Taxus mairei

14. Taxus mairei (Lemée & Lév.) S. Y. Hu ex T. S. Liu (Figs. 1C, 3B, 11, 63–67, 225, 227), Illustr. Native & Introd. Lign. Pl. Taiwan 1: 16. 1960. Tsuga mairei Lemée & Léveillé, Monde des-Pl. sér. 2, 16: 20.1914. Taxus chinensis Rehder var. mairei (Lemée & Lév.) W. C. Cheng & L. K. Fu, Fl. Hupehensis 1: 28. 1976 (also indicated as comb. nov. in Fl. Reipub. Pop. Sin. 7: 443. 1978). T. wallichiana var. mairei (Lemée & Lév.) L. K. Fu & Nan Li, Novon 7: 264. 1997. Type: China. Yunnan, Dongchuan, 700–800 m, May 1912, Maire s.n., “holotype” indicated by Rehder (1936) at E (isotype: fragment also at A!). Other duplicate or original material distributed by E at BM! (annotated by Spjut Oct. 1997 as T. mairei var. speciosa [Florin] Spjut ined.) and at P (Fig. 11, also shown here).

14a. var. mairei. Maire yew. Distribution: Forest margins, 300–1300 m; China (Sichuan, Yunnan, Anhui, Guizhou, Guangdong, Guangxi(?), Jiangxi, Fujian, Hunan, Zhejiang, Taiwan).

Tree 5–20 m high; branchlets equally divided in a zigzag pattern, yellowish-green, reddish to orange with age; bud scales mairei mostly not persistent, in 3 obscure ranks, yellowish-brown, minute deltoid, thick, closely adpressed, upper scales carinate near apex, 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaves spreading at right angles to branchlets, adjacent leaves closely parallel, oblong, machetelike, arcuate near base and upturned near apex, unevenly tapered to an acute apex, 1.5–2.5 cm long, 3–4 mm wide, 200–350 µm thick, dark glossy green and convex above to acute midrib that is channeled along base, midrib more obtuse above the mid region towards apex, paler and duller green and concave below to a squarrose elevated midrib that is shallowly channeled, often lustrous reddish-brown in herbarium specimens; upper (adaxial) epidermal cells in transverse section wider than tall, 10–12 µm tall, 25–37 µm wide, ellipitical in transverse section, thin-walled; lower epidermal cells larger than upper on midrib and marginal regions, 15–30 µm tall, 20–40 µm wide, numbering 12–30 from the margin to stomata band, 18 or less on the midrib, abruptly differentiated from those in stomata band, irregularly squarrose to rectangular, most 1–3× l/w near margins and on midrib, occasionally 5–10×l/w on midrib, inflated (mamillose), papillose on up to nearly half of the cells between margin and stomata band, occasionally papillose on outer midrib cells; papillae variable in shape and size, positioned medially in stomata band and adjacent marginal cells, submarginally on outer midrib cells; stomata bands pale orange, or yellowish, broader than marginal border; stomata in 12–16 irregular continuous rows/band, often crowded, stoma sometimes with a blackish halo. Male cones scales 4-seriate in bud, not seen at maturity. Female cone subcylindric, 4 mm long in bud, scales 6-seriate, basal one conduplicate, all greenish, aril forming a shallow cup, red at maturity; seed purplish, ovoid, 3–4 mm long, 3 mm wide.

