SWISS FLO WEBS. 49 



less irregular), are, to the number of seven or nine, on each 

 side of a leaf-stalk, which has stipules an inch or two long 

 at the base. The fruit is round, or inclining to oblong, 

 scarlet-red when ripe, and crowned by the persistent up- 

 right sepals. Forests of mountainous regions : Maderaner 

 Thai, &c. ; frequent. 



31. — Cotoneaster. 



(PLATE XIX.) 



This plant, so well known as cultivated, is found wild in 

 only one place in our island. Its small, unusually dark 

 leaves, white underneath, lying so thickly on each other, 

 and its berries of a peculiarly pretty shade of red lighting 

 them up, and often lasting till the flowers come again on 

 the plant, make it almost impossible to mistake it. C. to- 

 mentosa has small white flowers, with white petals and many 

 stamens. They are solitary, or sometimes two or three 

 together, but, like the leaves, they are produced so thickly 

 as often to seem to be in masses. The plant is an ever- 

 green shrub ; its branches are inclined to lie on the ground, 

 where they often root, or to run over any rocks or stones to 

 which thev may be near. Our variety with smaller leaves is 



4 



