HYBRIDS BETWEEN THE COMMON LILAC, &c. 299 
HYBRIDS BETWEEN THE COMMON LILAC AND THE 
LACINIATED PERSIAN LILAC. 
By Monsieur Emite Lemorne. 
In treating the question of hybridisation, there may be discussed either 
the technical processes designed to effect it, or the results which it may 
yield from the point of view of the improvement of living types. I 
propose to consider an accessory side of this subject by citing a case 
where the hybridisation has enabled us to assign to certain forms of 
vegetation their true placein the classification by throwing light upon their 
origin. I take the case of the obtaining of the Varin Lilac by crossing. 
' The common Lilae (Syringa vulgaris, L.), fig. 112, and its numerous 
varieties either with single or with double flowers, are reckoned among the 
most popular flowers and shrubs. Hvyery garden, however small, contains 
several plants, and there is no man, however much a stranger he may be to 
natural things, who is insensible to the beauty and the perfume of these 
pretty spring flowers. By the side of these briiliant representatives of 
the genus, we meet with, though less abundantly, the more modest but 
no less interesting Persian Lilacs and the Varin Lilacs. I will not 
undertake to describe them, but will limit myself to citing the different 
forms generally cultivated, taking as guide the work, so complete, of 
M. Louis Henry, “ Les Lilas au point de vue horticole.”’ * ‘ithe classi- 
fication, which is given therein, corresponds with the ideas at present 
accepted by botanists. 
The Persian Lilac (Syringa persica, L.), fig. 118, type of the species, has 
very slender stems, bent towards the soil, lanceolate leaves tapering gently 
toa point, and medium-sized flowers, hydrangea-rose coloured, arranged in 
long, loose inflorescences, scantily furnished, but very abundant. 
This species, according to accepted ideas, has given birth to two 
varieties, the one called the white-flowered form (Syringa persica alba), 
fig. 113, the foliage of which is nearly identical with that of the type, but 
whose flowers are of a greyish white with a bluish throat. Another variety, 
the laciniated Persian Lilac (Syringa persica laciniata), fig. 114, is of an 
altogether different aspect: the plant is vigorous, with numerous thin 
branches, leaves sometimes entire, sometimes deeply laciniate, inflorescence 
numerous and well furnished with flowers of a bluish violet, with blue 
throat. It is by far the most widely distributed form of the group. “ It is 
difficult,” says M. Henry, ‘‘ to consider it as the type of the species; the 
rose-coloured form is the best characterised. Until the contrary is proved 
we will admit it as typical.” + 
We will pass to the Varin Lilacs. So many names have been given 
to these that we have only l’embarras du choix. S. chinensis, Willd., 
1796, S. dubia, Pers. 1802, Lilac Varina, Dum. Cours. 1802, S. rothoma- 
gensis, Mirb. 1804, &c. In France they are commonly called Varin Lilacs, 
and often, in error, Persian Lilacs. Amongst all these specific terms 
* Le Jardin, 1894 and 1895. 
t+ Ibid., 1894, p. 200. 
