FROM THE SOCIETY'S GARDEN. 63 



3. Ficus viRG ATA. Roxburgh, Flora Indica, vol. iii. p. 530. 



Raised from seeds from the North of India ; presented by 

 the Honourable Court of Directors of the East India 

 Company. 



In general appearance this shrub resembles the common eat- 

 able fig, but it seems to form a much smaller bush. The young 

 shoots, leaves, and fruit are covered with fine short hairs. The 

 leaves are roundish -ovate, from 3 to 4 inches long, regularly ser- 

 rated all round, except at tlie very base, and seated on taper 

 stalks rather less than half their own length ; they are slightly 

 wrinkled on the upper side, but verj' much so on the lower. The 

 figs are seated on short stalks, hav"^ a pear-shaped figure, and 

 seem to be as large as the fruit of the sorb ; usually they appear 

 singly, but in some instances two have grown from the same 

 axil. 



A deciduous shrub, capable of withstanding an ordinary winter, 

 if planted in a dry situation. It was killed to the ground by the 

 last severe winter. It grows freely in any good garden soil. 



It has no beauty as an object of cultivation, and is only interest- 

 ing as a distinct half-hardy species. 



August 30, 1845. 



4. Abelia rupestris.* 



Received from Mr. Fortune, June 20th, 1844, as a fine 

 dwarf shrub, found amongst rocks on the Chamoo 

 Hills. 



A small spreading bush, with deciduous, bright green foliage. 

 The branches are very slender, covered with fine down, and deep 

 reddish brown, when fully exposed to the sun. The leaves are 

 opposite, ovate, distantly serrated, on very short stalks, quite 

 smooth except at the midrib on the underside, where they are 

 closely covered with short hairs. The flowers are pure white, 

 something like those from the honeysuckle, and come in pairs 

 from tlie axils of leaves belonging to the short lateral branches. 

 At the base of the ovary stand 3 very small bracts. The ovary 

 itself is slender and downy ; surmounted by a calyx of 5 obovate 

 ciliated sepals, which are slightly stained rose-colour, and rather 



* A. rupestris; ramis pubescentibus, foliis ovatis distanter serratis glabris 

 subtus secus costani villosis, peduiiculis bifloris, involucro nullo, sepalis 

 5 obovutis ciliatis, corolla pubescente 5-fida, staminibus exEertis.—.!. L. 



