WOODBINE TRIBE 



137 



wild plant the cyme is flat, the outer flowers being large and showy, 

 but destitute of stamens and pistils ; in the garden variety, called 

 the Snowball Tree, the cyme is composed entirely of barren flowers, 

 collected into a globular form. Moist woods and hedges ; not un- 

 common. Fl. June, July. Small tree or shrub. 



3. Lonicera (Honeysuckle) 



1. L. Periclymenum (Honeysuckle, Woodbine). Leaves ovat 

 or oblong, sometimes lobed, and all distinct (not united at the base) , 

 flowers in terminal heads, gaping, red without, yellow within, 

 fragrant ; berries crimson. A common and favourite twining shrub, 

 the first to expand its leaves in spring, or rather winter, and almost 

 the last to blossom in autumn. Though highly ornamental to our 

 woods, it is decidedly injurious to young trees, clasping them so 

 tightly as to mark the rind with a spiral line, and finally becoming 

 embedded in the wood. Handsome twisted walking-sticks are 

 thus formed, but the growth of the tree is greatly checked. Fl. 

 July and again in October. Shrub. 



Two other species of Woodbine are also occasionally found, but 

 are not considered natives of Britain. 



L. per foliation (Pale Perfoliate Honeysuckle), which is distin- 

 guished by having the uppermost pair of leaves connate, or united 

 by their bases ; and L. Xylosteum (Upright Fly Honeysuckle), an 

 erect shrub, with downy leaves, and pale yellow, scentless flowers, 

 which grow in pairs. 



4. Linn^a 



1. L. borcalis (Linna?a). The only 

 species ; plant almost glabrous ; the 

 stem trails along the ground, and 

 bears at intervals pairs of opposite, 

 broadly ovate, slightly crenate 

 leaves. The flowering stalks are 

 erect, and bear each two pendulous 

 bell-shaped flowers, which are fra- 

 grant, and of a delicate pink colour. 

 Deservedly regarded with peculiar 

 interest as being the " little northern 

 plant, long overlooked, depressed, 

 abject, flowering early," which Lin- 

 naeus himself selected as therefore 

 most appropriate to transmit his 

 name to posterity. It grows in 

 woods, especially Fir, in Scotland 



and in one English station, namely, a plantation of Scotch Firs in the 

 parish of Hartburn, Northumberland. Fl. June, July. Perennial. 



Linn^ea Borealis (Linncea) 



