1850 



LEUCOSTEGIA 



LEUCOTHOE 



LEUCOSTEGIA (Greek, white roof; alluding to the 

 indusia). Polypodidcese. A small group of Indian ferns 

 of small stature allied to Davallia, the indusium small, 

 narrow, thin, attached by its base, with the apex and 

 sides free. The Ivs. are mostly tri-quadripinnate. For 

 cult., consult Davallia. 



parvula, Wall. Rootstocks wide-creeping, scaly: Ivs. 

 nearly sessile, deltoid, less than 1 in. long, half as wide, 

 usually tripinnate. Singapore and Borneo. 



L. M. UNDERWOOD. 



LEUCOTHOE (Leucothoe; daughter of Orchamus, 

 king of Babylonia). Including Agarista. Ericaceae. 

 Ornamental shrubs grown chiefly for the handsome 

 rather large usually evergreen leaves and the white 

 flowers. 



Evergreen or deciduous: Ivs. alternate, short-petioled, 

 serrate: fls. in axillary or terminal racemes; calyx 

 5-parted, imbricate; corolla ovate or cylindrical; 

 stamens 10; anthers obtuse or 2-awned or 4-awned at 

 the apex: caps. 5-lobed, with the sutures not thick- 

 ened, separating into 5 valves; seeds minute, irregular. 

 About 35 species in N. and S. Amer., Madagascar, 

 Himalayas and Japan, formerly often united with 

 Andromeda, which differs like Lyonia chiefly in its 

 valvate calyx. 



The leucothoes, and particularly the evergreen spe- 

 cies, are very handsome shrubs with rather large lus- 

 trous leaves and with white, rarely pink or scarlet, usu- 

 ally nodding flowers, appearing mostly in spring. The 

 South American species, which are very rare in culti- 

 vation, though they surpass the others in beauty of 

 the flowers, are hardy only South, while the other 

 species can be grown as far north as Massachusetts 

 and western New York, the evergreen ones in sheltered 

 positions or with slight protection during the winter. 

 They are very handsome for borders of shrubberies or 

 as undergrowth in open woods. They thrive best in 

 somewhat moist peaty or sandy soil, and prefer shaded 

 or partly shaded situations, but also grow in full sun if 

 the soil is not too dry. 



Of the leucothoes, Catesbsei is one of the most orna- 

 mental and popular hardy broad-leaved evergreens. It 

 is used for massing in connection with rhododendrons, 

 kalmias, and the like, serving as a base for these taller 

 plants. The shiny dark green leaves are borne with 

 regularity on a recurved stem often 2 to 3 feet long, 

 and sometimes color brilliant bronze and claret shades 

 in autumn when exposed to the direct rays of the 

 sun. Leucothoe sprays are largely used by florists 

 in making up designs and in connection with galax 

 leaves, usually, however, in the more informal pieces. 

 They were introduced to the trade about 1890. The 

 fragrant flowers are in the leaf-axils, borne along the 

 stem in early spring, and are usually conspicuous, con- 

 sidering the fact that the leaves are persistent. It is 

 this graceful evergreen spray effect, with the good 

 color and dense habit, that makes leucothoe so desira- 

 ble as a plant for massing, and also the fact, perhaps, 

 that it is fairly easy to transplant. Seeds are produced 

 freely, and can be sown in sphagnum moss and sand 

 under glass, as rhododendrons and azaleas are grown, 

 pricked off in flats and planted outdoors in early spring, 

 when the plants are a few inches high. Leucothoe is 

 also propagated by division, underground runners and 

 cuttings, the latter being plunged in sand on the bench 

 and given moderate bottom heat. It is usually col- 

 lected, however, in its native habitat, in small plants, 

 transplanted to nursery rows and grown for several 

 seasons. (Harlan P. Kelsey.) 



A. Lvs. evergreen: racemes axillary, sometimes clustered, 



shorter than the Ivs.; anthers awnless. 



B. Racemes dense, sessile, many-fid.: pith of branches solid. 



axillaris, Don (Andromeda axillaris, Lam.). Shrub, 

 to 5 ft., with spreading and usually recurving branches, 



puberuldus when young: Ivs. with short pubescent 

 petioles, oval to oblong-lanceolate, shortly acuminate, 

 serrulate toward the apex, glossy above, pale and 

 sparsely pubescent beneath when young, 2-4 in. long: 

 racemes 1-2 in. long; sepals broadly ovate; corolla 

 white, usually greenish in bud, Y&n.. long. April, May. 

 Va. to Fla. and Ala. G.O.H. 114. B.B. (ed. 2) 2:687. 

 G.W. 6, p. 279. Var. longifdlia, Pursh. Lvs. linear- 

 lanceolate. B.M. 2357. 



Catesbaei, Gray (Andromeda axillaris, Michx. A. 

 Catesbsei, Walt.) . To 6 ft., similar to the former, with 

 glabrous, slender and more arching branches: Ivs. 

 longer-petioled, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, ciliately 

 appressed-serrate, glossy above, usually light green 

 beneath, glabrous, 3-7 in. long: racemes larger; sepals 

 narrower; corolla over % in. long: white, usually red- 

 dish in bud. April, May. Va.toGa. B.M. 1955. L.B.C. 

 14:1320. R.H. 1905, p. 577. G. 34:487. Gn.M. 2:18. 



2141. Leucothoe recurva. 



This species is handsomer than the former, and also 

 somewhat hardier: Ivs. and fl.-buds assume a beautiful 

 purple hue late in fall which is retained through the 

 winter. 



BB. Racemes peduncled, with rather few, slender-pedi- 



celled fls.: pith lamellate. 



populifolia, Dipp. (L. acuminata, Don. Andrdmeda 

 acuminata, Ait. A. populifolia, Lam.). Shrub, to 12 

 ft., with spreading branches: Ivs. short-petioled, ovate- 

 lanceolate, acuminate, entire or obscurely serrulate, 

 glabrous, 2-4 in. long: pedicels as long as corolla; calyx 

 very short; corolla cylindrical, over M m - l n g- June. 

 S. C. to Fla. 



AA. Lvs. deciduous: racemes mostly terminal, secund, longer 

 than the Ivs.; anthers awned. (Subgenus Eubotrys.) 

 racemosa, Gray (Andrdmeda racemdsa, Linn. L. 

 spicata, Don. Lybnia racemosa, Don). Shrub, to 10 

 ft., with mostly erect branches: Ivs. oblong to ovate, 

 acute, serrulate, pubescent beneath, at least on the 

 veins, 1-3 in. long: racemes erect, 2-4 in. long; corolla 

 cylindrical, M m - long; anthers with 4 awns. April- 

 June. Mass, to Fla. and'La. Em. 423. G.O.H. 57. 



