548 STAPHYLEA 



The following species may be grouped as follows : 



i. LEAVES TRIFOLIOLATE. 



S. trifolia, 10 to 15 ft. high. Leaflets very downy all over beneath. 

 S. Bumalda, 2 to 3 ft. high. Leaflets downy only on midrib and veins. 

 S. holocarpa, 20 to 30 ft. high. Leaflets downy at the base only. 



2. LEAVES TRI- OR QUINQUEFOLIOLATE. 



S. pinnata. Leaflets dull and pale beneath. 



S. colchica. Leaflets lustrous green beneath ; capsules 3 to 4 ins. long. 



S. Coulombieri. Leaflets lustrous green beneath ; capsules \\ to 2 ins. long. 



S. BUMALDA, Siebold. 



A deciduous shrub about 3 ft. high, of neat habit. Leaves of three 

 leaflets which are i^ to 3 ins. long, ovate-lanceolate, sharply toothed, downy 

 on the midrib and'veins. Flowers greenish white, \ in. long, borne in a 

 terminal cymose cluster \\ to 3 ins. long. Fruit a membranous inflated 

 capsule about i in. long and wide, in two flattened obovate parts, each 

 terminated by the bristle-like, persistent style; seeds yellowish. 



Native of Japan, where it inhabits mountainous regions; also of Central 

 and W. China. The Japanese form has not proved of much value in gardens, 

 being rather tender and having few attractions. It flowers in May and 

 June. The Chinese form recently introduced by Wilson may be hardier. 



S. COLCHICA, Steven. 

 (Bot. Mag., t. 7363.) 



A deciduous shrub, 6 to 10 ft. high, with stiff, erect branches. Leaves 

 composed of three or five leaflets, which are ovate-oblong, *z\ to 3^- ins. long, 

 nearly or quite smooth, shining beneath, the margins set with fine, rather 

 bristle-like teeth ; the terminal leaflet is stalked, the lateral ones stalkless. 

 FlowersJn erect panicles terminating the young shoots and lateral twigs, the 

 largest up to 5 ins. long, and as much wide ; each flower f- in. long and 

 wide, the sepals spreading, narrow oblong, very pale green ; petals white, 

 erect, narrow, recurved at the tips. Fruit a two- or three-celled inflated 

 capsule, 3 to 4 ins. long, 2 ins. wide, the apex of each division ending in a 

 long, fine point. Seeds \ in. long, pale brown. 



Native of the S. Caucasus, and the handsomest of cultivated Staphyleas. 

 It is now largely employed for forcing early into bloom for conservatory 

 decoration. It is distinguishable from S. pinnata in leaf, by the shining 

 lower surface, and in fruit by the much larger capsules. 



S. COULOMBIERI, Andrt. 



A deciduous shrub of vigorous habit, considered to be a hybrid between 

 S. colchica and pinnata. The leaves are composed of three or five leaflets, 

 which are larger than in either of the reputed parents^ the terminal one often 

 5 to 6 ins. long-; they are ovate-oblong, toothed, dark green on both sides, 

 and very lustrous beneath. Flowers white, and intermediate in size between 

 those of the parents; the panicles are not so large as in S. colchica, the 

 blossoms more compact, and the sepals and petals wider and shorter. The 

 fruit is intermediate m size, being a two- or three-celled capsule, i^ to 2 ins. 

 long, the seeds rather larger. 



