CHAP. XLI. LEGUMINA'CEiK. GLEDI'TSCH/.^. 655 



Spec. Char., c^c. Prickles strong, branchy, numerous. Leaflets lanceolate, 

 somewhat rigid, notched, dentated. Pods elongated. (Desf. Arb., ii. p. 24-6.) 

 A deciduous tree with a prickly trunk ; the prickles axillary, large ; and the 

 leaflets also large. It is said "by Baudrillart to be a native of China (Diet, 

 des Eaux et des Forets, vol. ii. p. 150.) ; but when it was introduced is 

 uncertain. The leaves are twice winged; the leaflets coriaceous, dark 

 green, and shining on the upper surface. The young shoots are covered 

 with extremely short hairs, and are of a purplish brown colour. On the 

 whole, it bears a close resemblance to G. sinensis, of which it is, probably, 

 only a variety. It is very hardy ; and Desfontaines says that it fruits freely 

 in France. The fruit ripens in the autumn ; and the pods are long, pendu- 

 lous, swelled, and rather cylindrical. They are filled with a sharp acrid 

 pulp, somewhat resembling that of tamarinds, but the emanations from 

 which, when inhaled, occasion sneezing. 



statistics. The largest tree in the neighbourhood of London is that at Syon, figured in our Second 

 Volume : it is 57 ft. high, diameter of the trunk 3 t^., and of the head di ft. In Essex, at Audley 

 End, is a tree, 60 years planted, which is 30 ft. high ; and in Hertfordshire, at Cheshunt, one 7 years 

 planted is 18 ft. high. In Ireland, at Terenure, is a tree 15 years planted, and 12 ft high. Plants, 

 in the London nurseries, are 3f. 6rf. each ; and at New York, 1 dollar. 



I 6. G. (s.) FE^ROX De.sf. The (erocious-pricUcd Gleditschia. 



Identification. Desf. Arb., 2. p. 247. ; Don's MiU., C. p. 428. 

 Si/noiiym<rs. G. orientalis Bosc ; F^vier herisse, Fr. 



Spee. Char., ^-c. Prickles large, robust, much compressed, trifid. Leaflets 

 lanceolate, notched. {Desf. Arb., ii. p. 247.) A tree, the trunk of which is 

 thickly beset with strong branchy prickles, and which is supposed to grow 

 from 30 ft. to 50 ft. in height; but of which the native country, and year of 

 introduction into Britain, are unknown. Judging from the plants in the 

 Horticultural Society's Garden, and those in the arboretum of Messrs. 

 Loddiges, we should say it was only a variety of G. sinensis ; though Des- 

 fontaines states the foliage and habit of growth to be somewhat different. 

 It has not yet flowered in Europe. Plants, in the London nurseries, cost 

 2s. 6d. each. 



t 7. G, ca'spica Desf. The Caspian Gleditschia. 



Identification. Desf. Arb., 2. p. 247. ; Don's MUl, 2. p. 428. 

 Syiionyme. G. caspiana Bosc. 



Spec. Char., ^c. Prickles slender, trifid, compressed. Leaflets elliptic-lanceo- 

 late, obtuse. (Desf Arb.,\\. p. 247.) A native of Persia, and found also near 

 the Caspian Sea. Nothing is known of its flowers and fruit ; but it strongly 

 resembles G. sinensis (of which it is, probably, only a variety) in its leaves, 

 general appearance, and habit. It was introduced into England in 1822; 

 and there are plants of it in Loddiges's arboretum between 20 ft. and 30 ft. 

 high. It is propagated by grafting on the common species ; and plants, in 

 the London nurseries, are from Is. 6</. to 2s. 6d. each. 



Variefi/. 



3f G% c. 2 suhvirescens Hort., Fevier verdatre, Fr., is mentioned in the 

 Bon Jardinier for 1836, as a variety of this species. 



App. i. Other Sorts of Gleditsc/iia. 



Every modification of the species of this genus is so interesting, both in point of the elegance of its 

 foliage, and the singularity of its prickles, that new varieties have been eagerly sought after by cul- 

 tivators ; and the genus seems particularly favourable to this desire, from the tendency of seedling 

 plants to sport. Hence there are several names in collections, of which it is difficult to say anything 

 satisfactory in the present young and immature state of the plants. In the Horticultural Society's 

 Garden are G. micracantlia, G. B6qui, and G. prm^cox; and in Messrs. Loddiges's arboretum 

 are plants marked G. aqudtica, which are evidently the same as G. rnonosperma, G. viicntalis, 

 evidently G. ferox, G. c/iinensis (already mentioned) ; and some young plants without names. 

 Though, from a careful examination of all the trees of this genus in the neighbourhood of London, 

 last summer, we are of opinion that there camiot be more than two distinct species in British nur. 

 series, yet we strongly approve of keeping all the varieties distinct ; because, in point of ornament 

 and effect in scenery, they are altogether as valuable as s|)ecies. What two species, for example, 

 can be more distinct than G. triacanthos and G. t. inermis, both in their winter and in their summer 

 state, as may be seen by the plates in our Second Volume V G. indica I'crs. is a Bengal species, not 

 yet introduced, and probably tender. 



V Y 



