146 Ornamental Shrubs. 



azure-blue ; the cup of the flower is filled with a free 

 cluster of slender stamens each crowned with a pale yellow 

 anther. The size of the flower varies from one half to 

 three quarters of an inch in diameter, and the slightest 

 globular clusters are from three to four inches across. In 

 early spring it bursts into a profusion of delicate blossoms 

 that are gracefully blended with the glossy, green leaves. 

 Its indescribable lightness and grace, combined with its 

 delicious fragrance, make it especially charming." 



STYRAX. 



THIS genus of the natural order Styracacecs, contains 

 a large number of species widely distributed, a few 

 only of which are sufficiently hardy for out-of-door 

 cultivation, except in tropical or semitropical climates. 

 It is said that the Greek name, by which it is still known, 

 was given to it by Theophrastus, and that in those early 

 days it was even more highly esteemed than now. It was 

 then, and still is, regarded as valuable in medicine, as it 

 produces a balsam, known as storax, highly prized, and 

 yet in use. One of the varieties furnishes what is known 

 as benzoin, but this is not adapted to garden cultivation in 

 this climate. Three species only are natives of North 

 America, and these are found to be somewhat closely re- 

 lated to the halesias, which have been already described. 

 Of these but one is probably worthy of cultivation as or- 

 namental, and even this is surpassed in interest by the 

 introductions from abroad. 



S. grandiflora is a small bush growing to a height of 

 from five to seven feet. Its foliage is long and pointed, 



