0366 



This species, which can be thought of as a variety, is remarkable for the ease with which 

 gardeners can accelerate its blooming. 



The Persian lilac, Lilac persica, Lam., Syringa persica, Linn., is a shrub about 

 three meters tall. Its leaves are lanceolate, pointed, entire, or pinnatifid. The light purple 

 flowers form pyramidal panicles, most often at the ends of the branches. 



FLOWERS: toward the end of May. 



RANGE: Persia. 



USES. Lilacs are used to decorate parks and gardens in France and in a large part 

 of Europe. 



CULTIVATION. These shrubs do best in gentle, loamy soil. They're very hardy 

 and are not damaged by cold. However, the Persian one is more delicate; its flower 

 clusters sometimes are ruined by spring frosts, especially in northern France. They're 

 propagated from shoots that are removed in the fall and put in storage. A shoot suitable 

 for transplanting should be four or five lignes in diameter [Translator's note: one ligne is 

 about one-twelfth of an inch]. 



KEY TO PLATES. 



613. Common lilac. 1. Calyx and pistil. 2. Complete flower. 3. Open corolla and 

 stamens. 



614. Persian lilac with laciniate leaves. 1 . Calyx. 2. Corolla and stamens. 3. 

 Complete flower. 



615. Hybrid lilac. 1. Complete flower. 2. Open corolla and stamens. 3. Calyx and 

 pistil. 



