272 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



sea-shore, in the Levant, the South of Europe, and in the 

 island of Crete, where it grows very large. In this coun- 

 try its height seldom exceeds eight or ten feet. The 

 colour of the flowers, which, like the Rhododendrons com- 

 monly so called, come out in large magnificent bunches at 

 the ends of the branches, varies from purple to a dusky 

 white, a brilliant scarlet, or a deep rich crimson. There 

 are also double-flowered varieties. 



This is a beautiful evergreen shrub, requiring the same 

 treatment as the Myrtle ; that is, shelter from September 

 to April, a liberal watering every evening in hot weather, 

 and a more sparing draught twice or thrice a week in the 

 winter. 



The White-flowered variety is rather more tender, and 

 is usually kept within doors till June. 



Most of the Oleanders are East Indians, and require a 

 stove in this country. Some of these are beautiful beyond 

 expression, particularly the Sweet-scented species. The 

 Common Oleander, in addition to the names already men- 

 tioned, is also called Rhodo-Daphne. The Hindoos, as 

 we are told by Sir W. Jones, bestow on this handsome 

 shrub a name somewhat less elegant, and most singularly 

 resembling one of its Italian appellations. " They call 

 it," says he, " Horse-killer, from a notion that horses, in- 

 advertently eating of it, are killed by it : most of the 

 species, especially their roots, have strong medicinal, pro- 

 bably narcotic, powers." 



