498 DIPELTA DIRCA 



persistent and become attached to the fruit, which is also covered by the 

 persistent calyx. Distinct from D. floribunda in the smaller, bellied corolla. 



Native of W. China ; discovered and introduced by Wilson in 1904, 

 flowered in the Coombe Wood nursery in May, 1908. It thrives very well, 

 and promises to be an ornamental as well as interesting shrub. 



DIPTERONIA SINENSIS, Oliver. ACERACE^E. 



A deciduous, small tree up to 25 ft. high, with a trunk 6 ins. or more 

 in diameter, or sometimes merely a big bush. Leaves opposite, pinnate, 

 9 to 12 ins. long, consisting usually of from seven to eleven leaflets, 

 which are opposite, ovate or lanceolate, short-stalked; ij to 4 ins. long, 

 one-third as much wide ; sharply, coarsely, and irregularly toothed ; 

 covered like the twigs when very young with scattered hairs which soon 

 fall away. Panicles glabrous, erect, pyramidal, 6 to 12 ins. long. Flowers 

 polygamous, very small, greenish white ; stamens white, six to eight, \ in. 

 long. Fruits produced in large clusters, each one composed of two flat, 

 winged carpels (like the fruits of Wych-elm or Ptelea), obovate, f to 

 i in. long. 



Native of Central China, at from 350*0 to 5000 ft. elevation. This 

 interesting and handsome species was introduced by Wilson for Messrs 

 Veitch about 1900. It is beautiful in foliage, and its fruits are very 

 interesting; it flowered at Kew in June 1912, but the blossoms were in 

 no way effective. It is evidently quite hardy, thriving well in good loam, 

 and can be propagated by cuttings taken in July and put in gentle bottom 

 heat ; it also roots readily from layers. Although an ally of the maples 

 (Acer), it is very distinct from them in fruit, and the leaflets are more 

 numerous than in any of the pinnate maples. 



D. DYERIANA, Henry, the only other species known, also a native of 

 China, is not introduced. 



DIRCA PALUSTRIS, Ltnnceus. LEATHERWOOD. 

 THYMEL^EACE^E. 



(Bot. Reg., t. 292.) 



A deciduous shrub, 3 to 6 ft. high, with flexible, jointed branches, and 

 very tough, smooth bark ; buds downy. Leaves alternate, oval or 

 obovate; *ij to 3 ins. long, about half as wide; tapered at both ends, not 

 toothed, smooth and pale green above, somewhat glaucous beneath ; stalk 

 \ in. or less long. Flowers appearing in March at the joints of the naked 

 wood, usually three together on- very short stalks. There is no corolla; 

 calyx \ in. long, funnel-shaped, toothed, pale yellow; stamens eight, 

 protruded. Fruit a pale, oval drupe, J in. long, rarely. seen in Britain. 



Native of Eastern N. America; introduced in 1750. This is not a 

 showy plant, and its yellow flowers are often injured by spring frost, but 

 it is an interesting one. It is closely *allied to the Daphnes, which differ 

 from Dirca in having spreading calyx (or perianth) lobes and stamens 



