224 FLOWERS OF THE ROADSIDES AND HEDGES 



Spurge Laurel (Daphne Laureola, L.) 



A southern type, Spurge Laurel is not represented in fossil seed- 

 bearing deposits. It is found to-day in Europe in the N. Temperate 

 Zone, south of Belgium, except in Russia and Greece, and in N. Africa 

 and W. Asia. In Great Britain, Spurge Laurel is generally dis- 

 tributed, but does not grow in Cornwall in the Peninsula province; in 

 the Channel province generally, except in S. Sussex; in the Thames 



Spi'RGE LAUREL (Daphne Laureola, L.) 



Photo. Flatters & Garnctt 



province, except in W. Kent; in N. Wales, only in Carnarvon and 

 Anglesea; throughout the Trent provinces, except in S. Lines; in the 

 Mersey province, only in Chester; in the Humber province; and in 

 Scotland, only in Stirling; or generally from Durham to Devon and 

 Kent, and in the Channel Isles. 



Spurge Laurel grows in many shaded, secluded spots under hedges, 

 especially in fields and by the roadside. Here and there it is obviously 

 planted, but in woods and plantations and along some highways con- 

 tiguous to woods it may be truly native. 



It is a medium-sized shrub, with an erect, woody stem, which 

 seldom branches, and the leaves are mainly at the end of each stem, 



