November 6, 1909 



HORTICULTURE 



BOTANtCAi 



633 



Notes From the Arnold Arboretum 



A horticiilturally very important geiiiis is Viburnum 

 of which quite a number of new specie? have been recent- 

 ly introduced from China. Some of them are decidu- 

 ous and some evergreen : all of the former may be ex- 

 pected to prove hardy in the neighborhood of Boston, 

 while the latter can only be depended upon farther south. 



One of the handsomest and certainly the most graceful 

 and distinct of the new species is Viburnum l-ansuense, 

 a shrub related to the Highbush Cranberry, but smaller 

 in every part and with much more finely divided foliage. 

 The slender-stalked bright green leaves are ovate-oblong 

 in outline, from one and a half to two inches long, deep- 

 ly three or sometimes nearly five-lobed, the middle lobe 

 elongated into a slender point and like the lateral lobes 

 furnished with a few large teeth. The pinkish white 

 flowers appear in slender-stalked clusters about one and 

 a half inch in diameter along the upper part of last year's 

 branches and are followed by comparatively large ovoid 

 bright red fruits. Particularly in fruit this Viburnum 

 is very handsome and presents with its small deeply cut 

 foliage an appearance very different from any other 

 Viburnum. 



Very distinct is also Viburnum erubescens on account 

 of its flowers being arranged in drooping panicles and 

 not in umbel-like clusters as in almost all other species. 

 In its native habitat it grows into a small tree attaining 

 twenty feet in height. The leaves are generally obovate or 

 obovate-oblong, short-pointed, serrate at the margin and 

 from two to four inches long. The white flowers are 

 funnelform, not flat as in most other species, about one- 

 third of an inch long and are borne on slender drooping 

 panicles from two to four inches in length ; they are fol- 

 lowed by dark crimson fruits. 



Similar in habit and general appearance is Viburnum 

 Henryi, but the flowers are flat as in most other species, 

 not funnelform. The panicles are much broader and 

 somewhat larger and the leaves are narrower, of a firmer 

 texture and quite glabrous, not hairy on the veins of the 

 under surface as in the preceding species. 



Viburnum betulifolium is closely related to V. dilata- 

 tum and differs chiefly in its smaller glabrous foliage and 

 larger and looser flower clusters. The leaves are borne 

 on very slender stalks and usually rhombic-ovate or oval 

 in outline, pointed and toothed, from two and a half to 

 four inches long and glabrous on both sides. The flow- 

 ers appear in large and loose corymbs from four to six 

 inches in diameter and are followed by scarlet fruits. 

 Another species of the same affinity is Viburnum Wilsoni 

 with denser and smaller corymbs covered with a dense 

 and short yellowish tomentum ; the leaves are generally 

 ovate, pointed and pubescent on both surfaces. To this 

 species Viburnum dasyanthum is very closely related, 

 but the yellowish tomentum is confined to the upper part 

 of the corymb and the more elongated leaves are 

 glabrous. Viburnnm corylifolium is also closely related 

 to V. dilatatum, but the young slioots. leaf-stalks and 

 the inflorescence are densely covered witli long spreading 

 yellowish hairs and the scarlet fruits are larger. 



Another very distinct species is Viburnum foetidum 

 (V. ccanofhoides) with rather small, but numerous 



flower clusters. The leaves are only one or two, rarely 

 three inches long, obovate to oblong in outline with a 

 few large teeth near the apex and quite glabrous. The 

 white flowers are borne in corymbs from one and a half 

 to three inches in diameter and followed by scarlet 

 fruits. 



Viburnum Veitchii is similar to V. Lantana, but the 

 flower clusters are larger. The leaves are ovate, pointed, 

 cordate at the base, finely toothed, from four to five inches 

 long, covered on the under surface with a white tomen- 

 tum and slightly hairy on the upper surface. The 

 flowers appear in terminal panicles from three to four 

 inches broad and are followed by black fruits. Vibur- 

 num buddleifolium is very similar to this, but the leaves 

 are narrower, more lanceolate in outline. 



All the Viburnums mentioned above are deciduous; 

 some of the new evergreen species will be mentioned in 

 the next issue. 



Alternanthera ^^JeweF' 



For a number of years foliage plants have been ar- 

 tistically used for massing or color effect in the flower 

 garden, parterre, private and public gardens, cemeteries, 

 and all places where plants are used for bedding or 

 decoration. 



Changes liave constantly been made with the advent 

 of new or improved varieties, which add beauty and 

 effectiveness in the general display. Progress is ever 

 the order of the day and there is always beauty in 

 variety. Mention might be made of such plants as 

 CTotons, acalyphas, pandanus, philanthus, abutilons, 

 coleus and a few others amongst the stronger growing 

 varieties but for effectiveness in general designs, or car- 

 pet bedding nothing can vie with the alternantheras. 

 Of these we have several varieties and distinct forms, 

 some strong and free-growing, others dwarf and com- 

 pact, with several shades of color — some sombre, 

 others of distinct yellow, wliile others again are 

 of an orange red varying to . rose carmine and 

 cerise. The vivid and brilliant colors are most striking 

 and our semi-tropical summers are conducive to their 

 full development of growth and color. For many years 

 the variety amcena and A. spectabilis, latifolia and 

 versicolor, with several sports of more or less value have 

 been in cultivation, though of late years they have dwin- 

 dled down to two or three distinct colors of red and 

 yellow. 



We are indebted to Wm. Pfitzer, of Stuttgart, Ger- 

 many, for the recent introduction of Alternanthera 

 Jewel, which has proved a most valuable addition to this 

 class of plants. In habit it is compact and spreading, 

 foliage as large and probably larger than A. latifolia. 

 The young foliageis bronzy orange, changing to rosy 

 carmine and brilliant crimson. For massing where color 

 effect is desired it is unequalled, also for borders — espe- 

 cially with subtropical plants — and can be used for 

 many and varied purposes in parks, cemeteries and all 

 gardens where bedding plants are used. It is by no 

 means a delicate or tender plant but is of free growth 

 compact habit and vivid coloring. 



