240 
associated with the descriptions given in the fifth edition of the 
Genera Plantarum (1754), but others were treated as synonyms 
in these and later works of Linnaeus. Thus Abzes is now referable 
to Link (1841), and Abrus should be attributed to Adanson 
(1763). 
Lilac Wood (Syringa vulgaris, L.).—Very little appears to have 
been published about this wood and the following remarks are 
based on an examination of specimens grown at Kew. The wo 
is slow-growing, small, 4-8 in. in diameter, hard, close-grained, 
heavy; the sap-wood cream coloured or pale yellow, and in 
mature bushes confined to 10-13 annual rings; the heart-wood 
brown with irregular reddish marks of varying intensity, rather. 
like the markings in “ Brazilian tulip wood” (Physocalymma — 
scaberrimum). The reddish marking imparts a distinct character 
to the wood. In a transverse section the marks appear as wavy 
rings roughly following the outline of the trunk but not confined to 
the course of definite annual rings. In a tangential section the 
reddish colour is very pronounced. Near the centre of the trunk 
or branch it is seen as well defined longitudinal lines but nearer 
the outside it appears as rather broad bands. In a radial section 
it is also seen in lines; the intervening wood in each case is 
flecked or slightly stained with red. The pores are very small and 
numerous particularly in the spring wood; they are not easily 
seen without a lens and even with a lens those in the late wood 
are not very clear. The medullary rays are very fine and evenly 
spaced, about 100 occupying the space of half an inch. They 
are scarcely visible without a lens. The wood works with a 
smooth, glassy surface, its working qualities being more nearly 
comparable with box than with any other well-known wood, 
although it is less dense than box. The finished surface is 
comparable with box and yew. Although too scarce to be of 
any commercial importance, it can be effectively used for small 
articles of turnery and those persons who cut down large bushes 
might have small dainty household articles manufactured after 
carefully seasoning the wood.—w.p. - 
Erratum.—On p. 189, line 4 from bottom, for varieties read 
rarities. a3 
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