STAPHYLEACE^ 



COLCHICAN BLADDER-NUT, Staphylea cokhica. 



Gardens, shrubberies. Best in fairly moist, loamy soil. June. 



The genus Staphylea contains five species of hardy, branched shrubs. 

 They are propagated by cuttings of firm shoots 6-8 ins. long in sandy soil 

 in a cold frame or in a sheltered position in September ; by layers of shoots 

 in September or October ; or suckers in October to February. 



Flowers white, § in. long, in a terminal corymbose panicle, erect or slightly 

 nodding ; Sepals 5, petaloid, white, linear, spreading, united only at base ; 

 Petals 5, linear-spathulate, erect; Stamens 5, perigynous; Ovary superior, 

 2-celled, stigma 2-lobed ; Fruit a membranous capsule, green, 3 ins. long, 

 l.\ in. broad, flattened, 3-seeded. 



Leaves opposite, ternate or 5-foliate, leaflets approximate, ovate-oblong, 

 acuminate, serrulate, glabrous above, dark green, paler and puberulous towards 

 base beneath, petioles long, leaflets sub-sessile. 



A deciduous shrub, 3-8 ft. ; Tieigs green ; Buds opposite, flattened, acute, 

 without scales. 



Introduced from the Caucasus. Also known in gardens as S. regeliana. 

 Generic name from Gr. staphyle, a cluster of grapes; specific name from 

 Gr. colchicon, meadow saffron — Colchicus, relating to Colchis, the native 

 country of the sorceress Medea, who assisted Jason to obtain the Golden 

 Fleece, and afterwards became his wife. 



BLADDER-NUT, Staphylea pinna/a. 



Gardens, shrubberies. The bladder-like capsules, witii their white seeds, 

 make this a very distinctive shrub. May, June. 



Flowers white, small, in an axillary panicle, bracteate ; Sepals 5, equal, 



deciduous ; Petals 5, erect, imbricated ; Stamens 5. inserted on perigynous 



disk ; Ovarii superior ; Fruit a membranous bladder-like capsule ; seech globose, 



white, pistachio-flavoured, used for rosaries. 



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