684 XANTHOCERAS XYLOSMA 



upper two-thirds of the main-stalk, i J to 2 J ins. long, lanceolate, deeply 

 and sharply toothed. Flowers produced during May in erect panicles at 

 the end of the shoots of the previous year, and from the side buds ; the 

 terminal panicle is considerably the largest, and up to 8 ins. long; 

 the side ones about half as large. Each flower is i to ij ins. across, the 

 five white petals having a carmine stain at the base. Fruit a top-shaped 

 capsule 2 ins. wide at the top, tapering to a stout stalk at the base; it is 

 three-valved, and as the valves open they release the rather numerous 

 seeds, which resemble chestnuts, but are only -i- to J in. wide. The 

 tree is a close ally of the horse-chestnut, and is the only species 

 known. 



Native of N. China; introduced to France by the Abbe David in 

 1868. Although at its best there are few more beautiful small trees than 

 this, the flowers, which come with the young leaves, are liable to be 

 injured by spring frosts in the open ground. It is admirable against a 

 wall, as on the curator's house in the Cambridge Botanic Garden, and it 

 is now also largely imported to this country for forcing early into flower. 

 It is best propagated from seeds, but, failing these, cuttings of roots may 

 be used, placing them in gentle heat in April. The plant is rather 

 subject (like other pithy branched shrubs and trees) to the attacks 

 of the coral - spot fungus. Branches attacked with it should be - cut 

 off as soon as noticed, and burnt, the wounds being coated over with 

 coal-tar. 



XYLOSMA RACEMOSA, Miguel. TUNG-CUING TREE. 



BIXACE^. 



(Hisingera japonica, Siebold, Fl. Jap., i., t. 88.) 



The typical form of this species is found wild in Japan, Corea, and 

 the Chekiang Province of China. It does not appear to be in cultivation, 

 and according to Wilson is only represented in Western and Central 

 China by the 



Var. PUBESCENS, Rehder and Wilson (Myroxylon racemosum, Diets), 

 of which a good number of plants of Wilson's introduction are now in 

 gardens. It is an evergreen tree up to 80 ft. high in nature, but the 

 small plants we possess seem inclined to be bushy ; young shoots covered 

 with short pale hairs. Young plants are armed with straight, sharp, 

 axillary spines \ to over i in. long. Leaves alternate, ovate to roundish 

 ovate, toothed except near the base, which is rounded or broadly wedge- 

 shaped, apex acuminate ; f to 3 ins. long, J to i \ ins. wide, firm in 

 texture, dark glossy green, smooth on both surfaces ; leaf-stalk \ to -J in 

 long, downy like the shoots. Flowers unisexual, small, yellow, fragrant, 

 produced from the leaf-axils in short racemes \ to i in. long. Fruit 

 about the size of small peas, black - purple, the style adhering at 

 the top. 



The small cultivated plants make sturdy, bushy, well-armed ever- 



