TREES AND SHRUBS DECIDUOUS 



A native of China, discovered in the province of Kiu-kiang by Charles 

 Maries, who sent home seed from which plants were raised and flowered 

 for the first time at Coombe in May 1882. 



FEEMONTIA CALIFOENICA, Torr. 



Bot. Mag. t. 5591 ; Fl. des Serres, 1877, p. 175 ; The Garden, 1873, vol. iii. p. 54, fig. ; 

 id. 1882, vol. xxii. p. 115, fig. ; id. 1886, vol. xxix. p. 8, pi. 525 ; Flora and Sylva, 

 vol. ii. p. 279, fig. 



This singular and beautiful hardy shrub was first raised in this country 

 from seed sent by Mr. Eobert Wrench from California to the Gardens of 

 the Horticultural Society, where a plant flowered for the first time in 

 April 1854. The specimen remained unique for a number of years, as all 

 attempts at propagation failed, but the plant died on removal when the 

 arboretum at Chiswick was given up. 



Seed subsequently by William Lobb, from California, a number of 

 plants were raised and afterwards distributed. 



Fremontia californica, the only species in the genus, is found on dry 

 hills from Pitt Eiver to San Diego, abundant in the foothills of the 

 Southern Sierra Nevada. It was first discovered during Colonel 

 Fremont's adventurous expedition to the Eocky Mountains in 1846, and 

 bears the name of that distinguished officer. 



HAMAMELIS AEBOEEA, Mast. 



Syns. H. japonica, Hook, f . 



Gard. Chron. 1881, vol. xv. p. 205, fig. 38; The Garden, 1891, vol. xxxix. p. 546, 



pi. 809 ; Bot. Mag. t. 6659. 



A handsome species, originally introduced from Japan, a near ally of the 

 American Hamamelis virginica, but with larger and more showy flowers. 



It is a very desirable hardy shrub, not only for the structural interest 

 the flowers possess for the botanist, but, from a horticultural standpoint, 

 of considerable beauty, and, moreover, furnishing an additional link 

 between the flora of the Eastern United States and that of Japan. 



The long strap-shaped crinkled petals of the flowers are of a bright 

 yellow colour, the centre rich purple, borne in early spring while the plant 

 is still leafless, and very conspicuous. 



HAMAMELIS MOLLIS, Oliv. 



Bot. Mag. t. 7884 ; Flora and Sylva, vol. ii. p. 104. 



This, the rarest and largest-flowered of all the Witch-Hazels, found 

 in Kiang-su in the district of Kiu-kiang, China, by Charles Maries, 

 and sent by him to Coombe, was for twenty years overlooked till 

 Mr. George Nicholson, late Curator of the Eoyal Gardens, Kew, brought 

 the plant to notice. 



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