Representative Specimens—China—Sichuan: Pei-pah, tree, Law 65 (K). Yunnan: N Yunnan, Tie’tchang-keou, rares, rocheres des forêts, 700 m, Maire 19B (P), Yunnan without data, Maire (BM); Yung Chun, 6 May 1913, Rankin s.n. (K). Anhui (Anhwei): Southern, Chanen, 300 ft, in woods by grave-yard, rare, tree 60 ft, 1.8 ft dbh, R-C. Ching 3168 (A, K). Guizhou: Jiangkou Xian, Daiyenpeng along the Kaitu River on the SW side of the Fanjing Shan mountain range, 750-1000 m, tree 18 m, Sino-Amer. Guizhou Bot. Exped. 1046 (A, BM). Guangdong (Kwangtung): Loh Ch'ang District, Chong Uen Shan near Kau Fung, dry sandy soil, in thicket, fairly common, W.T. Tsang 20694 (A, BH, K, NA, S, US). Jiangxi (Kiangsi): NW, Si-ho, Hwang-kong-shan Mt, tree, common on slope, Y.K. Hsiung 6443 (A); Ningdu, Y?ntungtsch?, Wang-Te-Hui 445 (A); Lienhwa-shan, 800 m, Wang-Te-Hui 458 (A). Hunan: Ma-Ling-Tung, Sinning Hsien, 600 m, tree 30 ft, aril yellowish becoming red, edible, C.S. Fan & Y.Y. Li 664 (A). Zhejiang (Chekiang): Taishun Hsien, open place by bridge, tree 25 m, Y.L. Keng 317 (A); Tien-Tai-Shan, 1300 m, tree 5 m, 3–4 in dbh, shady woods, H.H. Hu 342 (A, US); same locality, C.Y. Chiao 14510 (A, US); same locality, Cheng 3617 (US); without specific locality, S. Chen 1044 (A). Fujian (Fukien): Yeuping, Shih-Sun-Keng village, on hill, 650 m, tree 4 m, H.H. Chung 2865 (A, BM, K); Buong Kang, mountain slope back of village, 700 m, H.H. Chung 3581 (A); western, 1868-1873, David (P). Taiwan: Hualien #1,2,4,5,7,8,9,10, TD3, C-j Chang, 1 of 3, 19 Jan 1993; 2-of-2, 8 Feb 1993 (no additional data), C-j. Chang (wba, collections in bold; determination to variety depends of branching character, branchlets supplied by Chang were insufficient to evaluate this feature, identification of var. speciosa for collections not in bold are based on variable shape in epidermal cells of young leaves, and the leaves remaining mostly green when dried).

Anhui: Southern, Chanen, 300 ft. Ching 3168 (A).	Fujian: Buong Kang, 700 m, H.H. Chung 3581 (A).	Guangdong (Kwangtung): Loh Ch'ang District, Chong Uen Shan near Kau Fung, W.T. Tsang 20694 (US).	Guizhou: Handel-Manzzetti-283 (A)
Guizhou: Jiangkou Xian, Sino-Amer. Guizhou Bot. Exped. 1046 (A). Photo on right shows abaxial leaf surface with reddish glossy margins and midrib, and small reddish scale at base of branchlets.	Hunan: Ma-Ling-Tung, Sinning Hsien, 600 m, C.S. Fan & Y.Y. Li 664 (A). Note small scales at base of branchlets.	Jiangxi: NW, Si-ho, Hwang-kong-shan Mt, Y.K. Hsiung 6443 (A).	Jiangxi: Ningdu, Y?ntungtsch?, Wang-Te-Hui 445 (A).
Jiangxi: Lienhwa-shan, 800 m, Wang-Te-Hui 458 (A)	Jiangxi: JX001 Identification features applied: Leaves relatively flat, spreading nearly at right angles to branchlet, strongly falcate near base, acute to a sharply pointed apex, and closely parallel to each other.	Sichuan: Pei-pah, Law 65 (K)	Yunnan: Yung Chun, 6 May 1913, Rankin s.n. (K)
Yunnan: Taxus (Tsuga) mairei photo of holotype at E, merotype at A	Zhejiang: Tien-Tai-Shan, 1300 m, H.H. Hu 342 on left (A) and Chiao 14510 (A) on right.	Zhejiang: S. Chen 1044 (A).	Zhejiang: Taishun Hsien, Y.L. Keng 317
Taiwan: C-j-Chang, 2 of 2, 8 Feb 1993, no other collection data. Images scanned 1 June 2007. Easily identified by the leaves aligned uniformly in two ranks, nearly plane on adaxial surface, and with a broad reddish zone on the abaxial surface. Other helpful features are the withering scales at base of branchlets and the relatively fewer cone scales.	Taiwan: C-j-Chang, 1 of 3, 19 Jan 1993, no other collection data. Images scanned 1 June 2007. The identification of Taxus mairei var. mairei is supported here by the isodichotomous branching with a zigzag pattern further evident along the branch near base of photo. Close-up of scales shows withering scales at base of young branchlet, appearing less conspicuous on an older branchlet. The leaves are aligned uniformly in two ranks and nearly plane on adaxial surface as evident in one leaf. Cone scales are relatively few in number.	Taiwan: C-j-Chang, Hualien-8, 16 May 1994. Images scanned 1 June 2007. This specimen approaches T. kingstonii in the abaxial leaf surface having 8 marginal cells without papillae. It is considered T. mairei by the channeled leaf midrib on the abaxial surface. Image scanned 1 June 2007. The relatively thin leaf margins with a blood red color support T. mairei.	Taiwan: C-j-Chang, 1 of 6, 4 March 1993, no other collection data. Images scanned 3 June 2007.

