NEVIUSIA NOTHOFAGUS 97 



but a conspicuous bunch of white stamens \ to -J- in. long, and a calyx 

 about J in. across, with leaflike, toothed lobes. 



Native of Alabama, where, apparently, it is only known in one or two 

 spots. It was found on the cliffs of Black Warrior River, at Tuscaloosa, 

 in 1858, by the Rev. R. D. Nevius, after whom the genus was named by 

 Asa Gray. It is quite hardy in England, and is easily increased by fairly 

 soft cuttings placed in heat. Its beauty in some parts of N. America is 

 so great that it has been called the "Alabama Snow-wreath," owing to the 

 snowy whiteness and profusion of its feathery blossom. But out-of-doors 

 in England it is never really pure white, but of a dull greenish white. 

 Forced early into blossom under glass, its colour is much purer, and it is 

 then very elegant and beautiful. In March 1907, about fifty years after its 

 discovery, a letter was received at Kew from Mr Nevius, then at Tacoma, 

 Washington, from which it appears that this shrub is not always a success 

 in its native land. He says : " I have had it growing in many places in 

 the open, but it does not do well. Even at Tuscaloosa, where I dis- 

 covered it, a hedge I planted of it in the churchyard flowered but 

 sparingly." Neviusia is related to Spiraea, Kerria, etc., from which, and 

 other allied genera, its apetalous flowers distinguish it. 



NOTHOFAGUS. SOUTHERN BEECHES. CUPULIFER.E. 



The northern beeches, of which Fagus sylvatica is the type, form a 

 very homogeneous group of invariably deciduous trees with broad leaves ; 

 they are confined to the temperate latitudes of the northern hemisphere. 

 The beeches found in S. America and Australasia are evergreen as well 

 as deciduous, and have usually much smaller leaves. At first classed 

 under Fagus, they are now commonly regarded as generically distinct, 

 and are distinguished as NOTHOFAGUS. They have the characteristic 

 three-cornered nuts of the beeches, but the male flowers, instead of being 

 borne numerously in globose heads as in Fagus proper, are usually 

 solitary, never in more than threes ; the nuts too are frequently three 

 in each husk (invariably two in Fagus). The differences in general 

 aspect are, however, much more strikingly apparent than mere botanical 

 details. 



The southern beeches are only adapted for the milder parts of the 

 country, especially the evergreen ones. The hardiest appear to be 

 N. antarctica and N. obliqua. They like abundant moisture, and all that 

 have been tried can be increased by layering. 



A. EVERGREEN. 



1. Betuloides. Leaves round-toothed, dotted beneath. 



2. Cunninghami. Leaves round-toothed, not dotted beneath. 



3. Menziesii. Leaves doubly round-toothed, with one or two downy pits beneath. 



4. Fusca. Leaves coarsely toothed ; up to i^ ins. long. 



5. Moorei. Leaves sharply toothed ; up to 3 ins. long. 



6. Cliff or tioides. Leaves not toothed. 



B. DECIDUOUS ; LEAVES TOOTHED. 



7. Antarctica. Leaves usually less than I \ ins. long ; shoots very downy. 



8. Obliqua. Leaves 2 to 3 ins. long ; shoots smooth. 



