ADDISONIA 45 
(Plate 183) 
CERATOSTIGMA PLUMBAGINOIDES 
Chinese Leadwort 
Native of China 
Family PLUMBAGINACEAE Leapwort Family 
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Bunge, Enum. Pl. Chin. 55. 18353. 
Plumbago Larpentae Lindl. Gard. Chron. 1847: 732. 1847. 
Valoradia plumbaginoides Boiss. in DC, Prodr. 12: 695. 1848. 
The subject of our illustration is one of the rarer of our border 
plants. ‘the European leadwort has long been cultivated, and the 
South African one, Plumbago capensis, a slender, blue-flowered 
shrub, is found in many conservatories. The Chinese leadwort, 
which has been used as a bedding plant in the old world to some 
extent for over half a century, is used in this country as a hardy 
perennial. This species was discovered near Pekin by Bunge in 
1831; in 1846 Fortune found it growing near Shanghai. Plants 
first sent to England failed to live, but in 1847 the gardener to 
Lady Larpent succeeded in growing a few flowers and exhibiting 
An English nursery firm introduced it to cultivation. 
Lindley described the species as Plumbago Larpentae, but it differs 
from Plumbago, lacking the sticky glands on the calyx, and having 
several short glands on the stigma. 
The plants from which the painting was taken grew for two years 
in the flower borders of the New York Botanical Garden, and by 
late summer in 1919 had made a solid mass, about one foot high, of 
strong green foliage, and bore bright blue flowers profusely. All 
indications pointed to a desirable hardy perennial, of robust habit, 
with an abundance of flowers. The severe winter of 1919-20, 
however, saw the destruction of the entire group; but many other 
hardy plants suffered likewise, so perhaps it can be said to with- 
stand normal winters. Cultural requirements are a sunny location, 
moderately rich soil, and ample winter protection. Propagation 
is effected by means of cuttings or division of the roots. 
The Chinese leadwort has a perennial root, and flexuose, branch- 
ing, red stems about one foot high. The alternate leaves have — 
obovate, ciliate-margined blades, the lower ones narrowed at their 
bases so as to be almost stalked, the upper sessile. The flowers 
are in terminal clusters. Each has at the base two or three strawy 
red bracts. ‘The calyx is long, tubular, ridged, and has five awl- 
