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PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS sophoea 



one free. Pod linear, more or less sickle- 

 shaped, flattish. 



A. tuberosa (Glycine Apios). — An 

 elegant light and graceful twining peren- 

 nial, native of Pennsylvania, with eatable 

 floury tubers, and pinnate leaves composed 

 of 5 oblong lance-shaped leaflets. Flowers 

 from July to September, deep orange, 

 dull brownish-purple or pink, sweet- 

 scented, in dense axillary racemes. 



Culture and Propagation. — When 

 grown in a sunny sheltered position in 

 rich sandy loam, this plant is effective, but 

 is not suitable for cold damp positions. 

 It may be increased by dividing the tuber- 

 ous roots in spring and also by seeds 

 sown in cold frames as soon as ripe. It 

 is on the whole better to raise plants 

 from seeds, as the fleshy roots do not 

 always separate well, and often die after 

 division. The roots are eaten chiefly 

 in winter time by the N. American 

 Indians, and the idea was once entertained 

 of growing them in Europe as a substitute 

 for the Potato when the tubers of the 

 latter were bo much subject to disease. 



CLADRASTIS.— A genus with two 

 species of small trees, having oddly pinnate 

 leaves, no stipules, and flowers in terminal 

 panicles. Standard petal obovate-orbicu- 

 late, reflexed above the middle ; wings 

 obliquely oblong ; keel slightly incurved, 

 blunt. Stamens 10, free, or very shortly 

 connate at the base. Pod linear, com- 

 pressed, slender. 



Culture a/nd 'Propagation. — These 

 plants grow best in sandy loam, and are 

 suitable for shrubberies or perhaps in 

 clumps on lawns. They may be increased 

 by seeds which are freely produced in hot 

 and favourable seasons ; or by cuttings of 

 the roots. 



C. amurensis {Maackia amurensis). — 

 An ornamental shrub about 6 ft. high, 

 native of the Amoor Valley. Leaves with 

 3-4 pairs of ovate-oblong leaflets. Flowers 

 late in summer, greenish-white, small, in 

 long, dense, erect racemes. 



Culture dc. as above. 



C. tinctoria (C hotea; Virgilia lutea). 

 Yellow Wood. — A small N. American 

 tree, with smooth pinnate leaves having 

 7-H ovate leaflets. Flowers in May, 

 white, in large drooping racemes from the 

 ends of the branches. There is a form 

 with variegated leaves which is said to be 

 constant. 



Culture dc. as above. 



AMMODENDRON.— A small genus 

 (3 species) of silvery silky shrubs, with 

 abruptly pinnate leaves, having spinj' 

 stalks, and inconspicuous stipules. Flowers 

 in terminal racemes. Standard petal 

 roundish, recurved ; wings obliquely 

 oblong; keel incurved, blunt. Stamens 

 10, free. Pod linear or lance-shaped, 

 flattened. 



A. Sieversi (Sophora hifolia). — An 

 elegant evergreen shrub 2-4 ft. high, native 

 of Siberia. Leaves with 2 lance-shaped 

 leaflets, silky, white on both sides. Flowers 

 in Jime, purple, racemose. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species thrives in well-drained sandy loam, 

 and may be increased by seeds sown in 

 spring out of doors, or in autumn as soon 

 as ripe in warm sheltered spots. It may 

 also be increased by layers during summer 

 and autumn. 



SOPHORA.— A genus with over 20 

 species of trees, shrubs, rarely herbs, hav- 

 ing oddly pinnate leaves, and flowers in 

 simple terminal racemes or panicles. 

 Standard petal broadly obovate or round- 

 ish, often shorter than the oblong keel ; 

 wings obliquely oblong. Stamens 10, free, 

 or rarely united in a ring at the base. Pod 

 necklace-shaped, round, or slightly com- 

 pressed, fleshy, leathery, or woody. 



Culture and Propagation. — The 

 Sophoras thrive in good sandy loam, and 

 may be increased by imported seeds or by 

 layering the branches. Cuttings of the 

 roots may also produce young plants if 

 placed in bottom heat at the beginning of 

 the year. The weeping varieties are 

 grafted on stocks of the commoner forms. 



S. japonica {Styphnolohiuin japoni- 

 cum). — Chinese or Japanese Pagoda Tree. 

 A beautiful deciduous tree, 30-40 ft. high, 

 native of China and Japan, and resembling 

 the False Acacia (Robinia) in habit. The 

 graceful bluish-green leaves have 9-13 

 oblong-ovate, acute leaflets. Flowers late 

 in summer, white or creamy, small, in 

 large, loose panicles at the ends of the 

 branches. There is a not particularly 

 beautiful variegated form, and also a 

 drooping one (pendida), which are best 

 grafted on the ordinary variety. A newer 

 variety called hyhrida only differs from 

 the weeping form in the main branches 

 spreading out horizontally, and in the 

 branchlets being long, thin, and drooping. 

 Culture <tc. as above. The Pagoda 

 Tree and its weeping variety make 



