FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS 133 



with neat and small deep-green, leathery leaves, and 

 pretty, waxy-white flowers, pendulous at the branch 

 tips. Planted in free, sandy peat, it thrives vigorously, 

 and soon forms a neat specimen of nearly a yard in 

 height. It is a very desirable hardy species, and one that 

 can be confidently recommended for ornamental planting. 

 There is a variegated variety, P. japonica elegantissima, 

 with leaves clearly edged with creamy-white and flushed 

 with pink. Amongst variegated, small-growing shrubs it 

 is a gem. 



P. MARIANA (syn Andromeda Mariana ovalis). North 

 America, 1736. A neat shrub about 3 feet in height, 

 with oval leaves, and pretty white flowers in pendent 

 clusters produced in May and June. 



P. OVALIFOLIA (syn Andromeda ovalifolia). Nepaul, 

 1825. A fine, tall-growing species, with oval-pointed, 

 leathery leaves placed on long footstalks. Flowers in 

 lengthened, drooping, one-sided racemes, and white or 

 pale flesh-coloured. Being perfectly hardy, and attaining 

 to as much as 20 feet in height, it is a desirable species 

 for the lawn or shrubbery. 



P. PHILLYRE^EFOLIA (Florida, 1842) produces its white 

 flowers from January onwards, but is not very hardy. 



Piptanthus (Leguminosae). 



PIPTANTHUS NEPALENSIS (syn Baptisia nepalensis and 

 Thermopsis laburnifolid). Evergreen Laburnum. Tempe- 

 rate Himalaya, 1821. A handsome, half-hardy shrub, of 

 often fully 10 feet high, with trifoliate, evergreen leaves, 

 and terminal racemes of large yellow flowers. In the 

 South and West of England and Ireland it does well, and 

 only receives injury during very severe winters. Planted 

 either as a single specimen, or in clumps of three or five, 

 the evergreen Laburnum has a pleasing effect, whether 

 with its bright, glossy-green leaves, or abundance of 