Taxus mairei is distinguished from other species of the Sumatrana Group by the two ranked leaves spreading at nearly right angles, by the abaxial surface of leaves having a truncated but elevated midrib with epidermal cells larger in diameter than those on the adaxial surface (as seen in T-sect.). The midrib is usually channeled, especially in the mid region of the leaf.

In annotations I have recognized two varieties by differences in branching and leaf arrangement; one has isodichotomous ± zigzag branching with dark reddish-green leaves that spread closely parallel to one another; the other—corresponding to the type of T. speciosa (e.g., H. Smith 10398 from Sichuan; Plate 5 in Florin 1948a)—has monopodial branching with more greenish colored leaves arranged in a less parallel manner. However, the syntypes of T. mairei in further study were found to correspond mostly to an intermediate complex as previously described under T. celebica—one that appears closer to T. speciosa than to T. mairei. Nonetheless, the morphological differences seem to have taxonomic merit, and one solution is to recognize a third variety or nothotaxon.

This is further supported by differences in seed shape and seed color, but seed characters are difficult to apply taxonomically because of the paucity of herbarium material with seed, and because seed traits can vary on individual plants. Generally, specimens of T. mairei with monopodial branching and greenish leaves have tan colored, globose, glossy seeds (widest above the base) with a distinct brownish apical nipple, whereas specimens with reddish leaves—spreading more closely parallel to one other—have purplish glazed seeds without a brownish nipple. In comparison to other species, seeds of T. kingstonii in specimens from China are similarly shaped to those of the latter variety but also differ in being slightly smaller, duller, and more varied in color—from tan to purplish, or in a specimen from India, seed was angled instead of rounded to apex; such angled seeds are characteristic of the T. cuspidata complex. Seed was rare in other related species; in one specimen of T. celebica from Vietnam seed is conical as in T. chinensis and purplish colored as in T. mairei, but since other specimens from Vietnam (e.g., Soulie s.n.) could be hybrids between T. wallichiana and T. celebica, I cannot attach much taxonomic value to seed characters in the one specimen from Vietnam.

Taxus mairei has a long history of nomenclatural confusion. The original authors thought they had a species of hemlock (Tsuga). Rehder (1936), upon discovering that Tsuga mairei Lemée & H. Léveillé (Léveillé 1914) belonged to Taxus, treated it as a synonym of T. chinensis; however, the ICBN (Art. 11.4) requires the earlier epithet, mairei, be adopted (S. Y. Hu, in Liu, Illustr. Nat. Ind. Lign. Pl. Taiwan 16. 1960). Nevertheless, Cheng & Fu (1978), in maintaining this illegitimate name, made another illegitimate combination—T. chinensis var. mairei—that they earlier introduced invalidly—without reference to the basionym (Cheng et al., 1975; Art. 33.2, Greuter et al., 2000); it has since been transferred—T. wallichiana var. mairei (Lemée & Léveillé) Fu & Li (in Li & Fu 1997)—without accounting for the type of T. baccata var. sinensis Henry (in Elwee & Henry, Trees Gr. Brit. & Irel 1: 100. 1906).

Regardless of the nomenclatural misapplications of the name, the taxonomic application in recent years has been to treat yews in subtropical China under the epithet “mairei” if their leaves lack papillae on the abaxial midrib. The epithet sumatrana, an earlier available name, was not applied because the Chinese botanists had not seen its type (Cheng & Fu 1978; Hu 1964; Li & Fu 1997); instead, they selected mairei for the varietal epithet—placing it under T. wallichiana.

14b. Taxus mairei var. speciosa (Florin) Spjut, J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 1(1): 240. 2007. Taxus speciosa Florin, Act. Hort. Berg. 14, 8: 382 (1948). Type: China, Guizhou, [Fanjing Mts.] Kiangkow, 450 m, in light woods, tree 8 m high, fruit red—8 Dec 1930, Y. Tsiang 7525— holotype S (isotypes: A! BM! K! NY [photocopy!] US! Fig. 231).

