39 



PHILADELPHUS laxus. 

 Weak-branched Syringa. 



ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



Nat. ord. Philadelphace^. 



PHILADELPHUS. Botanical Register , vol. 1 . fol. 570. 



P. laxus ; ramis debilibus pendulis atrofuscis, foliis ovatis acuminatis pilosiuscu- 

 lis acut^ dentatis basi cuneatis supremis linearibus inteorerrimis, floribus 

 subsolitariis, stylo 4-partito staminibus longiore, calycis laciniis fructu 

 elongatis patentissimis. 



P. kxus. Schrad. in DC. prodr. ili. 206. Loudon Arboret. Brit. 2. 954. ic, 



? P. grandiflorus. Elliott Fl. South Carolin. 1. 538. 



Whatever may be thought of some of the supposed 

 species of Philadelphus now cultivated in gardens, there can 

 be no doubt, I should think, of this being quite distinct from 

 all others. It is occasionally received from North America, 

 in a live state, and yet there iB no certain trace of the plant 

 in the writings of North American Botanists. 



It is a hardy shrub, like all the rest of the genus, but less 

 hardy than most others, wherefore it may be supposed to be 

 a native of the Southern States of the American Union ; but 

 upon turning to Elliott's Flora of Carolina, where some 

 information concerning it may be expected, it turns out that 

 only P. inodorus and grandifiorus are mentioned by that 

 author. It is, however, possible that P. laxus is what is 

 meant by the latter name ; and if so, the species " grows 

 along the margins of rivers in the upper part of Georgia and 

 Carolina ; common near Columbia." 



The leaves are smaller than is usual in the genus, very 

 sharp-pointed, with the toothings unusually sharp ; the 

 uppermost leaves become gradually narrower, till those im- 

 July, 1839. p 



