AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



529 



Osbeckia continued. 



rounded, spreading. June. I. opposite, sessile, lanceolate, often 

 marked with brown spots. Stem lift, high, erect, branched. 

 Xepaul, 122. Shrub. (H. E. F. 31.) 



O. n. albiflora (white-flowered). A pretty white-flowered form 

 (B R. 1475.) 



O. parvifolia (small-leaved). /. nearly sessile, usually three 

 together; calyx tube and teeth with stalked, stellate, rufou.- 

 hairs; petals rose-colour, rather large. July and August. I. ovate, 

 sub-acute, rather reflexed, three-nerved, nearly sessile, strigose 

 h. 1ft. to 2ft. Ceylon, 1799. Shrub. (B. R. 565, under name 

 of 0. zeylanica.) 



O. rostrata (beaked).* 



rostrata (beaked).* fl. rosy-pink, with long, curved, p 

 thers, and disposed in terminal cymes. I. oblong-la 

 uminate, bullate, nearly sessile. Stems quadrangular. 



ed, projecting 

 ng-lanceolate, 

 Stems quadrangular. Bengal, 



acu, , 



1881. Shrub. (B. M. 6575.) 



O. rubicunda (ruddy), fl. deep purple, terminal, on very short 

 stalks, solitary or aggregate ; corolla 2in. across ; anthers yellow. 

 I. oblong, acute. Ceylon, 1865. A very handsome shrub. 

 (B. JM. 309.) 



O. Stellata (starred), fl. corymbose; calyx tube elongated: 



rials four, violaceous; anthers yellow. July and August. 

 petiolate, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, five-nerved, beset witli 

 stiff hairs on both surfaces, h. 2ft. India to China, 1820. Shrub. 

 (B. R. 674.) 



O. Wightiana (Dr. Wight's), fl. purple, large, fugacious, in close 

 heads. 1. ovate, small, hairy. Stem hairy. India, 1863. Plant 

 erect, suffruticose. 



Osmanthus continued. 



somewhat resembling a Holly. Japan. A very handsome, 

 evergreen shrub, varying considerably in the size and toothing 

 of the leaves. (G. C. n. s., vi. 689.) 0. ilicifolius is a form with 

 smaller leaves, and of more dense, compact habit- of this 

 there are several variegated forms in cultivation, which may 

 be propagated by cuttings, but are more rapidly increased by 

 grafting on steins of Privet. 0. myrtifolius is a 'fixed sport of 

 dense habit, and with rigid, spineless leaves. 



O. zeylanica (Cingalese), of Lindley. A syr 

 folia. 



ym of 0. pan 



OSIER. Any of the Willows that are grown for the 

 sake of their long, flexible shoots, which are largely used 

 for basket-making, &c. and almost any of them may be 

 turned to this account are called Osiers. Some of the 

 species, however, are much superior to others, and pro- 

 bably the one most extensively grown for the purpose 

 above indicated is Salix viminalis. Though this is a 

 moisture-loving plant, it will not succeed in ground 

 charged with stagnant water ; and if it is desired to grow 

 it, with a view to profit, the ground should be drained 

 to a depth of 18in. or 2ft. Open drains, about 1ft. in 

 width, will do, but these must always be kept clear. 

 Trench the land 1ft. or so in depth, and insert the 

 cuttings, in rows, 18in. apart, allowing a 

 space of 12in. in the rows. February is, 

 probably, the best time for planting. An 

 acre of land will take about 28,000 cut- 

 tings. Cut the shoots not later than 

 February as close to the ground as 

 practicable, and keep down weeds by 

 hoeing, &c. If these are allowed head- 

 way, the Osier crop will be materially 

 affected. 



OSKAMPIA. A synonym of Non- 

 nea (which see). 



OSMANTHUS (from osme, perfume, 

 and anthos. a flower; in allusion to the 

 fragrance of the flowers). ORD. Oleaceoe. 

 A small genus (about seven species) of 

 hardy, or nearly hardy, glabrous shrubs 

 or trees, natives of North America, 

 Eastern Asia, and the Pacific Islands. 

 Flowers small, disposed in short, rarely 

 branched, axillary fascicles or racemes ; 

 lobes of corolla four, imbricated. Drupe 

 ovoid or globose. Leaves opposite, ever- 

 green, entire or dentate. For culture, 

 see Olea (under which the species are 

 sometimes classified). 



O. americanus (American), fl. in threes, 

 almost sessile ; thyrse rather compound, 

 axillary, narrow. June. fr. purple, globose, 

 containing an edible nut. I. elliptic-lanceo- 

 late, about 4in. long, rather coriaceous, 

 shining. Branches rather tetragonal, h. 6ft. 

 North America, 1758. Tree. 



O. Aquifolium (Holly-leaved).* fl. white, 

 very fragrant. Autumn. I. oval or oblong, 

 prickly-toothed, coriaceous, smooth, shining, 



FIG. 780. OSMANTHUS FRAGRANS, showing Habit and detached 

 Tip of Flowering Branch. 



O. fragrans (fragrant).* /. yellowish, or almost white ; pedicels 

 one-flowered, axillary, and lateral, aggregate from scaly buds. 

 June to August. I. elliptic-lanceolate, a little serrated, 2in. 

 long, acuminated, shining above and paler beneath, h. 6ft. to 

 10ft. Japan, China, Ac., 1771. A very handsome shrub. See 

 Fig. 780. (B. M. 1552 and L. B. C. 1786, under name of Olea 

 fra<,raiut.) 



FIG 781. OSMUNDA CINNAMOMEA (see page 530). 



3 Y 



