DAPHMPHYLLUM DAVIDIA 475 



dendron-like leaves. Flowers unisexual, with the sexes on separate plants, 

 of no beauty. The males have no petals, very small sepals, but curious, 

 large, stout anthers. Fruit a roundish or oval drupe. The two following 

 shrubs will grow in any good soil, and are useful for moist, shady positions. 

 Propagated by cuttings made of moderately ripened wood in July, and 

 placed in gentle bottom heat. 



D. HUMILE, Maximowicz. 



(D. jezoense, Hort.') 



A low, much branched, evergreen bush, apparently ij to 2 ft. high, but 

 much more in width ; quite smooth in all its parts. Leaves oval or slightly 

 obovate ; 2 to 5 ins. long, | to 2 ins. wide ; tapered at both ends ; dark 

 shining green above, with a glaucous bloom beneath ; stalk f- to f in. long. 

 Flowers not seen. Fruit blue-black, according to wild specimens. 



Native of Yezo, Japan, where, according to Sargent, it is a common under- 

 shrub in the deciduous forests ; introduced by Maries for Messrs Veitch 

 about 1879. It is verv distinct, in habit from D. macropodum ; plants at 

 Kew twenty years old are still less than 2 ft. high, but 4 or 5 ft. in diameter. 

 It does not dislike moderate shade, and would make a useful, low, evergreen 

 cover where such is required without the annual cropping that shrubs 

 like laurels and rhododendrons need. It has been known in gardens as 

 D. jezoensis, and also considered a variety of D. macropodum, but I am 

 unable to distinguish it from Maximowicz's specimen of D. humile preserved 

 at Kew ; and that is the only species recorded from the Island of Yezo. 



D. MACROPODUM, Miquel. 



An evergreen shrub of bushy, rounded form, at present 8 to 12 ft. high 

 m this country, and as much or more in diameter ; young shoots smooth, 

 glaucous, often reddish. Leaves rhododendron-like, 3 to 8 ins. long, I 

 to 3^ ins. wide ; oblong or narrowly oval, taper-pointed at the apex, wedge- 

 shaped at the base, quite smooth ; dark green above, glaucous beneath ; 

 stalk i to li ins. long, stout, often red like the midrib. Flowers small and 

 inconspicuous, pale green, with a strong pungent odour ; produced during 

 late spring from the leaf-axils of the previous year's growth in racemes I in. 

 long ; bracts and stamens pink. Fruit blue-black, pea-shaped. 



Native of Japan ; introduced by Maries for Messrs Veitch in 1879. A 

 handsome and vigorous evergreen, becoming in Japan, and perhaps in this 

 country, eventually a small tree. It is quite hardy, having withstood 30 

 of frost at Kew, but nevertheless likes shelter. The red colouring of the 

 leaf-stalks, midribs, and young wood adds to its beauty, but is not always 

 present. 



Var. VARIEGATA. Leaves with a broad, irregular margin (sometimes 

 reaching to the midrib) of creamy white ; not so hardy as the type. 



D AVIDIA INVOLUCRATA, Baillon. CORNACE^E. 

 (Bot. Mag., t. 8432.) 



A deciduous tree reaching a height of 40 to 65" ft. in a wild state, in 

 habit resembling a lime tree (Tilia) ; young branches covered more or 

 less with a glaucous bloom, afterwards turning very dark. Leaves vivid 

 green, broadly ovate or roundish, 3 to 6 ins. long, and about three-fourths 



