500 



ARBORETUM ET FRUTICETUM BRITANNICUM. 



Genus II. 



FOTHERGrLL/1 L. The Fothergii,la. Lin. Si/sL Icosandria Digynia. 



Identification. I.in. fil. Suppl., p. 42. ; Dec. Prod., 4. p. 269. ; Don's Mill., 3. p. 397. 



Derivation. In memory oi John Folhergill, M.D., an eminent physician and patron of botany, who 

 introduced many new plants, and cultivated an excellent collection in his grounds, at Ham House, 

 at Stratford-la-bow, in Essex. He was, besides, one of the most charitable men of his time. 



Gen. Char. Calyx campaiiiilate, adhering to the ovarium at the base, some- 

 what truncate, with 3 7 callous subrepand teeth. Petals v/aatmg. Stamens 

 about 25. Styles 2. Capsule achiate to the base of the calyx, 2-Iobed, 

 2-celled, 1-seeded. Seed bony. (Dou^s Mill.) 



Leaves simple, alternate, bistipulate, deciduous ; feather-nerved, clothed 

 with soft starry down. Flowers white, sweet-scented, sessile, anthers 

 yellow ; in terminal ovate spikes, having a solitary bractea under each 

 flower ; those bracteas at the base of the spike are trifid, and those at its , 

 apex are nearly entire. 



Shrubs, deciduous, of which there is only one species, but several varieties. 

 Natives of North America. I 



s 1. F. /iLNiFO^LiA L. The Alder-leaved Fothergilla. j 



Irientrficaiion. Lin. fil. Suppl., 2.57. ; Dec. Prod., 4. p. 2fi9. ; Don's Mill., 3. p. 397. 

 Sytioiiyines. F. Gardenz Michx. Fl. Bor. Amer., 1. p.313. ; i/amani61is monofca Zin. ej; SotiM in 

 liees's Cycl. vol. xvii. ' 



Sjiec. Char., S^c. See the generic character. The flowers, which are white ' 

 and sweet-scented, appear before the leaves ; the latter resembling those of 

 the wych hazel. A low deciduous bush. North America, Virginia to , 

 Carolina, in shady woods on the sides of hills. Height 3 ft. to G ft. In- 

 troduced in 17G5. Flowers white, sweet-scented ; April and May. 



Varieties. The following are very distinct : 



Sk F. n. \ obtiisa Sims Bot. Mag. t. 1341., Pursh Sept. 1. p. 335.; F.I 



major Bot. Cab. t. 1520. ; F. 

 lnif61ia Lin. fil. Snyp. 257. ; 

 and owy fig. 910. ; has obovate 

 leaves, downy beneath. 



^ F.a.2 acida Sims, Pursh Sept. 1. 

 p. .335.; F. Gardeni Jacq. Icon, 

 rar. t. lO'O. (Bot. Cab , t. 

 1507.), has narrow leaves, 

 neaily entire, white from down 

 beneath. 



^ F. a. o major Sims Bot. Mag. 

 t. 1342., Pursh Sept. 1. 

 p. 3.35. (Bot. Cab., t. 1 520. ; 

 and our j^'w. 911.) has leaves 

 ovate-oblong, soniewhar cor- 

 date at the base, very black and 

 serrated at the apex ; when 

 910. F. . mnjor. youug, tomcntose bcueath. 



In British gardens the fothergillas thrive best in moist sandy peat. Tnej 

 are propagated b)' seeds, which are sometimes ripened in this country, bij 

 are generally received from America. The varieties are increased by layeri 

 The fothergillas are naturally somewhat tender, and though not impatient 'j 

 cold, yet they arc easily injured by the nroxinuty of other trees or busneJ 

 and by excessive drought or perpetual moisture. ' 