Special yew. Distribution: Forest margins, near streams or open areas on hillsides; 100-750 (-1600) m; China (S Shaanxi, Sichuan, NE Yunnan, Guizhou, N Guangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, W Hubei, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian).

Similar to T. mairei. Branchlets mostly unequally divided, not in a zigzag pattern, yellowish-green turning pale orange with age. Leaves more unevenly spaced along one side of branchlets, overlapping slightly at their base in pairs, not closely parallel along margins, machete-like or nearly linear, arcuate (falcate) near base and upturned near apex, unevenly tapered to an obtuse or acute apex, to 3.5 cm long, 3–4 mm wide, light green and convex above to acute midrib that is channeled along base, midrib more obtuse above the mid region towards apex, paler and duller green and concave below to a squarrose elevated midrib that is shallowly channeled, often greenish and puckered in herbarium specimens with a rugose adaxial (dorsal) surface; stomata in (9-) 11–18 (-21) irregular rows/band. Male cones developing from most leaf axils on the current branchlets, scales 4-seriate. Female cone subcylindric, 4 mm long in bud, scales 6-seriate, basal one conduplicate, all greenish, aril forming a deep cup, red or yellow at maturity; seed often tan in color, ovoid with a nipple at apex, 3–4 mm long, 5–6 mm long or diam.

Representative Specimens—China—Ningxia Huizu: Sikong, Lung Dung An, 10 km from city, 1000 m, C.Y. Chiao 1223 (GH, S). China—Shaanxi: Mt. Tsin-lin to Lao-lin, 3000 m, large tree. Sichuan: western, Nin Ya-chou Fu, 2000 ft, tree 30–5 ft x 8-15 ft, Wilson 1265 (A, BM, K, S, US); S of Kuan-hsien, ridge, 1390 m, tree 30 ft, 3 in dbh, F.T. Wang 20600 (A); S of Kuan Hsien, ravine, 1160 m, tree 15 ft, 2 in dbh, F.T. Wang 20541 (A); Kuan-hsien, Mt. Tsing-cheng, Chengtu and vicinity, shady places in forest, common, tree 8 m, W.P. Fang 12205 (A, BM); Tienchuan Hsien, Tienchuanchow, 2500–3000 ft, in woods, tree 30 m, 4 ft dbh, W.P. Fang 3461 (A, K, P); same locality, tree 25 m, 3 ft dbh, W.P. Fang 3442 (A, K, P, US); Kuan Hsien, Chien-Chang-Shan, 1000 m, temple yard, tree 40 ft, male cones yellow, C.S. Fan & Class 91 (A); Shikong [Zigong?], Tien-Chuan Ling-Kwan, 3000 ft, back of old temple, erect tree 50 m, S.Y. Hu 1563 (A); Nanchuan Hsien, roadside, tree 10 m, W.P. Fang 5811 (A, K, P); Ta(s)chienlu, Cheng 1001 (BM), Cheng 1475 (P); Li County, Jiabigon, 2500 m, in forest, tree 5-7 m high, Z. Quing-sheng 0152 (BM); W Oua, Pao Shan, NE, 600 m, Legendre 586 (P); W region, between Huangnipu and Yaan (Yachou), Malingtsang, 900 m, H. Smith 10402 (A, BM, S); E Sichuan: Tchen-Keou-Tin, Farges 128 (P); Yun-Ling-Hsien, 5,000 ft, roadside, tree 15 m, 2 ft dbh, W.P. Fang 3796 (A). Yunnan: Forrest 15053 (K). Zhejiang (Chekiang): Yen Tang Shan, C.Y. Chiao 14618 (A, K, US); without locality data, S. Chen 1063 (A); S. Jentang, hillside near stream, tree 30 m, 2 ft dbh, H.H. Hu 97 (A); Siachu, open cultivated hilltop, 2600 ft, rare, tree 50 ft, 1.2 ft dbh, R-C. Ching 1676, with papillose midrib; S. Chekiang, open moist hillside, rare, tree 60 ft, 1.8 ft dbh, R-C Ching 2489 (A, K, US). Guizhou (Kweichow): Pichish, along roadside, tree 7 m, Y. Tsiang 8987 (A, P); Liang Feng Yah, Tsunyi Hsien, 900 m, tree 10 m, 20 cm dbh, Steward et al. 154 (A, BM, S); Songtao Xian, vicinity of Lengjiaba in the vicinity of the confluence of the Xiaohe and Dahe rivers, NE side of the Fanjing Shan mountain range, 820-1120 m, forest margin, tree 4 m, Sino-Amer. Guizhou Exped. 1981 (GH). Guangxi/Guizhou (border): 15 mi S of Bin lon(g) Hiu Shan W Inchen, 4000 ft, small tree, 2 ft, fairly common in woods, Ching 5976 (A, US). Jiangxi: Lu Shan, along stream in forest, Chiao 18795 (US). Hunan: Changning Hsien, Yang-Shan, 680 m, on slope in forest, tree 40 ft, C.S. Fan & Y.Y. Li 296 (BM, GH). Hubei (Hupeh): Metasequoia Area, between Ta-yin-pin & Chunglo, in valley, vicinity of Shui-sa-pa, 900 m, tree 15 m, 18 cm dbh, Gressitt 2507 (GH); vicinity of Li-chuan, on open hill, 3600 ft, C.T. Hwa 164 (A). Guangdong (Kwangtung): Hung-mio to Mio-lan, near Jui-feng, Lokohong Hsien, N.R. Region, 1340 m, front of temple yard by stream, tree 50 ft, 16 in dbh, aril red, seed green, Tsiang Ying 1425 (A, P); Ruyuan Xian, Nanling Exped. 1838 (A). Guizhou (Kweichow): Ta Ho Yen, Kianakou Hsien, rocky slope near farm house, 980 m, tree 10 m, 35 cm dbh, Steward et al. 328 (A, BM, K, P, S, US). Fujian (Fukien): Naping, 800 m, dense woods, Guo-sheng 1544 (K, US); Ing-dan E. Fookma, Price 1258b (K). Taiwan: C-j Chang, Hualien #1,2,4,5,7,8,9,10 (wba, identifications based on color and broad abaxial leaf margins; branching is generally required to distinguish var. mairei from var. speciosa).

