TAMARISK FAMILY 



The Tamarisk is especially recommended for sea- 

 side planting, as it is perfectly hardy there, will grow 

 and flourish even under the wash of the salt sea spray. 

 The minute leaves and pliant stems enable the plant 

 successfully to withstand a storm that would rend 

 another one in sunder. 



The African Tamarisk, Tamarix parvifolia, Tamarix 

 tetrandra, Tamarix africana, is perhaps the earliest 

 species to bloom ; the small pink flowers appearing in 

 great abundance along the slender branches of the 

 previous season's growth in May or early in June. 



The French Tamarisk, Tamarix galiica, a native of 

 the Mediterranean regions of Europe, has long been 

 in cultivation. It attains the height of eight or ten 

 feet. Its small pink flowers appear in slender spikes 

 at the end of the slender branches. The twigs and 

 branches are conspicuous because of their copper- 

 colored or reddish bark. The plant is very tolerant 

 of the knife and can be trained to almost any desired 

 form. 



The late-flowering Tamarisk, commonly known as 

 Tamarix indica, unlike those already named, blooms on 

 wood of the same season. Flowering profusely in 

 August and September, it ranks with the Althaea as a 

 desirable autumn plant. 



Some form of the Tamarisk has been in cultivation 

 from most ancient times. It seems to have been 

 highly valued among the ancient Arabians for its 

 medicinal qualities. The plant is mentioned by many 

 of the ancient poets ; Homer makes it the tree against 

 which Achilles laid his spear before he plunged into 

 the Xanthus to pursue the flying Trojans ; Theocri- 



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