SCHIZOPHRAGMA 505 



large showy bract borne at the end of a slender stalk. From Hydrangea, 

 the only other genus with which it can be confused, Schizophragma 

 differs in the sterile flowers consisting of but one bract instead of four, and 

 in having the four or five styles united into one. The specialised function 

 of the large bracts is, no doubt, to attract insects to the inflorescence, and 

 thereby bring about the fertilisation of the flowers. In the great majority 

 of flowers each one does its own share in advertisement. Fruits top- 

 shaped. 



These two shrubs are easily cultivated. They like a good loamy soil 

 and plenty of moisture, and can be increased by cuttings and layers. 

 The only other necessity is something for them to climb over, and this 

 may be wall, tree-trunk, or anything to which the roots may attach 

 themselves. 



S. HYDRANGEOIDES, Siebold. 

 (Bot. Mag., t. 8520.) 



A deciduous, climbing shrub, reaching 40 or more ft. high in a wild state; 

 young stems smooth, reddish, and furnished with aerial roots. Leaves 

 broadly ovate, with a rounded, heart-shaped or tapering base ; 4 to 6 ins. 

 long, i\ to 4 ins. wide; strongly veined, coarsely and angularly toothed, deep 

 green and smooth above, but paler, rather glaucous, and with silky hairs 

 beneath ; stalk i to 2 ins. long. The leaves near the inflorescence are 

 tapered at the base, those on sterile shoots heart-shaped. Flowers small, 

 yellowish white, slightly scented, produced during July in a broad, flattish, 

 cymose inflorescence 8 or 10 ins. across. The chief feature of the inflores- 

 cence are the bracts, one of which terminates each main branch of the cyme, 

 and is heart-shaped or ovate, pale yellow, I to \\ ins. long; flower-stalks 

 furnished with a thin, loose down. 



Native of Japan, where, along with Hydrangea petiolaris it forms a 

 conspicuous feature in the forests, often covering the trunks of large trees. 

 In gardens it is rare, the plant grown under the name being almost invariably 

 Hydrangea petiolaris, which it resembles in habit, but in respect to leaf and 

 inflorescence is quite distinct. It flowered with the late Mr Chambers at 

 Haslemere in 1905, for the first time, so far as I am aware, in this country. It 

 has since flowered with Miss Willmott at Warley, and with Sir E. Fry near 

 Bristol. The floral bracts are variable in size and shape. 



S. INTEGRIFOLIA, Oliver. 



A deciduous, climbing shrub of robust growth, reaching probably 40 or 

 more ft. in height. It produces aerial roots from the branches by which it 

 attaches itself like ivy to the object upon which it grows ; young stems hairy 

 or smooth. Leaves ovate, with a heart-shaped or rounded base, tapering to 

 a long fine point at the apex; 3 to 7 ins. long, i^ to 4^ ins. wide; the margin 

 entire or sparsely set with small thin teeth; hairy beneath on the midrib and 

 veins ; stalk I to 2^ ins. long, more or less hairy when young. Flowers 

 produced in a fiat cyme up to i ft. in diameter; the fertile flowers in the 

 centre each in. across, and comparatively inconspicuous. But terminating 

 each division of the inflorescence is the remarkable single sterile blossom, 

 consisting only of one large white bract, lanceolate, up to 3^ ins. long, 

 if ins. wide, and veined like a leaf with darker lines. 



Native of Central China, where it inhabits rocky cliffs ; introduced by 

 Wilson for Messrs Veitch in 1901. It grows well, but has not yet, I believe, 

 II 2 K 



