CELASTRUS 325 



abundant means of propagation, and the plants also layer very freely. 

 All of them are gross feeders, and like a deep, loamy soil. 



X 



C. ARTICULATUS, Thunberg. 



(Garden and Forest, 1890, fig. 73 ; C. orbiculatus, Thunberg?) 



A strong, vigorous climber, growing 30 to 40 ft. high, young stems twining, 

 armed with a pair of spines at each bud in a young state, which become almost 

 obsolete later. Leaves shallow-toothed, 2 to 5 ins. long, variable in shape, 

 but usually either obovate or nearly orbicular ; with a long, slender apex, or a 

 short, abrupt one, narrowing at the base to stalks ^ to i in. long. Flowers 

 two to four together in small axillary cymes i in. long, each flower \ in. across, 

 green. The fruit is at first a green, pea-shaped, three-valved capsule; but when 

 mature the valves open and turn back, revealing their golden yellow inner 

 surface, and the shining scarlet-coated seeds within. 



This beautiful climber is widely spread over N.E. Asia, and seeds were 

 first sent to Kew by Prof. Sargent in 1870, and by the late Dr Bretschneider 

 from Pekin in 1883. But the species is by no means so well known as it 

 ought to be, for it is the most striking of all hardy climbers during November, 

 December, and January. At that season each branch is furnished from end to 

 end with hundreds of the brilliantly coloured fruits, which remain for at least 

 two months in full beauty, each branch a wreath of gold and scarlet. Fortun- 

 ately, the fruits appear to have no attractions for birds. The species is perfectly 

 hardy, and planted in good loam soon makes a fine growth. It may be grown 

 over a pyramid of rough oak branches, or better still, on some decrepit 

 deciduous tree. Once attached to any support round which its stems can 

 twine, it soon makes good its hold. 



C. FLAGELLARIS, Ruprecht. 



A deciduous climber, with slender, twining stems ultimately 25 ft. high, 

 not downy, but armed with short, decurved, hooked spines, in pairs at each 

 joint. Leaves rounded or oval, f to -2\ ins. long, from two-thirds to nearly as 

 wide, the base broadly wedge-shaped, the apex abruptly pointed, the margin 

 set with bristle-like teeth, both sides bright green, and smooth except for 

 minute roughnesses on the veins beneath : stalk up to i \ ins. long. Flowers small 

 and green ; short-stalked, one to three together, axillary on short twigs of the 

 previous year. Capsules orange-yellow ; seed-coat red ; seeds ripe in October. 



Native of Manchuria and Corea ; known to botany since 1857, but only 

 introduced to Kew in 1906. It has axillary flowers and fruit like C. articulatus, 

 but its stems are more slender and crowded, and in a young state at least much 

 more spiny. It is quite distinct from that and other species in the compara- 

 tively very long leaf-stalk. It bore fruit at Kew in 1914, but is not so handsome 

 as articulatus. 



C. HYPOLEUCUS, Warburg. 



(C. hypoglaucus, Hemsley.*) 



A large, deciduous climber, whose young shoots are covered with a purplish 

 waxy bloom, not downy. Leaves oblong or obovate, smooth, 4 to 6 ins. long, 

 2 to 2| ins. wide ; the apex contracted abruptly into a short point, dark green 

 above, blue-white beneath, the margin toothed. Flowers produced in a long 

 terminal raceme, and in the axils of the uppermost leaves ; each flower \ in 

 across, yellowish. Fruit in racemes as much as 8 ins. long, about the size of 



