March 26, 1910 



HORTICULTURE 



473 



Plant Novelties From China 



Botanically the most remarkable feature of the 

 Chinese flora is its close affinity with the flora of the 

 Atlantic States of tliis country. The trees of China 

 emphasize this afirnity in an extraordinary manner. 

 China has its own Tulip tree. Yellow-wood. Sassafras, 

 Tupelo, Cof?ee-l3ean. etc., etc., just as this country has, 

 and in the ease of several of these the differences be- 

 tween the representatives,, of the two continents are ex- 

 tremely slight. The mixed forests of China are com- 

 ]>osed of species belonging to the same genera which 

 form our forests here. Several of these genera extend 

 ]-ight around the temperate regions of the Northern 

 Hemisphere, but in nearly every instance the Chinese 

 i-pecies are more nearly related to the American than 

 tlie European. Much work remains to be done before we 

 can claim to have, in any sense of the word, a complete 

 knowledge of the forest flora of China. So far ap- 

 proximately 550 species of trees are known from China, 

 and this number, incomplete as it is, is considerable 

 inexcRSS of the number of trees found in this country, 

 though the territory liere is considerably gi-eater. 



To prove the value of new trees, their adaptability 

 to climate, and what not, longer time is necessary than 

 for the other subjects dealt with in these articles and the 

 writer in tliis, his last articli\. is not pre]iared to say 



I'oruLus lasiocarpa 

 Co feet liigli, at Home. 



FOPULL'S LASIOCARPA 



very mueli on this subjeet. The object of this series 

 of articles has been to endeavor to bring under general 

 notice certain new plants of proven merit which can be 

 (ibtained right now by those interested. In the case 

 of trees obviously less is known to date and this pre- 

 cludes any extended notice of them for the time being. 

 There are, however, two, unique in their way and of 

 outstanding merit, which are obtainable at the moment, 

 and these articles would bo incomplete were mention of 

 them omitted; namely, Davidia involucrata and 

 I'opulus lasiocarpa. 



The Davidia is perhaps the most reuuirkal)le and 

 ornamental flowering tree in the whole temperate flora. 

 This tree is a near relation of our native Cornus 

 fl'.rida, although the relationship is not very obvious to 

 the uninitiated. The Davidia is a tree, 40-60 ft. high, 

 ]iyramidal in part, after the manner of a wild pear 

 tree. The leaves resemble those of a lime or a mul- 

 lierrv and are either smooth or hairy below. The flowers 

 ai-e borne on short spurs as in many fruit trees and 

 the ornamental part consists of two bracts which sub- 

 tend the flowers'' proper. These bracts are opposite, 

 (ivate, and unequal in size. The largest measures 6-81^ 

 inches x 3-4 inches. The lesser 3-6 inches x 3-3 inches. 

 The bracts unfold with the leaves but reach their full 

 size bv the time the leaves are three parts grown. At 

 first green, the bracts soon become snow white, and be- 

 ing membraneous in texture, are pendulous. The 

 gentlest ze]ihyr moves them and thev forcibly remind 

 one of an army of giant butterflies flitting hither and 

 thither amongst the leaves. The tree is very free- 



