F0BSYTH1A VTRTDISSIMA. 49 



FORSYTHIA YIHIDISSIMA. 



Beep green ForsytMa. 

 Linnean Class — Diandria. Order — Monogynia, Natural Order — Oleace.'E. 



Among the numerous valuable plants discovered by Mr. Fortune on his first visit 

 to China, and subsequently introduced to this country, two are remarkable for the 

 profusion of their large yellow flowers, produced, in the case of one, in the very 

 heart of winter, and in that of the other in early spring. Our readers will 

 readily understand that we allude to the Jasminum nudiflorum, and the ForsytMa 

 viridissima. 



It is doubtless some drawback on the merits of these fine shrubs, that in both 

 the blossoms appear before the leaves ; but winter flowers are so acceptable, even 

 when, as in these instances, unaccompanied by their usual foliar attendants, that 

 this circumstance has not prevented them from attaining a considerable place in the 

 estimation of the public. 



Both are highly ornamental objects for a wall, when this can be spared ; for 

 although the shrubs themselves are quite hardy, the flowers of the ForsytMa 

 sometimes suffer from severe frost, when grown as a bush or standard, as in the 

 case of many winter-flowering plants ; and the shoots of the Jasmine are of such 

 tenuity, that some support is rendered necessary by tMs circumstance alone. 



But, great as may be the value of the latter, it is not our text on the present 

 occasion ; and we must therefore now dismiss it, and confine our remarks to the 

 plant selected for illustration. 



The ForsytMa viridissima is a free growing shrub, reaching ultimately the height 

 of eight feet, or even more, with somewhat angular branches, which when mature 

 are of a dark brown tint. The leaves are opposite, generally lance-shaped, acute, 

 and toothed at the margin from the middle upwards, but entire near the base ; 

 they are, when full grown, of a clear, deep green colour, to which circumstance 

 the specific name alludes. In the axils of each leaf, a small bud is formed, which 

 as the autumn advances becomes gradually more conspicuous, until, when the 

 leaves have fallen, these buds assume so prominent an aspect, as to form a marked 

 feature in its winter physiognomy. They remain dormant until March, when they 

 gradually unfold themselves, and disclose a profusion of large bright yellow blossoms, 

 emitting a delicate balsamic odour, in which respect they have an advantage over 

 those of the Jasminum nudijlorum, which are scentless. The flowers are produced 

 sometimes in pairs, but often singly, on short foot-stalks so slender, that the blossoms 

 are generally drooping; they arc, as already intimated, of considerable size, somewhat 

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