DIOSPYROS DIOSTEA 



495 



arboretum at Kew. In a young state the persimmon is rather like the 

 date plum, but the leaves are longer-stalked, not of so polished a green, 

 broader and more rounded at the base. 



DIOSTEA JUNCEA, Miers. YERBENACE/E. 



(Bot. Mag., t. 7695 ; Lippia junceu, Schauer ; Verbena juncea, Hooker.") 



A slender, tall, deciduous shrub of thin, erect habit, eventually a small 

 tree, 15 to 20 ft. high; young branches long, slender, rush-like; with 

 scattered down at first, then smooth. Leaves opposite, few, the pairs 

 often about 2 ins. apart; stalkless, usually J to in. long, \ to \ in. wide; 



DIOSTEA JUNCEA. 



ovate-oblong, triangular-toothed, thick, slightly downy. Flowers pale lilac, 

 produced during June, crowded on spikes about i in. long, which terminate 

 short lateral twigs. Corolla \ in. long, tubular, narrowed towards the 

 base, with five small rounded lobes. Calyx cylindrical, downy. 



Native of the Andes of Chile and the Argentine ; introduced to Kew 

 about 1890. This shrub or small tree, which is perfectly hardy in the 

 open, has somewhat the aspect of Spartium junceum, but is, of course, 

 quite dissimilar in flower ; and even without flowers the opposite leaves 

 show the absence of relationship. It is an interesting plant, pretty 

 without being showy, and worth a place in a shrubbery where its naked 

 base is hidden and its slender top can stand up above the other shrubs. 

 It is quite well able to take care of itself in such a position. Increased 

 by cuttings in July and August. 



