TREES AND SHRUBS 



An Order of nearly 200 genera and about 2500 species. 



Distinguislied by the 3-celled, superior ovary and the 6 stamens with introrse 

 anthers. 



COMMON BUTCHER'S BROOM, Rusms acukatus. 



Copses, woods, gardens. February — April. The bright red berries make this 

 an ornamental shrub in autumn. It will thrive under the shade of trees where 

 little else will flourish. Pruning should l)e done in April. Propagated by 

 suckers, September or October ; division of roots in October. 



Floxvers greenish, dioecious, 1-2, borne on a pedicel arising from axils of 

 minute scales — the true leaves, but apparently sessile on the middle or margin of 

 broad, flat, leaf-like branches {cladodes). The true upper surface on which the 

 flowers rest is usually turned downwards by a twist at base. Perianth \ in. 

 diam., of 6 segments, spreading, inner ones smaller ; Males on narrower cladodes ; 

 Stamens 3, filaments connate in a short column, anthers sessile ; Females, 

 stamens sterile ; Ovary 3-celled, superior, style short, stigma capitate ; Fruit a 

 globose, succulent berry, bright red or rarely yellow, ^ in. diam., usually 1-ceIled, 

 sometimes 3-celled, 2 seeds in each cell. 



Leaves (cladodes) alternate, ovate, acuminate, mucronate (spinescent), rigid, 

 parallel-veined, ^-1^ in. long, coriaceous, pungent. 



An evergreen shrub, 1-2 ft. ; Stem much branched, tufted, erect, stout, rigid, 

 angled, green, young shoots scaly. 



Native of England and S. Wales ; naturalised in Scotland and Ireland ; the 

 only woody Monocotyledon indigenous in Britain. Specific name L. actdeatus 

 = prickly, pointed, sharp, — acidens, a prickle, — acus, a needle, — acies, a sharp 

 point. 



DOUBLE TONGUE, Ruscus Hypophyllum. 



Gardens. May, June. A valuable shrub for shady spots. 



Floxvers 5-G, in an umbel, in middle of under surface of lower cladodes ; 



Fruit a berry. 



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