XXV. LEGUMINA‘CE#: VIRGILI4. 197 
tree, or otherwise work with the wood ina green state. Little appears to 
be known of the uses of the tree in China and Japan: but it is said that the 
fruit is employed to dye a fine yellow; and the flowers for dyeing a yellow of 
so superior a hue, that it is exclusively reserved for dyeing stuffs to be worn 
by the members of the imperial family. None of the arboreous Legumindceze 
are equal to this tree in beauty of foliage and bark. Its flowers, when they 
are produced, are also in large terminal compound spikes, and very con- 
spicuous, though much smaller than those of the Robinia viscésa. One re- 
markable property in the foliage of the sophora is, that the very hottest and 
driest seasons do not turn it pale, or cause it to drop off, as heat does that of 
most of the other pinnated-leaved Leguminacez. The pendulous variety is 
well deserving of culture as an object of singularity and beauty; and, where 
it is desired to cover a surface with intense green foliage during summer, for 
example, a dry hillock, a plant of this variety, placed on the centre, will ac- 
complish the purpose effectually. The tree will thrive in any free soil; but, 
in cold climates, it ought to be placed in one rather poor and dry taat it may 
be compelled to make shorter shoots; which, of course, being less succulent, 
are more easily ripened. It is generally propagated by seeds imported from 
France ; but, where it is desired to have trees that will soon come into flower, 
seedling plants should be grafted with scions from a flowering tree. It will 
grow by cuttings, more especially of the roots, and also by layers. 
% 2, S, HEPTAPHY’LLA L. The 7-leaf- 
leted Sophora. 
Identification. Lin. Spec., 533.; Dec. Prod., 2. 
p. 98; Don’s Mill. 2. p. 110. 
Engravings. Rumph. Am., 4. p. 50. t. 22. ; and our 
fig. 295. 
Spec. Char. §c. Leaflets 7, glabrous. 
(Don’s Mill.) A deciduous shrub. p 
China. Height 6 ft. Introduced in 
1830. Flowers yellow; October. 
There are plants of S. heptaphylla in 
the Hort. Soc. Garden, which have 
flowered and appear to be quite hardy, 
but as they do not exactly agree with 
Rumphius’s figure, especially in the 
number of leaflets, we wish our engrav- 
ing to be considered as of doubtful 
authenticity. The living plants alluded 
to are sufficiently distinct, and deserve 
a place in collections, 
295. Sophbra heptaphylla. 
Gaius II. 
|» 
VIRGYVLIA L. Tue Vireuia. Lm. Syst. Decindria Monogynia. 
Identification. Lam, Ill, t. 346.; Pers. Ench., 1. p. 453.; R. Brown in Hort. Kew., ed. 2. vol. 3. p. 4.3 
. Dec, Prod., 2. p. 98. ; Don’s Mill., 2. p. 111. 
Derivation, Named by Lamarck in honour of the poet Virgil, whose Georgics entitle him to botanic 
commemoration. 
Gen. Char. Calyx 5-cleft, Petals 5, about equal in length. Veaillum with 
the edges not reflexed. Stigma beardless. Legume compressed, oblong, 
2-vaived, many-seeded. (Don’s Mill.) 
Leaves compound, impari-pinnate, deciduous ; with 9—1] leaflets. Flowers 
yellow, in racemes. — There is only one hardy species, adeciduous low tree. 
03 
