LILAC 



157 



Syringa vulgaris. Lilac (Fig. 74). The buds are large 

 but variable in size, broadly 

 ovoid, blunt and quadran- 

 gular, owing to the keeled 

 scales, which are glabrous 

 and may have a narrow yel- 

 lowish or reddish to brown 

 margin, or brown splashes 

 all over : the lower buds on 

 the shoot are small, and the 

 terminal one is generally 

 replaced by the scar of the 

 fallen inflorescence, two large 

 buds occupying the flanks. 

 Twigs pale yellowish grey to 

 olive or brownish, not very 

 thick, smooth, and rounded. 

 Leaf-bases not prominent, 

 and scars often not sharply 

 marked. Branches grey to 

 brownish, fissured ; bark 

 more or less scaly. 



The bud is slightly sunk 

 in the base of the petiole, 

 and shows about 4 5 pairs 

 of outer, rather hard and 

 leathery valvate scale-leaves, 

 followed by about 10 pairs 

 of young leaves inside, all 

 decussate and just overlap- 

 ping at the edges (Figs. 5 Lilac> Syri ^ ga vulgaris (D) 

 and 23). The first two 



scales are right and left, and each may have a minute 

 bud in its axil. 



