291 



n different time and probably from a different plant. It lias more 

 distant larger leaves and foliaceous stipules. 



It is doubtful w'lietber this form lias ever been in cultivation in 

 Europe, or if so, it must liave lost its cbaraoteristic features and 

 passed into tlie condition wbieh was early Ivnown to gardeners as^ 

 Crataegus stlpulacea and Crataegus me.vicaim, and is even now, as^ 

 it seems, tlie only form represented in gardens. This plant 

 possesses more or less elongated branches, and consequently a more- 

 open habit and larger leaves (up to 8 ,em, by 3-5 cm/j, which 



^, ^^iXi^ 



^ at the same time less hairy than in Humboldt 

 and Bonpland's form,. The stipules and bracts are generally more 

 developed, frequently foliaceous and more persistent, and the 

 corvmbs contain on the avera<>'e more flowers. The first reference 

 to it is in Loddiges' Catalogue for 1826 (p. 40), where the name 

 Crataegus stipttlacea is given without any further information. In 

 1835 it was figured as C\ viexicana by 1). Don in Sweet's British 

 Flower Garden (2nd series) at t. 300. The plate represents a spine- 

 less plant — it is described as an unarmed l)ush — with fairly Inrge . 

 leaves, foliaceous falcate stipules, and ^^ellowish fruits as large as 

 those of a medlar. It is stated in the text to ]iave been introduced 

 from seed received by Mr. Lambert in 1829, and to have flowered 

 first in his garden at Boyton House, Wilts, in 1834. There was 

 at the time some controversy* as to the correctness of the date of 

 introduction ; but Lambertf stated that the fruits were brought to 

 this countr}', with other seeds including those of Arbutus 

 a-alapensis, and given to him by the '' late Lord Xapier '' on his^ 

 return from Mexico. This was^William John, 8th Lord IN'apier, 

 who died in 1834. It is probable that Lord Napier returned from 

 Mexico in 1824 as the introduction of the Arhutus is generally 

 accepted as having taken place in that year. 



Several specimens must have been in existence in gardens in 

 Enirland as earlv as 1835. i From one of tliem, no doubt the one 





in tlie Iloiticuitiual Society's Garden, a plate was published 

 by Lindley in the Botfinical Eegister, t. 1910, in 1836. It evidently 

 represents^ the same form as the one shown on t. 300 of Sweet's 

 Flower Garden, althoiig'h it bears a short barren branchlet which 

 in the shape and size of the leaves, and their more congested 

 arrangement, recalls the habit of the form depicted in Humboldt 

 and Bonpland's, and in Mocino and Sesse's 'figures. By that time it 

 had also found its way into France, for SpachJ! in 1834, quotes the 



name of " Mespilus stipulacea, Desf. Hort. Par.," which points to 



coup 



c 



IS 



clear description leaves no doubt that he had the plant before him 

 that was then grown in English gardens as Crataegus stipulacea 

 or C. me.ricana. He also describes the great range of variation in 



* Loudon, Gardener's Muirazine, vol. xi. (1885), 473, 474. 

 t In Loudon, Gardener's Magazine, I.e. y). 58o. 



I See Loudon. Gardener's Magazine, xi. 474, and Loudon, Arboretum et 

 Fruticetura Brittanieuni, ii. 843. 



II Sr^Qr^li TTIst. Nat. Vee. ii- 54. 



