POLIOTHYRSIS POLYGONUM 207 



Flowers in a terminal inflorescence, each flower J in. across, white, soon 

 changing to yellow; they are unisexual, with both sexes on the same 

 inflorescence ; calyx-lobes ovate, pointed ; styles three. Fruit an ellipsoid 

 capsule J? to } in. long, many-seeded ; seeds winged. 



Native of China; discovered by Henry in the province of Hupeh 

 about 1889. It did not reach English gardens until 1908, when Wilson 

 sent seeds to the Arnold Arboretum, some of which were distributed in 

 Europe. Some of the young seedlings raised at Kew perished in the 

 severe winter of 1908-9, but others survived, and there is every probability 

 that established plants will be hardy. It is the only known member of 

 its genus, and is nearly allied to Idesia polycarpa, but differs in having 

 a dry capsular fruit instead of a berry. Of its merits as a garden tree 

 nothing can yet be said. Wilson observes that the bark in adult trees is 

 grey and deeply furrowed, and that the leaves vary in toothing and 

 pubescence. 



POLYGALA CHAM^BUXUS, Linnceus. MILKWORT. 



POLYGALACE^E. 

 (Bot. Mag., t. 316.) 



A dwarf, creeping, evergreen shrub, from 6 to 12 ins. high, with smooth, 

 alternate, box-like, dull green leaves, J to i in. long, oval or narrow oblong, 

 not toothed, but with a small pointed tip. Flowers |- in. long, produced 

 from the leaf-axils near the end of the shoot, singly or in pairs; they 

 rather resemble the flowers of the pea family, and are creamy white, with 

 the end of the keel bright yellow. The fruit is a flat, two-seeded 

 capsule ; seeds downy. 



This charming little shrub is a native of the mountainous regions of 

 Central Europe, where it occurs most abundantly on calcareous formations. 

 It succeeds in cool, moist positions, forming neat tufts covered with the 

 delightful flowers in April and May. Under cultivation it seems to thrive 

 very well in a peaty soil or in a sandy loam. In positions where it 

 thrives (and the Thames Valley with its dry, hot spells is not the most 

 suitable) it is readily propagated by taking off the sucker growths with 

 roots attached. 



Var. PURPUREA (syn. var. grandiflora). Wing-petals purple, the keel 

 yellowish at the apex. 



POLYGONUM BALDSCHUANICUM, Regel. POLYGONACE^:. 



(Bot. Mag., t. 7544.) 



A vigorous, deciduous climber, its shoots growing as much as 20 ft. 

 in one season, ultimately 40 or more ft. high ; stems slender, smooth, 

 grey. Leaves alternate, broadly ovate, heart-shaped or spear-shaped at 

 the base, pointed or rounded at the apex; ij to 4 ins. long, i to 2\ ins. 



