1310 ARBORETUM ANU FUUTICETUM. PART HI. 



If exposed to the sun, the leaves turn back with a kind of twist ; and, instead 

 of their natural pure deep green, they assume a brownish tinge. The ber- 

 ries are oval, green at first, but black when ripe; and they are a favourite 

 food of singing birds : though, as De CandoUe observes in the Flore Fran- 

 raise, they are poisonous to all other animals. The spurge laurel is propa- 

 gated by seeds, like the mezereon ; but, as they will remain two years in the 

 ground before they vegetate, they are generally treated like haA'S, and kept 

 for some time in the rotting-heap. It may also be propagated by cuttings ; 

 but not readily. It is much used in nurseries, as a stock on which to graft 

 the more tender species of the genus ; but as, like all the other daphnes, it 

 has few roots, it requires to be transplanted with care. 



at 5. Z). po'ntica L. The Pontic Daphne, or twin-lowered Spurge Laurel. 



Identification. Lin. Sp. PI., 511. ; Pall. Fl. Ross., 1. p. 54. ; Willd. Sp. PI., 2. p. 419. ; Lodd. Cat., 



cd. 1836. 

 Synonymes. rhymola-'a pontica, citrei foliis, Tourn. Itin., 3. p. 180. t. 180. ; Laureole dii Levant, 



/■>. ; Pontischer Siedelbast, Ger. 

 Engravings. Tourn. Itin., .3. t. 180.; Bot. Mag., t. 1282. ; and our/^. 1184. 



Spec. Char., <Sfc. Evergreen. Leaves obovate-lanceolate, glabrous. Flowers 

 bractless, glabrous, in many-flowered upright clusters, each of the long 

 partial stalks of which bears two flowers. Lobes of the calyx lanceolate, 

 long. (Spreng.) A native of Asia Minor, where it forms a shrub, growing 

 to the height of 4- ft. or 5 ft., and producing its greenish yellow flowers in 

 April and May. It was introduced in 1759, and is frequent in collections. 



Varieties. 



• D. JO. 2 rubra Hort. has red flowers, and is supposed to be a hybrid. It 



is rather more tender than the species. 



• D. p. 3 foliis variegdtis Lodd. Cat., 1836, has variegated leaves. 



Descriptio7i, Sj-r. The whole plant, in general 

 appearance, strongly resembles the common US* 



spurge laurel ; but the leaves are more oval, and 

 shorter; and the flowers, which are disposed in 

 twos instead of fives, are yellower, and of a 

 sweeter scent. The leaves somewhat resemble 

 those of the lemon tree, especially in colour; 

 whence Tournefort's trivial name. When bruised, 

 they smell like those of the elder. This fine plant 

 was first discovered by Tournefort, on the coast of 

 the Black Sea, on hills and in woods ; and Pallas 

 says that it is also found in Siberia, in thick woods, 

 and in the valleys which occur between the ridges 

 of loft}' mountains. It is, generally speaking, sufficiently hardy to bear the win- 

 ters ofthe climate of London v.ithout protection; but,beingdisposedto put forth 

 its young shoots very early, they are often injured in exposed situations, by the 

 .spring frosts; "an inconvenience which probably might be avoided b\ planting 

 it in thickets, and under the shelter of trees." (Bot. Mag., t. 1282.) It thrives 

 best'in soil similar to that usually prepared for American plants, on the shady 

 side of a wall, or in some other sheltered situation, where it will form a very 

 handsome bush,4 ft. or 5 ft. high, and G ft. or 8 ft. in diameter. It may be propa- 

 gated by seeds or cuttings. Plants, in the London nurseries, are U. Gd. each. 

 » 6. D. Thymeltf/a L. The Thymela;a, or Milk wort-like. Daphne. 



Identification. Vahl Symb., 1. p. 28. ; Willd. Sp. PI., 2. p. 416. 



Synony7»es. ThymeltB'a foliis polygalje glabris Batih. Pin., 46.3. ; T. alpina glabra, flosculis sublutcis 



nd foliorum ortum sessilibus, P/uA. Aim., ,366. t. 229. f. 2. ; Sanamunda viridis vel glabra Bauli. 



Prod., KiO. ; Sanamunda glJlbra Banh. Hist., 1. p. 592.; Passerlna 7'fiymeliE^a Dec. ; the Wild 



Olive ; La Thymelie, Fr. ; astloscr Seidclbast, Ger. 

 Derivation. riiynicla^'a is probably derix'cd from thymes, poison, and claia, or elira, the olive tree, 



in reference to the |>oisonous qualities ofthe plant, and its slight resemblance to the olive. 

 Engravings. Ger. Prov., t. 17. f. 2. ; Pluk. Aim., t. 229. f. 2. ; and our^^. 1185. 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Evergreen. Stem much branched. Branches simple, wartcd. 

 Leaves lanceolate, broader towards the tip, crowdcil. Flowers axillary. 



