DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERING SHRUBS. 405 



CERCIS.— Judas Tree. 



[The ancient name applied to tlie Eastern species.] 



C^rcis Canadensis. — Judas Tree, Red Bud. — A shrub 

 or low tree, indigenous to tlie Southern and Western 

 States. It is curious from being covered with bunches 

 of rose-colored flowers before the leaves beo'in to appear. 

 They give a brilliant appearance to the wliole tree, ex- 

 cept the extremities of the branches. It is also a hand- 

 some tree when in full foliage in summer. 



CHIONANTHUS.-Fringe Tree. 



[From the Greek words for snow and Jlovjer, in allusion to the snow-like 

 whiteness of the racemes of delicate flowers.] 



ChionanthuS Virginica. — Fringe Tree. — A fine decidu- 

 ous shrub or small tree, sometimes growing twenty feet 

 high, but flowering when but six or eight feet high. Its 

 leaves are six or eight inches long, and two to three inches 

 wide. The flowers are white, numerous, and in long 

 bunches, which have a fringe-like appearance. It is a na- 

 tive of Pennsylvania and southward, and is quite liardy. 

 A light loam is the best soil for it. It is rather difficult 

 to propagate, and it succeeds best grafted on the Ash. 



CLETHRA. 



[The Greek name for the Alder, to which this plant has some resemblance in 

 its foliage.] 



Cl^thra alnifolia. — Alder-leaved Clethra, Sweet Pep- 

 per-bush. — A shrub from two to eight feet high, with long 

 spikes of fragrant flowers which appear towards the end 

 of summer. It is found in wet j^laces and by the sides of 

 streams, but succeeds well when removed to the garden, 



