Tab. 5512. 

 AUCUBA Japonica. 



Japanese Aucuba. 



Nat. Ord. Corner. — Dicecia Tetrandiua. 



Gen. Char. Flares dioici. Masc. : Calyx parvus, 4-dentatus. Petala 4, sub 

 margine disci inserts, ovata v. lanceolata, pateutia, valvata. Stamina 4, cum 

 petalis inserta, filamentis brevibus subulatis ; anthers didymse. Ovarii rudi- 

 mentum 0. FffiM. : Calycis tubus ovario adnatus, limbo breviter 4-dentato. 

 Petala maris. Stamina 0. Ovarium inferum, 1-loculare, disco epigyno corona- 

 tum ; stylus brevissimus, stigmate oblique peltato ; ovulum solitavium, pendulum. 

 Bacca ovoidea, carnosa, 1-sperma. Semen loculum implens, testa membranacea ; 

 embryo minutus, in apice albuminis copiosi carnosi. — Frutices Japonici et Hima- 

 laici, glabri v. partibus novellis appresse pilosulis. Folia opposita, petiolata, 

 coriacea, ovato-oblonga v. lanceolata, serrata. Paniculse breves, ex axillis supe- 

 rioribns ortce, paucijiora. Flores parvi. Baccse majuscules, rubra. 



Aucuba Japonica ; foliis ovatis acuminatis grosse remote dentatis, petalis late 

 ovatis acutis. 



Aucuba Japonica. Thunb. Jap. v. 4. t. 12. Bot. Mag. 1. 1197 {female plant, 

 variegated variety). 



The Aucuba Japonica affords a singular instance of the great 

 length of time that may elapse between the first information of 

 a remarkable plant being received, and an accurate knowledge 

 of it acquired. This plant was first introduced from Japan in 

 1783 by a Mr. John Grseffer (see Bot. Mag. t. 1197), but only 

 the female plant, and this under the well-known variegated form. 

 From that one plant, the millions now scattered over Europe and 

 America have been derived ; but it is only within the last few- 

 years that, thanks to the indefatigable Mr. Fortune, the male 

 plant, and in its native unvariegated form, has reached us. This, 

 which we here figure, differs in no respect except colour from 

 the cultivated plant, and except that it bears abundantly hand- 

 some scarlet berries, it would have no chance of rivalling in po- 

 pular estimation the variegated form. 



Two other lessons may be learned from the history of the 



may 1st, 1865. 



