HYMBNANTHBEA 



BIXINJEJE 



AZAEA 235 



small trees, with alternate, sometimes 

 clustered, often small, entire or toothed 

 leaves without stipules. Flowers axillary, 

 small, sometimes polygamous, solitary or 

 in clusters. 



H. crassifolia. — An ornamental shrub 

 a-4 ft. high, native of New Zealand, 

 somewhat resenabling a white-berried 

 Cotoneaster when in fruit. Leaves alter- 

 nate or tufted, linear spoon-shaped, entire, 

 about i in. long. Flowers about March, 

 yellowish, small, followed by masses of 

 white shining berries, ^ in. long, oblong 

 obtuse. 



CuUn/re and Propagation. — This is 

 the only species of any note in cultivation. 

 It flourishes in a mixture of sandy peat 

 and loam, and may be increased by 

 cuttings put in sandy soil under a bell 

 glass during the late summer months and 

 protected until the following spring. 



The plant is quite hardy as far north 

 as Cheshire, and perhaps still further 

 north. It is not only an excellent plant 

 for the garden, but is also remarkable for 

 its shrubby habit, so unlike what is usually 

 associated with its relatives, the Pansies 

 and Violas. 



XV. BIXINEiE 



Trees or shrubs with alternate, simple, toothed, or more rarely entire leathery 

 leaves, often marked, with transparent dots. Stipules caducous or none. 

 Flower stalks axillary, many-flowered. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite or 

 unisexual. Sepals 2-6, often 4-5, slightly cohering at the base. Petals none 

 or equal in number to the sepals, or numerous, and imbricate or contorted in 

 bud, deciduous. Stamens hypogynous, of the same number as the petals, or 

 some multiple of them, dehiscing by a pore at the apex. Ovary 1- or more 

 celled, with several more or less distinct stigmas. Fruit either fleshy and 

 indehiscent, or capsular, with 4 or 5 valves, the centre filled with a thin pulp. 

 Seeds numerous. 



This order contains about 160 species, mostly natives of warm regions and 

 not hardy enough for our climate. The following are the only repre- 

 sentatives grown out of doors in the British Isles. 



AZ AR A. — A genus of about 12 species 

 of ornamental evergreen trees or shrubs, 

 with entire or serrate leaves, often with 

 conspicuous stipules. Flowers herma- 

 phrodite, borne in clusters, or shortly 

 corymbose or almost spicate. Sepals 4, 

 subvalvate, or 5-6 imbricated. Petals 

 none. Stamens numerous (except in A. 

 microjahylla). 



Gultv/re and Propagation. — The 

 Azaras thrive in well-drained, rich, sandy 

 loam, and may be increased from cut- 

 tings of the ripened shoots placed in sandy 

 soil under a glass and in gentle bottom 

 heat in late summer and autumn. 



In the southern counties and the 

 milder parts of Ireland and Scotland the 

 Azaras are hardy, but in more unfavour- 

 able parts protection may be required in 

 severe winters. Trained against walls 

 with a southern aspect, or grown as 

 bushes, they are ornamental. All the 

 plants are natives of Chili, and those 



described below are hardy against south 

 walls in sheltered situations near London. 



A. dentata. — A shrub 12 ft. high, with 

 ovate, serrate, roughish leaves, wooUy 

 beneath ; stipules leafy, unequal in size. 

 Flowers in June, yellow, in few-flowered 

 sessile corymbs. 



Culture lie. as above. 



A. Gilliesi. — A beautiful shrub 15 ft. 

 high, with reddish-tinted branches and 

 large, smooth, ovate, coarsely toothed 

 leaves, like Holly. Flowers in autumn, 

 bright yellow, in axillary densely packed 

 panicles. 



Culture do. as above. 



A. integrifolia. — About 18 ft. high, 

 with obovate or oblong, entire, smooth 

 leaves; stipules equal, persistent. Flowers 

 in autumn, yeUow, fragrant, on short 

 axillary spikes. There is a rare varie- 

 gated form. 



Culture dc. as above. 



