although they do so in Central and Southern Europe. 
Every part of the tree is permeated with a cathartic 
principle. The tree likes a rich loamy soil and should 
be planted in full sun. If we exclude the Ldwardsia 
group of Svphora, which is confined to the Southern 
Hemisphere and is well distinguished by the erect, nearly 
uniform petals and small, more numerous leaflets, 
S. japonica is distinct from ail other species cultivated in 
this country in being a tree. S. afinis, Torr. & Gr., a 
small North American tree, differs in its axillary racemes 
and its 4—8-seeded pubescent fruits. 
Description.— Tree, 50-80 ft. high, the bark of the trunk much fissured in old 
specimens ; branchlets bright brown, more or less pubescent, especially when 
young. Leaves deciduous, alternate, imparipinnate, 6-10 in. long; rachis 
pubescent, swollen at the base. Leaflets 9-15, ovate, acute, apiculate, rounded 
at the base, 1-3 in. long, 3-3 in. wide, dark glossy green above, glaucous and 
furnished with adpressed pubescence beneath ; petiolules z's in. long, pubescent ; 
stipules sickle-shaped, } in. long, caducous. Panicles terminal, pyramidal, 
4-8 in. high and wide. Flowers creamy white, 2 in. long, opening in 
September. Calyx campanulate, with five shallow triangular teeth, minutely 
pubescent. Corolla papilionaceous, the standard petal broadly cordate with a 
short claw, faintly lined with purple; keel £ in. long. Stamens ten, variable 
in length but all enclosed in the keel-petals. Pod 1-2 in. long, glabrous, 
1-4-seeded, very much constricted between the seeds. Seeds dark brown, 
kidney-shaped. 
Tas. 8764,—Fig. 1, flower with petals removed ; 2, standard ; 8, wing-petal ; 
4, keel-petal ; 5, pistil :—all enlarged. 
