36 LIR10DENDRON LOISELEURIA 



In the centre is the large, pointed pistil surrounded by numerous stamens. 

 The foliage turns rich yellow in autumn. 



In a wild state the tulip tree- extends from Nova Scotia south to Florida, 

 reaching its finest development in the south Allegheny region. It was one of 

 the earliest introductions from N. America, and is known to have been 

 cultivated by Bishop Compton at Fulham in 1688 ; but it was probably 

 introduced some time before, because it is on record that a tree at Waltham 

 Abbey, in 1745, was already 96 ft. high and 9 ft. in girth of trunk. When 

 once it has attained the adult stage, the tree flowers very abundantly in this 

 country, but the colouring of its blossoms is too dull to render them very 

 striking. It is for its noble trunk and stately dimensions, its fine and unique 

 foliage, that it is so much prized in gardens. The timber is extensively used in 

 N. America under the name of " white wood," especially for indoor purposes. 1 1 

 is yellowish, smooth, and fine-grained, and although not strong, does not split 

 easily. The bark of both root and branches has a pleasant, rather pungent scent. 



Several forms are cultivated in gardens, of which the following are the 

 most important : 



Var. AUREOMACULATUM. Leaves blotched in the centre with yellow. 



Var. CONTORTUM. Leaves with wavy margins. 



Var. INTEGRIFOLIUM, Kirchner Leaves without the lateral lobes, and 

 therefore of almost rectangular outline. This is the juvenile condition 

 persisting ; the first leaves of all tulip-trees are of this form. 



Var. PYRAM1DALE, Lavallee. A form with erect branches like a Lombardy 

 poplar. The finest specimen I have seen is in the nursery of Messrs 

 Simon-Louis, near Metz a shapely spire 30 ft. high. 



LI'J HOSPERMUM PROSTRATUM, Loiseleur. BORAGrNACE/E. 



A prostrate evergreen shrub, growing from 6 to 12 ins. only above the 

 ground, but forming a wide-spreading mass. Shoots semi-herbaceous, 

 slender, trailing, thickly covered with pale, bristly hairs. Leaves alternate, 

 linear-oblong ; \ to f in. long, \ in. wide ; stalkless, blunt at the apex, dark 

 dull green, clothed on both surfaces with pale hairs. Flowers stalkless, 

 borne in the axils of leafy bracts on a terminal leafy elongated 

 inflorescence ; of a beautiful gentian blue, faintly striped with reddish 

 violet. Corolla ^ in. long, tubular at the base, spreading into five 

 rounded lobes at the mouth ; calyx with erect, hairy, awl-shaped lobes. 



Native of S. Europe; introduced in 1825. A singularly beautiful 

 sub-shrubby plant, very effective in the rock garden, or at the top of 

 banks over which its trailing shoots may hang. It does not need a rich 

 or wet soil, but one of a light nature, and well-drained. It should be 

 planted in full sun. Increased by cuttings in summer, and kept in pots 

 the first winter. Where the soil and exposure are suitable it makes 

 delightful patches in front of a low shrubbery or border, flowering 

 continuously during May and June, often again later. 



LOISELEURIA PROCUMBENS, Desvaux. ALPINE AZALEA. 



ERICACEAE. 



A procumbent evergreen shrub, much-branched, forming low tufts 

 3 to 6 ins. high; branches tortuous, very leafy, smooth, rooting freely 



