478 DECAISNEA DECUMARIA 



DECAISNEA FARGESII, Franchet. BERBERIDACE^:. 



(Bot. Mag., t., 7848.) 



Two remarkable Asiatic shrubs constitute the genus Decaisnea, which 

 is allied to Lardizabala, and is dedicated to Joseph Decaisne. D. Fargesii 

 is deciduous, 7 to 10 ft. high, consisting of a cluster of erect stems 

 containing abundant pith and distinct in winter for their large, pointed 

 buds; young shoots smooth, thick. Leaves pinnate, from 2 to 3 ft. long; 

 consisting of from 6J to 12 J pairs of leaflets. Leaflets ovate, slender- 

 pointed, entire, 3 to 6 ins. long, glaucous beneath, smooth or nearly so ; 

 main-stalk often purplish brown. Flowers produced in a loose drooping 

 panicle 12 to 18 ins. long terminating the young growths. Each flower 

 is borne on a slender stalk J in. long, the six sepals (petals absent) being 

 erect, narrow lanceolate, .finely pointed, i to ij ins. long; yellowish 

 green, the upper half curving outwards. Fruit dull blue, cylindrical, 3 to 

 4 ins. long, \ in. wide, with numerous tiny warts on the surface. 



This interesting and striking shrub is a native of the mountains of 

 W. China, where it was collected and sent to France by the missionary, 

 Pere Farges, in 1895. Two years later it was sent by Mr Maurice de 

 Vilmorin to Kew, where it has proved quite hardy, and where it flowers 

 and produces fruit regularly, but is subject to injury by late spring frosts. 

 It is a handsome foliage plant. It likes a rich loamy soil, and is 

 propagated by seeds. From D. INSIGNIS, a native of the Himalaya and 

 probably not hardy, it is quite distinct in its blue fruits, those of D. insignis 

 being golden yellow. In foliage and flower they are much alike. 



DECUMARIA BARBARA, Linnceus. SAXIFRAGACE.E. 



(Gardeners' Chronicle, Oct. 9, 1909 supplement.) 



A climbing, deciduous shrub ascending the trunks of trees in a wild 

 state ; stems round, slightly downy when young, forming aerial roots like 

 an ivy ; buds hairy. Leaves opposite, oval or ovate, tapering at both 

 ends, short-pointed; 3 to 5 ins. long, ij to 3 ins. wide; quite smooth on 

 both surfaces, or slightly hairy beneath when young, shallowly toothed 

 towards the apex, often entire ; stalk i to 2 ins. long, Flowers white, 

 produced in June and July in an erect terminal corymb 2 to 3 ins. long 

 and wide. The individual flower is small, -| in. across, with seven to ten 

 narrow oblong petals, alternating with a similar number of caylx teeth ; 

 stamens twenty to thirty. Fruit urn-shaped, J in. long, the lower part 

 prettily striped with numerous whitish ridges, upper part smooth, 

 tapering. 



Native of the south-eastern United States : introduced in 1 785, but an 

 uncommon plant in gardens owing to its tenderness. It thrives in the 

 south-western counties of England and Ireland, but elsewhere should be 

 grown on a sheltered wall. It can be increased by cuttings of firm shoots. 

 Its nearest allies are the climbing Hydrangeas and Schizophragmas, from 



