84 



DESClllPTIOXS OF THE SHRUBS 



lum Clkva-IIe'rculis — lias 7 to 17 slightly notched nearly sessile blades 

 U to 3 inches long, tree-like (often 30 feet high) and is hardy in the 

 middle states. [Seeds; suckers.] 



Ptelea trifoliata. Shrurby Tukfoil or Hop Thee (01) is a tall orna- 

 mental aromatic shrub with elm-like winged fruit in clusters and 3-bladed 

 alternate leaves. The small greenish flowers bloom in May and June. 

 The fruit socni forms and remains on the bush till winter. The leaves 

 when held towards the light show pinhole-like transparent dots. This is 

 probably the only species in general cultivation, though in the AVest there 

 are several others (a late writer, Edward L. Green, would divide them into 

 over 50), differing in color and pubescence of foliage and in size and shape 

 of fruit. [Seeds ; layers.] 



Skimmia. The Skimmias are handsome evergreen shrubs with simple 

 alternate entire-edged leaves, insignificant flowers (usually of 4 petals) 



and small red berries with 2 to 4 seeds 

 lasting over the winter. The leaves 



Fig. 61. — Hop Tree. Fig. 62. — Japan Skimmia. 



are transparent-dotted, as in the Hop Tree. They are not fully hardy 

 north of Washington. The Japan species is the taller, to 5 feet, and has 

 brighter colored berries, while the Chinese is smaller, 2 to 4 feet, with 

 more abundant dull red berries. 



Japan Skimmia ((52) — Skinnnia japonica — has the leaves crowded at 

 the ends of the branches, more or less yellowish green on both sides, 3^ to 



