262 Creepers anc> Dines. 



THE NIGHTSHADE FAMILY. 



Matrimony Vine, Lycium Barbarum. — An old-fashioned, 

 somewhat thorny, climbing shrub with obovate or spathu- 

 late leaves and axillary clusters of pale purplish flowers. 

 Chinese matrimony vine (L. Oliinense) is a much more 

 slender plant producing numerous oblong, scarlet ber- 

 ries in pairs from the axils of the leaves. They are neat 

 and ornamental plants for steep banks or rockeries. The 

 more vigorous kinds may lie grown on stone enclosures, to 

 cover bare hillsides, or among shrubs and trees on the 

 shores of rivulets or lakes. 



THE DOGBANE FAMILY. 



Periwinkle, Vinca minor. — A dwarf, trailing plant for 

 growing in shrubberies, or for covering bare ground under 

 shade trees, and also in rockeries. Leaves ovate, shining 

 green, opposite. Flowers solitary in the axils of the leaves, 

 beautiful blue or white. The large periwinkle ( V. major) 

 is very much larger in all its parts, differing but slighly in 

 habit. Leaves sometimes variegated white or reticulated 

 golden-yellow veins. Both grow best in a moderately rich 

 soil. The last one is not hardy in the North. 



THE MILKWEED FAMILY. 



Silk Vine, Periploea Grceca. — This is a slender, rapid- 

 growing twining shrub, with opposite, ovate-acute leaves 

 and inconspicuous flowers. It may be used with advantage 

 for almost any purpose. 



