IDESIA 



641 



fourths as long as the leaf. Flowers yellow-green, without petals, in 

 terminal panicles ; unisexual, and produced on different trees. Male 

 panicles 5 or 6 ins. long, each flower i in. across, the usually five sepals 

 covered, like the flower-stalks, with a short brownish down; stamens 

 numerous. Female flowers smaller, and in a longer, looser panicle 

 than the males, with similar but smaller sepals, and a prominent 

 globular ovary. Fruits hanging like a bunch of small grapes, each 

 berry about the size of a pea, globular, containing numerous seeds 



IDESIA POLYOARPA. 



lying in pulp; at first green, the berries become dark brown, finally a 

 deep red. 



This interesting tree was first made known to Europeans by R. 

 Oldham, the Kew collector, who found it in Japan in 1862-3; it is a 

 native also of China. Soon after, it was introduced to Europe by way 

 of St Petersburg, and was already in the famous arboretum at Segrez in 

 1869. In general appearance it suggests a Catalpa, but the leaves are 

 thicker and not so large. It grows very well in a loamy soil, and is 

 hardy at Kew, where it flowers in June and July and produces fruit 

 annually. As a flowering tree it has no claims to notice, but the fruits 

 make it interesting, and, if the autumn be fine enough to enable them 

 to reach their final stage of colouring, distinct and handsome. Seeds 

 ripen on the Continent, whence they can be obtained, and germinate 

 freely. They afford a better means of increase than cuttings. 



2 S 



