196 PISTACIA PITTOSPORUM 



Flowers in panicles 2 to 6 ins. long, small, greenish: Fruit roundish oval, 

 in. long, turning first red, finally purplish brown. 



. Native of Asia Minor and the shores and islands of the Mediterranean ; 

 introduced in 1656. The bark yields the valuable resinous juice known as 

 Chian turpentine, from its being chiefly collected on the island of Scios ; this 

 has certain medicinal properties, and is also used as flavouring. The kernel 

 of the nut yields a pleasant-smelling oil. The tree is hardy at Kew, and a few 

 specimens have lived unprotected in the open there for at least twenty years, 

 although their growth is very slow. The flowers have no beauty, but the 

 leaves have a pleasant resinous odour. 



P. VERA, Linnceus. PISTACHIO. 



A small deciduous tree, 20 ft. high, with long-stalked, pinnate leaves 

 consisting usually of three or five leaflets, which are i^ to 2|- ins. long, ovate 

 or obovate, stalkless, entire, downy on both sides. Flowers "in erect panicles 

 3 or 4 ins. long, small and of no beauty ; the male panicles much denser than 

 the female. Fruit reddish, oval, f in. long. 



Native of the Levant and W. Asia, long cultivated and naturalised 

 over the Mediterranean region ; introduced to England in 1770. This is the 

 tree that produces the well-known pistachio-nuts, the kernels of which are 

 eaten raw, or cooked, or made into confectionery. It has not much beyond 

 its economic interest to recommend it, for it needs the protection of a warm 

 wall, and even then is occasionally injured by cold ; with us its fruits are 

 never developed. In warm climates the leaflets are as much as 3^ ins. long 

 by 2^ ins. wide. 



PITTOSPORUM. PITTOSPORACE^:. 



An interesting genus of evergreen shrubs and small trees whose head- 

 quarters are in Australia and New Zealand, whence come most of the 

 species cultivated in the open air in the British Isles. One well-known 

 species is native of Japan, and others are found in the Canary Islands, 

 Cape of Good Hope, and China. The genus is not represented in the 

 New World. Leaves arranged alternately ; flowers with five sepals, five 

 petals, and five stamens; fruit dry, many-seeded. 



The Pittosporums are essentially shrubs for the milder parts of the 

 British Isles. At Kew they can only be grown against a wall with the 

 possible exception of the new P. pauciflorum. Several of the species 

 are very handsome evergreens, and all here mentioned are charmingly 

 fragrant when in flower. They are easily cultivated, and thrive in a light 

 loamy soil. Cuttings taken from the half-ripened wood will root in gentle 

 heat. Seeds ripen in favourable localities, and may also be used. Many 

 more species than those here mentioned are grown in Ireland, Corn- 

 wall, etc. 



P. CRASSIFOLIUM, Solander. 

 (Bot. Mag., t. 5978.) 



An evergreen shrub or small tree, 15 ft. or more high, of dense habit. 

 Leaves i^ to 4 ins. long, obovate to oblong, always narrowed at the base to 

 a stalk to I in. long ; leathery, covered beneath with a pale brown or 

 whitish felt, the margins recurved. Flowers unisexual in terminal clusters ; 



