This variety often reverts to the
type with widely spread, straight needles. And on many a specimen four,
five, or more reverted branches may be seen on different parts of the
same shrub. Still more widely cultivated is the shrub called
_Cephalotaxus pedunculata fastigiata_, and more commonly known under its
old name of _Podocarpus koraiana_. It is the broomlike variety of a
species, nearly allied to the common American and European species of
yew, (_Taxus minor_ and _T. baccata_). It is a low shrub, with broadly
linear leaves of a clear green. In the species the leaves are arranged
in two rows, one to the left and one to the right of the horizontally
growing and widely spreading branches. In the variety the branches are
erect and the leaves inserted on all sides. When sporting, it returns to
the bilateral prototype and flat wings of fan-shaped twigs are produced
laterally on its dense broom-like tufts.
[170] Wherever this variety is cultivated the same reversion may be
seen; it is produced abundantly, and even under seemingly normal
circumstances. But as in the case of the _Ribes_ all the specimens are
derived by buds from a single original plant. The variety was introduced
from Japan about the year 1860, but is probably much older. Nothing is
known as to its real origin. It never bears flowers or fruits.
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