MELIOSMA 79 



have not yet been named. The Meliosmas like a good loamy soil, and 

 a fairly sunny spot. 



M. CUNEIFOLIA, Franchet. 



(Bot. Mag., t. 8357.) 



A deciduous shrub, described as up to 20 ft. high in nature ; branches erect, 

 smooth. Leaves 3 to 7 ins. long, \\ to 3 ins. wide ; obovate or wedge-shaped, 

 broadest near the apex, where it narrows abruptly to a point ; upper surface 

 rough to the touch, lower one clothed at first with a brownish down, especially 

 on the midrib and axils of the veins. The veins of the leaf are in fifteen to 

 over twenty pairs, parallel, and about ^ in. apart ; margins set with bristle-like 

 teeth. Flowers yellowish white at first, then almost pure white, deliciously 

 scented, \ in. across ; produced in striking pyramidal panicles terminating the 

 branches, 5 to 9 ins. high, and as much through. Fruit globose, about the size 

 of peppercorns, black. 



Native of W. China ; introduced by Wilson in 1901 for Messrs Veitch, 

 and first flowered in their nursery at Coombe Wood in July 1909, when I saw 

 it, and was much attracted by its fine panicles, and especially by the hawthorn- 

 like fragrance. It is, no doubt, allied to the older M. myriantha, but is a 

 hardier plant, easily distinguished by the shape of the leaves, the lower two- 

 thirds of which is uniformly and distinctly wedge-shaped. 



M. MYRIANTHA, Siebold. 



A deciduous shrub or small tree of spreading habit, 20 ft. high. Leaves 

 oval-lanceolate, 3 to 8 ins. long, i^ to 3 ins. wide ; pointed, sharply and 

 regularly toothed, the stalk (J to I int long) and midrib covered with reddish 

 brown hairs ; veins parallel, as in a sweet chestnut. Panicles terminal, 6 ins. 

 or more long, and about the same wide, much branched ; the main-stalk and 

 all its ramifications covered with brown hairs. Flowers minute, about \ in. 

 diameter, very numerous, yellowish white, very fragrant. Fruit crowded in a 

 broad panicle, each one about the size of a peppercorn, dark red. 



Native of Japan and the Corean Archipelago ; introduced from the former 

 to the Coombe Wood nursery in 1879 by Maries. The original plant, now at 

 Kew, is a fine spreading bush about 8 ft. high and 12 ft. through, and flowers 

 with freedom every year in late June and July. It is, nevertheless, a rather 

 tender subject when young ; plants unprotected in the open at Kew have often 

 perished. When once a strong woody base has been formed it will probably 

 survive, but until then some winter protection is necessary. It will certainly 

 thrive in the warmer counties. 



M. VEITCHIORUM, Hemsley. 



A deciduous tree, 30 to 40 ft. high, with very stout, rigid, erect branches. 

 Leaves pinnate, \\ to i\ ft. long, with about nine or eleven leaflets, which are 

 each 3! to 7 ins. long, about half as much wide ; of ovate or oblong outline, 

 occasionally rather heart-shaped at the base, smooth, except on the midrib 

 beneath ; margins entire of sparsely toothed. Panicles as much as' 18 ins. 

 long, and 12 ins. wide at the base, more open and less densely furnished with 

 flowers than either of the simple-leaved species before mentioned ; flowers 

 white, I in. or less across. Fruit purplish black, about the size of a large pea. 



Native of W. China at elevations of 5000 to 7500 ft., whence it was 

 introduced by Wilson in 1901. It is in cultivation in several places 

 including Kew, and is noteworthy for its fine pinnate foliage, and 



