ADDISONIA 61 
(Plate 191) 
KOELREUTERIA PANICULATA 
Varnish Tree 
Native of Japan, Corea, and China 
Family SAPINDACEAE SOAPBERRY Family 
Koelreuteria paniculata axm. Novi Comm, Acad. Petrop. 16: 561. 1772. 
Sapindus chinensis Murray, Syst. Veg. 315. 1774. 
Koelreuteria chinensis Hoffmgg. Verz. Pfl. 70. 1824. 
Here is a tree for our summer months, for it comes into bloom in 
July or August, when its large clusters of bright yellow flowers 
make it most attractive, especially so at that time as there are then 
few trees in flower. Its curious bladdery fruit follows in September, 
again making of the tree an interesting object. It has a round head 
and large compound leaves which make it distinctive in the land- 
scape during the summer season. 
It is not particular as to soil, and prefers a sunny situation; as 
it stands drought well and survives under hot winds, it is much 
grown in the central west, from Kansas and Missouri southward, 
where it is known as “‘ Pride of India” or “China tree.” This tree 
is hardy in the latitude of New York city, and as far north as Massa- 
chusetts, although there it sometimes kills back in severe winters. 
It has been in cultivation at the New York Botanical Garden for 
many years. Specimens of it will be found in the deciduous arbore- 
tum, and another specimen along the road near the viburnum 
triangle south of the Museum; it was from the latter, which has 
been in the collections since 1906, that the illustration was prepared. 
Propagation is effected by seeds, which may be sown in autumn or 
stratified; also by root cuttings. 
There are five known species of the genus Koelretueria, that here 
considered being the only one commonly cultivated. Of the re- 
maining species three are from China and one from Formosa. 
The varnish tree in cultivation seldom attains a height of over 
feeatsy tex feet; it has a rounded rather dense head. The leaves 
are a te, unequally pinnate, or rarely bipinnate, petiolate. 
The leaflets are seven to fifteen, sho rtly stalked; the blades are 
oe elliptic, or oblong-ovate, with the e apex obtuse or acute and 
e base rounded and abruptly wedge-shaped, and the margin 
a crenate-serrate, or lobed, especially at the base, the teeth 
or lobes serrate; they measure up to four inches long and over 
half as wide, and have the surfaces glabrous, except the pubescent 
