AILANTHUS AKEBIA 175 



revolve with great rapidity as they fall. They are thus much longer reaching 

 the ground, and in even a slight movement of the air will be carried a 

 considerable distance. This is no doubt a provision to help in the dissemina- 

 tion of the seeds. 



Native of N. China ; introduced by Peter Collinson in 1751. It is hardy 

 over most parts of the British Isles, but apparently succeeds best in the south of 

 England. Few trees thrive so well in towns, but for planting there female 

 trees should alone be used, owing to the objectionable odour of the male when 

 in flower. For this purpose, the tree should be increased by root-cuttings 

 taken from a female tree, as the sex of seedling plants cannot be determined 

 until they are too big to transplant. Among pinnate-leaved trees of similar 

 character, the Ailanthus is easily recognised by the glandular teeth near the 

 base of the leaflets. The generic name is derived from "Ailanto," the native 

 name for A. moluccana, signifying a tree tall enough to reach the skies. 

 Hence also the popular name of "Tree of Heaven." It is very effectively used 

 as a fine-foliaged plant in summer by cutting young trees back to the ground 

 in spring, and reducing the young shoots to one. Treated in this way, and 

 given good soil, leaves 4 ft. long are produced. The only variety worth 

 mentioning is 



Var. PENDULIFOLIA (not " pendula "). This has its branches as erect as 

 the type, but the leaves, which are more than ordinarily long, hang downwards, 

 rather than stand out horizontally as in the type. 



A. VlLMORINIANA, Dode. 



A tree probably of the same dimensions and general aspect as 

 A. glanclulosa, but distinguished by the numerous soft spines which clothe 

 the young branchlets. Leaves pinnate, as large, or probably larger, than 

 those of the previous species, and very downy; the main stalk often of a rich red, 

 and occasionally spiny like the branchlet. The inflorescence is sometimes 

 12 ins. or more across, and the keys 2 ins. long, with the twist resembling 

 the propellers of an aeroplane even more marked. From this description 

 it will be seen that this species, although similar to A. glandulosa in many 

 respects (it has the same glandular teeth at the base of the leaflets), is on the 

 whole quite distinct, especially in the spiny branchlets and very downy leaflets. 



Native of Szechuen, W. China, whence seeds were sent to Mr Maurice de 

 Vilmorin by Pere Farges, the missionary, in 1897. The parent tree of all 

 chose in Europe is in Mr de VilmorLn's grounds at Les Barres, in France, 

 where, when I saw it ten years ago, it had the spiny character of the branches 

 well marked, but during a recent visit I noticed the young shoots were 

 becoming less spiny. It has been propagated by grafting on A. glandulosa. 



AKEBIA. BERBERIDACE.E. 



A small genus of climbing shrubs belonging to the Lardizabaleae 

 section of the Barberry family. They produce male and female flowers 

 on the same raceme ; the former small, numerous ; the latter few, large, 

 and confined to the base. Neither is showy, for petals are absent, and 

 the attractive part is three large sepals. The fruit is large and highly 

 coloured, but not regularly produced in the British Isles. The two hardy 

 species are attractive for their free growth and elegant foliage, and are 

 useful for clothing pergolas, pillars, summer-houses, or for rambling over 

 other shrubs or trees. They need but little training or tying, and the 



