TENDER SHRUBS IN SOUTH-WEST 179 



striking plant with dark-green, large-sized leaves 

 divided into five sections. Height at present 5 feet. 

 Tregothnan, 



Aster (Olearia) argophyllus. — Australia. The 

 Silver Musk tree, with musk-scented leaves and dull- 

 red flowers in summer. Three gardens. Height 

 12 feet. 



Athrotaxis laxifolia. — Tasmania. A tender 

 Conifer. A fine example, 20 feet in height, fruited 

 profusely at Menabilly two years ago. 



Banksia grandis. — Australia. Evergreen shrub, 

 bearing yellow flowers in dense spikes. B. serrata, 

 red flowers, and B. littoralis. All at Tresco. B. 

 quercifolia, handsome leaves, with white reverse, 

 Abbotsbury. Banksias were at one time in request 

 as greenhouse plants. 



Bauera rubioides. — New South Wales. A pretty 

 little evergreen shrub not unlike a Heath, but more 

 branching, bearing solitary, pink, saucer-shaped 

 flowers half an inch across, each petal striped with 

 white down the centre. 



Benthamia (Cornus) fragifera Nepaul. A 



strikingly handsome, evergreen tree, first introduced 

 into England in 1825, when seed was sown at 

 Heligan, Cornwall, and where there are now speci- 

 mens some 60 feet in height. It is largely repre- 

 sented throughout Cornwall, being used in some 

 places as a woodland tree. In June, when the leaf- 

 age is hidden by the wide-spread, platter-like flowers 

 of pale yellow, its effect is very beautiful, especially 

 when thrown up by a background of green fohage. 



