308 



dp:scriptioxs or the shrubs 



varieties. A smooth and almost prostrate .shrub with leaves J to 1 inch long 

 is the Small-leaved Box — Buxus microphylla. 'Ihe lea^t hardy species 



is the Spanish Box — Buxus bale- 

 arica, — with lighter-colored and 

 larger leaves, 1 to 2 inches long. 

 [Twig cuttings ; divisions ; 

 seeds.] 



Ulmus. The Elms are almost 

 entirely tall trees, tut there are 

 two small and somewhat shrubby 

 species from eastern Asia some- 

 times cultivated. These are 

 Weeping Elm — Ulmus pumila — 

 and Chinese Elm (541) — Ulmus 

 parvifolia. The latter has thicker 

 leaves and the former more of a 

 weeping habit. Tlie leaves of 

 both are alternate, small, usually 

 about an inch long, and some- 

 what oblique at base and straight- 

 veined, like other elms. 



[Seeds; twig cuttings.] 



Fig. 546. — Rusty-leaved India Rubber 

 Plant. 



Ficus. This genus is a very large one, 000 species, of mainly tropic 

 plants, many of them climbing and more or less parasitic and including 

 the noted Banyan Tree, the India Rubber Plant, the Fig (hardy from 

 Virginia south), and many conservatory creepers, etc. They all have 

 abundant milky juice and all except one in cultivation in the United 

 States have alternate simple leaves. The fig has large deeply 3- to 5- 

 lobed rough leaves and solitary axillary pear-shaped luscious fruit. The 

 India rubber plant has oblong smooth entire leaves with many parallel 

 side- veins. [Layers.] 



KEY TO THE SHRUBBY AND TKEE-LIKE FORMS 



OF FICUS 



* Cultivated for the fruit; with radiately 3-7-lobed wavy-edged leaves ; 



growing 15-30 feet high. Fig (542) — Ficus Carica. 



* Cultivated for ornament indoors in the North, hardy only in the 



extreme South. (Many species are omitted because of creeping or 

 climbing habits or because, when grown outdoors, they become 

 great trees.) (A.) 



