Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Climbers 5 



Amygdalus ('ALMOND). The Common Almond (^1. communis or 

 Prunus Amygdalus) sells well as a standard ornamental tree for flower- 

 ing in February and March. Besides the ordinary white or rose kind 

 there are several varieties, such as amara, the Bitter Almond; dulcis, 

 the Sweet Almond; macrocarpa, and the double-flowered one (flore pleno) 

 all worth stocking. All kinds are usually propagated by budding on 

 Plum stocks; but they may also be increased by grafting and layering. 

 See articles on "Cerasus" and "Prunus". 



Other Almonds not so well known are nana, a native of South Russia, 

 2-4 ft. high, with rose-pink flowers in February, March, and April. There 

 are several forms of it. The Silver Almond, orientalis, from Asia Minor, 

 is a more tender species, with a silvery down on the leaves. 



Andromeda. Botanists have decided for the time being that there 

 is only one species, namely the British polifolia, a dwarf evergreen shrub 

 about 1 ft. high, found wild in British and Irish peat bogs. It has pinky- 

 white drooping flowers tipped with red from May to August. There are 

 several varieties, such as rosmarinifolia, canadensis, rubra, angustifolia, 

 &c. Propagation is by seeds or layers. Other plants known to nursery- 

 men and gardeners under the name 

 of Andromeda are Pieris floribunda, 

 2-6 ft., with pure- white flowers in 

 April and May; P. japonica, 3 ft., 

 white, with the varieties elegantis- 

 sima and variegata. The plants also 

 now known under the names of 

 Lyonia, Cassandra, Leucothoe, and 

 Oxydendron are still referred to as 

 Andromedas by many in the trade. 

 The lovely pure- white Zenobia speci- 

 osa, and its variety pulverulenta, was 

 formerly known as Andromeda deal- 

 bata, owing to the whitish under sur- 

 face of the leaves. 



Aralia chinensis (Dimorphanthus 

 mandschur icus). A some w hat prickly 



and hairy ornamental Chinese shrub (fig. 411), having leathery twice- 

 pinnate leaves, and panicles of creamy-white flowers, succeeded by black 

 berries. The variegated form with an irregular silvery bordering to the 

 leaflets is particularly handsome. It is generally grafted on the green- 

 leaved form, which is itself raised from seeds, or cuttings of the stems and 

 roots. Other shrubby species are the North American Angelica Tree. 

 spinosa, 8-12 ft., with thrice -pinnate leaves, and A. Maximowiczi (or 

 Acanthopanax ricinifolium), an elegant Japanese shrub with prickly 

 stems and leaves lobed like those of the Castor-oil plant (Ricinus). The 

 Chinese Ricepaper Tree (A. papyri/era), belongs to this group, but is now 

 known under the name of Fatsia. A. Sieboldi is dealt with in Vol. II. p. 127. 



