39 
FORSYTHIA viridissima. 
Dark Green Forsythia. 
DIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Nat. ord. OLEACEE. (OLivEwoRTs, Vegetable Kingdom, p. 616.) 
FORSYTHIA, Vahl.— Calyx brevissimě campanulatus, quadripartitus, 
deciduus. Corolla hypogyna, subcampanulata, quadripartita, tubo brevis- 
simo, lobis sestivatione contortis. Stamina 2, imo corolle tubo inserta, in- 
clusa. Ovarium biloculare. Ovula in loculis plurima, e placentis medio 
dissepimento utrinque insertis pluriseriatim pendula. Stylus brevis; stigma 
capitato-bilobum. Capsula ovata, compressiuscula, sublignosa, corticata, 
bilocularis, loculicido-bivalvis, valvis planiusculis, medio septiferis. Semina 
in loculis pauca, pendula, compressa, testa membranacea hinc in alam an- 
gustam, inde in marginem angustissimam expansa. Embryo in axi albuminis 
carnosi, parci rectus; cotyledonibus foliaceis, radicula brevi, cylindrica, 
supera.—Endlicher genera, no. 3356.——Frutices chinenses, in Japonum 
hortis passim culti ; ramis oppositis, gemmis perulatis, folüferis a floriferis 
distinctis, foliis oppositis, ternis v. quaternis, simplicibus, serratis, integris v. 
ternato-pinnatisectis, floribus precocibus, e quavis gemma solitariis, luteis. 
F. viridissima ; ramis erectis tetragonis, foliis simplicibus oblongis et oblongo- 
lanceolatis petiolatis versus apicem serratis dimidià inferiore integer- 
rimis, floribus ante folia breviter pedicellatis geminatis cernuis, sepalis 
subrotundis convexis ovarii longitudine.— Lindley in Journal of Hort. 
Soc. vol. 1. p. 
Until this plant was published, only one species of the 
genus had become known to Dotanists. 
« That plant, the Forsythia suspensa of Vahl,” it is stated 
in the work above quoted, ** was called a Lilac by Thunberg, 
who thus perceived its natural affinity, but was not happy in 
his identification of it, for although its leaves are often pin- 
nated, yet its flowers grow in pairs from the axils of fallen 
leaves, instead of forming terminal panicles. It is described 
asa very fine shrub, with deep yellow flowers, and growing 
from eight to twelve feet high. According to Siebold and 
Zuccarini, who have figured it, there are two varieties, one 
with weéping branches, and the other with upright ones; 
both are said to have been obtained from China by the Japa- 
‘nese, who plant them along with evergreens for the sake of 
obtaining, from the varied appearance produced in the spring 
by this plant, a good background to the Peaches, Apricots, 