Fujian: Naping, 800 m, dense woods, Guo-sheng 1544 (US)	Guangxi/Guizhou (border): 15 mi S of Bin lon(g) Hiu Shan W Inchen, 4000 ft, Ching 5976 (A, US).	Guizhou Kiangkow, 450 m, Y. Tsiang 7525 (US), isotype, showing scales at base of branchlets, and seed behind leaves.	Guizhou (Kweichow): Ta Ho Yen, Kianakou Hsien, 980 m, Steward et al. 328 (A). Additional illustration from specimen at Museum of Natural History at Paris (P).
Hubei: Metasequoia Area, 900 m, C.T. Hwa 229 (K).	Hubei (Hupeh): Metasequoia Area, between Ta-yin-pin & Chunglo, in valley, vicinity of Shui-sa-pa, 900 m, Gressitt 2507 (GH).	Jiangxi: Lu Shan, Chiao 18795 (US)	Sichuan: Tienchuanchow, 2500–3000 ft, in woods, tree 30 m, 4 ft dbh, W.P. Fang 3461 (A, K, P)
Sichuan: Tienchuan Hsien, Tienchuanchow, 2500–3000 ft, Fang 3442 (P)	E Sichuan: Tchen-Keou-Tin, Farges 128 (P), showing tan colored seed	E Sichuan: Tchen-Keou-Tin, Farges 128 (P), showing mature pollen cones. Farges may have returned to the same locality to collect mature seeds or mature pollen cones, but see Farges 1498.	E Sichuan: Tchen-Keou-Tin, 1000 m, tree 30 m, Farges 1498 (P), showing mature pollen cones.
Sichuan: Malingtsang, 900 m, H. Smith 10402, S (top left), A (top right), bottom from S.	Sichuan: Yun-Ling-Hsien, 5,000 ft, W.P. Fang 3796 (A)	Sichuan: S of Kuan-hsien, ridge, 1390 m, tree 30 ft, 3 in dbh, F.T. Wang 20600 (A)	Sichuan: Jiabigon, 2500 m, Z. Quing-sheng 0152
Taiwan: C-j-Chang, Hualien-1, 16 May 1994. Illustration shows leaf to have abaxial leaf margin of 18 cells, all without papillae, followed by a stomata band with 10–11 stomata rows, and a smooth midrib 12 cells wide; in x-section, the epidermal cells appear enlarged across the abaxial midrib and in 8 rows across the leaf margins.	C-j-Chang, Hualien-2, 16 May 1994 (left of 2 specimens) and 3 Aug 1993 (right of 2 specimens). Images scanned 2 June 2007. Illustration of the Aug 93 specimen shows a leaf to have an abaxial leaf margin of 27 cells, all without papillae, followed by a stomata band with 11 stomata rows, and a smooth midrib 18 cells wide. A leaf from the May 1994 specimen, all with young leaves, had 28 marginal cells, 20 of which lacked papillae, stomata in 11 rows, and a midrib 13 cells wide, mostly of short rectangular cells with low papillae.	Taiwan: C-j-Chang, Hualien-4, 16 May 1994 (right of two in photo) and and 3 Aug 1993 (left of two specimens). Images scanned 2 June 2007. Close-up of scales and leaves in image on right. illustrations show show leaf anatomical character features for both specimens. Leaves were found to have 17 and 21 marginal cells entirely without papillae, 12 rows of stomata, and a smooth midrib of 12 or 15 cells wide. The specimen dated 8-13-93 (No. 4) shows abaxial midrib cells that is usually seen on older leaves.	Taiwan: C-j-Chang, Hualien-5, 3 Aug 1993 and illustration from another plant with the same number collected 16 May 1994. Illustration shows leaf to have abaxial leaf margin of 23 cells, all without papillae, followed by a stomata band with 10–11 stomata rows, and a smooth midrib 13 cells wide; in x-section, the epidermal cells appear enlarged across 17 if the 23 abaxial marginal cells but not on the midrib. A leaf studied of the specimen collected in Aug 1993 had 24 marginal cells and 12–14 stomata rows.
