HEATH FAMILY 



makes it one of the most desirable hardy plants for our 

 northern gardens." 



Although a swamp plant, Laccothoe racemosa can be 

 readily cultivated ; it needs peat soil or sandy loam, 

 and a rather moist situation ; given these it grows 

 rapidly and becomes a broad bush. It is a tall, ele- 

 gant, clean-limbed plant, attractive in winter because 

 of the deep red of its twigs and branchlets. In spring- 

 time it bears racemes of small, fragrant, heath-like 

 flowers, but its time of glory is late November, when it 

 flames, a torch of scarlet, lighting up the swampy 

 thickets, within sight of the sea, from Massachusetts 

 to Florida. 



CATESBY'S LEUCOTHOE 



Leucothoe catesbaei. 



An evergreen shrub, three to six feet high, found on the 

 banks of streams. Ranges from Virginia to Georgia, westward 

 to Tennessee. Is easily cultivated. 



Leaves. — Alternate, simple, evergreen, leathery, lanceolate or 

 ovate-lanceolate, three to six inches long, rounded at base, 

 shari)ly serrulate, acuminate at apex ; when full grown are dark 

 shining green above, paler green below ; midvein and primary 

 veins conspicuous. Petioles greenish brown, about half an inch 

 long. 



Fhnvers. — April. Perfect, white, narrow bell-shaped, borne 

 in axillary, densely-flowered racemes ; central axis and pedicels 

 white. 



Calyx. — Sepals five, distinct, not imbricated in flower. 



Co7'olla. — White, narrowly cylindric, constricted at throat, 

 five-toothed. 



Stamens. — Ten, included, filaments white, anthers yellow. 



Pistil. — Ovary five-celled, style white, stigma green. 



Fruit. — Capsule, depressed-globular, five-celled, five-lobed. 

 Seeds many. 



378 



