong> weeping <strong>trees</strong> was published in <strong>the</strong> Gardeners' Chronicle, 1 900, xxviii.<br />
477 ; and on p. 479 <strong>the</strong>re is a good figure <strong>of</strong> a fine specimen <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> weeping Sophora.<br />
3 Garden and Forest, 1 889, 164. * Fortune, Residence among <strong>the</strong> Chinese, 1 39.<br />
8 Comu's name is given on <strong>the</strong> authority <strong>of</strong> Zabel, in Laubhoh-benennung ( 1903), p. 256. We have been unable to find<br />
Cornu's description <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> species. 6 Kohne, Dendrologie, 1 893, p. 323.<br />
Sophora 39<br />
specimen, which is about 30 feet high with a stem a foot in diameter, bearing a large<br />
roundish crown like <strong>the</strong> common Sophora. In <strong>the</strong> absence <strong>of</strong> flowers or fruit, it is<br />
impossible to say whe<strong>the</strong>r it is a distinct species ; but in foliage and o<strong>the</strong>r characters<br />
it differs so little from Sophora japonica, that probably Zabel 1 is correct in considering<br />
it to be only a form <strong>of</strong> that species. It seems to be well worth cultivation, judging<br />
from <strong>the</strong> vigorous growth and dense foliage <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fine specimen at Segrez.<br />
Var. violacea. — This variety has also whitish pubescence on <strong>the</strong> shoots,<br />
petiole, and under surfaces <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> leaflets, which are longish, with an acute or<br />
acuminate apex. The flowers are violet according to Dieck. 2 It does not appear to<br />
be in cultivation in England.<br />
I incline to <strong>the</strong> belief that we have in <strong>the</strong>se forms to deal with only two varieties<br />
<strong>of</strong> Sophora japonica, which is a widely spread species, and presents considerable<br />
variation in pubescence and in colour <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> flowers in China.<br />
Var. oligophylla, Franchet. 3 This is a curious variety found by Pere David at<br />
a tomb near Peking, where he observed two <strong>trees</strong>. The leaflets are very few in<br />
number, three or four, and <strong>the</strong> end one is trilobed ; <strong>the</strong>y are thicker in texture<br />
and more glaucous than is ordinarily <strong>the</strong> case. This variety would be well worth<br />
introduction.<br />
DISTRIBUTION AND HISTORY<br />
Sophora japonica, in spite <strong>of</strong> its name, does not appear to be really wild in<br />
Japan, although it is recorded from that country by Franchet* and Matsumura. 5<br />
Shirasawa, 6 <strong>the</strong> latest Japanese authority, says it is planted around habitations in both<br />
<strong>the</strong> sub-tropical and temperate regions <strong>of</strong> Japan, and that it was introduced from<br />
China. Sargent 7 observes: "Even Rein ( The Indtistries <strong>of</strong> Japan], usually a<br />
most careful observer, states that ' Sophora japonica is scattered throughout <strong>the</strong><br />
entire country, especially in <strong>the</strong> foliaceous forests <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> north." He had evidently<br />
confounded Sophora with Maackia, 8 a common and widely spread tree, especially in<br />
Yezo. Sophora, which is only seen occasionally in gardens, does not appear to be<br />
a particularly popular tree with <strong>the</strong> Japanese." The Kew Herbarium specimens from<br />
Japan are from gardens near Nagasaki, no wild specimens having been ever received.<br />
Sophora japonica is undoubtedly a native <strong>of</strong> China, and it is recorded from<br />
nearly all <strong>the</strong> provinces where Europeans have made botanical collections ; but <strong>of</strong><br />
its occurrence as a forest tree <strong>the</strong>re is little information. It appears to be really<br />
wild in <strong>the</strong> province <strong>of</strong> Chihli. I have never seen it in <strong>the</strong> numerous mountain<br />
forests which I visited in Central China or Yunnan; and it is difficult to decide<br />
whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> <strong>trees</strong> seen at lower levels, where cultivation has been going on for<br />
centuries, are wild or planted. It has a wide range as a cultivated plant in China,<br />
as it flourishes from Pekin to Hongkong and from Shanghai to Yunnan.<br />
1 See note 5 supra. 2 Kohne, loc. cit. 3 Franchet, Plants Davidiana, i. 100 (1884).<br />
4 Franchet et Savatier, Enum. Plant, injaponia, i. 115. 6 Matsumura, Shokubutsu-mei-i, 279 (1895).<br />
0 Shirasawa, loc. cit., Text, i. 86. The tree is called Enju in Japan. 7 Sargent, Forest Flora <strong>of</strong> Japan, \.<br />
8 Maackia is ano<strong>the</strong>r name for Cladrastis amurensis; but it is possible that <strong>the</strong> tree confused with Sophora japonica in<br />
Japan is Sophora platycarpa, Maxim, which is very similar to it in foliage. Dupont, Les Essences Forestiires du Japan, p. 66,<br />
gives a very complete account <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> wood and <strong>the</strong> uses <strong>of</strong> a forest tree in Japan, which he considered to be Sophora japonica ;<br />
but as it is evidently not that species, and as it is uncertain whe<strong>the</strong>r he referred to Sophora platycarpa or Cladrastis amurensis,<br />
I have not quoted his description.