228 AUCUBA 



AUCUBA. CORNACE^E. 



A genus of two or three Asiatic evergreen shrubs with opposite, 

 leathery leaves ; the sexes are on different plants, in which respect it 

 differs from it allies the cornels (Cornus). The petals, calyx-lobes, and 

 stamens are four to each flower ; and the fruit is a large, oblong berry, 

 scarlet or orange coloured. 



A. JAPONICA, Thunberg. 



(Bot. Mag., t. 1197 (variegated) ; t. 5512 (green).) 



A unisexual, evergreen shrub of rounded bushy form, 6 to 10 ft. high, 

 consisting of a thicket of erect or arching, little-branched stems. Branchlets 

 stout, fleshy, quite smooth and green, bud-scales hairy at the tips. Leaves 

 opposite, leathery, narrowly oval ; 3 to 8 ins. long, i^ to 3 ins. wide ; smooth, 

 green and glossy on both surfaces, with usually a few large teeth towards the 

 apex ; stalk \ to 2 ins. long. On the male plant the flowers are produced on 

 an erect, terminal panicle, 2 to 4 ins. long ; each flower ^ in. across, with four 

 (occasionally five) purplish petals ; flower-stalks downy. Fruits only borne by 

 the female plant, and produced in compact clusters 2 or 3 ins. long, each berry 

 roundish oval, \ to f- in. long, bright scarlet. 



Native of Japan ; introduced by a Mr John Graeffer in 1783. This first 

 plant was the well-known yellow-spotted form (MACULATA) and a female, but 

 owing to the absence of pollen it was not until Fortune, sixty years later, 

 introduced the green-leaved male plant, that the great beauty of the Aucuba 

 as a berry-bearing shrub became known. Now, both green and variegated plants 

 of both sexes are common, and small plants in pots, with large crops of fruit, 

 can be bought from ,costermongers' barrows in the streets of London. As a 

 bright and lasting decorative plant for rooms scarcely anything is so good. 

 The plant flowers in March and April, and the fruit is in good colour all 

 through the late autumn, winter, and spring. 



The Aucuba has one merit in greater degree than any other evergreen : 

 this is its capability of thriving under the shade of trees. Even under a beech, 

 lime, or horse-chestnut, where grass will not grow, it will maintain a cheerful 

 aspect. This means, of course, that it can not only manage without direct 

 sunlight, but can fight its way against the roots of its big neighbours. To get 

 fruits in abundance a moderately sunny spot is desirable, and of course plants 

 of both sexes must be contiguous. For the pot plants as grown for market 

 (all females) artificial fertilisation is needed. 



There are now many slightly different forms of Aucuba grown that have 

 originated as sports or seedlings, and vary chiefly in size, shape, and marking 

 of leaf, also in the size and vigour of the shrub. Many which have been given 

 names are apt to revert to the common spotted form. It is not, at any rate, 

 necessary to specify but a few of them here. As a matter of fact, the spotted 

 Aucnba is too common in gardens the green type should largely replace it. 

 Cuttings, or even small branches, root with great freedom. 



Var. DENTATA. Leaves small, i^ to 3^ ins. long, with one or two very 

 coarse teeth at each side. Var. FRUCTU-ALBO. Berries yellowish white. 



Var. PICTA. Leaves not spotted, but with a broad, conspicuous margin of 

 yellow ; sometimes almost wholly yellow. 



Var. SALICIFOLIA. Leaves 3 to 5 ins. long, f to ij ins. wide, wholly green. 

 Very distinct in its narrow leaves, sharply pointed. 