Taiwan: C-j-Chang, Hualien-9, 16 May 1994 (top and bottom illustration) and 3 Aug 1993 (bottom specimen). Images scanned 2 June 2007. The abaxial leaf surface for the Aug 1994 specimen was found to have a margin of 24 cells entirely without papillae, stomata in 14 rows, and entirely smooth midrib 11 cells wide, while the one collected May 1994 (shown above) was found to have 29 marginal cells, 19 of which lacked papillae, a stomata band with 15 rows of stomata, and a smooth midrib 15 cells wide.	Taiwan: C-j-Chang, Hualien-10, 16 May 1994 (left of two specimens and 3 Aug 1993 (right of 2 specimens), illustrations for both specimens, and herbarium label prepared by R. Spjut. Images scanned 2 June 2007.	Yunnan: Forrest 15053 (K).	Zhejiang: Southern, open moist hillside, rare, R-C Ching 2489, A (top left), US (top right), illus from US specimen.
Comments on Taiwan specimens: Plant specimens obtained by Professor Ching-jer Chang (Purdue University) were received via overnight express mail from Taiwan. The crude sketches of leaf sections were prepared by Spjut from fresh specimens soon after the material was received. In contrast to specimens of T. mairei var. mairei obtained by C-j-Chang on the same dates, in which the leaves have changed to a dark reddish-green on the adaxial surface, leaves of var. speciosa have remained relatively green during the past 15 years (1992–2007), although it should be noted that they were kept in the freezer from date of receipt until Sep 2001 in the event an opportunity might arise for DNA studies. These specimens were initially identified T. celebica by Spjut based on shape of epidermal cells as seen from surface view, but because these leaves appear to be mostly young growth, and because it has been determined that epidermal cells vary in length on young growth (Spjut 2007), T. celebica was subsequently identified by the lanceolate acuminate shape of the leaf (Spjut 2007). Variety mairei and var. speciosa are treated under one species (instead of separate species) because they share the leaf characteristic of enlarged epidermal cells on the abaxial surface as seen in leaf x-sections on older leaves. The midrib on the abaxial surface of leaves also appears channeled. In contrast to withering scales that is often seen at the base of branchlets in var. mairei, the scales of var. speciosa are usually more conspicuous by their dark color against the young yellowish green branchlets and because they appear to shrink less with age. The two varieties are usually distinguished by differences in branching, which cannot be evaluated for most specimens obtained by Professor Chang because of the fragmentary nature of the material that was received. According to Professor Chang all Hualien collections were from different locations, while the exact locality for each was never provided to Spjut. It is not known whether the same collection number obtained on two different dates came from the same plant.