Varieties
A considerable number of varieties have arisen in cultivation, ten being mentioned by Beissner.[1]
1. Var. albo-spica. Growing shoots during spring and early summer of a milkywhite colour. Trees of this kind at Dropmore[2] are pyramidal in habit, and make splendid growth. At Grayswood,[3] Haslemere, a bushy form with this peculiar foliage has been noted.
2. Var. robusta. Branchlets stout; leaves longer and thicker than in the ordinary form.
3. Var. crassifolia. Branches short and stout; branchlets not pendulous; leaves short and thick.
4. Var. verticillata. Branchlets whorled.
5. Var. fastigiata. Fastigiate in habit.
6. Varieties with variegated foliage and with bright yellow leaves have also been noted. The glaucous tint has appeared in cultivation, and is met with in the wild state. A very glaucous tree at Castlewellan has been named var. nivea.[4] Trees with thin, shining, deep green foliage have been distinguished as var. viridis.(A.H.)
Distribution
The deodar is found in the Western Himalaya; and extends eastwards to the Dauli river in Kumaon, occurring at 4000 to 10,000 feet, most common at 6000 to 8000 feet. It extends westwards through Kashmir to the Peiwar forests in the Kuram valley of Afghanistan.
According to Gamble, from whom I take the most of the following account, it is a gregarious tree, but rarely forms pure forests, though exceptions are met with, generally in the form of sacred groves; usually it is associated with Picea Morinda and Pinus excelsa, and three species of oak in their various zones. Sometimes the silver fir (Abies Pindrow) accompanies it, but more rarely; the cypress (Cupressus torulosa) in its favourite localities joins it; the yew is often found under it; and at low elevations it mixes with Pinus longifolia.
Among other trees commonly found with it may be mentioned Betula alnoides, Populus ciliata, Æsculus indica, elm, hazel, hornbeam, maples, bird-cherry, holly (Ilex dipyrena), Pieris ovalifolia, and rhododendron; while among the shrubs commonly found in deodar forests may specially be noted species of Berberis, Indigofera, Desmodium, Cotoneaster, Euonymus, Salix, especially Salix elegans, Viburnum, Lonicera, Parrotia, and rose, while Clematis montana, Vitis semicordata, and ivy, are frequently met with climbing over and festooning its branches.
In the outer ranges the deodar forests chiefly clothe the northern and western slopes of the ridges, while in the interior hills, to which the rainfall of the south-west monsoon still reaches, they are found on all aspects, but less pure. Beyond the region of the south-west monsoon the deodar is still found, but gets
