Cassandra. 



231 



group of either planted in a bed or border edged with 

 lower forms, such as heaths and azaleas, can be scarcely- 

 excelled in beauty. There is a variegated form with 

 leaves deeply and irregularly marked with creamy-white. 

 This combination of colors with the bright red of the 

 early-growing leaves, and the glossy green of the mature 

 foliage from the previous season, taken with the sheets of 

 white blossoms, make some of the most remarkable group- 

 ings to be found in our parks and gardens. P. formosa 

 is a Himalayan plant resembling the Japanese very closely. 

 It is a beautiful bush clothed with broadly-lanceolate, 

 evergreen leaves of a deep tint. The flowers are porce- 

 lain white and disposed in terminal, branching clusters. 

 The buds of the pieris practically mature the previous 

 year, and hold themselves in readiness to proceed with the 

 utmost promptitude on the approach of spring to improve 

 their opportunities. But were there no flowers it would 

 still be one of the best foliage plants that we have, even 

 surpassing the rhododendron in the bright glossiness of its 

 leaves and in its general appearance. It is probably 

 hardier than the rhododendron. 



CASSANDRA. 



THE cassandras, also popularly classed as androme- 

 das, constitute a small genus of plants desirable 

 in cultivation, and steadily coming into more 

 general use. The name is in memory of the fabled 

 daughter of Priam and Hecuba. There is probably but 

 one species, C. calyculata, and but one or two varieties 

 calling for attention in this direction. The typical plant 



