COLUTE A COMPTONI A 379 



long. This shrub is useful in the same situations as C. arborescens, and may 

 be planted on dry banks. It is found in gardens under a variety of names, 

 such as C. arborescens flore rubro, C. purpurea, etc. 



C. MELANOCALYX, Boissier. 



A deciduous shrub very similar in general appearance to C. arborescens, 

 differing chiefly in the calyx, which is longer ( in. long), more tubular, with 

 broader triangular teeth, and, like the stalk of the flower, clothed with a thick, 

 very dark brown, velvety down. Petals yellow, the wings about as long as the 

 keel. Leaflets seven to eleven, broadly elliptical, indented at the end. 



Native of the mountains of Asia Minor ; flowers from July to September. 



C. ORIENT ALIS, Miller. 

 (C. cruenta, Aiton.} 



A deciduous bush of rounded, close habit, up to 6 ft. high, with rather erect 

 branches, often marked with small black warts. Leaves pinnate, 3 to 4 ins. 

 long, composed usually of seven or nine leaflets, broadly obovate or roundish, 

 to f in. long, rounded at the end, tapered at the base ; very glaucous, smooth 

 on both surfaces except when quite young. Flowers two to five, clustered 

 towards the end of a raceme i^ to 3 ins. long, brownish red or copper-coloured, 

 each f in. long, the rounded standard petal \ in. across, with a yellow spot at 

 the base ; wings two-thirds as long as the keel. Calyx slightly hairy. Pod 

 open at the end, i| ins. long, smooth. 



Native of the Orient ; introduced to England in 1710. It flowers from 

 June to September, but never makes a very striking display. It is more 

 notable for its grey-white foliage. 



COMPTONIA ASPLEXIFOLIA, Banks, SWEET FERN. 



MYRICACEjE. 



(Myrica asplenifoiia, Linnceus.~) 



A deciduous shrub, 2 to 4 ft. high, with slender, often erect branches, 

 very hairy when young. Leaves alternate, linear-oblong, tapered at both 

 ends, 2 to 4 ins. long,.J to f in. wide, the blade deeply cleft (almost to 

 the midrib) into broad, oblique, rounded lobes, \ to \ in. wide; dark 

 green, downy ; stalk \ to \ in. long. Male catkins cylindrical, J to i in. 

 long, \ in. wide ; closely set with downy, broadly triangular, long-pointed 

 bracts. Female inflorescence globular, each ovary surrounded by eight 

 awl-shaped, downy scales, which give the fruit-cluster a bur-like appear- 

 ance. Nut egg-shaped, i in. long, shining. 



Native of Eastern N. America; introduced in 1714, and long a 

 favourite in gardens because of its beautifully cut, fern-like leaves, and 

 pleasant bay-like scent. It is closely allied to, and often regarded as 

 belonging to, the Myricas, but differs from them in the two sexes usually 

 occurring on the same plant, and in the ovary being surrounded by eight 

 persistent scales, instead of two to four inconspicuous ones. It is also 

 quite distinct from them, or indeed any other hardy shrub, in general 

 aspect. It likes a peaty soil 



