NEW JERSEY TEA TREE. 



CEANOTHUS AMERICANUS. 



RHAMXEJE. PENTANDRIA MONOfiYNIA. 



French, ceanothe ; Italian, ceanoto. 



THE American Ceanothus, or New Jersey Tea Tree, 

 seldom grows higher than four feet in England, but 

 being much branched, from the ground upwards, and 

 well clothed with oval leaves of a light cheerful green, it 

 makes a pretty variety, more especially in July, when it 

 is in blossom. The flowers, though small, are of a clear 

 white, and so numerous, that the whole shrub appears 

 covered with them. In mild seasons this shrub will 

 flower again in October. 



The Ceanothus affords a dye for wool, of a fine nankeen 

 cinnamon colour ; its leaves are dried, and used in Ame- 

 rica as tea. 



This shrub was cultivated in the episcopal garden at 

 Fulham, in 1713, but was afterwards lost in England 

 for many years, and again introduced from America. 

 It is now not uncommon in our gardens and nurseries. 



There is an evergreen species of Ceanothus, which is a 

 native of the Cape, and has been cultivated here- since 

 1712. It seldom produces flowers in this country, but 

 its bright green leaves make a pretty variety in the 

 green-house during the winter ; for this last species 

 must have winter protection ; the former will bear this 

 climate very well. 



