FfEROSTYRAX PUNICA 



265 



alternate, 3 to 8 ins. long, ii to 4 ins. wide ; oval or obovate, wedge-shaped 

 at the base, pointed, toothedfcovered beneath with fine whitish down or nearly 

 smooth ; stalk ^ to i in. long. Flowers white, fragrant, produced during June 

 and July on axillary, downy, pendulous panicles, 4 to 9 ins. long, 2 to 3 ins. 

 wide, with often two or three leaves at the base. Corolla of five oval lobes, 

 divided almost to the base, finely downy on both sides, in. long. Stamens, 

 flower- stalks, and calyx 

 downy. Fruit spindle- 

 shaped, i in. long, ter- 

 minated by the persistent 

 calyx-lobes and style, the 

 whole densely clothed 

 with pale brown hairs 

 ^o in. long. 



Native of Japan and 

 China ; introduced in 

 1875. This beautiful and 

 striking tree is very hardy 

 and flowers almost every 

 year, but most profusely 

 when the preceding sum- 

 mer and autumn have 

 been hot. It needs a 

 good loamy soil and a 

 sunny position. Seed 

 is ripened occasionally, 

 and this affords the 

 simplest and best means 

 of propagation. The 

 finest trees I have seen 

 are in the neighbourhood 

 of Queenstown, Ireland, 

 30 to 40 ft. high, and as 

 much in diameter. 



So far as I am aware, 

 P. hispidum is at present 

 the only species in culti- 

 vation, although it is 

 often found under the 

 name of " P. corymbo- 

 sum." The true species 

 of that name is very PTEKOSTYRAX HISPIDUM. 



clearly distinguished 



from hispidum by the fruit, which is J in. long, in. wide, five-winged (not 

 merely ribbed as in hispidum), and covered with a very close down (not 

 hairy). The panicles are also broader. Native of Japan, farther south than 

 P. hispidum, and probably not so hardy. 



PUNICA GRANATUM, Linnceus. POMEGRANATE. LYTHRACE^:. 



(Bot. Mag., t. 1832.) 



A small deciduous tree, up to 15 or 25 ft. high, free from down 

 in every part, often spiny. Leaves mostly opposite, narrow oblong, entire ; 

 i to 3 ins. long, \ to i in. wide; stalks very short. Flower scarlet- 

 II S 



