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CASSANDRA 



CASSANDRA CALYCULATA, D, Don. 



ERICACE/E. 



LEATHER LEAF. 



(Andromeda calyculata, Linn&us, Bot. Reg., t. 1286.) 



An evergreen shrub, usually 2 or 3 (sometimes 4 or 5) ft. high, with 

 thin, wiry branches, and a sparse, gaunt habit ; young wood scaly. Leaves 

 alternate, J to if ins. long, f to J in. wide; obovate or narrowly oblong, 

 shallowly toothed, but often only on the terminal half ; both surfaces, but 

 especially the lower one, covered with tiny scales. Flowers produced in 

 March and April, singly in the axils of small leaves, at the terminal part, 



CASSANDRA CALTCPLATA var. NANA. 



and on the lower side of the previous year's shoots, the whole forming a 

 leafy raceme 2 to 4 ins. long. The leaves associated with the flowers are 

 much smaller than the ordinary ones described above, and become 

 gradually smaller towards the end, where they are only \ . in. or less in 

 length. Corolla white, J in. long, cylindrical, five-toothed at the mouth ; 

 calyx lobes five, pointed, persistent, enclosing the base of the seed-vessel, 

 which is a roundish, flattened capsule ; flower-stalk scaly, ^ in. long, with 

 two bracts close beneath the calyx. 



Native of Eastern N. America, whence it was introduced in 1 748 ; 

 also of N. Europe and N. Asia. It is a rather pretty shrub in flower, 

 although not amongst the elite of the Ericaceae. A better plant for 

 gardens is 



Var. NANA, which grows 12 or 18 ins. high, and forms a dwarf, dense thicket, 

 having a more twiggy habit and smaller leaves. It makes a pleasing small 



