504 EHRETIA EL/EAGNUS 



the early part of last century as E. serrata, Roxburgh. Although tender 

 when young, and liable to have its shoots winter-killed, E. acuminata is 

 perfectly hardy in the adult state at Kew, where there is a tree 18 ft. high, 

 which has grown on its present site for at least thirty years, its trunk 

 being now i ft. 9 ins. in girth. It is growing along with other trees and 

 shrubs, but has a full north-east exposure. The species is interesting 

 botanically as a hardy tree belonging to the borage family, and in 

 flowering so late, but it is not showy. A second species is 



E. MACROPHYLLA, Wallich. A handsome foliaged plant, not get ting beyond 

 the dimensions of a shrub with us, and more tender than E. acuminata. 

 It is frequently killed to the ground at Kew, but sends up stout, erect shoots 

 several feet high during the ensuing summer. Leaves roundish ; 4 to 6 ins. 

 long, two-thirds to nearly as much wide ; rough with small bristles on 

 both surfaces, especially above; young shoots similar. Native of the 

 Himalaya, whence it was first introduced ; also of China, whence a form 

 introduced by Wilson is proving hardier. The genus was named after Ehret, 

 a German botanical artist. 



EIwEAGNUS. OLEASTER. 



Of the three genera which form the natural order of scaly shrubs 

 called Elaeagnacese, Elseagnus itself is distinguished from the other two 

 Shepherdia and Hippophae by its perfect (not one-sexed), flowers, and 

 from Shepherdia further by its alternate leaves. It consists of fifteen to 

 twenty species of evergreen or deciduous trees and shrubs, all the 

 younger parts of which are covered with silvery or brownish scales. The 

 flowers are in axillary clusters, and mostly fragrant; the perianth (there 

 are no petals) has a cylindrical or bell-shaped tube expanding at the 

 mouth into four lobes, resembling a miniature fuchsia. Stamens four, 

 very shortly stalked, and attached at the top of the tube. Fruit a one- 

 seeded drupe. Some of the scales as seen under the lens are beautifully 

 fringed with silvery hairs ; in fact, the whole aspect of the young parts of 

 Elaeagnus under a sufficient magnifying power is remarkably beautiful. 



The Oleasters need a soil of only moderate quality, for the silvery leaved 

 deciduous ones develop a better colour on a light, sandy loam than on a 

 rich one. The evergreen species are best increased by cuttings, the 

 deciduous ones by seed. Grafting is sometimes recommended for the 

 evergreen ones, but as the stocks have to be raised from deciduous species, 

 plants so raised are not so healthy and long-lived as those on their own 

 roots. The deciduous species need exposure to full sunlight. 



E. ANGUSTIFOLIA, Linnceus. 

 (Bot. Reg., t. 1156 ; E. hortensis, Bieberstein^ 



A deciduous shrub or small tree, 15 to 20 ft. high, with spiny branches ; 

 young shoots covered with glistening silvery scales, becoming smooth and 

 dark the second year, i Leaves narrow-oblong or lanceolate; I to 3^ ins. 

 long") t to f ins. wide ; dull green and scaly above, silvery scaly beneath ; 

 Flowers in. long, fragrant, produced in early June, one to three in each 

 leaf-axil of the young shoots. Each flower has a bell-shaped tube and four 



