PALIURUS 121 



growths and flowers are almost invariably destroyed by late frosts. It 

 is these, not genuine winter cold, that have to be feared. In the north- 

 eastern counties, where it is not excited into growth so easily, one may 

 see fine robust bushes 4 or 5 ft. high and more in diameter, such as it is 

 hopeless to obtain in low-lying districts near London. But no doubt the 

 fine highly bred varieties now in favour are more delicate than the old 

 sorts first imported from China. The unnatural practice, too, of grafting 

 the plant on the herbaceous paeony is probably also responsible for many 

 failures. Propagation is best effected by layering", first slitting the stem and, 

 when pegged down, covering it with 2 or 3 ins. of soil. This should be 

 done before the growing season commences. The layers when rooted 

 should be established in pots. 



The tree paeony is seen to best advantage as an isolated shrub on a 

 sheltered lawn where the early morning sun does not strike the plants, 

 and thus induce rapid thawing after frosty nights. It is a gross feeder, 

 and may be grown in good loamy soil. An occasional dressing of manure 

 is advisable. 



P. LUTEA, Franchet. YELLOW P^EONY. 

 (Bot. Mag., t. 7788.) 



A dwarf, sub-shrubby, deciduous plant, with a short woody stem ; entirely 

 glabrous. Leaves leathery, 12 to 15 ins. long, strongly nerved, deep green 

 above, glaucous beneath ; ternate, with the three divisions pinnatifid and 

 deeply cut at the margin. Outer sepals narrow-lanceolate, acuminate ; 

 inner ones roundish concave, yellowish green. Petals six to ten, golden 

 yellow, roundish concave, with usually crenate margins and a carmine stain 

 at the base. The flower is i\ ins. across, and is sometimes slightly " double," 

 both in a wild state and cultivated. 



Native of the mountains of Yunnan, where it was originally discovered 

 by the French missionary, Delavay, in 1882. This beautiful paeony is not 

 so decidedly a shrub as P. Moutan, but it forms a short, woody stem. Its 

 large, rich yellow blossoms make it a splendid acquisition to gardens, 

 although, in some forms at least, the flowers are apt to be hidden by the 

 foliage. Messrs Lemoine of Nancy have sent out a fine variety called 

 SUPERBA, with larger flowers and a stronger and more robust habit. 



PALIURUS AUSTRALIS, Gaertner. CHRIST'S THORN. 



RHAMNACE^E. 

 (P. aculeatus. Lamarck ; P. Spina-Christi. Miller?) 



A deciduous shrub or small tree, up to 20 ft. high in this country, 

 with shoots downy when young, and armed at each joint with a pair of 

 spines, one straight and pointing more or less upwards, the other shorter, 

 curved, and pointing downwards. Leaves alternate, i to ij ins. long, 

 broadly ovate, three-nerved, and entire or slightly toothed ; stalk \ in. or 

 less long. Flowers very numerous, and produced in a short branching 

 umbel from each leaf-axil of the current years shoots; the individual 

 flowers small, greenish yellow, but rather striking, wreathed as the shoot 

 is with them. Fruit f to i in. wide, consisting of a three-celled, roundish 

 body, developing at the top a curious flat wing which runs all round, 

 giving the whole fruit the aspect of a low-crowned, wide-brimmed hat. 

 II I 



