CLERODENDRON CLETHRA 371 



leaves are sometimes deeply two- or three-lobed towards the apex. Flowers 

 fragrant, produced from July to September in long-stalked cymes from the 

 axils of the uppermost leaves, the whole forming an erect inflorescence 6 to 9 

 ins. across. Corolla white, i to i ins. across, the base tubular, expanding at 

 the mouth into five spreading, oblong, narrow lobes. Calyx reddish, ^ in. long, 

 inflated, five-angled, and five-lobed. Fruit bright blue, ultimately black, about 

 the size of a pea, surrounded by the persistent crimson calyx whose lobes have 

 become fleshy and spreading. 



Native of Japan and China, and a very handsome late summer-flowering 

 tree. The leaves have a heavy unpleasant odour when crushed. It is quite 

 hardy at Kew, and likes an open, loamy soil. The pithy branches are very apt 

 to die back in winter. It is easily increased by root-cuttings, or by the young 

 suckers which frequently spring from the roots. 



CLETHRA. ERICACEAE. 



From their allies in the heath family the Clethras are distinguished 

 by having the five parts of the corolla so deeply divided that they appear 

 to be separate petals. They are small trees or shrubs, all the hardy ones 

 deciduous, but the tender ones all or mostly evergreen. Leaves alternate. 

 Flowers white, fragrant, usually produced in racemes or panicles near 

 the end of the shoot ; stamens ten. Seed-vessel a capsule enclosed by 

 the persistent calyx, and carrying many seeds. 



Of the hardy species, three come from America, one from China and 

 Japan. They all like a peaty soil, and are useful for flowering late in 

 the season. Propagated by seeds, cuttings, and layers. The cuttings 

 are best made in August, of side shoots 3 or 4 ins. long, with a heel of 

 older wood, and placed in gentle bottom heat. In Guernsey and in the 

 milder parts of Ireland, the beautiful evergreeh species from Madeira 

 C. ARBOREA, Aiton may be seen growing in the open air. It is known 

 as the " lily-of-the- valley tree," from its long white racemes. 



C. ACUMINATA, Michaux. WHITE ALDER. 



A deciduous shrub under cultivation, but assuming the form of a small tree 

 20 ft. high in a wild state ; young wood downy. Leaves clustered at the ends 

 of the shoots, oval, with a long tapering apex, 3 to 6 ins. long, the base rounded 

 or shortly tapered, toothed on the terminal part ; lower surface downy ; stalk 

 \ to i^ ins. long. Racemes 6 ins. or more long, solitary, slender, cylindrical, 

 terminal, hairy. Flowers white ; petals J in. long, not spreading ; sepals downy, 

 ovate, ribbed ; stamens hairy at base ; flower-stalk \ in. long, downy. 



Native of the south-eastern United States, found on cliffs and mountain- 

 sides ; introduced in 1806. It is the least hardy of the American species, but 

 may be grown in the south of England. From C. alnifolia and C. tomentosa 

 it is distinguished by the leaves being nearly always broadest below the middle, 

 and crowded at the end of the twig. The racemes, too, are mostly solitary. 



C. ALNIFOLIA, Linnceus. SWEET PEPPER-BUSH. 



A deciduous shrub, ultimately 8 or 9 ft. high, with erect branches ; young 

 shoots covered with a very close, fine down. Leaves obovate or wedge- 



