494 THE NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS OF CARNARVONSHIRE. 
this reason preferred to most other plants for the forming of game 
coverts, its strong, robust nature and ease of culture being addi- 
tional recommendations. It bears trimming and pruning well, 
while for layering where extension of covert is desirable, it has 
few equals. For hedge forming it has some valuable properties 
when mixed with the hawthorn, but is of too loose and straggling 
a nature for planting alone, unless it be as an ornamental fence in 
favoured situations. 
APOCYNACEE (Two Species). 
51. The Larger Periwinkle (Vinca major). 
52. The Lesser Periwinkle (V. minor).—These are dwarf, 
creeping undershrubs, with ovate or oblong leaves, and bright, 
showy blue flowers appearing in the spring. Both species are 
valuable for carpeting the taller growing shrubs, and as they thrive 
well in the shade are not unfrequently used for that purpose. For 
bordering the sides of woodland walks they have no equal, and 
when allowed to run unrestrained soon cover a considerable surface 
of ground with their bright evergreen foliage, which seldom rises 
more than a few inches from the soil. 
SoLANACE& (One Species). 
53. The Bittersweet or Nightshade (Solanum Dulcamara).— 
This is a rather rare native, but occurring in a truly wild state in 
several parts of the county, notably near the entrance to the Menai 
Strait, and on various parts of the Penrhyn estate, most frequently 
along the coast. It is of trailing or climbing habit, having long, 
flexuous stems, which run amongst the branches of other shrubs for 
support, ovate-cordate leaves, and clusters of purple. flowers with 
conspicuous yellow anthers. The flowers are succeeded by scarlet 
berries, these being an interesting feature of the plant during the 
autumn months. 
THYMELEACES® (Two Species), 
54. The Mezereon (Daphne Mezereum). 
55. The Spurge Laurel (D. Lawreola).—These are small-growing 
shrubs, the former about 3 ft. in height and deciduous, while the 
latter, under favourable circumstances, attains to 4 ft. or 5 ft., and 
is evergreen. Unless in the extreme south of England neither is 
cousidered truly wild, although in the copses and thickets of this 
