COREMA COIUAUIA 381 



COREMA. EMPETRACE^E. 



Two small, evergreen, heath-like shrubs, one native of S.W. Europe, 

 the other of Eastern N. America. They have short, slender leaves 

 mostly in whorls of three, and flowers in terminal clusters, usually but 

 not always unisexual, with the sexes on separate plants. Their only ally 

 in gardens is the crowberry (Empetrum), from which the Coremas are 

 distinguished by the terminal inflorescence and three-seeded berries. 

 Propagation and cultivation the same as. for heaths. 



C. ALBUM, Don. PORTUGUESE CROWBERRY. 



An evergreen shrub, i^ to 2 ft. high, erect in habit and heath-like ; young 

 shoots very downy. Leaves narrow linear, j to ^ in. long, blunt, the margins 

 rerlexed so as to leave only a narrow slit behind, dark green and soon becoming 

 smooth, mostly arranged in threes. Flowers in terminal clusters, stalkless and 

 inconspicuous. The female plant bears globose white berries in clusters, each 

 berry \ in. across. 



Native of Portugal and Spain ; introduced in 1774. It grows very well 

 near London in sandy peat, and resembles its close ally Empetrum nigrum, 

 but is taller and larger leaved, and the berry is white with only three seeds. 

 A neat little evergreen, but not showy. 



i 



C. CONRADII, Torrey. PLYMOUTH CROWBERRY. 



An evergreen, heath-like shrub, 6 to 20 ins. high, forming spreading tufts ; 

 young branches nearly smooth. Leaves narrow linear, \ to J in. long, blunt, 

 margins much curled back, often arranged in threes and very closely set, 

 dark green. Flowers in terminal heads, the males conspicuous only for 

 the long purplish stamens with brown anthers. Berry very small, dry when 

 ripe, containing usually three seeds. 



Native of Eastern N. America, usually in dry, sandy places ; introduced in 

 1841. It is a rare shrub even in a wild state, and is found in only a 

 comparatively few isolated places. Its most famous site is a few acres 

 near Plymouth, Mass., where it is said to be very pretty in April, with 

 its purple flowers. It has never become properly established in English 

 gardens, although several times imported. It is not so robust a plant 

 as C. album, from which it is easily distinguished by its small leaves and 

 the almost smooth branchlets. 



CORIARIA. CORIARIACEA 



A small genus of shrubby and herbaceous plants whose affinities are 

 doubtful. By Bentham and Hooker the natural order is placed near 

 Anacardiaceae (Rhus, etc.), but other authorities regard it as mor'e closely 

 allied to Simarubaceae (Ailanthus, etc.). The Coriarias have simple, 

 opposite, entire leaves ; small flowers in racemes terminating the current 

 season's growth, or produced from the joints of the previous season's 

 wood. In some species male and female flowers are borne on separate 

 and distinct racemes. Sepals and petals five ; stamens ten ; carpels five, 



