LYCIUM 61 



LYCIUM. Box THORN. SOT., \x 



A genus of eighty or more species of loose-habited shrubs allied to 

 the deadly nightshade (Atropa Belladonna), with usually spiny branches. 

 Leaves alternate, often in clusters. Flowers from one to four in the 

 leaf-axils, their parts usually in fives; corolla funnel-shaped or tubular. 

 Fruit a berry, very ornamental. 



The Lyciums or box thorns are easily cultivated ; they do not need 

 a rich soil,- flowering and fruiting better in a well-drained one of moderate 

 quality. L. afrum needs a wall, but the others here described are 

 perfectly hardy. They are best propagated by seeds when these are 

 obtainable, but cuttings and layers may also be used. The nomenclature 

 of the few hardy species is rather involved, owing to the many names 

 under which the common L. chinense is grown. The two commonest 

 names met with in gardens " L. europaeum " and " L. barbarum " both 

 rightly belong to plants that are not in cultivation. 



L. AFRUM, Linnceus. AFRICAN Box THORN. 



A deciduous shrub, much branched, spiny, growing 8 to 10 ft. high against 

 a wall ; young shoots pale, slightly angled, smooth. Leaves clustered, to 

 i in. long, jV to in. wide ; linear, tapered at the base, grey-green, smooth. 

 Flowers on stalks \ in. long, produced in May and June. Corolla tubular, 

 in. wide, f to I in. long, with five shallow, erect lobes ; very dark purple. 

 Calyx bell-shaped, j in. long, with five triangular teeth ; stamens enclosed 

 within the corolla, each with a tuft of hairs half-way down. Berry red, finally 

 purple-black, egg-shaped, \ in. long, with the calyx persisting at the base. 



Native of the Cape of Good Hope ; introduced in 1712. This species 

 requires a sunny wall for it to be seen at its best. It was highly spoken of by 

 early writers growing in such a position, and it has flowered with great 

 freedom in Canon Ellacombe's garden at Bitton. It is cultivated in N. Africa, 

 about Algiers, etc., but does not appear to be a genuine native of that region. 



L. CHINENSE, Miller. CHINESE BOX THORN. 



A rambling or scandent shrub, of very vigorous, quick growth, especially 

 when young ; branches long, arching or pendulous, angled, small ones 

 occasionally spine-tipped. Leaves variable in size and shape ; on vigorous 

 shoots 2 to 4 ins. long, \ to over I in. wide ; ovate-lanceolate, but on others 

 obovate to linear, and down to to f in. long. Flowers usually in pairs or 

 threes at each joint, each on a slender stalk \ to f in. long. Corolla purple, 

 i in. long, short-tubed, the five spreading, ovate lobes being rather longer than 

 the tube. Calyx lobed to various depths, persistent. Stamens bearded at the 

 base. Berry scarlet or orange, oblong or egg-shaped, j to I in. long, half 

 as wide. 



Native of China ; long known in gardens, and now naturalised in many 

 parts of Britain and Europe. This is the shrub very common on the cliffs 

 of south coast towns like Eastbourne and Bournemouth. It is very often 

 grown as L. europaeum and L. barbarum, neither of which is in cultivation or 

 probablylhardy. Few plants are better for seaside planting than L. chinense, 

 and when laden with its abundant, pendent, highly coloured fruits it is 

 extremely ornamental. Birds appear to eat the fruits, as plants may frequently 

 be seen growing on the tops of old walls, and suchlike places. In villages 



