1910] Hall: Studies in Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. 47 



Solanum Rantonnetii Carr. 

 BLUE-FLOWERED SOLANUM. 



An erect bushy plant, 4 to 10 ft. high, or may be trained as a vine 

 to 15 ft.: leaves soft with microscopic hairs, alternate, lanceolate, nar- 

 rowed to each end, entire, very variable in siee: flowers slender-stalked, 

 violet-blue, nearly 1 in. across: calyx 5-toothed: corolla rotate, 5-angled: 

 stamens 5, attached to the corolla, the anthers oblong and connivent: 

 fruit a 2-celled berry, red, drooping, very ornamental, many-seeded. 

 Family Solanaceae. Paraguay and Argentine. Illustration: PI. 11, fig. 1. 



This plant, which may be considered either as a shrub or as 

 a vine, depending upon the method of pruning, is being success- 

 fully grown in a number of southern California gardens. It 

 is recommended for situations where a mass of blue color is 

 desired at all seasons of the year, since it is a continuous as well 

 as a profuse bloomer, the flowers forming in clusters over nearly 

 all the exposed area. 



The growth is rapid and a single vine has been known to 

 make an almost solid wall 15 feet long by 12 feet high. Its 

 effectiveness is increased by planting with it some yellow- 

 flowered vine. 



When treated as a shrub, Solanum Rantonnetii produces a 

 solid mass of foliage and many flowers. For this purpose the 

 lower branches should be pruned back and the whole plant 

 headed in occasionally. Only moderate irrigation is to be prac- 

 ticed if an abundance of bloom is desired, since ordinary water- 

 ing, such as is given to most shrubs, has a tendency to check 

 its flowering proclivities. It is eminently adapted to dry situ- 

 ations. 



Propagation is easily accomplished by means of cuttings. 

 It also comes readily from seed. 



Other species of Solanum are better known in cultivation. 

 S. jasminoides, often called "potato vine," is the most popular. 

 It is noted for its large clusters of white flowers, but sometimes 

 has a tendency to cast its leaves and thus become ragged or 

 twiggy. 



Buddleia madagascariensis Lam. 

 MADAGASCAR BUDDLEIA. 



A loose straggling shrub (but easily controlled by pruning), becoming 

 15 to 20 ft. high, the stems petioles pedicels and under surface of the 



