500 SARCOCOCCA 



have four sepals and four stamens, the females four to six sepals. Fruit 

 a fleshy berry, either egg-shaped or globose. 



The hardy Sarcococcas, all Chinese, are neat and pleasing shrubs with 

 only a modest beauty of flower, but healthy in appearance, the flowers 

 white, fragrant. Increased easily by summer cuttings. They will thrive 

 in any moist soil, and have a value in gardens on account of their 

 suitability for semi-shaded spots. 



S. HUMILIS, Stapf. 



An evergreen shrub of neat, tufted habit, i to i\ ft. high, stems minutely 

 downy when young. Leaves narrowly oval, pointed, and somewhat more 

 tapered at the apex than at the base ; I to 3 ins. long, \ to f in. wide; smooth 

 and glossy green above, paler beneath, with a prominent nerve parallel to 

 each margin ; stalk \ to _J in. long. Flowers in short, axillary racemes, 

 white, very fragrant, produced normally in early spring, sometimes in autumn; 

 stamens with flattened stalks, petal-like. Fruit round, J in. diameter, blue- 

 black. 



Native of W. China ; introduced by Wilson for Messrs Veitch in 1907. 

 It differs from ruscifolia in the narrower leaves, with a distinct marginal 

 nerve. A neat little shrub sending up new stems from the ground like a 

 butcher's broom. Uppermost leaves often opposite. 



S. RUSCIFOLIA, Stapf. 



An evergreen shrub, 2 ft. high; stems erect, branching towards the top, 

 minutely downy when young. Leaves i to i\ ins. long, half as wide; ovate, 

 rounded and triple-veined at the base, long and finely pointed; quite smooth, and 

 of a very dark lustrous green above, paler beneath; ^ to ^ in. long. Flowers 

 milk-white, fragrant, produced during the winter months in the axils of the 

 terminal leaves. Several flowers appear in each cluster, which has a short 

 stalk \ in. or less long. Sepals four to six, about j in. long; stamens (of the 

 male flowers) \ in. long. Fruit roundish, J in. wide. 



Native of Central China; discovered by Henry near Ichang in 1887, and 

 introduced from the same neighbourhood by Wilson for Messrs Veitch in 

 1901. Although its flowers possess only a very modest beauty, this little 

 shrub, with its neat habit and dark polished leaves, is decidedly pleasing; and 

 as it will thrive in shady situations or under trees, it will obtain a welcome 

 in many gardens. 



S. SALIGNA, Mueller. 

 (Buxus saligna, Don.) 



An evergreen shrub, 2 to 3 ft. high; stems erect, smooth. Leaves 3 to 

 5 ins. long, | to i ins. wide; narrow-lanceolate, with along drawn-out point; 

 base narrowly wedge-shaped; smooth, glossy, with a marginal vein on each 

 side extending all round the leaf; stalk to f in. long. Flowers greenish 

 white, in short axillary racemes opening in winter and spring. Berries egg- 

 shaped, to in. long, purple. ' 



Native of the Himalaya and China, the form from the latter being 

 probably the hardier. The Himalayan plant has long been cultivated indoors 

 at Kew, but the Chinese one was introduced by Wilson about 1902, and has 

 so far proved quite hardy and a vigorous grower. From S. humilis and 

 S. ruscifolia it is distinguished by the absence of down from the stems, as 

 well as in stature and length of leaf. 



