DANDELION 



DAPHNE 



455 



ter salad very like barbe de cnpucin. Roots dug in 

 fall and dried are sold for nn-diciiial purposes in drug 

 stores under the name of Taraxaeinn. l H. B. 



DANGLEBERRY or BLUE TANGLEBERRY. Gay- 

 lus^iacid frotnhtsa. 



DAPHNE (Greek name of Lauras nobUis). Thy- 

 mehvdceie. Ornamental evergreen or deciduous shrubs, 

 with handsome foliage and sweet-scented, white, purple, 

 iilae or rarely greenish tis., which, in warmer climates, 

 often appear during the winter. Lvs. alternate, rarely 

 opposite, entire, short-petioled : fls. in clusters, short 

 racemes or umbels, apetalous, mostly fragrant; perianth 

 tubular or campannlate, 4-lobed, corolla-like, usually 

 clothed with silky hairs outside ; stamens 8, included; 

 stigma capitate, sessile or nearly so : fr. a fleshy or 

 leathery 1-seeded drupe. About 40 species in Eu. and 

 Asia. Only D. Mezereum, with very early lilac, fra- 

 grant fis. and decorative scarlet fr., and some low ever- 

 green species, like D. Oneorum and D, Blagayana, are 

 hardy north, while most of the evergreen species can be 

 recommended only for warmer climates. D. Pontica and 

 D. Laureola, with large evergreen lvs., are hardy as far 

 north as New York. Daphnes thrive best in a well 

 drained, light soil and in a partly shaded position, but 

 some, as D. Cneornm and D, Blagayana, which are ex- 

 ceedingly pretty plants for rockeries, do better in sunny 

 situations. In the north, D. odora and its varieties are 

 often grown in pots for their sweet-scented and hand- 

 some tis. appearing during the winter. A sandy com- 

 post of peat and loam in equal proportions will suit them ; 

 they require a good drainage and careful watering dur- 

 ing the winter, and pots not larger than just necessary 

 should be given; they may also be planted out in a cool 

 greenhouse and trained as a wall plant. D. Genkiva^ 

 with abundant lilac fls. before the h s is sometimes 

 forced. Prop, by seeds, sown after maturity oi strati 

 fied, but germinating very slowly ; also by lajers put 

 down in spring and taken off the following year The 

 evergreen species may be increased b\ < uttmgs of ma 

 ture wood in fall under glass, and kept in a cool green 

 house during the winter. If gentle bottom heit can be 

 given in early spring, it will be of advantage to the de 

 velopment of the roots ; softwood cuttings taken from 

 forced plants may also be used. D odoni is often 

 veneer-grafted on seedling stock of D. Laiuiola m "nm 

 ter, or on roots of D. Mezereum. D Cneotitm and 

 probably its allies are readily increased in spring by re 

 moving the earth around the plant, pegging down the 

 branches and tilling with fine compost almost to the 

 tops of the branches. Next spring, if the compost is 

 carefully removed, a large number of little buds eith 

 supplied with a white root, are found ah n^ the hranehts, 

 they are easily detaehed and planted in pins or l)o\es 



In California, according to Frances 1 i the species 

 most commonly grown is D. odom, tin pi uits being 

 mostly imported from Japan. Many plants are also sent 

 from Japan for eastern greenhouse culture A decoction 

 of the bark of D. Mezereum is sold in drug stores under 

 the name of Mezereum. It is stimulant and diuretic It 

 is also known as Olive Spurge, Alfred Rehder 



Although hardy Daphnes are generalh recommended 

 to be planted in partial shade, tliey ii \ ii d 1\ succeed 

 in open, sunny places, and even in <ir\ ] Ts ■nhen the 

 start is made with strong, well-n-i.ti i j 1 ints They 

 grow very freely in a light, open, well di untd soil en 

 riched with thoroughly decayed manure An annu il top 

 dressing of the same material is of great benefit to the 

 plants, young or old. 



For propagation by cuttings, half-ripened wood is 

 best. Layers should not be separated until early in the 

 following spring, and it is advisable to shade the young 

 plants in their new quarters for a few weeks until the 

 roots have taken hold in the ground and growth has 

 started. Cuttings should not be subjected to a very 

 strong bottoiu heat before a good callus has formed, as 

 they are slow to emit roots, and free growth can not be 

 expected until the young plants attain the age of 2 

 years. The commonest of the hardy kinds is />. Cneo- 

 rtim; but />. Blagnyana, which is still very rare in 

 America, is a charming species, worthy of greater popu- 

 larity. Grafts of this species are likely to die without 



D. NeapoUtana needs a sheltered 

 J. B. Keller. 

 Alphabetical list of species described below : D. au- 

 tumnalis, 1; Blagayana, 5; buxifolia, 7; Cneorum, 4; 

 colUna.G; Dauphinij S; Delphini,S\ Fioniana, 7; For- 

 tunei,'A; Genkwa, 3; Houtteana. 3; hybrida, 8; Indica, 

 9; Japonica,9; Jenkwa, 3; Laureola, 10; Mazeli, 9; 

 Mezereum, 1, 2; odora, 9; odo>«(a,9; oleoides, 7; Pon- 

 tica, 10; sericea, 6; Van Houttei, 2. 



A, Lvs. decidnous : fls. axillary along the branches of 

 the previnns year, appearing before the lvs. 

 1. Mezereum, Linn. Erectshrub, with stout branches, 

 to 4 ft. : lvs. alternate, cuneate, oblong or oblanceolate, 

 glabrous, grayish beneath, 1-3 in. long: fls, usually 3, 

 sessile, silky outside, fragrant, lilac-purple, appearing 

 much before the lvs. : fr. roundish ovoid, scarlet. Feb.- 

 Apr. Eu. to Altai and Caucasus. Gn. 29:550.— Var. 



676. The Dandel: 



