414 



ROBINIA ROMNEYA 



| in. long, ten to fifteen in a raceme, without fragrance ; petals pale rose with 

 a yellow blotch on the standard ; calyx dark red, hairy. Pod 2 to 3^ ins. 

 long, covered with viscid glands. 



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

 by Wm. Bartram in 1776. It was introduced to France by Michaux in 1791, 

 and six years later to England. It is a smaller tree than R. Pseudacacia and 

 of more stunted growth, but it flowers very freely and makes a bright picture 

 towards the end of June. The viscid substance on the branches renders it 

 easily distinguishable, although this appears to vary in amount, and is some- 

 times not very discernible. According to Sargent it is one of the rarest of 

 American trees, and from the time of Michaux to 1882 was never found in a 

 genuinely wild state. But it is now naturalised in many parts of the eastern 

 United States. It is not common in English gardens, but there are several 



ROBINIA VISCOSA.. 



old trees at Kew, the largest of which has a trunk 5 ft. 3 ins-, in girth at 5 ft. 

 from the ground, which is considerably more than the dimensions recorded of 

 wild specimens. These old trees are almost unarmed, the spines only 

 occurring on exceptionally vigorous shoots. 



ROMNEYA. PAP AVERAGED, 



A genus of two semi-herbaceous shrubs, both Californian, and known 

 generally as "tree poppies." The name commemorates Dr F. Romney 

 Robinson, an astronomer at Armagh in 1844, when the genus was 

 * founded. 



