248 Dr. H. F. C. Cleghorn on the Hedge Plants of India. 



Azima tetracantha, Lam. 



Monetia barlerioides, Rox. 



Trikanta-jatee, Hind. 



A common thorny bush, frequently associated with Scutia in- 

 dica. It somewhat resembles in habit the English furze. It 

 grows freely in every soil, giving off many opposite branches, 

 spreading in every direction. The spines are quatern, axillary, 

 sometimes 2 inches long. The white berries are eaten by men 

 and birds. 



Gmelina asiatica, L. 



A pretty shrub, of a very ramous character, common in the 

 Peninsula, bearing large yellow flowers, and opposite thorns in 

 the axils of the branches. It forms an elegant and excellent fence 

 in the gardens of Bombay. (Graham.) 



Rumphius wrote of this plant, " Frutex stipitosus qui sese sur- 

 sum explicat in longos et flagellosos ramos." 



There are many ornamental plants which we often observe ar- 

 ranged in straight lines, forming inner fences or shady avenues 

 in Eastern gardens. These are the Lawsoni/i inermis, the Hen- 

 nah plant of Egypt {Mendi), resembling the English privet. The 

 Lonicera ligustrina, Wall, (privet-like honeysuckle), is much used 

 at Ootacamund, and answers well, forming a very compact fence 

 about gardens. {Wight.) 



The lime, mulberry and pomegranate are suitable, and have 

 been long in use ; likewise the Hibiscus rosa sinensis, L. (shoe- 

 flower), Adhatoda vasica and Betonica, Nees, Gardenia florida 

 {Gundha raj), Allamanda cathartica, &c. 



Phyllanthus reticulata, Poir. (P. Vitis-Idaa, Rox.), "found 

 wild in every part of India, and seems to thrive well in all soils 

 and situations. It is frequently employed for ornamental hedges 

 in gardens, for which end it is well chosen, as its thick evergreen 

 foliage and constant succession of beautiful red berries give it a 

 pretty appearance*." I am not familiar with this in southern 

 India, except as a small jungle tree. 



Pedilanthus tithymaloides, Poit. (the slipper plant) is much 

 planted as a border for gardens, taking the place of box. Neither 

 goats nor cows will touch it. The following are also used for 

 garden borders : — 



Graptophyllum hortense {Justicia picta) with its variegated 

 leaves ; Vinca rosea, AVilld., common all over India ; Heliotro- 

 pium curassavicum, L., domesticated at Bangalore ; Rosa indica, 

 L. ; R. semper jior ens, Curtis. 



The above are the hedge-plants most frequently noticed in the 



* Roxburgh's Fl. Ind. ii. p. 665. 



