KCELEBUTBEIA 



HOBSE CHESTNUT OBDEB 



iESCULUS 311 



K. bipinnata. — A recently introduced 

 Chinese tree with twice pinnate leaves 

 2 ft. or more long and nearly as broad, 

 each of the pinna; having U-10 ovate 

 acute toothed leaflets. The bright yellow 

 flowers with a purple blotch at the base of 

 the petals are like those of K. paniculata, 

 and are borne in summer in large panicles. 

 The broadly elliptic fruits about 2J in. 

 long are purple when ripe. 



Culture d-c. as for K. jpaniculata. 



K. paniculata. — A handsome tree, 

 10-15 ft. high, native of N. China, with 

 alternate, deciduous, oddly pinnate leaves, 

 composed of 7-9 pairs of deeply toothed 

 leaflets, rich yellow in autumn or vary- 

 ing to bronze and purple. Flowers in 

 summer, irregular, polygamous, yellow, 

 in large terminal panicles about 2-3 ft. 

 long. Calyx 5-parted, equal, with valvate 

 sepals. Petals 3-4, clawed, with 2 scales 

 at the base, the seat of the fifth petal 

 vacant. Stamens 5-8, bent down, with 

 free hairy filaments. Fruit a large vesi- 

 cular, inflated, 3-lobed capsule, very con- 

 spicuous in autumn, but only produced 

 in quantities during hot and favourable 

 seasons. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 is an excellent plant for groups, and 

 will thrive in any good soil, in a warm, 

 sheltered position. It may be increased 

 by cuttings of the young wood in spring, 

 inserted in light sandy soil under hand- 

 lights or beU-glasses in gentle heat, or by 

 layers in early autumn. 



.lE S C U L U S (including Pavia) 

 (HoESE Chestnut ; Buck Eye).— A genus 

 of about 14 species of beautiftil flowering, 

 deciduous trees, with opposite, exstipulate, 

 digitate leaves, composed of 5-9 serrated 

 leaflets. Flowers polygamous, irregular. 

 Calyx bell-shaped or tubular, 5-cleft, with 

 unequal, imbricate lobes. Petals 4-5, 

 unequal, clawed. Stamens 5-8, free, 

 inserted in the disc. Fruit a leathery 

 capsule, smooth or prickly, 3-lobed, or 

 almost globose. Seeds large, like those 

 of the Sweet Chestnut in appearance. 

 The genus Pavia, which is included here, 

 is chiefly distinguished by having no 

 prickles on the fruits. 



Culture and Propagation. — The 

 Horse Chestnut and Buck Eyes are noble 

 ornamental trees, which thrive in almost 

 any soil, but preferably loam. The seeds 

 germinate freely, but some of the rarer 

 kinds are grafted or budded on stocks of 



the common Horse Chestnut (M. Hippo- 

 castanum). 



As solitary specimens in parks and 

 large gardens, or as planted in avenues, 

 the Horse Chestnuts must be regarded as 

 some of the finest sights on the landscape. 

 They not only flower profusely, but they 

 cast a deep and refreshing shade during 

 the hot summer days. The specimens in 

 Bushey Park near Hampton Court are 

 famous for their beauty, and thousands go 

 purposely to see them in blossom every 

 year. Along the banks of the Thames 

 from Kew to Eichmond and also in Kew 

 Gardens there are many noble specimens. 



JE. californica. — A handsome Califor- 

 nian tree, often 40 ft. high in its native 

 habitat, but much smaller in this 

 country. Leaves with smooth oblong- 

 lanceolate, serrulate leaflets. Flowers in 

 May, white or pale rose, highly fragrant, 

 borne in great profusion. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



IS., carnea (Si. ruhicumda ; ^. coc- 

 cvnea). - A distinct and beautiful North 

 American tree 20 ft. high, with 5-7 

 obovate-wedge-shaped, serrated leaflets 

 composing the leaves. Flowers in June, 

 scarlet, in terminal clusters ; petals 4 ; 

 stamens 8. 



Culture dc. as above. 



JE. chinensis. — An ornamental tree, 

 native of the moiontains near Pekin. Its 

 large palmate leaves are composed of 

 oblanceolate acute leaflets 6-8 in. long, 

 with serrate or crenate margins, while the 

 leaf stalks and also the flower stalks are 

 covered with fine hairs. The creamy 

 white flowers are borne in pyramidal 

 clusters somewhat later in the season 

 than those of the common Horse Chestnut, 

 but are not so large or striking in appear- 

 ance as in that species. 



Culture dc. as above. 



JE. flava (^. neglecta). — Sweet Bucic 

 Eye. — A beautiful N. Ameriean tree 20- 

 25 ft. high, with leaves on downy stalks, 

 and composed of 5-7 elliptic oblong leaf- 

 lets, downy beneath. Flowers in May, 

 pale yellow, with a tubular, 4-petalled 

 coroUa. Country lads are fond of sucking 

 the nectar from the flowers of this species. 

 The variety purpurascens (also known 

 as Pavia discolor; P. hybrida; and JS. 

 discolor) has yellow flowers, tinged with 

 red or purple. 



Culture dc. as above. 



