OPUNTIA 



L'0!) 



Punica. POMEGRANATE (331) Puuica Granatum is a large hand- 

 some ilt ruinous shrub or small tree, to 15 feet, with showy scarlet 

 flowers, hardy as far north as Washington. The loaves are mostly oppo- 

 site, oblong, entire-edged, smooth and shin- 

 ing. The flowers (1 inch broad) are nearly 

 solitary, axillary, in summer. The fruit is 

 a large, 2 to 4 inches broad, many-seeded 

 edible berry, ripe in September and can be 

 kept for several weeks ; there are both sour 

 a nd sweet varieties. DWARF POMEGRANATE 

 -Punica Granatum nana is the best vari- 

 ety for ornamental cultivation, as it grows 

 to the height of only 6 feet and has both 

 single- and double-flowered forms. As a 

 conservatory plant it blooms throughout the 

 year. [Twig cuttings under glass. ] 



Lagerstrdemia indica. CRAPE 'MYI:TLE' 

 (332) is one of the most beautiful and pop- 

 ular of large shrubs or small trees, 10 to 

 25 feet, in cultivation. It is hardy with 

 slight protection north to Philadelphia. In 

 the South it is to be 



rt 



FIG. 331. Pomegranate. 



found in nearly all 



private grounds. The beauty of the plant is due to 

 the large clusters of flowers with their wavy 

 (crinkled or fringed) stalked petals, in summer ; 

 it blooms continuously for two or three months. 

 The usual color of the flowers is bright pink, but 

 there are varieties ranging from white to purple. 

 The fruit is a 3- to (i-celled capsule with winged 

 se.-ds. The rather small (2 inches) 

 leaves are generally opposite ; near 

 the tips of the branches they become 

 alternate, oblong, with entire margins. 

 [Twig cuttings.] 



Opiintia. The Owns plants hardly 

 come within the scope of this book, 

 but there are forms which are woody 

 and hardy enough to endure the 

 winters in the New England states, 

 and some in the southern states FIG. ."."._'. 

 APGAR'S SHRUBS 14 



'Myrtle.' 



