now known as S. Fortunei, Masters. Dr. Masters, in his 
interesting account of the genus, published in the Gar- 
dener’s Chronicle, in 1889, calls attention to the darker 
green leaves of S. Fortunei, its invariably hermaphrodite 
flowers, and obovate, dull crimson fruits. 
Numerous Skimmias have originated in gardens, and 
have received distinguishing names. ‘The history of the 
more important is given in Dr. Masters’ paper. 
All the Kew plants of S. japonica, so far as examined, 
are dicecious, and the flowers tetramerous. Precocious 
germination of the seeds, not infrequent in Rutacex, and 
already recorded in Skimmia itself, was observed in the 
case of one fruit still attached to the plant. In this the 
large green embryo was bursting through the epicarp. 
It may be mentioned that Dr. Engler limits Skimmia 
to only one species, uniting therefore with the species here 
figured not only 8S. Fortune’, but also the less hardy 
S. Laureola, which, in gardens at least, from its different 
behaviour under cultivation, and its less agreeable odour, 
long ago noted by Lindley, is held to be quite distinct. 
Descr—An evergreen, bushy, dwarf, aromatic shrub, 
quite glabrous, except the minutely puberulous in- 
florescence. eaves alternate, often nearly verticillate, 
shortly petiolate, coriaceous, shining, pale green, obovate- 
oblong to lanceolate, two to five (often three to four) 
inches long, half to one and three-quarters of an inch 
broad, acute, acuminate or obtuse, attenuated at the base, 
quite entire, studded with transparent glands; petioles 
thick, Flowers fragrant, small, in terminal thyrsoid 
panicles two to three inches long; pedicels thick, short ; 
bracteoles small, opposite. Calyx shortly four- or five- 
lobed. Petals four or five, oblong, white, about two lines 
long, and one line and a quarter broad. Stamens four or 
five, as long as the petals. Ovary globose, usually four- 
celled; cells one-ovuled. Drupe globose or depressed- 
apa about four lines in diameter, bright red.—S. A. 
KAN. 
Figs. 1 and 2, male inflorescence and flower; 3 and 4, female inflorescence 
and flower; 5, fruiting branch:—l, 3, and 5, natural size ; 2 and 4, enlarged. 
