LAC " OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 237 



Laburnum [Cytlsits Lahurmtm), the common Laburnum, and 

 C. alpiiium. These well-known ornamental trees belong to the 

 Bean family (Leguminos?e). They are natives of Switzerland 

 and the elevated regions of France and North Germany. It is 

 recorded that the common Laburnum was grown by iJr. Gerard 

 in his garden at Holborn in 1506. They seldom exceed 

 30 feet in height in this country, 20 feet being about the 

 average ; and about a foot in diameter. The wood is hard, the 

 centre of a dark colour, and takes a polish like ebony, and is 

 valued for turnery work. A poisonous principle pervades the 

 tree, especially in the seeds and roots. The former act as a vio- 

 lent emetic, sufficient to be considered poisonous. The roots 

 are sweet, and taste like stick liquorice ; but they are also poison- 

 ous, as is shown by the fact of a number of boys of the Forest 

 Gate Industrial School having nearly lost their lives from 

 having chewed the roots ; they became drowsy, and fell asleep 

 even while being walked about ; emetics were administered, and 

 they all recovered. A hybrid, between C. Lahuriium and a 

 small shrubby species C. pttrpureus,cdl\Qi]. C. Adami, is remark- 

 able for producing the common yellow and dusky red flowers 

 on the same tree, or even on the same branch, as also tufts of 

 the shrubby C. purpureiis on different parts of the same tree. 

 This curious hybridisation is perpetuated by grafting scions of 

 it on the common Laburnum. This morpliism, which originated 

 in M. Adam's gardens at Paris in 1828, still continues to be an 

 unexplained puzzle to physiologists. 



Laburnum, New Zealand, Edwardsia microphylla and 

 E. grandiflora, showy flowering shrubs of the Bean family (Legu- 

 minosse), natives of New Zealand. Their introduction into tliis 

 country was due to Cook's third voyage, 1772 ; two original 

 plants grew against the walls of the Eoyal Botanic Gardens, 

 Kew, but were killed by the severity of the winter of 1838. 



Lac Tree {Schleichcra trijuga), a tree of the Soapberry family 

 (Sapindace?e), native of Ceylon, India, and abundant in Pegu 

 and other forests in Burmah. It is a valuable timber, and is 

 employed by the natives for all purposes requiring strength. 



