CHAP. l ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, ETC. 439 



PEKIGYNOUS EXOGENS. 



MESEMBRYACE^B. 

 Mesembryanthemum. 



FIG-MARYGOLD. 



The species of Fig-Mary gold are rather numerous ; principally 

 natives of the Cape, and, like most Cape plants, unsuited to the 

 c 1 ate of India. 



A. cordifolium. The only perennial species I know of esta- 

 blished here ; a small succulent pot-plant, bearing at nearly all 

 i ~S of the year bright-purple flowers of the form and size of 

 a JDaisy, which open only in the sunshine. 



THYMELACE.E. 

 Daphne. 



1. D. Fortuniana. A small ornamental shrub, native of China, 

 with N^ery neat pretty foliage ; bears, at the beginning and end 

 of the Cold season, handsome umbels of dark-lilac silver-shaped 

 fio^\ .rs more than an inch long. A single plant was for some years 

 in the Gardens of the Agri-Horticultural Society, introduced 

 originally by Mr. Fortune. But this subsequently died, and I 

 know not if the plant is to be met with in this country now. In 

 China it is said to blossom in a leafless state. Here it does not 

 lose its leaves, and seems to bear the climate very well, though 

 making little growth. 



2. D. viridiflora. A neat small shrub, with small leaves ; of no 

 particular merit ; bears, at the beginning and end of the Cold 

 season, umbels of small, greenish-yellow, insignificant flowers, 

 and yellow pea-like berries in January. 



Gnidia. 



G. eroicphala. A small neat-looking shrub in the Calcutta 

 Botanical Gardens from Peridenia ; with narrow lanceolate leaves, 

 about two inches long ; bears in February crowded heads of rather 

 small pale-yellow flowers ; very pretty when in full blossom. 



