CEANOTHUS 315 



CEANOTHUS. RHAMNACE^E. 



A well-marked genus of evergreen and deciduous shrubs or small 

 trees, confined to N. America. They are peculiarly characteristic of 

 the Pacific coast region, where they constitute a large part of that "almost 

 impenetrably dense brushwood called 'chapparal,' which covers the middle 

 elevations of the coast range, and forms a distinct belt between the 

 herbaceous vegetation of the foot-hills and the forest growth of the 

 highest ridges and summits" (Greene). The flowers, usually of some 

 shade of blue or white, are individually quite small, but they are so 

 plentifully borne in a crowd of fascicles or umbels, that they form as a 

 whole a dense and often showy panicle. Sepals and petals five, the 

 latter of hooded form, narrowing at the base to a slender stalk. The 

 leaves afford useful distinguishing characters : one group has them 

 opposite, the other alternate; and the species of the latter group are 

 again divisible according to the veining, some having three, more or less 

 prominent veins, and some being pinnate- or feather-veined. The species 

 here mentioned may be classified as follows : 



I. LEAVES OPPOSITE. 



1. Cuneatus. Leaves dull green, entire. 



2. Riguius. Leaves bright green, often coarsely toothed. 



II. LEAVES ALTERNATE, THREE- VEINED, DECIDUOUS. 



3. Amerieanus. Leaves bright green, ovate-cordate, downy; flowers A\hite, 



4. Ovaius. Leaves bright green, narrow oval, glabrous ; flowers white. 



5. Azureus. Leaves very downy ; flowers blue. 



6. Integer rimtts. Leaves dull glaucous green, entire. 



7. Fcndleri. Leaves dull green, toothed towards the apex. 



III. LEAVES ALTERNATE, THREE- VEINED, EVERGREEN. 



8. Velutinus. Leaves ovate-cordate, varnished, viscid, resinous ; flowers white. 



9. Thyrsiflorus. Leaves ovate, glossy, branches angled ; flowers blue. 



10. Divaricatus. Leaves dull green, branches round, spinose ; flowers pale blue. 



IV. LEAVES ALTERNATE, PINNATE- VEINED, EVERGREEN. 



11. Papillosus. Leaves warted or papillose, narrow oblong. 



12. Dentatus. Leaves not warted, obovate or oval. 



Hybrids: Floribundus (nx?); Lobbianus (9x12), leaves three- 

 veined; Veitchianus (9 x 2), leaves pinnate-veined. 



The Ceanothuses generally are tender, and, except where noted, should 

 be given the protection of a wall. Most of them may be multiplied by 

 means of cuttings put in during July or August in gentle heat. For 

 gardens generally the most useful kinds are the hybrids raised on the 

 Continent in large numbers mainly by crossing azureus, ovatus, and 

 americanus. Most of these are hardy. The following is a selection : 



Arnoldii. Americanus x azureus ; pale blue. 

 Bleu celeste. Clusters broad, compact ; sky blue. 

 Carmen. Pink. 

 Delileanus. Clusters thinly furnished ; pale blue. 



