Rhamnecz Ceanoth^ts. 103 



by the Greeks, but it is only applicable to some of the species 

 of this genus. 



1. C. azureus. An erect hairy shrub. Leaves oblong, 

 3-nerved, serrulate, densely tomentose beneath, and often ferru- 

 ginous in the wild specimens. Flowers small, blue, in lateral 

 thyrsoid panicles. A native of Mexico, requiring protection. 



2. (7. Americanus. New Jersey Tea. A small shrub with 

 ovate -oblong 3-nerved serrate leaves, tomentose beneath. 

 Flowers white, in dense clusters. C. ovatus has narrower glan- 

 dular-serrate glabrous leaves and larger white flowers. 



3. C. Veitchianus. A very glabrous species with small 

 oblong-obovate or oval serrate leaves and numerous dense 

 clusters of bright blue flowers. 



(7. floribundus and C. Lobbianus are allied species with very 

 hairy branches and leaves. Many other species have been 

 introduced, but being rather tender are now only found in 

 favoured localities. 



ORDER XXXIII. AMPELIDE^I. 



Evergreen or deciduous climbing shrubs with tendrils. 

 Leaves alternate, simple or compound. Flowers small and in- 

 conspicuous, in cymes or panicles opposite the leaves, rarely 

 axillary. The structure of the flowers is very much as in the 

 preceding order, except that here the calyx- lobes are imbricate 

 in aestivation. The stamens are opposite the petals, and the 

 latter are valvate, cohering at their tips, and falling off without 

 separating. The fruit is a berry, often juicy, usually 2-celled, 

 cells 1- or 2-seeded. Only 3 genera are now admitted into this 

 family, containing about 250 species, distributed throughout 

 the warmer and tropical regions. 



1. VITIS (including Ampelopsis). 



This genus includes 230 of the 250 species in this order, but 

 very few are in cultivation for decorative purposes. The Grape 

 Vine, V. vinifera, is both ornamental and useful, and will bear 

 very good fruit in the South of England when it receives 

 proper care and attention. The Virginian Creeper, with some 

 allied species, was formerly separated as a distinct genus on 

 account of the disk being confluent with the ovary or obsolete, 

 but this character has broken down with the discovery of many 

 new species. 



