ATRIPLEX 227 



perfectly hardy. In no way^ showy in flower, it attracts notice and pleases 

 many by its almost white appearance. 



A. NUTTALLII, S. Watson, with which the above has been confused in 

 gardens, is quite a different plant. Its leaves are not very dissimilar, being 

 to 2 ins. long, narrowly oblanceolate, often rounded at the apex, and grey ; 

 but the plant itself is low, and is only shrubby at the base, sending up erect, 

 more or less annual stems, i to 3 ft. high. The fruit bracts, too, are less than 

 half as large as those of A. canescens. being in. or less long. Native of 

 Western N. America. 



A. CONFERTIFOLIA, S. Watson. 



A spreading, unisexual, sub - evergreen shrub, 2 to 4 ft. high ; young 

 branches and leaves covered with scurfy down, and the whole plant of a 

 greyish white aspect. Leaves alternate, obovate, sometimes ovate or lance- 

 shaped ; \ to i in. long, \ to \ in. wide ; bluntish or rounded at the apex, 

 tapered at the base. Flowers very small, yellowish green, crowded densely 

 in the leaf-axils in small, stalkless, roundish clusters. It blossoms in June. 



Native of Western N. America from Oregon to New Mexico, and one of the 

 characteristic inhabitants of the alkaline plains of that region. The male 

 plant has, for some years, been cultivated in the rock garden at Kew ; only 

 attractive in its grey leaves. 



A. HALIMUS, Linnaus. TREE PURSLANE. 



A vigorous, semi-evergreen shrub, 4 to 8 ft. high, of loose, bushy habit, the 

 whole plant of a beautiful, silvery-grey aspect. Leaves alternate, ovate, 

 rhomboidal or obovate ; ^ to i\ ins. long, ^ to i in. wide ; tapered at both 

 ends, minutely and abruptly pointed, covered with a fine silvery scurf. 

 Panicle terminal, 6 to 12 ins. long, produced in July, the flowers very small, 

 greenish. 



Native of S. Europe ; cultivated since early in the seventeenth century. 

 This is certainly the most attractive of the purslanes in this country, producing 

 a very striking, silvery effect when planted in a group, especially in association 

 with dark-leaved shrubs. It is also one of the best seaside shrubs. It is very 

 rarely seen in blossom with us, but that does not detract much from its value. 

 Severe frosts injure it, but it springs out afresh and soon recovers. Sparrows 

 are said to be fond of the leaves, but I have never noticed them touch the 

 plants at Kew. 



[A. BREWERI, S. Watson, found in California, must be very closely allied to 

 A. Halimus. Neither of them flowers at Kew, but there is no difference in 

 foliage and habit. Can A. Halimus have been introduced to California and 

 become naturalised there ? ] 







A. PORTULACOIDES, Lmnczus. SEA PURSLANE. 



A low shrub of straggling habit, i to 2 ft. high, and of a greyish aspect ; 

 young shoots and leaves covered with a close scurf. Leaves opposite, obovate 

 or oblong, to ^ in. long, to -i- in. wide, tapered at the base. Flowers very 

 small, greenish, borne on a terminal panicle, composed of slender spikes, on 

 which the flowers are arranged in small clusters. 



Native of Europe, including Britain, where it is common on the shores. It 

 has nothing to recommend it for the inland garden, for it is not so distinct 

 and silvery as the other species here mentioned. But it is worthy of notice 

 for planting in exposed positions near the sea, where almost anything that will 

 grow is welcome. Flowers in August, and well distinguished from the other 

 species in cultivation by its opposite leaves. 



