Labisia 



( 466 



Laburnum 



LABISIA. (SPOONFLOWEB.) 



Small stove .shrubs (ord. Myrsinesc), very rarely 

 cultivated. Seeds are the only reliable means of 

 increase. Soil, sandy loum two parts, peat one 

 part. Plenty of water is required. The name 

 Spoonflower is due to the petals being spoon- 

 shaped. 



Principal Species : 

 alata, 1', st., wh.. pk., pothoiua, 1' to 1J', Je., 



small. st., wh., small. 



deal of room. Laburnums associate well with 

 Scarlet Flowering Thorns, as they bloom about 

 the same time. The trees seed freely, but these 

 seeds are poisonous. Deaths amongst children 

 who have eaten the seeds usually take place each 

 year. 



Propagation. All the species reproduce them- 

 selves freely from seed, which should be sown in 

 spring, but for special varieties budding and graft- 

 ing are commonly resorted to. Grafting lias given 



t 



Photo: Cassell* Company. T.l<l. 



LACIIENALIA NKLSONI (see p. 467). 



LABURNUM. (GOLDEN CHA.IN.) 

 Description. A small genus of hardy trees and 

 shrubs (itrd. LeguminosaV), with showy flowers in 

 pendulous racemes. The genus was formerly in- 

 cluded under Cytisus. but is now considered dis- 

 tinct. Laburnums will grow almost anywhere, and 

 Jis a rule flower freely each year, their pendulous 

 flowers being beautiful in spring. The common 

 Laburnum makes a good town tree. It is naturally 

 of symmetrical habit, and does not need a great 



Lali-Lab (see DnJiclins). 

 Labrador Tea (see Lednm). 



rise to one curious graft hybrid, Adami, which 

 resulted from grafting Cytisus purpurcus on 

 Laburnum vulgare. 



Soil. Any ordinary soil will do, but Laburnums 

 prefer one of a light and rich character. Trees 

 that have become established are much benefited 

 by regular mulchings of good loam or well-rotted 

 yard clung. 



Other Cultural Points. Little pruning is neces- 

 sary with established trees, as when once they 

 begin to flower this checks any tendency to make 

 gross growth. 



