486 DECIDUOUS SHRUBS. 



its brilliant and curious seed-vessels, that it is usually planted. 

 The flowers are a greenish-yellow, in May and June, and incon- 

 spicuous. The seed is enclosed in a capsule, which opens like a 

 chestnut burr, showing a glowing crimson lining, from which the 

 white and scarlet seeds are suspended by delicate threads, and re- 

 main a long time on the tree — sometimes all winter — and when 

 contrasted with the snow around them, render the tree singularly 

 brilliant. 



The Purple-flowered Euonymus, E. atropurpureum, is 

 another native variety, distinguished by its purple flowers in June 

 and July, and its narrower leaves. 



The European Euonymus. E. europcRus. — This species has 

 a smaller leaf than our own, and, we think, is not so handsome ; 

 but the difference is slight in all respects. It becomes a tree of 

 larger size, sometimes attaining a height of thirty feet. 



The Broad-leaved Euonymus. E. latifolius. — This is the 

 most beautiful in foliage of the family, with leaves considerably 

 larger than the others, quite abundant, and of a fine glossy green ; 

 the fruit is also larger, and of a deep red color, more showy in 

 quantity, but not so brilliant in color as the American sort. The 

 decaying leaves turn to a fine purplish-red, and the naked branches 

 are of a pleasing reddish-green. It forms a tree from ten to twenty 

 feet high. One of the finest of shrubby trees. 



The Euonymus radicans is a new variety fi-om Japan, recom- 

 mended by Thomas Meehan, Esq., as a tree of striking beauty. 



There are several new variegated-leaved varieties from Japan, 

 and some dwarf species, the beauty and hardiness of which have 

 not yet been sufficiently proved to call for special notice. 



THE EL.^ AGNUS, OLEASTER, OR WILD OLIVE. 



Elaagnus. 



The Garden El^agnus or Oleaster. Elaagnus hortensis.— 

 This is an old English garden shrub, a native of southern Europe. 

 It is noted for the silvery whiteness of its foliage, and, on this ac- 

 count, is often selected to plant where it is desired to attract atten- 



