550 STAPHYLEA STAUNTONIA 



S, PINNATA, Linn(ZUS. BLADDER-NUT. 



A deciduous shrub up to 12 or 15 ft. high. Leaves pinnate, composed of 

 usually five leaflets, occasionally three, rarely seven ; they are 2 to 4 ins. 

 long, ovate or ovate-oblong, toothed, dull green above, pale and dull beneath, 

 with down near the base of the midrib. Flowers in terminal drooping 

 panicles 2 to 4 ins. long, white, each flower about i in. long, the sepals as 

 well as petals erect. Fruit a two-celled, bladder-like capsule I to i^ ins. 

 long, about the same wide, each cell containing one or more seeds about the 

 size of a large pea, brownish yellow. 



Native of Europe from the West to Asia Minor. It is the best known of 

 the bladder-nuts, and although not a native of Britain is now naturalised in 

 the hedgerows and copses of some parts. In 1596, according to Gerard, it 

 grew in the Strand "by the Lord Treasurer's House." It is not so hand- 

 some and striking a shrub as S. colchica, from which, as well as from 

 Coulombieri, it is distinguished by the dull under-surface of the leaves and 

 erect sepals, and from S. colchica in particular by the much smaller fruits, 

 containing seeds twice as large. It merits a place in the garden for its 

 curious and interesting fruits as well as its flowers and foliage. 



S. TRIFOLIA, Linnceus. 



A deciduous shrub up to 10 or 15 ft. high. Leaves of always three 

 leaflets, which are broadly ovate, 2 to 4 ins. long, occasionally doubly toothed; 

 pale and downy all over the lower surface, dark green and less downy above; 

 the middle leaflet is long-stalked, the side ones very shortly so. Panicles 

 short, drooping, ij to 2 ins. long, either terminating the leading shoot or 

 small side twigs; flowers bell-shaped, dingy white. Fruit a usually three- 

 celled capsule, \\ to \\ ins. long, less in width; seeds yellowish, fy in. long. 



Native of the eastern United States; cultivated in England in 1640, but 

 not ornamental enough to have ever been extensively grown. It is easily 

 distinguished from the other species in cultivation by the very downy leaves. 

 There appears to be rarely more than one seed to each cell, often none. 



STAUNTONIA HEXAPHYLLA, Decaisne. BERBERIDACE^:. 



An evergreen climbing shrub, whose main stem is sometimes 4 or 5 ins. 

 thick near the base. Leaves long-stalked, compound, consisting of three 

 to seven leaflets radiating from a common centre. Leaflets ovate to 

 elliptical, acutely pointed, the side ones usually oblique, of leathery 

 texture, smooth, 3 to 5 ins. long; stalks i to 2 ins. long. Flowers 

 unisexual, produced three or four together in a raceme, white tinged with 

 violet, f in. across ; they have six fleshy sepals, but no petals ; the males 

 with six stamens, the females with three ovaries. Fruit of the size and 

 shape of a walnut, purple, sweet and watery eaten by the Japanese. 



Native of Corea and Japan. The genus commemorates Sir George 

 Staunton, who accompanied Lord Macartney on his famous embassy to 

 China in 1792. From the closely allied Holboellia it is distinguished by 

 the absence of petals from its larger flowers, and by the stamens being 

 united instead of free. It has been grown since 1876 on a wall at Kew, 

 but needs warmer conditions than are there afforded to be seen at its 



