XXVII. CALYCANTHA CEJE : CHIMONA NTHUS. 



455 



Synonymes. MeriUa Nees Act. Soc. Nat. Bonn. 11. p. 107. ; Calycanthi sp. Linn. 



Derivation. From cheimon, winter, and anthos, a flower ; in allusion to the season of its flowering. 



Gen. Char. Lobes of calyx imbricate, oval, obtuse ; outer ones in the form of 

 bracteas ; inner ones larger, and appearing like a corolla. Stamens nearly equal, 

 permanent, the five outer ones fertile, connate at the base. (Doris Mill.) 



Leaves simple, alternate, stipulate, deciduous ; entire. Flowers rising be- 

 fore the leaves, in the axils of the leaves of the preceding year ; very sweet- 

 scented; yellowish, but purplish inside. Bark and leaves without scent. 



A deciduous shrub, a native of Japan ; remarkable for the fragrance of its 

 flowers, which are produced from December till March, even in the open 

 garden, in the neighbourhood of London, and more especially if the plant 

 is trained against a wall. The blossoms are produced singly, in the axils 

 of the leaves, on the shoots of the preceding year, and also on spurs pro- 

 ceeding from the old wood. The soil, culture, &c., are the same as tor 

 Calycanthus. 



iS 1. C. FRA^GRANS Luidl. The iragYSLnt-Jlowered Chimonanthus. 



eg., t. 404.451.; 

 3e cox Lin. Sp. 1 



Identification. Lindl. Bot. Ree 



Synonymes. Calycanthus prarcox Lin. Sp. 1718., Ait. Hort. Kew. ed. 1. vol. 2. p. 220. t. 10., Curt. 



Bot. Mag. t. 4G6., Lam. III. t. H^. t. 2. ; Merktifl fr^grans Kees Act. Soc. Nat. Bonn. 11. p. 107. ; 



Obai, or R6bai, KiEiiipf. Avioen. 879. ic. ; the Winter-Flower ; Calycaiite de Japon, Fr. ; Japa- 



nische Kelch Blume, Ger. 

 Engravings. Ksmpf. Amoen. ic. ; Ait. Hort. Kew., ed. 1. vol. ii. t. 10. ; Bot. Mag., t. 466. ; Lam. 



111., t. 445. t. 2. ; and our Jig. 815. 



Sj)ec. Char., ^c. Bark and leaves scentless. Flowers protruded before the 

 leaves, solitary in the old axils of leaves, extremely odorous, yellowish, and 

 purple within. Fruit flask-shaped, or thicker above the 

 base, and in the upper part tapered into a cylindrical 

 neck. {Dec. Prod.) A deciduous shrub. Japan. Heigiit 

 6 ft. to 8 ft. as a bush, 

 twice that height when 

 trained against a wail. 

 Introduced in 1776. 

 Flowers yellowi.sh and 

 purple within ; December 

 to Maixh. Fruit flask- 

 shaped. Decaying leaves 

 greenish. Naked young 

 wood light grey. 



815. C. frhgrans. 



Varieties. 



a^aiu gTandifl6niS. 



at C.f.2gra7v 



diflonis Linal. Bot. Reg. t. 451. ; and out fig. 816. Flowers 

 larger, and more spreading. Fruit oblong, tapered at the base. 

 {Dec. Prod.) 



^ C.f. 3 Hiteiis Hort. has the flowers yellow both inside and outside. 



St C./. 4 parvifionis Hort. A distinct late-flowering variety. Plants 

 in the Horticultural Society's Garden. 



The flowers, which are produced in the greatest abundance from November 

 till March (as the name, winter-flower, implies), and which are delightfully and 

 refreshingly fragrant, scent the air to a considerable distance round the tree. 

 It is grown in most choice gardens for its flowers ; a few of which are 

 gathered daily, and placed in the drawingroom or boudoir, in the same man- 

 ner as violets. The plant is generally propagated by layers ; but it frequently 

 produces seeds, from which many plants have been rai.sed. The variety C. f. 

 grandiflorus has the flowers rather less fragrant than the species, but they are 

 much more ornamental. No garden whatever ought to be without this shrub. 

 North of London, it deserves a wall as much as any fruit tree; at least, 

 judging from the measure of enjo\ment which it is calculated to aflbrd : and, 



G G 4 



