SANTOLINA SARCOCOCCA 499 



a vermifuge. The leaf has a curious structure suggestive of the stems of some 

 lycopods ; it consists of a central axis on which are set, often in whorls, 

 short, thick; blunt projections. 



S. VIRIDIS, Willdenow. HOLY FLAX. 



An evergreen bush about 2 ft. high; stems smooth, green. Leaves deep 

 green, smooth; the largest I to 2 ins. long, about \ in. wide; very similar in 

 structure to those of the preceding species, but with the teeth or projections 

 more slender and pointed, and irregularly disposed round the central axis. 

 Flower-heads yellow, f in. across ; produced in July singly at the end of 

 slender, erect, smooth stalks, 6 to 10 ins. long. 



Native of S. Europe; introduced in 1727. This is not so striking and 

 ornamental a plant as S. Chamaecyparissus, being of an ordinary green 

 colour. Its leaves are longer and thinner, and the plant is not quite so 

 dense in growth, nor quite so hardy. The leaves emit an odour when rubbed, 

 but it is neither so strong nor soipleasant as that of S. Chamaecyparissus. 



SARCOBATUS VERMICULATUS, Torrey. GREASE WOOD. 



CHENOPODIACE^:. 

 (S. Maximilianii, Nees.) 



A deciduous shrub of lax habit, 6 to 9 ft. high, more in diameter, 

 making a dense thicket of stems, arching and spreading at the top ; twigs 

 angular, whitish, spine-tipped, usually smooth. Leaves alternate, linear; 

 J to ij ins. long, y 1 ^ to J in. wide; grey, rather fleshy, stalkless. Flowers 

 small, greenish, unisexual; males crowded in a spike J to i in. long at 

 the end of short lateral twigs, females appearing singly in the axils of the 

 lower leaves of the same twig. Neither has any beauty, but they are 

 interesting botanically. The male flower has neither calyx nor corolla, 

 the stamens, about three in number, being arranged at the base of curious 

 cuplike scales. The female flower is also without a corolla, but has a 

 calyx which persists and enlarges, and ultimately develops into a thin, 

 papery disk, prominently veined, J to J in. across, with the seeds in the 

 middle. 



Native of the dry, alkaline, and saline regions of Western N. America ; 

 introduced to Kew in 1896. Like other shrubs from the same regions, 

 it thrives quite well in ordinary garden soil. It flowers in July, but, as 

 may be judged from the description, is of more botanical than horti- 

 cultural interest. 



SARCOCOCCA. EUPHORBIACEA 



A group of evergreen, low shrubs from E. Asia, the cultivated species 

 coming from China and the Himalaya. They are allied to Buxus, but 

 have alternate leaves and renew their growth by stems springing directly 

 from the ground, as in butcher's broom. Leaves shining green, smooth, 

 and entire. Flowers unisexual, the two sexes produced on the same 

 axillary raceme, the females at the base. They have no petals ; the males 



