Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Climbers 55 



noides; all natives of New Zealand. Most of these are somewhat tender, 

 and require protection in severe winters. 



Perhaps the kinds which are grown most extensively are V. Andersoni, 

 and its many beautiful varieties all of hybrid origin. They are pretty 

 shrubby plants, with elliptic glossy-green leaves and erect spikes of flowers 

 in which there are now many beautiful shades of colour, such as rich 

 purple, deep violet, pale blue, lavender, crimson, salmon pink, mauve, and 

 pure white. There is a mere form with beautifully variegated leaves. A 

 very old garden Veronica, F. angustifolia, at one time largely grown, is 

 now rarely seen. It has narrow recurved leaves, and spikes of white 

 flowers faintly tinted with lavender. V. 

 Traversi (decussata) grows up to 6 ft. 

 high, and is a charming evergreen with 

 leaves arranged crosswise. The bluish- 

 white flowers are borne in great profusion 

 in summer. 



Viburnum. This genus contains about 

 eighty species of ornamental trees and 

 shrubs, deciduous and evergreen. The 

 Wayfaring Tree ( F. Lantana) is a British 

 shrub, 12-20 ft. high, has broadly oblong 

 heart-shaped wrinkled leaves which assume 

 rich tints in autumn. The white flowers 

 appear in May and June, and are succeeded 

 by berries which are first red, but after- 

 wards black. Fruiting sprays are largely 

 used by florists. The Guelder Rose or 

 Snowball Tree ( F. Opulus) attains a height 

 of 15 ft., and is recognized by its lobed 

 leaves and creamy -white flowers, which 

 in the variety sterile become large white 

 Hydrangea-like bracts. There is a variegated form and also one with 

 yellow instead of red berries. F. macrocephalum, from China, has large 

 pyramidal trusses of pure-white sterile flowers like those of the Guelder 

 Rose. The wild type known as Keteleeri has partly sterile and partly 

 fertile flowers as shown in fig. 446. F. plicatum (fig. 447) is a splendid 

 form of tomentosum, and has deeply veined leaves and heads of white 

 sterile flowers. F. prunifolium, from North America, grows 6-15 ft. high, 

 and has dark shining plum-like leaves which are richly coloured with red 

 and purple in autumn. The pure-white flowers appear in May and June, 

 and are succeeded by bluish-black fruits. F. Tinus is the well-known 

 evergreen Laurustinus, 8-10 ft. high, with ovate leathery leaves and heads 

 of white flowers (rosy in bud) which open from November until April and 

 May. There are many varieties of it, such as hirtum, with hairy leaves; 

 lucidum, with large glossy -green leaves; strictum, an erect-growing form, 

 &c. F. Davidi is another quite hardy evergreen species, 1-2 ft. high, 



Fig. 446. Viburnum Keteleeri. Showing 

 fertile flowers in centre, sterile outside. 



