FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS 91 



Hymenanthera (Violarieae). 



Hymenanthera crassifolia. — A curious New Zealand 

 (1875) shrub with rigid ashy-coloured branches, and small 

 leathery entire leaves. The flowers are violet-like in colour, 

 but by no means conspicuous. The small white berries 

 which succeed the flowers are, in autumn, particularly 

 attractive, and very ornamental. It is perfectly hardy, and 

 of free growth in light peaty earth. 



Hypericum (Hypericineae). 



Hypericum Andros^mum. — Tutsan, or Sweet Amber. 

 Europe (Britain). A pretty native species, growing about 

 2 feet high, with ovate leaves having glandular dots and 

 terminal clustered cymes of yellow flowers. 

 X H. auredm. — South Carolina and Georgia, 1882. This 

 soon forms a neat and handsome plant. The flowers are 

 unusually large, and remarkable for the tufts of golden- 

 yellow stamens with which they are furnished. 

 * H. caltcinum. — Aaron's Beard, or Rose of Sharon. 

 South-East Europe. This is a well-known species of 

 shrubby growth, bearing large yellow flowers from 3 inches 

 to 4 inches in diameter. It is a prostrate plant, with 

 coriaceous glossy leaves with small pellucid dots, and of 

 great value for planting in the shade, or on banks, where 

 it spreads rapidly. 



H. elatetm is a spreading species from North America 

 (1762), growing to fully 4 feet in height, and bearing 

 terminal corymbs of large bright-yellow flowers in July 

 and August. Leaves rather large, oblong-ovate, and 

 revolute. On account of its spreading rapidly from the 

 root, this species requires to be planted where it will have 

 plenty of room. 



H. hircinum. — Goat-scented St. John's Wort. Medi- 

 terranean region, 1640. A small-growing and slender 



