ROSACEA 



thin, glabrous, serrations not glandular, 2-4 ins. long ; 2 glands on petiole, 

 stipules linear-subulate, glandularly serrate. Autumn tints greenish -yellow to 

 reddish. 



A deciduous shrub, 6-8 ft., or a tree, 10-30 ft. ; Bark glabrous, grey, astrin- 

 gent ; Twigs red-brown, stiff, erect, glabrous ; Buds large, ovoid, pointed, scales 

 brown. 



Indigenous in various parts of Britain ; not found in south of England ; 

 leaves often eaten by gregarious larvae of Small Ermine Moth {Hypouomeuta 

 evonymella). 



COMMON OR CHERRY LAUREL, Primus Lauro-cerams. 



Shrubberies, gardens. April, May. Best in sheltered situations and in 

 deep rather light soil. Propagated by cuttings of ripe shoots 6 ins. long 

 in cold frame in September ; pruning should be done in April. 



Flowers white, small, fragrant, produced after young leaves, in an erect 

 axillary raceme, shorter than leaves; Calyx tubular; Petals spreading; Stamens 

 numerous ; Carpels superior, solitary ; Fruit a drupe, ovate-acute, green at 

 first, afterwards black, bitter, ripe in October. 



Leaves alternate, ovate-lanceolate, petiolate, distantly serrated, slightly 

 acuminate, glabrous, coriaceous, shining, lighter green beneath, 4-6 ins. long, 

 1^-lf in. wide ; smelling of bitter almonds when crushed ; 2 4 glands near 

 base of lamina ; dying leaves yellow and brown. 



An evergreen shrub, 10-12 ft., or sometimes 20-30 ft. ; Bark dark 

 green ; Shoots green ; Buds small, green. 



A native of Asia Minor; introduced about 1576; liable to be cut down 

 by severe frosts ; growth rapid. Name Laurel from " M.E. lorel, lorer, laurer ; 

 O.F. lorier (F. laurier), a laurel-tree; L. laurum, ace. of laurus, a laurel- 

 tree" (Skeat). Insects may be killed by being dropped into a closed box or 

 bottle containing the bruised leaves. 



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