180 EVERGREENS. 



RUSCUS RACEMOSUS. Linnaus. 

 (Racemose Ruscus, or Alexandrian Laurel.) 



Taller than the last, and with larger and more 

 lively-coloured leaves. Height about four feet, a 

 native of Portugal. Forms a handsome under-shrub, 

 and thrives very well beneath the shade and drip of 

 other trees. 



SKIMMIA. 



SKIMMIA JAPONICA. Tliunberg. 



A fine, hardy, compact-growing, evergreen shrub, 

 lately received from the north of China. The leaves 

 are thick and fleshy, of a deep green, smooth on botli 

 sides, five or six inches long by one-and-a-half broad ; 

 of an oblong shape, gradually narrowing to the foot- 

 stalk, and acute at the point. In May it is covered 

 with large, dense heads of greenish-yellow flowers, 

 which emit a very strong and agreeable odour, resem- 

 bling that of Daphne indica. These are followed by 

 bunches of bright scarlet oval berries, which remain 

 upon the plant all the following winter. It produces 

 flowers when but two inches high, and fruits at five or 

 six inches. As an ornamental shrub for the lawn, or 

 for the winter decoration of the conservatory, it has 

 scarcely a rival. No degree of cold seems to injure 

 it. Even when but a few inches high, and the lower 



