64-2 



ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. 



PART 111 



A Genista; Dufour., A. spttndens Willd., A. fndica Lour., and A. sericea Lag., are species which 

 have not yet been introduced. A. heterophylla L. is a procumbent species, a native of Portugal and 

 Spain, introduced in 1768, but now, it is believed, lost. 



3E8 



Medicago L. is a genus chiefly consisting of her- 

 baceous plants ; but there are one or two shrubs 

 or undershrubs belonging to it that may be con- 

 sidered half-hardy. The species are mostly na- 

 tives of the south of Europe, the Levant, and 

 the north of Africa, 37. arbdrea L. (N. Du 

 Hawi.,4.;t. 44., and our fig. 338.), the lucerne en 

 arbre of the French, is a native of Italy, where 

 it grows to the height of 6 ft. or 8 ft., and flowers 

 from May to November. It has been known to 

 stand out 5 or 6 years in dry borders, without 

 any protection, and to attain a considerable size 

 when trained against a wall. In the Chelsea 

 Botanic Garden there is a plant 11 ft. high, with 

 a stem 6J in. in diameter ; there is also one of 

 considerable size in the Kew Garden; and 

 there was formerly a large one trained against a 

 wall in the gardens at Syon. 



Melildtus arbdrea Castagne in Litt (Dec. Prod., 

 2. p. 187., Don's Mill., 2. p. 177.) is a shrub, with 

 trifoliolate leaves, and stipules adhering to the 

 petiole : cultivated about Constantinople, where it grows 15 ft. high, with a trunk 3 in. in diameter. 

 It was introduced into this country in the year 1826, and produces its white flowers from July to 

 September ; but it is seldom to be met with in collections. It is, doubtless, as hardy as Medicago 

 arbbrea. 



L.btus'L. contains two or three species, somewhat ligneous, that might deserve 

 trial against a conservative wall. They are natives of the south of Europe, 

 the north of Africa, and the Cape of Good Hope. Lotus creticus L. (Cav. 

 Icon., 2. p. 44. t. 156.) is a native of Syria, Candia, and Spain. It is a slender 

 shrub, not higher than lft. or 2ft, producing yellow flowers from June to 

 September. L. anthyllo'tdes Vent. Malm., p. 92. t. 92., is a native of the 

 Cape of Good Hope, with yellow flowers. L. atropurpureus Dec. has dark 

 purple flowers. L. jacobce'us L. (Bot. Mag., t. 79., and our fig. 339.) is a 

 native of the Cape De Verde Islands, and has been in culture since 1714. 

 It grows to the height of 3 ft, with a dark purple corolla, almost black, and 339 

 the standard yellowish. There] is a variety with yellow flowers. This, 

 and all the other species of Lblus, flower a great part of the year, and are, 

 consequently, all very desirable for low conservative walls, of from 3 ft. to 

 5 ft. in height. L. Broussonetn L. and L. spectdbilis are splendid Teneriffe 

 species, introduced by P. B. Webb, Esq., and to be procured in the Milford 

 Nursery. 



CarmichaeYia. australis R. Br. (Bot. Reg., 912.) is a New Zealand shrub, 

 with flat branches, and bluish flowers. The leaves, which are trifoliolate 

 or pinnate, drop off soon after they are expanded. This shrub grows to the 

 height of 6 ft. or 7 ft., flowering profusely from May to September. From its 

 native country, there can be no doubt but it is as hardy as Medicago ar- 

 borea, and that it would thrive equally well against a conservative wall. 



Psordlea L. is a genus of herbaceous and suffruticose species, 64 of which 

 have been described : they are natives of the south of Europe, Africa, and 

 North America ; and some few of the ligneous species are half-hardy. 



P. bitumindsa L. (Lam. III., t. 614. 1.) is a native of the south of Europe, in exposed places, and 

 has been an inhabitant of our green-houses since 1670. It is common in the rocks between Genoa and 

 Nice, where it is seldom seen higher than 2 ft. or 3 ft. ; 

 but, planted out in the open border, it attains twice or 

 thrice that size. The flowers smell like black currants, 

 and the leaves like bitumen. P. glanduldsa L. (Bot. 

 Mag.,t. 990., and our figs. 340,341.), is a native of Chili ; 

 and, in gardens about London, it seems very nearly 

 hardy. The flowers are bluish purple, and the 

 wings and keel white. The whole plant, when bruised, 

 has the smell of rue. In its native country, the leaves 

 are applied to heal wounds, and an infusion of the 

 ; : | roots ;is given as a purgative. There is a plant of 

 H this species in the open ground, in the Hammersmith 

 Nursery, which has stood there several years, is now 

 7 ft. high, and flowers and ripens seeds every year ; 

 one in the garden of the Horticultural Society has stood 

 against a wall since 1831, without protection : it grows 

 rapidly, and appears quite hardy. P.pube'scens Balb. 

 (Bot. Reg., t. 968.) is a native of Peru, with bright blue 

 flowers. P. plicata Delil. is a native of Upper Egypt ; and P. obtusifblia Dec. is a native of the Cape 

 of Good Hope ; but neither has yet been introduced. There are some other ligneous species men- 

 tioned in Don's Miller as not being sufficiently known. 



Indigofera L, is a genus including above 140 species, among which is I. tinctc>ria, which produces 

 the common indigo of the shops. Some of the species are ligneous, and natives of Africa or Asia ; 

 but, as they are generally of low growth, they are not very desirable for planting out against a low 

 wall. 7. denudata Jacq. (Bot. Cab., t. 500., and our fig. 342.) has red flowers, streaked with dark lines. 

 It grows to the height of 2 ft., and flowers from May till July. 



7. amce^na Ait. (Bot. Reg., t. 300.) grows to the height of 3ft, and has dark red flowers, which are 

 produced in May and June 7. atropurpurea Hamilt. is a native of Nepal, introduced in 1816. It 

 grows to the height of 5 ft. or 6ft., and produces its dark shining purple flowers in July and August. 

 7. australis Willd. (Bot. Cab., 1. 149., and our fig. 343.) is a native of New Holland. It grows to the 

 height of 4ft, and has rose-coloured flowers. 7. sylvatica Sieb. (Bot. Mag., t. 3000.), the I. angulata of 

 Bot. Reg., t. 2758., is also a native of New Holland, and grows to the height of 8 ft. It is a very showy 

 plant, producing its flowers from May to June. Various other green-house species, already intro- 

 duced, will be found enumerated in our Hortus Britannicus ; and many, not introduced, are described 

 in Don's Miller. 



341 



