CHAP. XLI. LEGUMINA‘CE®. GLEDI’TSCHIA. 655 
Spec. Char., §&c. Prickles strong, branchy, numerous. Leaflets lanceolate, 
somewhat rigid, notched, dentated. Pods elongated. (Desf. Ard., ii. p. 246.) 
A deciduous tree witha prickly trunk; the prickles axillary, large ; and the 
leaflets also large. It is said by Baudrillart to be a native of China (Dict. 
des Eaux et des Foréts, vol.ii. p.150.); but when it was introduced is 
uncertain. The leaves are twice winged; the leaflets coriaceous, dark 
green, and shining on the upper surface. The young shoots are covered 
with extremely short hairs, and are of a purplish brown colour. On the 
whole, it bears a close resemblance to G, sinénsis, of which it is, probably, 
only a variety. It is very hardy ; and Desfontaines says that it fruits freely 
in France. The fruit ripens in the autumn ; and the pods are long, pendu- 
lous, swelled, and rather cylindrical. They are filled with a sharp acrid 
pulp, somewhat resembling that of tamarinds, but the emanations from 
which, when inhaled, occasion sneezing. 
Statistics. The largest tree in the neighbourhood of London is that at Syon, figured in our Second 
Volume: it is 57 ft. high, diameter of the trunk 3ft., and of the head 63 ft. In Essex, at Audley 
End, is a tree, 60 years planted, which is 30 ft. high ; andin Hertfordshire, at Cheshunt, one 7 years 
planted is 18 ft. high. In Ireland, at Terenure, is a tree 15 years planted, and 12 ft. high. Plants, 
in the London nurseries, are 3s. 6d. each; and at New York, 1 dollar. 
¥ 6. G. (s.) FE‘Rox Desf. The ferocious-prickled Gleditschia. 
Identification. Desf. Arb., 2. p. 247.; Don’s Mill, 2. p. 428. 
Synonymes, G. orientalis Bosc; Févier hérissé, Fr. 
Spec. Char., §c. Prickles large, robust, much compressed, trifid. Leaflets 
lanceolate, notched. (Desf. Arb., ii. p. 247.) A tree, the trunk of which is 
thickly beset with strong branchy prickles, and which is supposed to grow 
from 30 ft. to 50 ft. in height; but of which the native country, and year of 
introduction into Britain, are unknown. Judging from the plants in the 
Horticultural Society’s Garden, and those in the arboretum of Messrs. 
Loddiges, we should say it was only a variety of G. sinénsis; though Des- 
fontaines states the foliage and habit of growth to be somewhat different. 
It has not yet flowered in Europe. Plants, in the London nurseries, cost 
2s. 6d. each, 
* 7. G. ca’spica Desf. The Caspian Gleditschia. 
Identification. Desf. Arb., 2. p. 247.; Don’s Mill. 2. p. 428, 
Synonyme, G. caspiana Bosc. 
Spec. Char., §c. Prickles slender, trifid, compressed. Leaflets elliptic-lanceo- 
late, obtuse. (Desf. Ard.,ii. p. 247.) A native of Persia, and found also near 
the Caspian Sea. Nothing is known of its flowers and fruit ; but it strongly 
resembles G, sinénsis (of which it is, probably, only a variety) in its leaves, 
general appearance, and habit. It was introduced into England in 1822; 
and there are plants of it in Loddiges’s arboretum between 20 ft. and 30 ft. 
high. It is propagated by grafting on the common species; and plants, in 
the London nurseries, are from Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. each. 
Variety. 
¥ G. c. 2 subviréscens Hort., Févier verdatre, Fr., is mentioned in the 
Bon Jardinier for 1836, as a variety of this species. 
App. i. Other Sorts of Gleditschia. 
Every modification of the species of this genus is so interesting, both in point of the elegance of its 
foliage, and the singularity of its prickles; that new varieties have been eagerly sought after by cul- 
tivators ; and the genus seems particularly favourable to this desire, from the tendency of seedling 
plants to sport. Hence there are several names in collections, of which it is difficult to say anything 
Satisfactory in the present young and immature state of the plants. In the Horticultural Society’s 
Garden are G. micracdntha, G. Bdqui, and G. pre‘cox; and in Messrs. Loddiges’s arboretum 
are plants marked G. aquatica, which are evidently the same as G. monospérma, G. orientalis, 
evidentiy G. férox, G. chinénsis (already mentioned); and some young plants without names. 
Though, from a careful examination of all the trees of this genus in the neighbourhood of London, 
last summer, we are of opinion that there cannot be more than two distinct species in British nur_ 
series, yet we strongly approve of keeping all the varieties distinct ; because, in point of ornament 
and effect in scenery, they are altogether as valuable as species. What two species, for example, 
can be more distinct than G, triacanthos and G. t. inérmis, both in their winter and in their summer 
state, as may be seen by the plates in our Second Volume? G. indica Pers. is a Bengal species, not 
yet introduced, and probably tender, 
ae 
