CHAP. XXXV. 



iiHAMNA CE^. CEANO THUS. 



Genus V. 



539 



4 ^a_ 



CEANO'THUS L. The Ceanothus, or Red Root. Lin. Sj/st. 

 Pentandria Monogynia. 



Identification. Brongn. Mem. Rham., p. 62. ; Hook. FI. Bor. Amer., 1. p. 124. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 31. ; 



Don's Mill., 2. p. j". 

 Synonymes. /ihainiius species L., Jkss, inm. ; C^anoth e, Fr. ; Sakebbaum, Gcr. 

 Derivation. From Iccanotlms, a name employed by Theoplirastus to designate a spiny plant, derived 



from Aeo, to cleave: the modern genus has, however, nothing to do with the plant of Theophrastus. 



The English name red root is given to the plant in America, from the red colour of the roots, 



which are of a large size in proportion to the branches. 



Description, Si-c. Deciduous shrubs, with large red roots, herbage generally 

 pubescent, with numerous erect branches, seldom exceeding 3 ft. or 4 ft. in 

 height, but, in one or two cases, attaining the height of 6 ft. or 8 ft., with 

 alternate, serrated, 3-nerved leaves, and white, blue, or 3'ellow flowers, in ter- 

 minal panicles, or in axillary racemes. They are chiefly natives of North 

 America, very ornamental in British gardens, and easily propagated by cuttings 

 of the young wood, planted in sand, and covered with a hand-glass. Most of 

 the species produce seeds freely in British gardens, and they all grow in any 

 common garden soil. 



• I.e. AZU^REUS Desf. The azur e-Jlowei-ed Ceanothus, or Red Root. 



Identification. Desf Cat., 1815, p. 232. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 31. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 37. 



Synonymes. C. CEeruIeus Lag. Gen. et Spec, 1816., p. 11., Lodd. JBot. Cab.,t. 110. ; C. bicolor mild 



in Schult. Syst., 7. p. 65. 

 Engravings. Bot. Reg., t. 291. ; Lodd. Eot. Cab., 1. 110. ; and our Hg. 213. 



iSjoec. Char., i^-c. Leaves ovate-oblong, obtuse, acutely 

 serrated, smooth above, hoary and downy beneath. 

 Thyrse elongated, axillary, with a downy rachis. Pe- 

 dicels smooth. {Doll's Mill., ii. p. 37.) A very hand- 

 some shrub, with brilliant celestial blue flowers in 

 large panicles; a native of Mexico, where its bark 

 is considered as a febrifuge. Introduced in 1818. 

 It is the most robust-growing species of the genus, 

 attaining, in 3 or 4 years from seed, the height of 

 3 ft. or 6 ft. or more, against a wall. It was at first 

 treated as a green-house plant, but lately it has been 

 found to be nearly as hardy as the North American 

 species. There is a plant in the Botanic Garden at 

 Kew which has stood out 10 years; one in the Lew- 

 isham Nursery which has stood out 4 years as a stand- 

 ard ; and one in the Fulham Nursery, 10 ft. in extent, 

 which stands out without any protection whatever. 



as 2. C. america'nus L. The American Ceanothus, or Red Root ; or New 



Jersey Tea. 



Identification. Lin. Spec, 281. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 31. ; Hook. Fl. Bor. 



Amer., 1. p. 12-t. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. .37. 

 Engravings. Duh. Arb., 1. t. 51. ; Mill. Ic. t. 57. ; Bot. Mag., t. 1497. ; 



and o\xx fig. 214. 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Leaves ovate, acuminate, serrated, 

 pubescent beneath. Thyrse elongated, axillary, with 

 a pubescent rachis. (Dou^s Mil/., ii. p. 37.) A shrub, 

 from 2 ft. to 4 ft. high ; a native of North Amei-ica, 

 in dry woods from Canada to Florida. Introduced 

 in 1713. The leaves and stems of the plant are pu- 

 bescent ; the flowers are small and white ; but, being 

 produced in great numbers together, are very orna- 

 mental. They appear in June and July, and are 

 succeeded by bluntly triangular fruits, and, about 

 London, in fine seasons, it ripen seeds. It is abun- 

 dant in most parts of North America, where it is 



