498 DIPELTA 



DIPELTA. CAPRIFOLIACE^E. 



Four species belonging to this genus are known, two of which are 

 in cultivation. They are deciduous shrubs, exclusively Chinese, and are 

 allied to Diervilla, which they resemble in shape of corolla. The most 

 distinctive feature of the Dipeltas is the number of bracts at the base of 

 the ovary, which persist, grow, and ultimately form dry disk-like wings to 

 the fruit, similar in texture to the wings on elm seed. Two of them are 

 much larger than the others, and being attached by their centres to the 

 fruit have the shield-like appearance to which the generic name refers. 

 Leaves opposite. Both the following species are promising garden shrubs, 

 more especially D. floribunda. They like an open, moist, loamy soil, and 

 can be increased by cuttings. 



DIPELTA FLORIBUNDA. 



D. FLORIBUNDA, Maxinwwicz. 

 (Bot. Mug., t. 8310.) 



A deciduous shrub, with peeling bark, ultimately (according to travellers) 

 10 to 15 ft. high; young twigs downy (partially glandular-downy). Leaves 

 ovate to oval-lanceolate, tapering at the base, long-pointed, not toothed ; 

 2 to 4 ins. long, to i^r ins. wide ; downy on both sides and at the margin, 

 at least when young ; stalks \ in. or less long. Flowers fragrant, produced 

 in the axils of the leaves and at the end of short twigs, from one to six 

 on a stalk. Corolla I to \\ ins. long, funnel-shaped, I in. wide, with five 

 rounded, spreading lobes, pale pink with yellow in the throat. Calyx persistent, 

 with five linear, downy lobes scarcely \ in. long. Flower-stalk hairy, 

 in. long, with four unequal-sized bracts below the ovary, which continue to 

 grow as the fruit ripens and hide it. The two largest bracts are | in. long and 

 & in. wide. 



