552 STERCULIA STEWARTIA 



STERCULIA PLATANIFOLIA, Linnceus. STERCULIACE^E, 



(S. Mariesii, ffor/.') 



A tree up to 60 ft. high, with noble foliage and a trunk smooth even 

 in age. Leaves variable in size, but averaging from 6 to 8 ins. in length 

 and as much or more wide ; on vigorous young plants they are over i ft. 

 long. Ordinarily, the leaves have three rather shallow, pointed lobes 

 towards the end, but often they are five-lobed, with the general outline 

 of a maple-leaf, the base heart-shaped ; they are either furnished with 

 stellate down beneath, especially in the vein-axils, or are glabrous. The 

 leaf-stalk is two-thirds to quite the length of the blade. Flowers small, 

 yellow, produced on a branching panicle as much as 18 ins. long and 

 9 ins. wide. Fruit a kind of pod (follicle), 3 to 4 ins. long, tapering 

 to a beak at the end, and containing several seeds about the size of peas. 



Native of China, but introduced in 1757 from Japan, where it is much 

 cultivated. It was long treated as a greenhouse plant, and is, indeed, 

 better suited in Cornwall and such-like localities than in the London 

 districts, where, to be safe, it needs wall protection. Its beauty, however, 

 is only fully shown in a spot where it can develop freely on all sides. 

 It is very fine on the Riviera, especially in the Casino Gardens at Monte 

 Carlo. 



STEWARTIA. TERNSTRCEMIACE^. 



This genus, sometimes spelt " Stuartia," was so named in honour of 

 John Stuart, the Earl of Bute who acted as chief adviser to Augusta, 

 Princess Dowager of Wales, when she founded the Botanic Garden at 

 Kew, in 1759-60. Five species are known, two from the East United 

 States and three from Japan and China. They are shrubs or trees with 

 alternate leaves, white petals, and numerous stamens ; the other parts of 

 the flower in fives. Allied to Camellia, but deciduous. 



Stewartias have been too much neglected in gardens ; they have great 

 beauty, and flower in July and August, when few shrubs remain in 

 blossom. They are evidently not among the most robust, for the 

 American .species, although first introduced more than a hundred years 

 ago, must still be classed with the rarest inhabitants of our gardens. A 

 sheltered sunny position should be selected for them, and care should 

 be taken that they do not suffer from excessive drought. Whilst a peaty 

 soil is not essential for them, they are undoubtedly benefited by having 

 some of it, as well as leaf-soil, mixed with the ordinary loam of the 

 garden, especially when young. Still a warm, sandy loam suits them 

 well. I find that the root shelter they obtain by being planted in a bed 

 of Erica mediterranea is very grateful to them, and the soil which suits 

 heaths suits them also. Stewartias are not easy to propagate except by 

 seeds which are occasionally borne by good-sized plants. They should, 

 like most of those of the Camellia family, be sown as soon as obtained. 

 Failing them, cuttings may be used. These should be taken from 



