FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS 35 



C. LADANIFEEUS. Gum Cistus. Spain, 1629. A pretty 

 but rather tender shrub, growing in favourable situations to 

 about 4 feet in height. It has lanceolate leaves that are 

 glutinous above, and thickly covered with a whitish tomen- 

 tum on the undersides, and large and showy white flowers 

 with a conspicuous purple blotch at the base of each petal. 

 Unless in Southern and Western England, but particularly 

 on the seacoast, this handsome Portuguese shrub is not to 

 be depended on, in so far as hardihood is concerned. 



C. LAURIFOLIUS. Laurel-leaved Cistus. Spain, 1731. 

 This is the hardiest species in cultivation, but, like the 

 latter, is favourable to the milder parts of these islands, 

 and especially maritime districts. Frequently it rises to 

 7 feet in height, and is then an object of great beauty, the 

 large, yellowish-white flowers showing well above the deep- 

 green, Laurel-like leaves. 



C. MONSPELIENSIS (South of Europe, 1656), and its 

 variety C. monspeliensis florentinus, the former with white, 

 and the latter with white and yellow flowers, are fairly 

 hardy in the milder parts of Britain, but cannot be 

 recommended for general planting. 



C. PURPUREUS (LEVANT). Purple-flowered Cistus. In this 

 species, which may rank next to the latter in point of 

 hardihood, the flowers are of a deep reddish-purple, and 

 with a darker blotch at the base of each petal. 



C. SALVIFOLIUS (South Europe, 1548) is of loose and 

 rather untidy growth, with rugose leaves and white flowers. 

 It is very variable in character, and the form generally 

 cultivated grows about 4 feet high, and has ovate-lanceo- 

 late, almost glabrous leaves. There are several desirable 

 varieties. 



Other species that are occasionally to be found in 

 collections are C. creticus, with yellow and purple flowers ; 

 C. hirsutus, white with yellow blotches at the base of the 

 petals ; and C. Clusii, with very large, pure-white flowers. 

 All the species of Gum Cistus, or Rock Rose as they are 



